Starlight Motor Inn

9.4

Exceptional

374 Guest reviews

9.4

Exceptional

374 Verified Reviews

Read all reviews

Cleanliness9.6/10

Service9.4/10

Comfort9.8/10

Condition9.4/10

Amenities8.8/10

M

A great little gem that was just the right cost. Room was clean and just what we needed for a quick trip. Room access was easy via text.

We absolutely loved this place. We loved the decor and the cleanliness. Very comfortable bed. Highly recommend.

Don't believe the pictures on their website! Whoever did the marketing for this hotel deserves an Academy Award. We arrived at the hotel after driving for 8 hours. It was dark, and the surroundings were intimidating. The motel is located in a terrible part of town. There were drug dealers, prostitutes, and homeless people all around. We arrived at 9:00 p.m. and could not find our room. No one ever staffs the front desk (you have to call a number to get any service), so it is impossible to get any help. Eventually, we found the room. It was awful. Looks nothing like the pictures. No closet, rusted chairs, and a leather love seat that looks like it was plucked out of someone's living room from the 90s. The curtain was falling off one side, and there were scuff marks and dings all over the room. Also, you could hear everything. Anytime someone climbed the stairs, there was lots of noise. Finally, the room next to our door was open: 4 men were living in the room on stacked bunk beds. They were (clearly) long-term residents. The stay was awful, and absolutely no recourse. Because I could only speak to the motel's customer service reps (like a closed doctor's office), they told me I could not talk to motel staff until Tuesday (we arrived Saturday). Sadly, because we did not feel safe, we were forced to leave and ended up driving back home (to South Florida) after one night at the hotel. If I can prevent one person from booking this motel then I feel like it was worth it. STAY AWAY

I loved the hotel, it was amazing, I just wished it was in area.

Overall pretty good!

Sketchy neighborhood but very clean and comfortable room. Exterior could use a cleaning, but overall great for the money. Love the automated check in

Super cute property! Staff was very helpful. Rooms were equipped with what was needed. Cute lounge bar on property for some additional fun at night. Would definitely recommend to others :)

Overall, it was a good experience. Quiet room, easy parking and reasonable big room. The one thing that I did not like was the light outside my room was too bright. I will stay here again if I visit Charleston again.

Super Cool hotel. We loved it!!

We had the Best stay . Exceptionally clean , modern retro vibe . Bedding was so comfortable and air conditioning was the best . So nice and cool when we entered our room . Will certainly be staying again ! Convenient location to surrounding areas !

Enjoyed the stay. Was a bit weary of the area upon arrival, but the immediate area on premises felt secure. The rooms are small like any other motel but comfy and clean. My family stayed in one of the cottages which were SUPER cute! A lot of cute characteristics throughout in the reception area, the pool house and lounge. I can tell whomever owns or oversees the property takes pride in it.

Amazing gem of a hotel in Charleston. It seriously does not get better for the price! Rooms were beautifully updated and comfortable. We were four adults in a double queen room, and there was plenty of space for all of us. Would certainly stay here again. Staff were friendly, pool was wonderful, and the vibes were great. It is in a more residential area of Charleston, about a 10/15-minute drive from all the things to do downtown. We ubered some and drove some, with no issues.

Self check in but attentive via text

Love Love Love Starlight - So Cool!

Loved the decor. Super friendly. Security all night made me feel safe. The #10 bus cost a buck to get us right to the visitor center in historic Charleston. Also it is not too far from Magnolia Plantation, the train station and the airport. Additionally there is a good comedy club and a restaurant about a 3 minute walk away.

This is a beautiful property. The rooms are fabulous! It was a nice cozy vibe on a beautiful weekend!

Nice motel in Charleston

It’s a super cute motel that is very clean and comfortable. My only complaint was that the lights outside are on all night and are super bright. In fact, it was darker in our room in the day with the lights off and curtains closed than at night. This is due to much light filtering through the transom. The pool is super cute and fun but fairly cold. The location is also a bit far from many of the attractions, but the ambiance makes up for it.

