The idea of being home for the holidays might be a little less tempting in 2020, a year most of us spent staying at home. It’s not too late to hop in the car for a holly, jolly getaway – and we recommend making Greenville, SC (the home of our sister market, GVLtoday ) your destination for a last-minute holiday adventure that’s as convenient as it is merry.
This time of year, Greenville looks more like Red-and-Greenville. Its bustling downtown streets are decked out in holiday decor, and there’s a calendar packed out with social distance-friendly festivities the whole fam will enjoy. Ice skating + hot chocolate, anyone? Bonus: Most hotels across Greenville are offering great rates (some at less than $70 a night) with easy access to all the holiday cheer.
To help you plan, we made a list (and checked it twice) of hotel recs + must-do holiday activities in Greenville that even the Grinch himself would enjoy.
A downtown winter wonderland for less than 100 bucks a night:
○ Hyatt Regency Greenville
, 220 N. Main St.
○ Rates: Starting at $86/night
○ Details: Located right on NOMA Square (that’s downtown GVL’s largest outdoor plaza), the Hyatt Regency will transform into a true winter wonderland, with large and totally-decked-out trees on display outside as part of the annual Bon Secours Festival of Trees. It’s one of three hotels participating in the event, and they – the Courtyard by Marriott Greenville Downtown
and Embassy Suites by Hilton Greenville Downtown RiverPlace
– are all great hotel options as well.
○ Perks: It’s located about half a mile from the Upcountry History Museum, which will be hosting a very merry exhibit
– and the North Pole itself will be popping up
inside over at the nearby Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry.
A sleek stay perfect for the savvy traveler:
○ Aloft Greenville Downtown
, 5 N. Laurens St.
○ Rates: Starting at $133/night
○ Details: Want a truly metropolitan feel? Aloft offers swanky design + stunning views of the city.
○ Perks: Part of the mixed-use hub ONE Greenville, Aloft neighbors several shops perfect for picking up a last-minute gift for your fam.
If you’ve been singing “All I Want For Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey since October:
○ Crowne Plaza Greenville
, 851 Congaree Rd.
○ Rates: Starting at $68.66/night
○ Details: At just under $70 per night for an average stay over the holidays, you can’t beat the price of the Crowne Plaza. Located right off I-385, less than 10 minutes away from the Mauldin Cultural Center. Visit this month for their Holiday Spectacular
, featuring live performances of your favorite holiday hits.
○ Perks: There’s a heated indoor pool open all day (currently by appointment only), so you can pass on the polar bear plunge and enjoy a comfortable dip in the water instead.
Treat yo’ self this holiday season:
○ The Westin Poinsett
, 120 South Main St.
○ Rates: Starting at $144/night
○ Details: This AAA Four Diamond hotel is located inside a renovated 1920s building
in the heart of downtown GVL.
○ Perks: Book a pre-dinner massage at the spa next door, or hit the hotel’s gym to try out one of their Peloton bikes – just in case someone gives you one for Christmas
. Later, you can head around the corner to the United Community Bank Ice on Main
, an ice skating rink open daily through Jan. 21. Pro tip: Be sure to order a hot chocolate while you’re there.
Hit a ho-ho-hole in one:
○ Embassy Suites by Hilton Greenville Golf Resort & Conference Center
, 670 Verdae Blvd.
○ Rates: Starting at $95/night
○ Details: Still riding that high from last month’s Masters Tournament? Here’s where you’ll want to book your stay. Channel your inner Dustin Johnson at the Preserve at Verdae, a championship golf course located right next to the resort.
○ Perks: There’s an on-site restaurant with an outdoor bar and fire pit for some true chestnuts-roasting-on-an-open-fire vibes. Ⓟ
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