HELP! Need to go to Charleston SC at Easter!

[oblio]

Folks

A very good friend of mine has a daughter who is getting married in Charleston SC over Easter. We have just got our invite (a bit rushed as her intended is in 'Stan so only gets set R&R).

I am a little out of the loop regarding trans-Atlantic flights so am looking at the following:

- Leave Blighty on Weds 4th/Thursday 5th - we are in Wiltshire so a southern/midlands airport would be best (Manchester at a push!)

- Return from Charleston on the Monday 9th/Tuesday 10th

I could do with some pointers on where to go to play around with flight itineraries in order to get the best options/price

TIA

Graham

[Puggit]

Charleston is a minor airport in US terms and you won't get a direct flight there.

Your nearest direct airports are Atlanta (served by BA from LHR and Delta from LGW, LHR and MAN) and Charlotte (served by US air from LGW). Otherwise it's a case of using tools such as Opodo, Kayak, Flight scanner to find a connecting route.

Warning: connecting from an international flight in the US is hell. You need at least 3 hours at a major hub, whatever the airlines say.

You're staying a Sat night, so that will keep the price reasonable.

[Puggit]

BA are currently selling what you need, via Dallas(!) for £267 each way.

Bargin...

[oblio]

Puggit said:

BA are currently selling what you need, via Dallas(!) for £267 each way.

Bargin...

Found them - cheers

[Nickyboy]

Enjoy Charleston, my old boys lived there for the past 6 years. Lovely city with plenty to do.

[oblio]

Cheers - I'v been many times - great place

Unfortunately I can't make this trip work for us this Easter so we have had to decline the invite

[Output Flange]

My OH is heading to Charleston for work mid-May, so we're thinking of having the week before out there for a bit of a holiday.

I know nothing about the place other than what came up in 5 mins of Googling, so recommendations for what to do/where to go/what to see (maybe even where to stay) would be gratefully received

[oblio]

Output Flange said:

My OH is heading to Charleston for work mid-May, so we're thinking of having the week before out there for a bit of a holiday.

I know nothing about the place other than what came up in 5 mins of Googling, so recommendations for what to do/where to go/what to see (maybe even where to stay) would be gratefully received

Nice one You'll have a great time

Can recommend

- A plantation visit - I think we went to Boone Hall but research one that suits as there are several nearby
- Fort Sumter
- Patriots Point (USS Yorktown)
- The Powder magazine
- Try a carriage tour
- visit The Hunley submarine
- Have lunch at the Southend Brewhouse - its a microbrewery and food place - nice Ruby Red ale

Struggling on where to stay as I have friends in nearby Mt Pleasant.

Enjoy

[Nickyboy]

I visited Magnolia plantation, nice tour and a good place to see gators.

A must for lunch is Reds Ice House in Shem Creek. Typical American bar on the estuary, sit in the sun with a bucket of beer and a basket of wings, can normally see dolphins playing with the pelicans too.

[Output Flange]

Fantastic, thanks.

Out of interest, did/do you gets fly in to Charleston or hire a car an drive in from elsewhere? I struggle to get a sense of scale.

[Nickyboy]

We always fly into Charleston, the best route i've found is with US Air via Charlotte, flying time is similar to Dulles but the connection is only 50 mins compared to close to 2 hrs from Dulles. I have looked at driving from a hub but even the close ones (Charlotte, Atlanta) are 4-5 hours drive away so unless you want to make a trip of it you'd be better off flying in. Plus the interstates are pretty boring

[oblio]

From the UK I have always flown Birmingham - Newark - Charleston as the times were convenient. Upon looking to price the trip this time Heathrow was coming out cheaper via Houston!