Dickie_Gr

We were thinking of going to Fernandina Beach at some stage, just outside Jacksonville. Looks interesting and would work in well with the Sea Islands of Georgia.

hopingtotravel

Am OP. Booked airfare. Flying Portland to Savannah round trip. Plan is to drive to Asheville, then Charleston (3 nights), lunch Beaufort, then Savannah 2 more nights. Whole thing is costing me 9 nights. Later.

starrs

Sounds like a great trip.

JanetKMR

I agree! Can't wait to hear all about it!

hopingtotravel

Time is early April; will do a trip report. Have been going through old posts here to pick hotels.

First night arriving at Savannah airport will probably just want a nice chain hotel. Do they do Best Western Plus or Marriott Fairfield in that part of the country?

Dickie_Gr

Great news.

Great trip.

starrs

There's a decent BWP in the Historic District and it's a short cab ride away. If you want to stay near the airport, that's Pooler GA and the LaQuinta there is very nice. Lots of other choices near the airport. I'm not a fan of Fairfields in the SE. Fewer BWs than in the west.

jamie99

I stayed at the Marriott Springhill Suites near the airport 3 years ago en route to Hilton Head, very nice and free hot breakfast buffet.

DRJ

My $0.02. Lunch in Beaufort: Griffin Market, downtown. The best Italian restaurant in SC. Twenty five seats and a million dollar wine collection.

Azaleas: The trail through the woods between Middleton Plantation and Middleton Inn, just north of Charleston. A zillion azaleas. The inn is a fine example of late 20th century architecture and an excellent stay.

hopingtotravel

Starrs, I'll start with looking up the BWP in the Historic District.

suewoo

The Hampton is well located and so is BW. Mills House is nice and Queen Street always smells like bacon on that block-Husk.

starrs

Clarification - the Mills House is Charleston. I loved it when it was a holiday inn group hotel. I could get away with HD because it was HI when corporate budgets were tight.

hopingtotravel

I hadn't forgotten to get back here after I booked. Just sinusitis and being busy!
OK--first week of April: fly in to Savannah, overnight at Staybridge,
drive to Asheville, stay at Courtyard by Marriott, hopefully a quick morning at Biltmore.
Then drive that same afternoon to Charleston, 3 nights at Indigo Inn,
Then 3 nights at the Planters in in Savannah before flying out.
It's the Biltmore section I'm a bit dubious about. DH doesn't like long drives, stairs, or overly long walks. I'll probably have to do part of the driving if I can even coerce him to see part of the grounds/building.
But when we get back will do a trip report.

starrs

That's a lot of driving to and from Asheville just for a morning at the Biltmore. I'd skip it or add another day in Asheville, especially if your husband doesn't like long drives.

hopingtotravel

Starrs, Thanks. I've been debating that. The argument was, coming from the Pac NW, when would I ever be down there again. Still time to think about it.

starrs

You have 6 nights total in Charleston and Savannah, not counting your arrival night. I very sincerely believe you will regret rushing the Asheville part of the trip. Taking a night away from Charleston or Savannah and booking a second night in Asheville makes sense - and I don't think you'll regret it at all. I think you SHOULD go to Asheville, just add on another night.

hopingtotravel

Hmmm, hadn't thought of it that way. Still time to make some changes.

tenthumbs

A friend and I did a similar trip. We got to Asheville after most things in the town were closed, got up early and hit the Biltmore. We spent almost all day there and were disappointed we didn't have time to see the winery. How much time you spend at the Biltmore will depend on how much you want to see. I second starrs' advice to either add another night to Asheville or skip it all together. There's plenty to see and do in Charleston and Savannah, and you risk being disappointed by such little time in Asheville.

Gretchen

That doesn't seem logical if flying in and out of Savannah. And I would cut at least a day from Savannah, personally, if adding a day to Asheville--which I agree.
Stay in Savannah at the beginning a couple of days (maybe 3 nights since you are arriving late). Go to Asheville for 2 days (getting up early as you said first). Then finish in Charleston for 3 days and leave from Savannah, hopefully just driving to the airport from Charleston.
I much prefer consolidating time in places--lots of time lost moving around/out/in.

hopingtotravel

OP here again. Well, I had a major spanner thrown into the works a month ago when I fell and broke 6 ribs. Doc still seems to think I'm OK for a trip early April. That's departure about 20 days from now. Hopefully can be off pain pills by then.

However, upon lots of advice, I've taken Asheville and the Biltmore out of the mix, and added that one night on to Charleston. So, although I know Fodorites hate multiple stops and hotel changes, we're staying one night at the waterfront Courtyard Marriott, and 3 nights at Indigo Inn. Neither of us are going to be good for strenuous walks if it's actually 80 degrees there, and this way we'll be close to a couple of different segments.

Actually I don't know what's wrong with me in planning places that involved heat and humidity. Of course, I was originally looking at mid-March, but AK Air made it too difficult to get mileage tickets.