I'm in Charleston for a conference and one of the conference hotels is the Embassy Suites. I had been to this conference before and stayed at a different hotel (which had no available rooms) and thought that I had stayed at an Embassy Suites before and it *is* a Hilton property, so what could be wrong? Well, let me start with the good news.
I arrived early (at about 11:30 am) and wanted to check into my room because I needed to be online for a different work engagement. I had called ahead and asked two questions: 1) are there wired connections in the room because I wanted stable online access (there are not) and 2) could I check in early because I needed to participate in this work thing.
The person who checked me in was very helpful and checked me in early and I was able to get to my room. That's where everything began to go downhill.
I tried to log on to the "complimentary" WiFi with no success. I decided then to pay for the premium WiFi as I needed to be online. That didn't work either. I called the front desk to inquire as to why I couldn't even *PAY* for internet access. I was told there was something about new systems, etc., and was given a complimentary access code. What do you know, the code didn't work either. Finally, I just decided to use my mobile hotspot - which is what I should have started with in the first place. I was able to get online and participate in my work event. When I was told that there were no wired connections I was hopeful that it would mean stable wireless, not that the hotel was built in the pre-wired internet days and never bothered to even add wired internet when that was a thing.
Because I was so hurried to get the work thing done, I hadn't really paid attention to the musty smell in the room (like old and maybe even wet carpet). Later, a friend told me that if the AC is on full blast to COLD, the odor dissipates. So you can be cold and relatively smell-free, or comfortable and in a stinky room. Nor did I notice the draperies only loosely hanging from the rod. So after my business thing was done I immediately got online (still with my hotspot) to see if there are *ANY* hotel rooms available in the area. Sadly there were none and I had to resign myself to being here for the three nights of my visit.
Well, I can't completely surf the web (without using all my data), so let me watch some TV. Oh, the TV in the room does not work - not with the remote, nor with trying to turn it on manually (good thing I had some downloaded programs on my iPad). Maybe I can listen to some music. Oh, the iHome device isn't plugged in because there is the wrong adaptor.
The housekeeping service was tolerable, mostly. There was one day when they didn't refresh the toiletries, but as the only thing I use is the soap it didn't really matter. Although there was the dust that clearly has been missed for some time.
I already mentioned the draperies, but the entire room (and hotel) needs updating. There is visible rust on the (probably original) door hinges, and although there was a new shower head the shower handle is still the original. I had to wonder why they changed the shower head - it must have been *REALLY OLD*. Clearly, they didn't even think to change the shower handle at the same time they did the shower head.
It's a good thing I was here for a conference and I was able to spend most of my time outside of the room, especially since I wasn't able to find another one at a different hotel. I'm not one of those people who scans the bed with a blue light (I have a friend who does) and I'm glad I'm not. I can't imagine what that would reveal. In this particular case, I will just remain ignorant (though not necessarily blissfully so). I write this review on the eve of my departure. I'm not sure if I will return to this conference (it's not one that I typically attend) but I can certainly say that I will NEVER stay at this hotel again (until and unless it has demonstrated that it has had major upgrades). Sure it's in the Charleston Historic District, but there's historic and there's just plain old and decrepit!
