bsktfan

My two age 30-ish daughters and I have made arrangements to fly to Savannah for a 4 night stay during the first week of October. I have been reading posts and researching places to stay and would appreciate some tips from those who reside or have visited Savannah. First, we need to book a place to stay...then we enjoy food, architecture, walking, shopping and have each read "the Book".... so interested in the things that make Savannah unique. We did not intend to rent car..should we do so to see the surrounding areas?

Myer

Stay in the Historic District. We stayed at Planters Inn on Reynolds Square and were vere happy with it.

It's right next to The Olde Pink House which is a must go to restaurant.

We also ate at Bistro 45 and it was also very good.

The Historic District is quite small. Essentially we walked the square, went to a few houses, etc and were done in less than two days.

We then picked up a rental car and drove to Beaufort and on the Charleston. We planned it to stop at a couple of plantations just outside of Charleston as we had the car for one day.

Savannah is quite a bit smaller than Charleston. Both are very different but Charleston requires more time.

For us dinners are usually not an event. We'll eat at a fairly nice restaurant one night and faster food the next. This is the only trip we've been on where we planned dinners to be an event. We were not disappointed.

palmettoprincess

I stayed at the Hyatt last September. It was quiet. I had a great room overlooking the river. Other conference attendees were at the Bohemian next door (an independent hotel affliated with Marriott) and they loved it. The lobby looked neat. Avia is new and across the street. Avia is not riverfront. You will not need a car for downtown. It is compact and there is a good bus system with a free tourist destination loop. You will need a car if you want to go to Bonaventure Cementary or Tybee Beach. I probably would rent a car for one or two days of the four day visit. The best tip I can give you is to choose weekdays for your visit rather than a weekend if possible. Rooms in the historic section are often $100 a night cheaper during the week. That means you have more money to eat out!

bsktfan

Thanks for the tips..the more I read, the more I think we will rent a car for a day. The Olde Pink House for dinner is an option that we considered...we will be celebrating my youngest daughter's 30th birthday! Our flights are already booked Thursday thru Monday. Any other suggestions??

gmoney

-Stay at the Avia.
-Try their breakfast buffet it is really good.
-On first day take one of the trolley tours. (great way to get a feel for the city.
-Go to Boar's head Grill and Tavern, and get the shrimp and grits.
-Just take a leisurely stroll or two.
-Check out Jazzd for music/drinks.
-Be sure to see the John the Baptist Cathedral.
-Get pralines on River street.
-Go see the lighthouse and fort on Tybee Island.
-Parking on Typee Island sucks.

bsktfan

Avia look great but a bit pricey. Any other accomodation suggestions? Definitely planning a tour and will follow up on the shrimp and grits with pralines for desert...

maryanntex

A friend and I were in Savannah a couple of weeks ago. We used Starwood Points and stayed at the Four Points. It was fine, and very well located.

We also took a Savannah Rambles walking tour and thought it was wonderful. I highly recommend that. www.savannahrambles.com/

Also The Olde Pink House for dinner was delicious. Be sure to get the crispy scored flounder. It's the BEST!

We ate lunch at Leopold's. Go there, too. www.leopoldsicecream.com/

We got dessert here one night. www.luluschocolatebar.net/ The desserts (not all are chocolate) are delicious.

We were very disappointed in the shopping in Savannah.

You ought to rent a car for a least part of your time there.

suewoo

maryanntex,

What disappointed you <in the shopping in Savannah>

I am always interested in what people expect, and what they find.

judilie

See my trip report http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...a-174197-2.cfm

Michael

You might want to read my trip report; click on my name to find it.

palmettoprincess

I agree that Savannah is not a shopping destination. I walked Broughton Street from one end until the other and only came home with art supplies. The shops were well put together and interesting but alas nothing but whimsies.

gmoney

bsktfan,

A step down from the Avia, but still nice:

Doubletree
Hilton Garden Inn
Holiday Inn express
Hampton Inn

All these are right on Bay street and very nicely located. We have stayed at the HGI 3 times (When Avia prices are to high). It is very nice and walkable to everywhere.

Oh yea, I just remembered if you like very good aged balsamic vinegars and olive oils try this place:

http://www.shop.lowcountrygourmetfoods.com/

You can sample all their many flavors of vinegar and oil and they are fantastic.

MFNYC

We stayed at the Green Palm Inn (B&B) this past fall and it was great! The owner is a lovely woman, and a fabulous cook. Not only was a gourmet breakfast included, but there were freshly baked afternoon snacks and a evening wine and hors d' oeuvres hour. It's walking distance to almost everything.

5alive

Coming to this strand late, but just wondering if you or your daughters were Girl Scouts when they were growing up? Savannah is the birthplace of Juliette Gordon Lowe, founder of Girl Scouts. Her family home might be worth a visit.

bachslunch

Copied from an earlier thread here, here's what I did a couple years ago:

============

I spent two full days in Savannah as follows:

-Day 1. (morning) Savannah History Museum, Telfair Mansion and Museum, Juliet Gordon Low's Birthplace tour, (afternoon) Davenport House tour, Owen-Thomas House tour. Explored the River Street/Factor's Walk area in the evening. All done on foot.

-Day 2. (morning) Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum, Andrew Low House tour, Green-Meldrim House tour, (afternoon) First African Baptist Church tour, Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, Forsythe Park walk-through. All done on foot.

While walking between the various sights, I also got to see nearly all the squares in the historic area.

Had I had a car, I would have considered spending a third day seeing Old Fort Jackson, Fort Pulaski, and Fort McAlister, all located a short distance away but definitely not within walking distance.

"Garden of Good and Evil" based sights are on some folks's must-see list here, but I had different priorities.

One thing that helps keep things to two days in the historic district is that the Telfair and Ships-of-the-Sea museums are not large. The house and church tours took about an hour. The civil rights and history museums were a little larger.

===============

Will add that I stayed at the Planters Inn and liked it very much. For food, will suggest Mrs. Wilkes, though they're open only for lunch M-F -- excellent Southern style cooking served family style, and I thought even better then The Lady and Sons.