The Hotel's descriptions, video's and photo's depict the Bennett well. The Press Coverage in broad terms is accurate. So why am I not wowed? I think it is a few things:
Price – Wow Equation
At nearly $800/night, I expected something more. I have stayed at many hotels in the US which were equally as nice but at half this price or less. There was just nothing really special to justify the price. I heard the King's Club was a private oasis that elevates your Hotel Bennett experience. But that was another $225/night. Perhaps that should just be included in the rate. But $800 is nearly the price of a room at one of the AMAN Resorts which has a huge WOW factor.
It's All Relative
In re-visiting my research. The reference is The South / The City. And it is true…….to an extent. Relative to other Hotels in Charleston, the Hotel Bennett is the 'grandest', the 'most luxurious' … as for the full "South" hard to say.
Hotel Bennett's prices are on par with those of the great hotels in London, Paris, & Rome. On a $ for $ basis, $800 buys an unbelievable experience in Asia or in Europe. In fact, we normally paid less than $500/night and we were wowed. In my opinion, a great Hotel is not only defined by the room and the restaurants; those are a given, an expectation. It is rather the experience there: maybe it's a spectacular pool, the culture, the historic background, the little extras, special details of the breakfast or dinner, the attentive staff and the people that make the memory, create the value and make it inspiring to write about.