Charleston flights and travel guide

Consistently ranked one of the most beautiful cities in the U.S., Charleston always aims to please. Whether your flight to Charleston is for business or personal pleasure, it’s likely you’ll fall in love with the southern charm of this cosmopolitan city.  Charleston’s downtown district alone has enough to keep any tourist occupied. Walk the cobblestone streets and admire the antique shops that operate in carefully preserved brick buildings. Take a load off at one of the neighborhood pubs before hitting the town for an unforgettable nightlife scene. What is strikingly obvious in Charleston is the city’s southern influence. Gardens and shaded porches trim the two-level homes, many of which were occupied by wealthy merchants and are still inhabited by generations-old family members. Charleston oozes ambiance and is consistently rated one of the most romantic American cities.  Whether you’re a chic shopper, an antique-goer, a pair of lovers or just want a little Southern comfort, a cheap flight to Charleston is a the way to go.

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Charleston climate

Charleston enjoys a wonderful climate, designated as temperate to subtropical. Spring is a lovely time of year, conditions warming up rapidly between March and May, spring flowers blooming profusely. Summer is pleasantly warm, the area's coastal situation helping to keep things cooler than inland. It is also the wettest season with almost half the annual rainfall occurring during summer, falling as showers or in thunderstorms. Fall remains warm right until November when cold spells start making an appearance. Fall is also hurricane season. Winter is short and mild, settling in by December and easing up by February, sometimes rainy and with occasional snow flurries in early January.

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Best Time to Fly to Charleston

Peak Season:

The best time to book flights to Charleston and explore the city is during Spring. The city is in bloom, the weather is warm and rarely is there a rainy day. The summer months are usually packed with vacationers, but the threat of thunderstorms lingers during the day.

Off Season:

Fall and winter are the less-traveled seasons, but when most Charleston flights are cheaper and hotel rooms are discounted. The threat of hurricanes is apparent from August to November. Winter is chilly, but not freezing. If you don't mind sweaters and jackets, you can likely find a cheap flight to Charleston during the winter months.

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Getting around Charleston

Charleston is a fairly small city, so it’s easy to wander around on foot. If you’re traveling to plantations or other sites outside the city, your best option is renting a car. For travel within the city, you can take a bus almost anywhere from 5:35am until 10pm. Fares are inexpensive. The Downtown Area Shuttle (DASH) trolley buses cover central downtown Charleston for free. Or you can head out in style by taking a romantic horse-drawn carriage. If you need a taxi, you’ll have to call for one ahead of time.

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Charleston Travel Information

• Charleston is full of historic homes. Take a walking tour and explore the Aiken-Rhett House, Edmondston-Alston House, Heyward-Washington House, Joseph Manigault House and the Nathaniel Russell House. Grab a brochure from the visitor's center so that you have some background on each of these historic homes.
• Plantations are abundant in Charleston. Take a day trip to one of the plantations and gardens and enjoy the moss trees, pick-your-own-crops, woodworking and more.

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Charleston airports

Charleston International Airport (CHS)

www.chs-airport.com

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