"We had a fantastic stay at this motel last night! The retro theme really caught our eye, and the cool vibe made it a unique experience. The place was spotless—clean towels, a pristine bed, everything was in great shape. The service was excellent, which added to our enjoyment. At first, we weren’t sure what to expect, but once we arrived, we quickly realized we’d happily stay here again. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a great place to stay. We had an awesome time—thanks!"

The area around the motel was not the best but the motel itself was beautiful. The room was huge and I loved the self check in set up and text updates throughout my stay. Would definitely stay again!

We were there while my daughter auditioned for The Cougarettes! It is quaint and adorable!

Itgood

This motel looks great and kitschy on first glance, however, once you get in \side there are too many issues to make it a good place to stay. First, there are no drawers in the room and you have to keep your clothes in your suitcase on the floor (not even a rack to put the suitcase on so you don't have to keep bending over). There is only a small amount of space to hang anything; just basically a hook. Our bathroom didn't even have any counter space to put toiletries. No one is at the front desk, ever, and you have to call a number they have posted there. We were charged $25 for checking in early; they have a 4 p.m. check in,which seem really late and we got there at 2 p.m. Also, had to leave a $200 security deposit, which tells you something about the clientele. It was really noisy Friday and Saturday with karaoke and parties and there was a huge domestic spat between a couple that sounded like it could end in violence and no one on site to do anything. There is nowhere nearby to eat or work. The owners seem to have a good idea, but really need to make some improvements.

Retro motel with recently updated rooms. Very clean, quiet room with comfortable beds, nice walk-in shower, and cool decor. Small but nice outdoor pool area. Very friendly onsite staff who rolled out a ping-pong table for us! Definitely will return here.

Great little place.

Very clean, easy check in and check out. No problems. It is on a major road with some traffic noise and occasional siren noise so bring a white noise machine. Although it seemed to die down after 11 pm. Cool 60s vibe.

Surprisingly nice decor and soft thirsty towels!

This is an old motor inn that's been updated and refreshed, and overall it was decent for the price. The location was convenient—close enough to downtown Charleston without the high downtown rates. The room itself was fine, but when we checked in, there was quite a bit of hair in the shower, which wasn’t the best first impression. There were also some loud banging noises at night that sounded like someone moving furniture, which made it a little hard to relax. That said, it worked for what we needed—just don’t go in expecting anything fancy.

Wonderful place to stay!

This place is a gem! Self check-in worked great, and questions we had were answered quickly. Everything was clean and working properly when we arrived. After a long eventful day we were so happy to have such comfortable beds too. We’ll definitely stay here again if we come back to Charleston!

Wonderful stay!

Overall, it was a wonderful stay! The room was as pictured, the beds were SO comfortable, and overall very clean. However, there's not too much to do around the immediate vicinity, but there's restaurants and outlets approximately 10 minutes away. My only complaint was some of the towels had some stains :(. This is the only reason I didn’t give the location 5 stars.

Proximity to N. Charleston Coliseum venue

We were pleasantly surprised how nice this property was. The retro feel and updates were great. Mobile pickleball net and paddles available in parking lot was a neat addition. Proximity to Coliseum was awesome. Ate at Sesame Burgers nearby and would also go there again. Check in and check out couldn't have been easier. Do not hesitate to book here

Roach crawling across the bed in the middle of the night was an unpleasant surprise. Heads up to other potential guests that check in is 4pm and room service ends at 5pm. Decent value, but would not stay again due to pest issues

Starlight, Star Bright

The Starlight Motor Inn is adorable! Absolutely oozing with retro vibes and charm, while feeling clean, modernized, and comfortable. Check-in was super easy and reception staff was very friendly. The live music and bar (with happy hour!) on site is a big plus, because the area immediately surrounding the property isn't as nice. (although we felt completely safe at all times). The beds were very comfortable and shower was hot with great pressure. As a whole, the price is right and it's convenient to the rest of Charleston by car!

Everything was so convenient. Everything was provided online and easy to keep track of.

The property itself is great but not the best part of town. However the property was very secure the room was clean and easy to access.. I went to Charleston for a concert and met a lot of great fun people while at the hotel.. I would definitely go back.. hotel communication with me before and after check in was great.. thank you sStarlight Motor Inn for a great experience

Everything

Exactly what it needed to be.

