My husband and I spent our anniversary weekend at Woodlands and enjoyed the property, but it wasn't 100 percent fabulous like we had hoped. We thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon tea in the solarium that included a delicious array of desserts and hot or cold tea; it was very relaxing and quiet. Dining in the restaurant hours later was also an experience, but very overpriced.
The inn accomodations were reasonably priced which was nice. Although we were "upgraded" to a junior suite (room 210), our room had five windows that all gave panoramic views of the roof, which was disappointing. We were suprised to find there was no fireplace, an older small television and a queen size bed versus a king. Despite the things mentioned that I would expect to find in a 5 star property, we found our room to be very cozy and comfortable.
Overall, we enjoyed our experience at Woodlands and would return.

We stayed here for over a week in early April with our 2 year old daughter. The hotel was very welcoming and although a classic big old house, really doesn't have many rooms so the service was always personal.

The hotel staff were good at coping with our 2 year old. The hotel has plenty of room in the grounds for running around etc. The pool is huge and although not brand new, it has real character, set as is in the woods themselves, and with waiter service available for iced tea or something stronger.

Our room was big, comfy and clean.

The restaurant is just excellent, very much in the tradition of Michelin starred establishments in Europe; not overly fussy and with unstuffy waitstaff looking to suit your mood. Just great.

The location of Summerville itself offers some relaxing opportunities to explore e.g. plantation houses, although we found ourselves heading for daytrips into Charleston, 25 minutes away, where there is much to do and see.

We were sorry to leave.

I have had the pleasure of staying at several 5 star hotels during my travels. What makes the Woodlands Resort and Inn part of this pack? While overall, the stay was a very nice experience, I can't honestly say it was worth 5 stars.
5 Stars to the hotel when the bellman comes out to greet you, takes your luggage up the room that is all ready for you. A 4 star experience only because he didn't place either suitcase on the valet stand but left the suitcases in the middle of the room.
5 Stars to the hotel that stocks a ready supply of toiletries that the guest might have forgotten. Having left my toothbrush and toothpaste at home, the front desk didn't have any but didn't let me know before we went out for the evening. On return, I called again only to be told that they didn't have any but the would send out the valet if I really needed them (are you kidding?). For 5 stars, I think that the valet should have gotten the items while we wer eout to dinner. So, no toothpaste -no toothbrush, so only 4 stars.
5 stars to the beautiful jacuzzi in the room. But only 4 stars to the fact I had to call down to get some bath beads for the tub. They should have been there for 5 stars.
5 Stars to the dining room staff for overall experience. While my husband went to retrieve something from the room, I admired the beautiful roses on the table. Moments later, a staff person brought me a note that telling the name of the rose, saying she had seen me admiring the roses. That's uncanny service.
5 stars to the hotel for a beautiful pool area but getsonly 4 s tars for no spa on the premises and no walking trail for guests.

Our recent experience at Woodlands (May 2007) was one of the best of our lives. We are a well-traveled couple who always seeks out the very best hotels and restaurants wherever we travel.

Woodlands did not disappoint. The historic inn itself is impeccably furnished and extremely comfortable. The lighting, carpeting, furniture, and bathroom setup are world-class. Our expectations of the inn's service were exceeded. The staff at Woodlands achieved a rarely-found balance of formality, warmth, and unobtrusive pampering. I noticed one shaggy tear in the inn's carpeting on one of the steps in a heavily-traveled area, but that is the only cosmetic flaw I spotted in our entire visit.

The standout among standouts was the restaurant. Chef Tarver King is a magician, creating innovative dishes inspired by Southern traditions, fresh local ingredients, and French influences. Our weekend in Charleston was primarily a dining adventure - having every single meal at the highly-regarded restaurants in the area. Woodlands was in a class of its own. Each course produced a "wow" moment, the service polished yet friendly, and the dining experience altogether was one of the best, if not the best, of our lives.

My parents having once had a home in Charleston, perhaps I can address a potential complaint in a previous review. Although palm tress grow in South Carolina, January is a harsh time for gardens down there. Any garden comprising native plants and trees, as Woodlands proudly does, will not look its best in January. Bushes will be brown, ditto with the grass, but there's not much that can be done except trim things up as best as one can, and it'll still look unkempt. Our May visit found the grounds to be immaculately kept and ebulliently gorgeous. I noticed one shaggy tear in the inn's carpeting on one of the steps, but that is the only cosmetic flaw I spotted in our entire visit.