Charleston Travel Blog: A Day of Missed Tours and Plantation Adventures

Boone Hall Plantation is one of America's oldest working plantations. It has grown crops for more than three centuries while preserving stories of the people who lived and labored here.

Hotel Breakfast Expectations vs. Reality

When we checked in, the clerk mentioned that the hotel provided breakfast and that they had a bistro. Based on that, I assumed there would be a continental buffet or a sit‑down service in a separate restaurant space. In reality, there was no hotel‑provided breakfast at all. The “bistro” was simply a Starbucks‑style counter inside the lobby that sold hot food and coffee. It offered a place to sit, but it wasn’t a true restaurant or café run by the hotel.

As someone who enjoys big breakfasts, this was disappointing. I had pictured a proper spread or at least a dedicated dining area, but instead it was just a small coffee shop setup. Still, it gave us something to start the day, and the location worked since our tour meeting point was close by.

The Tour That Got Away

It felt almost ironic that our tour was scheduled to meet at Meeting Street—funny in name, but not so funny in reality. We arrived ten minutes early, only to find the entire area closed off for the Food and Wine Classic Charleston. Our tour bus was nowhere in sight.

We asked workers setting up for the event if they have seen tour buses around, and they suggested checking the buses parked across the street. We walked over, but the one or two buses there weren’t ours. A driver pointed us toward another possible meeting spot a block away, closer to our hotel. That location had plenty of tour buses lined up, but still not the one we needed. By then, our meeting time had already passed.

I called the tour company, only to discover—to my horror—that I had missed their call just five minutes before the scheduled meeting time. When I spoke with a representative, they explained that they had tried to reach us but couldn’t get through, and as a result, the tour had already departed without us.

What struck me as odd was that the company hadn’t accounted for the fact that the designated meeting spot was closed due to a major event. That event was prestigious, well-advertised, and arranged weeks in advance, so it’s puzzling why the tour company hadn’t adjusted the meeting location beforehand.

Thankfully, we were issued a full refund, but the mishap left us scrambling to fill an unexpectedly empty morning

Regrouping After the Missed Tour

We decided to walk back to the hotel and regroup. Back in the room, Darwin and I searched for alternatives. I thought I had found an afternoon tour that would save the day, but we already had a carriage ride scheduled later, so any new booking risked conflicting. I tried rescheduling the carriage tour, hoping the company would allow it, and luckily they agreed. That opened up the afternoon for a plantation visit, and for a moment it felt like things were turning around.

Then came the letdown. The plantation tour I thought I had found was actually scheduled for the following day. I kept asking Darwin to confirm the date, and he kept agreeing with me, but in my rush I didn’t double‑check myself. At the last minute, I realized the mistake. All the plantation tours were only offered in the morning, with no afternoon options available from any company.

That left us with no plan at all. I’m not the type to sit around the hotel or revisit the same sites, and the thought of wasting the day felt worse than being busy. That’s when I had a flash of inspiration. We kept seeing admission tickets available for plantations, but none included transportation. Uber would have been far too expensive, so I suggested renting a car. If the cost matched, or came in lower than the original tour price, it would be worth it—and give us freedom to explore beyond the city.

The first rental company we contacted initially said they had cars. We booked, but five minutes later they called back to say they were sold out. Deflating, but at least I hadn’t purchased admission tickets yet. We tried another company, and this time it worked. The rental company was about 4 miles away so we Ubered to pick up the car, and between the 24‑hour rental fee and admission tickets, the total came out slightly less than the original tour cost.

In my mind, this was a win. Not only did we save money, but we also gained the flexibility to explore different neighborhoods and plantations on our own schedule.

Exploring Mount Pleasant

We picked up the car in Mount Pleasant. I wish we had more time to explore this neighborhood—it felt local and authentic, with places like Trader Joe’s, Target, and non‑touristy restaurants including Asian restaurants and burger joints.

Boone Hall Plantation Visit

Our first stop was Boone Hall Plantation, chosen because it was closest to the hotel. The grounds offered more activities than expected, and we learned it was a filming site for The Notebook. We lingered longer than planned, grabbed lunch at the café, and by the time we finished, other plantations were close to shutting down for the day.

Attempting Magnolia Plantation

We rushed to Magnolia Plantation, our original first choice. Admission tickets are available onsite, but we arrived ten minutes before closing. The estate refused to sell more tickets, so we missed the chance to tour. I still managed a quick look at the main house and grounds, which made the drive somewhat worthwhile.

In hindsight, we should have prioritized Magnolia earlier. Drayton Hall, Charleston’s oldest plantation, was only ten minutes away, but by then it was too late.

Returning the Rental Car

Fortunately, the rental company allowed same‑day returns. This saved us from paying extra for hotel valet parking.

Wrapping Up the Day

The day felt chaotic with missed tours and last‑minute changes, but it wasn’t wasted. We ended early, had dinner, and got good rest. With the carriage tour rescheduled, we still had eight hours the next day to explore Charleston before our late afternoon flight.

Planning Ahead

The next morning’s plan was simple: check out early, leave luggage at the front desk, and explore more of downtown before heading to the airport. Booking a later flight gave us extra time, though I kept in mind the risk of delays or cancellations.