This property was exactly what we needed for a few nights away. Comfortable. Clean. And down right cute. Love the attachment to the era in all details.

weekend trip

This was a very nice upgraded room in an older motel. The room and bathroom were clean and comfortable. The surrounding neighborhood is questionable but there was a security guard. Parking was convenient and seemed pretty safe. I would stay there again.

Very cute and clean!

Just Ok - can't recommend

no wi-fi, nice TV but poor channel selection older hotel, not a very good location it's been very nicely remodeled inside, comfortable, clean, somewhat small room manager was polite but had a provide your own service attitude when I let him know there was no wash clothes for a 2 day stay. I was told that if I walked the length of the hotel I would find some. There was none there so hand towels were used

It was really nice

Very cute motel!

Wonderfully restored and decorated. Comfortable sheets and towels. Very clean. All while being very affordable. Only wish the weather had cooperated so we could have enjoyed the adorable pool.

Excellent

The place was clean and seems to have been remodeled recently. Problem is that this is a party hotel. We were work up all night long by music, people screaming and talking at the tops of their lungs. The walls are also thin, we could've heard everything our neighbors were saying. If you're young and like staying up until 4am, then this is your place. If you like to atleast be able to sleep quietly by 11pm, go elsewhere. Regretted our decision to stay here very quickly

Amazing care of details in their renovation. Caring staff. Just lovely

Retro, modern and well kept!

Retro on the outside, modern, clean and well kept on the inside. Nicer than any Hilton I've been in, at a far more affordable price. Highly recommended.

Very clean and well remodeled- love the heavy retro style! They had revalue and special events for guests which was so much fun and popular, like a Valentine’s event with food, a Photo Booth, music, martinis downstairs along with a bar and busy karaoke event upstairs in the lounge. We didn’t feel unsafe, but they had Security staff around the property which made us feel good. Also got texts for event reminders and check out reminders which was quick and convenient. Definitely would stay here again!! Love!

Loved our stay at the Starlight! Very clean and updated beautifully while keeping the vintage details! Will definitely be back!

Overall a good stay, the room was very clean and smelled very fresh. Some of the towels had some stains on them from what I assume is makeup but the towels themselves were very clean. i enjoyed not having to interact with front desk staff checking in and out. i did get charged a $200 security deposit and what i paid for the hotel. i was told i would get the $200 back. i did not love having my card charged so much but truthfully might have missed where it was explained that i would get charged that

If only it was as nice as Instagram portrayed!

Whoever handles your Instagram definitely needs a raise. The motel was nothing like the photos. It’s disgusting and in a very, very rough part of town. The room was disgusting. We stayed for exactly 3 minutes and left. Staff was condescending and rude.

Highly Recommend!

I absolutely loved this little place. Loved the retro vibe. Everything is new, very comfy and clean. Super easy to book, check in and gain access to the room and staff friendly. The Burgundy Lounge was fun and convenient. I will definitely be staying again next time I am in the area!

Loved my stay here! It’s an adorable inn that’s affordable! The cocktail lounge was fun too. Never change; you’ve got a great thing going on! I’ll definitely be back.

Fantastic clean motel. Rooms very nicely updated. Very nice staff. Convenient North Charleston location. Location is on train tracks - train stopped running around 11pm and caused no sleep disruption.

The hotel is located in a weird location. The street had drug users. It’s not gated so the room as exposed. It’s far from downtown area. The room was cute and clean. Ended up not staying because I didn’t like the location. They first agreed with me to charge for one night but they ended up charging for all three nights. They were not flexible to give money back even though I didn’t stay there.

This is such a unique little gem that’s WELL worth the stay plus the cocktail lounge is a major plus. We went on a Saturday night for live Jazz. It was incredible.

Loved the vintage charm! The bunk beds were such a fun experience for our girls trip and it was nice we each got our own bed.

Terrible experience

We cancelled the stay because of the $200 hold on the reservation.Thats entirely too much for a hotel that is not 5 star.

