When looking to get the best deal on a Charlotte Resorts stay, or any other vacation, it is best to start your search online with major travel sites and advertised specials.  Many times people will think an advertised flight rate is “too good to be true” and won’t investigate further.  At CRO we recommend not only following up on all offers that fit your needs, but also asking travel agents directly for packaged savings.

SouthPark Mall
Located at 400 Sharon Road in Charlotte, this is one of the South’s best malls, consistently ranking in the top ten in the region according to residents and travelers alike.  This mall is called upscale because of it’s design, customer service and partner stores such as Nordstrom, Tiffany’s, Louis Vuitton, Lacoste and more.  Whether you are in the market for a stunning pearl necklace, or just a few extra clothes for your trip, you can find it at SouthPark.  But beware, many who go here for just a few items end up walking away with a lot more.

Ballantyne Village
As the name implies, this shopping center is located in the Ballantyne area of South Charlotte, just a few minutes’ drive from the Ballantyne Resort.  Unlike Southpark, this is a mixed development mall, meaning you will find luxury condominiums and apartments in addition to the normal variety of stores.  Because of this design the mall is very pedestrian friendly as you will need to walk outside to reach many of the primary retailers.  The official location to point your GPS to is 14825 Ballantyne Village Way in Charlotte.

Concord Mills
If you find yourself staying in the Great Wolf Lodge near Charlotte in Concord, this will be your closest mall to do some shopping at.  And if you like to think of yourself as a “pro shopper”, this is a challenge you may enjoy.  The Concord Mills Mall is one of the area’s largest, with many of the retailers you would expect, and many other small specialty shops you could literally spend hours in.  The address is 8111 Concord Mills Boulevard in Concord, and parking is almost always available.  The Concord Mills Mall is so big you can actually schedule tours, and have bus transportation provided to and from your hotel.  There is also an IMAX theater, a LEGO store and many other kids’ activities.

No matter where you want to shop, there is an option for you in the Charlotte area.  Each year thousands of travelers to one of the many Charlotte Resorts will find themselves spending a day at an area shopping center.  No matter where you are staying, ask the hotel staff about area shopping and they’ll direct you in the right way.

Omni Charlotte Hotel
Unlike other cities such as Los Angeles, New York or Las Vegas, Charlotte has a lesser amount of high-rise resorts.  Maybe it’s the more country feel of this area that leads to more rural settings for Charlotte Resorts, but whatever it is, it makes the Omni Charlotte special.  Situated downtown on Trade Street, the Omni features a day spa, meeting rooms and even a rooftop swimming pool.

The 374 guest rooms’ feature plush robes, turn down service, triple sheeting, satin hangers, hair dryer and in-room coffee and tea.  Because of the downtown location many rooms feature skyline views.  The Omni Hotel has several different styles and levels of rooms with up to 1,000 square feet in the Mecklenburg Suite.  The standard deluxe room comes in at 312 square feet with a city view and standard amenities.

Other room levels can include multiple double beds, corner window suites, garden tubs and formal dining areas.

The Blake Hotel
As our search of resorts in Charlotte NC continued we were pleased to find the Blake in downtown Charlotte.  Located just four blocks from Charlotte’s Convention Center, the Blake comes across as a local favorite without corporate ownership.  Hotel accommodations include 24-hour lobby, bar, pool tables and concierge services.

Other nearby attractions include Bank of America Stadium, the Discovery Place Science attraction and a short 14 miles from the Carowinds Amusement Park.

The 304 guest rooms at the Blake all feature linens direct from Belgium and flat-screen TV’s.  Wireless internet access is available at a small surcharge.

The Blake includes two dining options on-site.  The Vault Restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and claims to make “Charlotte’s Best Continental Cuisine”.  The Vault Car & Lounge is a more intimate cocktail lounge offering limited appetizers.  Most certainly, the Blake is one of the more reclusive Charlotte Resorts available if you are looking to stay downtown.

Courtyard by Marriott Charlotte City Center
You probably hear the words “Courtyard by Marriott” and wonder why it qualifies as a resort in Charlotte, and so did we.  But because of its national high reviews for customer service a guest comfort we decided to throw it in.  Its downtown location didn’t hurt either. 

You will find this edition of the Courtyard series in the uptown area of Charlotte at 237 South Tryon Street.  Within walking distance of Charlotte’s financial district, the Convention Center and the TimeWarner Cable Arena, where the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcat’s play.  Also within a short distance of the Courtyard is the Bank of America Stadium where the Carolina Panthers play NFL football.

The guest rooms at this downtown Charlotte resort are all smoke-free, a feature many business and family travelers will be looking for in a hotel.  Rooms include complimentary high-speed internet, functional desk work spaces and flat screen TV’s.  The Courtyard Charlotte Downtown is also within close diving distance to other regional business centers.  The city area of Gastonia is just 19 miles away, Rock Hill is 22 miles away and Monroe just 24 miles down the road.

