Spotlight: Grand Bohemian Lodge in Greenville, SC

Last week, just before Thanksgiving, I was invited to stay one night in Greenville, South Carolina’s Grand Bohemian Lodge with some other travel advisors from my host agency, Gifted Travel Network.

We came from Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina and were all looking forward to touring this beautiful new property (and enjoying a mini-getaway before Thanksgiving!). The Lodge, part of the Kessler Collection and a Marriott Autograph Collection hotel, opened in late August 2022 and looks to be a real destination property for the area.

The Kessler Collection includes 11 hotel properties around the Southeast and in Minnesota and Colorado. And there are four other Grand Bohemian properties in Charlotte, Charleston, Asheville, Orlando, and Mountain Brook, AL. One of the defining qualities of a Kessler Collection hotel is the art gallery on site and the artwork displayed throughout the hotel, including in guest rooms. The gallery at the Grand Bohemian Lodge is located in a central part of the lobby for all guests and hotel visitors to enjoy. The artwork hanging around the Lodge (outside of the guest rooms) is part of Mr. Kessler’s personal collection.

Another defining feature of a Kessler Collection hotel is the feeling of modern luxury and that is certainly true at this new property.

While the Grand Bohemian Lodge is meant to evoke the feeling of a National Park lodge, it does so with an air of sexy sophistication. The Lodge certainly feels like a luxurious getaway in the mountains, yet has touches of a luxe urban hotel. Many of the rooms have windows facing out to the falls that run behind the property - one of Greenville’s central attractions is the Falls at Reedy Park and when you stay at Grand Bohemian Lodge, you will be a few steps away from this beautiful park.

While we were there last week, the hotel was busy preparing for their first Christmas market (which will be located just in front of the property and near the park). The Lodge is hoping that the market becomes a permanent fixture at the holidays and brings a bit more holiday cheer to the local community!

Rooms

There are a few different room types available, including seven types of suites available which offer common living space (some with large spaces for entertaining/meeting) and stunning waterfall views and balconies so you feel like you’re sitting on top of the falls! There’s also one bi-level loft suite with stunning floor-to-ceiling windows for views out into the park. I had a King Room which was well appointed and had a beautiful view of the waterfalls a few floors beneath me. There was a small sitting area (perfect for getting a bit of work done) and I really enjoyed the sliding barn door setup for the bathroom / closet which was a bit unique. Also, the faux fur throw on the bed was the perfect touch, especially on a cold night! 

Dining

Our stay at the lodge included a round of drinks at Spirit + Bower, the hotel bar which boasts a selection of more than 100 bourbons. I tried just one of those bourbons in the House Old Fashioned for cocktail hour. Then we moved on to dinner at Between the Trees, the onsite restaurant, and had the fortune of sitting in the stunning private dining room. The food was excellent (the crowd favorite was the bread and butter offered as an appetizer) as was the service.

the incredible lobby fireplace

Spa

Before we left the hotel, we were lucky enough to have a massage treatment at the hotel’s Poseidon Spa. The massage was excellent and the perfect way to start my day, but the spa is small and doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of a larger hotel spa, focusing mostly on massage and facials. However, it’s a great option to consider after doing some hiking in the nearby mountains!

About Greenville

Located right in between Charlotte and Atlanta (about 2 hours from each city), Greenville is a charming small city that is worth visiting for a weekend getaway if you’re in the Southeast. The city was recently named Southern Living’s Small City on the Rise for 2022 and I can certainly see why in just a short stay there. I also heard a lot of comparisons to Asheville 20 or 30 years ago, so if you’re interested in seeing a different small city in the Carolinas, Greenville should be on your list. In addition to the charming town with restaurants, boutiques, antique shops, and a minor league baseball stadium, there are also many nearby state parks and beautiful hiking trails. Additionally, there is the Falls Park just outside of the Grand Bohemian and the nearby Swamp Rabbit Trail, a 22-mile trail that winds all around the city - perfect for a bike ride! I wish I’d had more time to go exploring outside of the city and do some hiking, but will certainly make a return trip to do some hiking and spend more time around the city. And not far from Greenville is the BMW Performance Center, where you can experience some of the company’s fastest cars.

For those of you in the Southeast, this hotel is perfect for a weekend getaway - couples, families, friends, and even dogs (Grand Bohemian Lodge, like all other Kessler hotels, is dog-friendly). If you’re looking for a place to stay that feels luxurious, unique, yet with the feeling of being tucked away in the mountains, this is the place for you. One of my favorite spots in the hotel was the Library, which has views out to the waterfall. I can imagine sitting here and enjoying the fireplace on a rainy day with a book and a hot cocoa or a glass of wine. Or coming back to relax here after hiking the nearby trails! There’s a lot to explore in and around Greenville and staying at the Grand Bohemian Lodge can take your weekend getaway from charming to luxurious.

Even if Greenville isn’t on your destination list, you can still enjoy the Grand Bohemian experience. There are five other Grand Bohemian properties located around the Southeast that you can visit, each with their own unique feel, a Bohemian Hotel in Savannah, and three new North Carolina properties coming soon in Cashiers, Asheville and New Bern. 

If you’re thinking about traveling to any of these destinations soon (or perhaps I’ve inspired a trip to the Southeast!), I would love to talk about my experience at the Grand Bohemian Lodge and help you plan your own stay at one of the Kessler Collection hotels. And, if you book with me, as part of the Marriott Stars & Luminous program, I can secure a range of benefits for clients including complimentary breakfast for 2, early check-in and late checkout, complimentary room upgrades, and hotel credits valued up to $100.