This was a super cute, fully renovated motel. The room and bathroom were immaculately clean, there is a really fun lounge on-site, and it was close to the Coliseum where we were seeing a show. It's also very close to the lively parts of North Charleston so getting around was very easy. We will definitely stay there again!

The property itself is fine, it’s perfectly fine motor lodge, it’s Justin a part of town that has nothing in it. Also, charging $200 for incidentals is ridiculous.

This place was absolutely not what I was expecting. Everything inside the rooms were updated and high functioning. Even the internet worked better than any other place I've stayed recently. The lounge was amazing on Wednesday night to listen to live music and the staff were friendly and helpful. I have to say this is a must stay and I will be back. The only knock on it is the area surrounding is not the best. However there were zero issues while we were there and I feel comfortable enough to come back several times.5 stars!

Easy Hotel to Stay At

Renovated 60s themed hotel just north of Charleston. Automated check-in and check-out process that was seamless. I would absolutely stay here again.

Classic styling of the 60’s and very well appointed upgrades don’t deter from the vibe. Surrounding area is a little downtrodden and industrial but felt very safe.

Perfect and well equipped room.

Locals love the place

I actually stayed at this location. Many years ago, around the time of hurricane hugo, It was a no to tell motel at that point. The new owners have done a marvelous job of totally revamping and remodeling the room was industrial chic.. I loved everything about it the retro refrigerator..charging points and all contactless

So cool

Love this place! It’s easy and comfortable and they have a cool bar/lounge (Burgundy Lounge). No restaurant on site, but there are places nearby to drive to (King BBQ and Rebel Tequila, and Kitchen Junction, to name a few!). Area looks a bit dodgy but it’s not- it’s just not ruined like the rest of CHS. Enjoy your stay x

Wish there were more restaurants nearby.

Always a greatvstay

cool midcentury vibe.

Great unique place to stay at a value price

Great cute place with great communication!

I liked the property. I liked that I did not need to interact with anyone. The Caribbean restaurant down the street was excellent. There is a bar/night club on the property and my neighbors were noisy which was not what i needed after driving. Not the properties fault.

A gem

Amazing refurbished motel! Room was immaculate, loved the lounge/bar!

All communication done via email and text message, never saw or spoke with any staff member. The room was nicely remodeled, the bed was super comfy but soooo high. Would stay again.

Everything is good except the unsafe location; parking spot is private and safe, so if with a car this motel is perfect

This hotel is just lovely. Great location for getting into Charleston. Rooms are beautiful. Would definitely stay here again.

What an amazing time capsule! The area around it is not the greatest, but I felt perfectly safe and comfortable on the property. Do yourself a favor and experience this taste of yesteryear.

Love this little Motor Inn. Did I great job in bringing it back to life. The beds were very comfortable and the rooms were perfect.

This is.such a hidden treasure. The surrounding area is sketch as hell but the hotel is wonderful. Staff friendly, it was clean and the bar was awesome! Corey, the fill in bartender was fantastic.

For a motel, this place is really nice and meticulously maintained. Love the midcentury feel and cleanliness of this place.

I Love This Hotel!

Our stay at this hotel was great! We loved it!

I love the Starlight! Stumbled on this place as it was convenient to where I store my boat and happy I did! It's like a time warp...very retro. Looks like it would have in the early 60s. Has a cool lounge with some great music most nights.

The classy blast from the past!

Great place, very nicely put together.

Super cute.

The new decor is darling and super clean. The exterior and steps could use a good power wash. The beds were clean and comfy. The area scared us at first but it was fine.

Starlight Dream

We had a wonderful stay at the Starlight. It was a perfect location for the nearby concert venue. The interior was very clean, the decor was amazing and there were so many details that invite comfort. I was pleasantly surprised that the pictures did not do this place justice. There was a cute little lounge with some delicious cocktails and they offer drink service in your room as well. This was definitely not a place that you stay and walk around as there didn’t seem to be too many things to do nearby but it was a great spot close to The Refinery, Firefly Distilery and a few breweries. Fun place to stay, we will be back!

Great spot. Easy and great value. Beds are super clean and comfy. Same for bathrooms. Quick Uber to downtown or where ever. The bar, Burgundy Lounge is also a must. Dive bar for sure. Meet some very interesting people there. Across the streeet from Wits end comedy club and King.

