First GoT...good luck with the NYC Marathon!

I know you're pretty familiar with SAV so naturally when I found out I'll be heading down to SAV on Dec 2 for 2 nights with some girlfriends, I immediately thought of you. If there are any other SAV aficionados, I'd love to hear from you too.

One of the things we'd like to do is go on a ghost tour. What's the best one in town? I saw an old post but would love some more current feedback.

Also was thinking about going to Paula Deen's restaurant. What's the skinny? Not a fan of buffets and saw one listed on the restaurant's site in addition to the a la carte menu.

Any suggestions for other restaurants? I know there are a lot of great upscale restaurants in SAV but some traveling companions are on a budget so I'm thinking around the $12 - $18 entree range. We're all pretty adventerous when it comes to food so we're open to any suggestions. Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Rooms sounds yummy but I see they're closed on weekends...anything similar you'd suggest?

We've got ressies at the Marriott Courtyard in the Historic District as well as the Hampton Inn in the Historic District -- any feedback on either of these hotels?

Looking at the SAV CVB site, it looks like there will be a lot going on that weekend! Can't wait as it has been many years since I've been to SAV.

Many thanks!

GoTravel is an Charleston fan. I just got back from Savannah this afternoon - and dined with 3 ladies last night and we discussed pros and cons of Savannah locales. Here are a few comments based on your questions.

Stay at the Hampton Inn vs. Courtyard. Courtyard was my first stop in my chaffeur service last night and my friend said she would never stay there again. It just isn't convenient. It's at Liberty and MLK, off to the side of the historic district and a long walk to anything. The Hampton Inn is right on Bay Street (1 block from River Street) and is walking distance of anything. It's my fav in the historic district, based on location and free breakfast. Nice hotel as well. By the way, the Courtyard only offers valet parking and charges $10/ night.

The Yankee of the group said she just didn't enjoy Lady & Sons (Paula Deen's restaurant). If you don't like southern cooking as in the buffet options, then order off the menu. I love the asparagus on pumpernickel sandwich. Sounds strange, but is yummy. The wait is long, but they give you pagers now so you can wander a bit if you have to wait. There are some shops in the City Market area - and a great gelato store!

Haven't done the ghost tour. I called to make reservations for the "original" ghost store and was waiting at Clarey's as instructed - but the guide was a no-show. I called the # and only got "sorry" as a response.

B. Matthews in a nice bakery with good breakfasts and lunches. Felt like we were dining in Paris. OO posted recently that she enjoyed the Olympia (formerly Olympic) rest. on River Street. I've wanted to stop for the past 2 trips - and will do it next time. My friends said there fav place on River Street is Hueys. I'm just not a fan of River Street - except to stop to buy pralines and fudge and the candy shop. Pralines for presents and fudge for me.

SoHo Cafe would be a good option in the Mrs. Wilkes area. Very popular with locals and regular visitors. I enjoyed the Gryffon Tea Room recently - nice mix of menu options along with a traditional tea - and wonderful tea menu. Be sure to stop at the SCAD store across the street for unique handmade items and gifts.

My fav rest in Sav is The Pink House, bar none. If you don't want to splurge, then at least stop in the downstairs tavern and have a drink in front of the fire - and maybe an appetizer. She crab soup, fried green tomatoes and shrimp with grits cake are my favorites.

That's a start at least. Savannah was gorgeous this week - beautiful fall colors but temps in the 77-80 degree range!

I took a glance at tripadvisor.com to see if there is anything I couldn't think of.

At City Market, Vinny Van-Go-Go's is great, cheap pizza. If you are looking for a moderate restaurant in CM, try Belford's. Not great, but good - and good Bloody Marys and Sunday brunch. The other restaurant across the walk is awful Can't think of the name of it. For a splurge, Garibaldi's is great. Sapphire Grill has great reviews - I haven't eaten there.

Admist the squares, the Six Pence Pub is good. One of my favorite memories is eating out at one of the sidewalk tables with my pups and then riding "home" to my self-catering apt in a pedicab.

Have a good time in Savannah. It's lovely - and should be temperate at that time of year and beautfully decorated for the holidays.

Many thanks Starrsville! I am looking forward to my visit as it has been way too long and pretty sad since I live in Charleston and SAV is so close.

Thanks for the advise about Hampton Inn...definitely seemed closer to the action. The only way we'll end up a the Courtyard is if my Marriott contacts are able to get the rate lowered to the employee rate for me which I doubt will happen as there's a race and a lot of other events in town that weekend.

B. Matthews definitely sounds like a place to add to our list. My folks love the Pink House and I'm hoping I can get the girls to spring for a nice dinner one of the nights we're there.

Thanks again and if you don't mind, I may ask a few more questions as I do more research...I'm the cruise director of the group.

Just thought I'd top this in case there were any others out there with suggestions. Thanks!

Just saw this travelgirl and starrsville is correct, I spend much more time in CHS than in Savannah.

My only contribution is my two favorite hotels are either the Hyatt or the Westin.

And many thanks for the well wishes!

I think we ate in Garibaldis, upstairs in the old ballroom. It was fun and the food was very good. I think I would enjoy it in the winter, we were there in early June and it was quite hot and humid.
Starrsville and I should travel together lol...the Olde Pink House is our favorite too. Complete with ghosts
And that is where I saw the people from the Ghost Tour, checking out the Pink Ghosts lol.
And Pralines are the best thing to buy on River Street..My fave - chocolate covered ... ( fat cheeked emoticon)

Paula Deen and skinny don't go in the same paragraph..there were lines on both sides of the street whenever we were there, early in the day through dinner.

We stayed in a newly refurbished room at the Hyatt on the corner with a view of Bay St and the River so we were happy with it. No experience in any other hotels, although there is a new one on Forsythe Sq that sounds great.

Have a great time, I really fell in love with Savannah and considered moving there, for a minute, til I remembered the humidity

Thanks Folks! GoT, where are you? I thought you lived down in GA...do you live in the MB area? You mentioned you did marketing for golf resorts and for some reason I thought you were in GA.

We've done a daytrip to Savannah from Hilton Head the past two years. One time we at at Mrs Wilkes and the other at Lady & Sons. We very much preferred Mrs Wilkes. The food was more interesting and there was a lot more variety - also really enjoyed the family style experience. Lady & Sons was packed & we did have to wait outside even though we got there when they opened. The food was good, but not really anything that special IMHO. DH is a big fried chicken fan and he wasn't overly impressed. We did the buffet and the mac & cheese was really good but everything else was okay (though the sweet tea was delicious). Have fun - Savannah is a lovely city.

A good ghost tour is the haunted pub tour. I don't have a contact number, but the tour begins at the Six Pence Pub (if that helps). There is also a ghost tour that takes you around in a hearse. It looks interesting.

Like snowrooster, I think that the food at the Lady and Son's is good, but nothing special. A place that I really enjoy eating is the River House Seafood and Bakery on River Street, but it is a little pricey.

I have stayed at the Courtyard by Marriot. It is pretty far from the rest of the downtown area. I believe that the Hampton Inn is a better choice.