Jacksonville/Savannah
 

I have booked 4 nites at The Gastonian (one of the less expensive rooms) in Savannah in June (19-23). Now I am thinking of just doing three nites there, and spending the 4th nite in Jacksonville/Amelia Island (to check out Amelia Island). A couple reasons for this: 1) maybe 4 nites in Savannah is too much (?), and 2) would be nice to be close to airport on our last day (we're flying home from Jacksonville).

Do you think this is a good idea, or should I just keep the 4 nites at Gastonian in Savannah? Any thoughts on where my wife and I could stay in Jacksonville or Amelia Island that are nice (but not outrageously expensive like the Ritz or Amelia Island Plantation)?

Thanks for any help.

Hi Evan,
We live in Jax and went to Savannah last June. We stayed for 2 nights..which we enough for us. The city is tiny and we felt we had seen a lot, so I think 3 nights would give you plenty of time to see Savannah.
Amelia Island is lovely, the Fernandina area is fun and worth a day.
When we were househunting here , we spent the first week, driving out to Amelia Island each day- it was very appealing.
So I do like your idea of breaking it up and being close to the airport is very important to me too.
There are some lovely areas in Jax as well as places to for dinner or lunch that would be fun too.
So that is my 2 cents worth and gets this message back to the Top :)

Thanks very much. Where do you suggest I stay for the fourth nite? I think a cozy bed and breakfast would be nice in the heart of the island (Hoyt House? other?); is the Amelia Island Plantation worth the money?

Thanks again.

I have not stayed at the Amelia Island Plantation, if I did, the Ritz would be fine with me :D
I cannot think of the name of the hotel , it is right on the Main Street of Fernandina, has a pool and is maybe a half block from the water/docks. I think it is Hampton Inn..that is where we had reservations, although we spent most of our time in the Adams Mark in Jax Downtown..(which has been bought by Hyatt and will be getting a zillion dollar overhaul)..
I would just stay in the area where you will spend the most time ( which for us was Fernandina) There is a Fodorite who lives on Amelia, maybe he will see this..or his daughter who posts here too :)

Elizabeth Pointe Lodge on Amelia is very nice. You can take a bike to see Fort Clinch, if you're so inclined. And if your legs are up to it, you could ride the bike to downtown Fernandina. Amelia Island Plantation, though very nice (ditto the Ritz), is sort of removed from mainstream Fernandina.

Horseback riding on the beach on Amelia Island!
Drive over to Big Talbot & Little Talbot Islands, see the tree graveyard on the beach on Big T.
A wonderful restored plantation called Kingsley Plantation is over just past the Talbots, all a bridge away from Amelia Island. Maybe you should make it 2 days Savannah and 2 Jax :D

As much as I love Savannah (one of the places I call home), I can't imagine being there as a tourist for 4 nights. Enjoy part of your time in another section of this part of the country.

Yes, it is the Hampton that is downtown. There are many B&B's in the downtown area. http://www.ameliaisland.org/lodging/bb.php
The Plantation is nice, but I don't think you would get the value out of a 1 or 2 night trip. It is about a 20 minute drive to town as well.

I was recently in Savannah & agree that 2 nights is plenty. Be sure to eat at "The Lady & Sons" (Paula Deen is on the Food Channel) & "Mrs Wilkes". I was there in January when Mrs W was closed for the month.

I'd do two & two, you may also want to explore other places to stay in Savannah. It has been maybe 3 years since I've stayed ther but it was not good (nor a great location) for the money. Perhaps someone who has stayed there more recently than I that can address that. In Amelia, the Fairbanks House has a pool & is my personnal favorite. If you prefer the beach, Elizabeth Pointe would be the place to stay.