We left beautiful Charleston, South Carolina, for the last leg of our 9 Day Southern Road Trip, St. Augustine, Florida!
Checking out the Pineapple Fountain
Airbnb vs. Hotel?
Knowing we were staying in Airbnbs in Savannah and Charleston, we decided that we’d stay at a boutique hotel in St. Augustine. We found that in the area around St. Augustine, especially near the beach, the cleaning fees for Airbnbs were crazy!
After a quick breakfast in Charleston, we were on the road headed to the Voco St. Augustine. It was about a four-and-a-half-hour drive with a few stops.
We stumbled on The Early Bird Diner on our way out of Charleston. We were looking for someplace for a quick breakfast. The food was really good and we never realized until much later that they were featured on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. It’s worth the visit!
We realized we would arrive before the 3:00 PM check-in time, so we called. They were very pleasant on the phone, telling us they would do their best to accommodate our early arrival.
Location, Location, Location
Voco St. Augustine – Historic District
215 Anastasia Boulevard
St Augustine, FL 32080
The Voco is located just across the Bridge of Lions on Anastasia Island. It’s just under a mile to walk into Old Town St. Augustine. So, you can easily walk, if you choose. Additionally, the location puts you part way between the beach and Old Town.
There are also several cute restaurants and bars within a short walk of the hotel. So, you can stay local if you want to chill out.
About the Voco
The hotel has recently been renovated and rebranded by IHG Hotels. It’s a cute blend of art deco styling with modern amenities. The hotel is a soft white color with curves and round porthole-style windows.
Voco St. Augustine image from hotel website.
As you arrive, there are a good number of covered parking spaces on the ground floor with an elevator and stairs that take you to the lobby level. There are about two dozen parking spaces in a lot across the alley, behind the hotel.
Stairs from the parking lot to Lobby
Inside the lobby, you’ll find the front desk to the left with a small business center and market. You’ll find the bar directly in front of you, with the outdoor pool beyond the bar. To the right of the bar is the BLVD Bistro. When we visited, it seemed as they were only serving breakfast and ‘bar food.’
Lobby bar with restaurant seating to the rightPool just beyond the lobby bar.
Check-in was easy as there was no one else in the lobby, except for some managers working on the point of sale system. We were able to check in a little early, as it was after 2:30 when we arrived. As IHG rewards members, we each received a token for a cocktail at the bar.
The hotel is relatively compact, with everything centrally located. With relatively few rooms, it’s definitely got that boutique hotel feel. This was highlighted by the fact that the few employees we came in contact with could not have been friendlier.
Our Voco Hotel Room
Our King Room was located just around the corner from the lobby. But, because of the size of the hotel, it was still pretty quiet.
The ONLY negative we had with the hotel is that with our room just around the corner from the kitchen, it smelled like they were cooking without the exhaust fan on as soon as you stepped out of our room.
Despite some of the reviews we saw, the room was a good size. They are well laid out, and we loved the amenities. The bathroom was modern, with plenty of counter space. It had a big shower, and we had plenty of hot water. The bed was amazing, super comfortable, and the linens were wonderful.
Our hotel roomBathroom
The Amenities
There was a good-sized mini-fridge and a Nespresso-style pod coffee maker. We’re used to these coffee makers as we’ve experienced them on cruise ships. We’ve seen some complaints online about how hard there were to operate and how small the cups of coffee are – not a deal-breaker!
Coffee maker and refrigerator
There was a nice size desk. Even though we were on vacation, it was nice to do some social media posts and catch up on emails. The room has LOTS of outlets and USB ports. We especially like the ports in the nightstand lamps and the alarm clock ‘cube.’
The TV was great, the reception was terrific, and we had no issues with the WIFI during our two-night stay.
They have four wheelchair-accessible parking spaces. From elevators to public restrooms and health club, their public accommodations are accessible. They have several accessible rooms with roll-in showers and are service animal and pet friendly.
Overall, the Voco St. Augustine hotel is charming. The staff was very friendly and helpful. We liked the room a lot, and it was relatively reasonably priced. We’re sure that the following week when the Christmas light festival starts and during the summer that the rates would be higher.