Please note this hotel DOES charge for parking on a daily basis.  Rates range from $10 to $25 daily.  RV and motor home parking are also available, but call ahead for details.

Ballantyne Resort Charlotte
While not a downtown hotel, many travelers to Charlotte looking for extra luxury should consider the Ballantyne Resort Charlotte NC.  Located seventeen miles from downtown, the hotel includes a day spa, dining and excellent meeting facilities.

If you do stay in the downtown area, but are looking for some Charlotte golf recreation, the Ballantyne is considered one of the best Charlotte Golf Resorts.

The Great Wolf Lodge & Water Park in Concord, NC is the newest Great Wolf Lodge in the country.  Under construction for quite some time, this half hotel, half theme park doesn’t disappoint.  With larger size family guest rooms and on-site affordable dining, both local and visiting families will enjoy a stop at the Great Wolf.

Location & Directions
The Great Wolf Lodge is located in Concord, North Carolina, just about thirty minutes drive time from the downtown Charlotte area.  Most likely you will be heading to the lodge on I-85 North when you take exit 49-Bruton Smith Boulevard.  Please note, this exit was formerly known as Speedway Boulevard.  At the top of the ramp turn right onto Bruton Smith Boulevard.  Follow until Weddington Road Extension where you will turn right.  Continue on this road for ½ mile and watch for large Great Wolf Lodge signs.  Congratulations, you’ve arrived.

The Great Wolf Lodge Concord is also conveniently located a half hour from Charlotte Airport hotels, just 1.5 hours from Greensboro, and 2 hours from Columbia, SC.

Waterpark Attractions
To try to describe every part of the Great Wolf Lodge Water Park would take an entire blog unto itself, but we’ll try to do our best in this short space.  The designers at Great Wolf have gone out of their way to create rides and attractions for every age level in your family.  This is a unique detail as we compared Great Wolf to other resorts in Charlotte.  From the four-story interactive Fort McKenzie featuring a 1000-gallon water bucket that tips ever few moments on the laughing children below to the Moutain Edge Water Raceway, everyone can have fun at the Great Wolf.

Both children and adults can enjoy the Beaver Tail Lake wave pool at Great Wolf.  With waves as large as 3-feet, many say they felt as if they were bobbing in the ocean surf.  Separate areas in the lake allow you to just relax in the water, or “body surf” your way into shore.  The lake also has a zero-dpeth entry making it fun and safe for even the smallest in your family.

For adults and those at least four feet high, the Howlin’ Tornado is available.  This ride has become a trademark attraction for most of the Great Wolf Lodges nationwide.  You will ride a raft with three other members of your clan down a 6-story funnel.  As you swish and swash up and down the sides of the tornado you’ll look forward to the safe splashdown coming up.  The Howlin’ Tornado will entertain the teenager, while not being too scary for a fourth of fifth grader.

Rooms
While many Charlotte Resorts tend to focus less on room size and more on hotel amenities, the Great Wolf does both.  Since they recognize themselves as a family destination, many of the rooms are available in themes with special kid sleeping areas.

The KidCabin Suite includes a bunk bed and its own TV for kids viewing pleasure.  Hard to describe in words, the room includes an actual “cabin” where you find these accommodations.  Parents and older children will enjoy a larger living area than most resorts in Charlotte NC, and a possible balcony.

While there are many suites available at the Great Wolf Lodge Concord, we want to especially mention the Masjestic Bear Suite.  While more expensive than most rooms at other Charlotte NC resorts, this is the perfect room for a family staying for a few days at the Lodge.  With two separate bedrooms, a wet bar, eating area and multiple TV’s the room feels like a home away from home.

Nearby Attractions
While the Great Wolf Lodge is located a little further out of town than other Charlotte North Carolina Resorts, there is still much to do in the area.  In fact, if your family has come to town for racing, you are literally located moments from the home of racing, the Lowe’s Motor Speedway.  Also nearby is the Concord Mills Mall with over 200 stores for your shopping needs.

There are also many Charlotte Golf outings available within a short drive of the Great Wolf Lodge Concord, and a day spa is also nearby at the Ballantyne Resort Charlotte.

Sheraton Charlotte Airport
Of the many Charlotte Resorts & Hotels located near the airport, one of the nicest is the Sheraton.  The hotel is four-star rated and includes a complimentary airport shuttle as well as an on-site restaurant and lounge.  Because of proximity of the Charlotte Airport to the downtown area, this hotel is appropriate for business meetings with attendees from the local area.