This property is in a sketchy neighborhood but dont let that deter you! It's in a very convenient location and easy drive into town (King Street). Quiet and the sweet little Security guide walks the property!

VERY CUTE!! The room was adorable and perfect. Very easy check in and nice staff. I love the character of the hotel and the room. The only thing I would recommend is a dehumidifier in the room, just because the air felt very moist, which I know is difficult to control in this climate. Lovely experience.

A great motel respecting the era of its build whilst still being modern and up to date. Thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend.

It is a retro - Motor Inn that brings sweet memories from my childhood traveling with my mom! They have a great ice machine with a huge ice bucket - always a plus! You have to climb to get into the enormous fluffy bed with the softest linens. The towels are wonderful - soft and absorbent. I like the fact that there are bottles of hand wash, body wash, shampoo and conditioner available instead of the small one-use ones. I will definitely be back!

When I saw this retro motel I knew I wanted to stay here. Usually we don’t stay at places with the room doors outside but the Starlight beckoned and we answered. Yes, the area is sketchy but the room is super cute. Everything has been renovated and the decor is so cool. The management is about the same as VRBO or AirB&B. I had to send my cc info for incidentals since I booked through a third party, then they texted the room number, code and instructions for the electronic door lock. We were assured that all we needed to do was text with any issues. We haven’t had any. If you grew up watching ‘50’s and ‘60’s movies or just love the retro aesthetic definitely give this place a try.

Nice 50's Old South feel to my room. Room was recently updated, mattress was unbelievably comfortable. Shampoo, conditioner, and body wash were top notch.

We loved our stay here. The rooms are well appointed with great finishes and high quality fixtures and amenities. The keyless and contactless checkin was super smooth as well.

Fantastic stay!

The room was very clean and comfortable, and hotel staff were respectful, regularly texting me with updates and offers. Definitely plan on staying here again!

Everything was great! Very clean, and easy to assess. Thanks again!

Great place to stay in Charleston!

My husband and I were in town for a music festival. It was our first stay at Starlight Motor Inn. The room was immaculate as well as comfortable. Loved the retro style decor. Check in and out was a breeze, all done thru texting. Keyless entry. Felt safe despite the sketchy neighborhood. Would definately stay there again!

Awesome place with a cool vibe. The staff were very helpful. The pool was fun and very clean. We felt very safe our entire stay. Security was very vigilant. The bar had a super cool vibe. The only downside is that it’s not in the best side of town, but if it was the price would probably be 4x as much. We will definitely stay again

The motel was super cute. The keyless entry was nice, but I think it would be nice if there was a bolt lock on the door once inside. The door didn’t lock behind you and we had to remember to lock it when coming and going. There were lots of people walking around the surrounding streets but didn’t feel unsafe. Loved the vintage vibe and the location to our event at Firefly distillery. Would stay here again.

Love what they’ve done with the place and The Burgundy Room is a vibe!

Overall great stay.

Cool, clean retro hotel!

Customer service was outstanding! Due to tropical storm Helene we were unable to make our original flight to Charleston so I called to cancel my reservation and they were kind enough to give me a credit for future use as I had already paid. Then we were able to take a flight the following morning to Charlotte and drive to Charleston arriving late. They were leaving a key for our room under the doormat but it wasn’t there when we got there so I called and thankfully she answered the call and directed us to another room where the code worked! The room was awesome - clean, comfy and great amenities! ( I did have to take the shampoo etc out of the holder in the shower as the tube had come disconnected from the pump on the body wash so the body wash wasn’t working so I fixed it) My only concern is that it was the end unit near the office and ice machine so at 1am people had gathered in the walkway drinking and were talking & laughing loudly. Then the following night at the same time a guest from room #224 was drinking and came down for ice and was inviting a woman named Rosa to come up to his room for drinks! Room #101 is not a room I would recommend as the ice falling into a bucket is loud and drinkers are gathering there and are loud and inconsiderate. This is not the staff or hotels fault but rather inconsiderate guests using the area as a smoking and gathering area in the middle of the night and filling up with ice. I would come back and stay but not in this room!