Rhett House Inn

The evening spread was a real highlight: cheese, crackers, tasty meats, olives, then desserts around 7:00 PM. Breakfast was wonderful, cooked to order and free, with choices tailored to each guest. Those meals and snacks more than made up for the room, which felt tired. The building dates to around 1820 and is showing its age, though we had a pleasant stay. Exterior renovations were underway while we were there. If you want an authentic antebellum inn, this is one to consider.

The nightly happy hour and dessert were a lovely extra, and breakfast had a good selection served at individual tables, which we prefer. We stayed in the cottage across the street, in a cozy, comfortable room with a fridge, which was important to us, and a nice little electric fireplace. We usually choose inns for the personal service and local feel, and The Rhett House delivered. Downtown and the waterfront are within walking distance. Go for the Southern hospitality and charm.

The staff made our weekend memorable. Beverly, Tyler, Mark, Janet, Laurie, and Adrian were all so pleasant and helpful, as was everyone at the front desk. We also enjoyed meeting the owners and being invited to the book talk. We stayed in room 19, in the house behind the house, and were surprised by how much space we had: two rooms, a living room, full kitchen, and a lovely screened porch. The price was excellent, and it was easy to walk to places. My only complaint was the rain hitting the AC and making a lot of noise at night. Hopefully they can address that during the renovation. We had a wonderful time and will definitely stay here again next year.

The cold was the biggest problem. We spent three nights over New Year's during a cold snap, and the cottage room was 62 degrees when we checked in. There were no thermostat instructions. I tried adjusting it, but when we returned from dinner it was still about 63 degrees, with the outside temperature dropping to 35. Management had left for the day, and our attempts to get the heat working failed. We were cold all night. Staff worked on the system the next morning; later we found a space heater, the central system switched off, and no explanation. It never worked adequately. When I complained, management did not offer a discount, though the staff were friendly. The Inn was in the middle of substantial renovation, which made the walk to breakfast in the main house a chore. Breakfast was better than at a chain hotel, but well below what we expect from a boutique Inn. The place needs work, with grimy windows and peeling paint, and it seems the expansion has come with reduced quality in service and facilities. We like Bed & Breakfast Inns and have enjoyed many over the years. I do the research and thought I had picked well with the Rhett Inn, but this stay disappointed us. We won't be back.