Guest rooms at this Charlotte Resort all feature wireless high-speed internet (charged), television, connecting rooms available and oversized desks and chairs.  Also available are DVD and movie checkouts and deluxe rooms with kitchenettes and refrigerators.

Nearly twenty different meeting areas are available, making the Sheraton Charlotte Airport perfect for any business need.

Microtel Inn Charlotte Airport
While certainly not as luxurious as the Sheraton, the Microtel Inn is a good choice for those spending a quick night at the airport before departure.  Some sites list this “resort in Charlotte” as only one star, while others say two.

If you are an experienced traveler you know what to expect from the Microtel chain of accommodations.  Affordable rooms that you may, or may not, want to take you shoes off in.  This location does offer a free airport shuttle from 6AM to Midnight daily, and free high speed internet.

Holiday Inn Charlotte Airport
One customer called this hotel “not a bad stay” and many have echoed that sentiment.  One of several airport area Charlotte Resorts, the Holiday Inn includes over two hundred guest rooms and three suites for your comfort.  A seasonal outdoor pool is available as well.  Once again, you can find complimentary high speed internet and on-site restaurant.

Several area businesses conduct small to medium meetings at this hotel, which has up to 4500 square feet of space.  The eight distinct meeting rooms can be arranged in various fashions depending on your needs.

The Holiday Inn Charlotte Airport is located just seven miles from Charlotte area golf at the Renaissance Golf Course, five miles from the National Whitewater Center and twelve miles from Lake Wylie.

La Quinta Charlotte Airport North
Located close to not only the airport, but other Charlotte Golf Resorts, the La Qunita North is an easily affordable stay.  With rates as low as $69 nightly, deal finders may want to stay here no matter what their Charlotte area destination is.

Amenities here include a complimentary breakfast, free wireless internet and free local calls.  We once scoffed at the free local calls until we received a bill from another hotel, which did not offer this service.  Ugh.

The La Quinta North is one of the better, affordable resorts in Charlotte.

Renaissance Charlotte Suites
This hotel is closer in style to the average Marriott than any other.  And that would make sense; it is indeed a Marriott property.  As we reviewed the airport options for Charlotte North Carolina resorts, this hotel kept coming back to the middle part of the list.

It is located just five miles from the airport, and has shuttle availability when you need it.  Almost all of their 275 rooms are designed to be two-room suites perfect for families who want a little privacy.

However, the Renaissance may offer the best meeting facilities near the airport with just over 19,000 square feet of space available.  The largest room at the hotel can easily accommodate some 1400 people and multiple room discounts are available.

Ballantyne Resort Charlotte
While it is not considered an “airport hotel” in the strictest sense, we still feel the need to list it on this page.  You can learn more about this, and other resorts in Charlotte NC by visiting our main Ballantyne Resort page.

Locations & Directions
The Ballantyne Resort can be found in Charlotte at the intersection of Johnston Road and Ballantyne Commons Parkway.  On-site valet parking is available, although larger parties traveling from area airports or other destinations should call ahead to reserve parking options.

If you are coming to Ballantyne from the downtown Charlotte area, take I-77 South to I-485 East.  Take the Johnston Road exit (number 61) and turn right on Johnston.  The hotel is located close to the interstate, so immediately get in the left hand turn lane and look for signs.

The Ballantyne Resort Charlotte is easily accessible from all parts of the area, and specific directions can be found online using Google Maps.  The address of the hotel is 10000 Ballantyne Commons Parkway in Charlotte.

Golf Options
As noted on our Charlotte Golf Resorts page, the Ballantyne is home to a great 18-hole golf course.  Practice facilities include a driving range, putting green and chipping area as well.  If you didn’t bring your clubs the course provides rentals at a rate of $45 a day.  Please note the Ballantyne Golf Club is NOT open to the public, although guests of the hotel are allowed to bring visitors to the course.  Reservations for tee times are recommended year round.

Rooms
The Ballantyne Resort offers many room options in its standard hotel building, as well as a 36-room lodge and a 4-bedroom private cottage.  The hotel standard rooms all come with a marble entrance, high ceilings and floor to ceiling windows looking onto various locations.  If you’re a golfer, ask for a fairway view.  Other room amentias for this Charlotte Resort include 37” flat panel TV’s, Bose Wave radios with an mp3 connection and high-speed internet.

The resort also offers Presidential Suites with over 1200 square feet of room including a full marble bath with soaking tub.  The dining room seats 12 for eating and entertaining, and housekeeping services are available for meetings.

If you are looking for something a bit more special you should consider the Lodge at Ballantyne.  With its 36 rooms the lodge offers a more private setting for wedding parties, business meetings or family reunions.  The lodge itself is 40,000 square feet with ample common areas and meeting rooms.  If your needs require, the entire lodge is available for your party.

Finally, for small retreats or family weekend getaways, the Ballantyne Resort offers the Cottage at Ballantyne.  This four-bedroom facility sets at just under 4000 square feet, which includes LCD televisions in each bedroom, hardwood floors and easy access to other resort amenities. 

Resort Amenities
General amenities at this resort in Charlotte include a full spa with massage, facial and relaxation services.  The resort spa also provides customized mp3 players loaded with “relaxation music” for your stay.  The Eucalyptus Steam room and Cherry Wood Sauna are favorites of this day-spa as well.  Please note, the spa is open to the general public and reservations are encouraged for hotel guests.

Nearby Attractions
At the Ballantyne Resort Charlotte NC you could literally spend all day in the lap of luxury, but in case you want to get away for some local sightseeing and attractions, there are many nearby.

For family fun the nearby Carowinds Theme & Water Park is available almost year-round, while the Discovery Place science museum and IMAX Theater operate in all weather.  Almost all Charlotte NC Resorts are close to the US National Whitewater Center, which provides education and simulated whitewater adventures in the nation’s largest manmade river.  If the family wants to get away for a few days while business meetings are taking place at the Ballantyne, you should consider the neary by Great Wolf Lodge.

In addition to these attractions, the concierge at the Ballantyne Resort can help you find the perfect adventure for you and your group, or to confirm airport reservations and accomodations.  For many years the Ballantyne has been setting the bar for all other Charlotte Resorts.

Olde Sycamore Golf Plantation
This award-winning course was named “Charlotte’s Best” by a respected local magazine.  If the locals like it, you know it is good!  Located at 7500 Olde Sycamore Drive in Charlotte, the course is just a few moments from North Charlotte, and Ballantyne Resort Charlotte NC.  For exact directions from where you are located, you can visit the Olde Sycamore Golf Plantation website.

The 18-hole course at Olde Sycamore is a Tom Jackson design featuring Bermuda fairways and Crenshaw Bent Grass greens.  Total distance ranges from 4700 yards on the red tees to just under 7000 yards for the gold tees.  Before you hit the course multiple practice facilities including a 6000 square foot putting green.  Special attention has been paid to not break your wallet on the driving range; at press time a large bucket of balls was just $4.

If you are looking for somewhere close to call home while at the Olde Sycamore, you should consider another Charlotte Resort, the Mart Inn & Suites.  Known as Charlotte’s “Classic Hotel”, the Mart features large rooms and has eight two-room suites.  While it certainly isn’t the most expanisive of Charlotte Resorts, the hotel is good for basic stays that require a clean and quiet room.

Charlotte National Golf Club
With a name like this you would expect the course to be a very formal, private affair, but just the opposite is true.  While there is a membership plan available, the course is also open to the public.  Off the beaten path a bit in Union County, the course provides some easy holes for beginners, but also some real challenges for experts.  To that topic, watch out for the final three holes if you play the entire eighteen.

When you play the Charlotte National, you may feel like the course was simply created out of the land available.  The fairways are clipped close, while the greens are the bent grass you would expect on a quality course.  However, there has been less dirt moved at Charlotte National than any other course in the area.

Green fees at the course range in the area average of $50 on weekend mornings, but can be as low as $22 on weekday afternoons.

The closest, and nicest hotel in the area is the Holiday Inn Express on Independence Boulevard in Matthews.  The hotel is just 18 minutes from the Charlotte National, close to downtown, and includes clean rooms and a free continental breakfast.

Ballantyne Resort Charlotte
Save the best for the last, we say, and we certainly did.  The Ballantyne Resort Golf outing is one of the best in region for travelers.  And don’t expect the family to be bored either; the Ballantyne offers travelers of all ages and genders something to do.  You can find out more about the hotel and resort on our Ballantyne Resort Charlotte page.

The Ballantyne course measures 6710 yards and is an interesting par 71.  Tee times begin anywhere from 7:00 to 8:30 depending on the time of the year, and don’t expect to play in jeans and a t-shirt.  Dress code is a collard shirt, Bermuda length shorts or slacks and no metal spikes.  This code is strictly enforced. 

To play at the Ballantyne, you should make reservations at least 10-14 days in advance by calling the pro shop at 704-248-4383.  In addition to perfect fairways and greens, the Ballantyne course is home to great practice facilities and the Dana Rader Golf School.  Many aspiring golf enthusiasts will stay at the Ballantyne Resort Charlotte simply to take part in the golf school.  Meanwhile, familes may enjoy a day outing to the nearby Great Wolf Lodge or Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

These are simply three of the course options in and around the Greater Charlotte area.  As you stay at a Charlotte Resort, keep in mind there are many other options, and we would love to hear about your favorite places to play golf in Charlotte.  There are also plenty of smaller golf courses in Charlotte that offer timeshare ownership as well.