Savannah -Hyatt Hotel
 

I'm looking for advice from someone who has stayed there recently. I'll be going there in April and I've been reading some very mixed reviews about this place-such as waiting until it is remodeled, etc.
Can anyone give me their experience about this hotel-thanks.

Basde on several friends who almost stayed at this hotel, suggest you keep searching. Someone has said it was sold. Try a place in the Historic District of Savannah, for a better visit. Hyatts, etc. are always more or less the same, which is good, but perhaps you're looking for some place unique.

Husband stayed there in October 2004 while visiting son at college. Stayed on hotel points, so can't comment on cost. While no complaints about hotel, he said it was nothing special. He did not have river view room. One thing he did comment on was that he was trying to arrange for later check-out, and they would only budge an hour on check-out time. Since fall is busy time in Savannah, I am not necessarily faulting them on that.

If you want a big hotel instead of inn or B&B, we have stayed several times at Hampton Inn Historic District. Nice room, nice breakfast included, easy and reasonable parking. One block up from shops and restaurants on River St.

We stayed at the Hyatt in the spring. We lucked out on a corner room so we go a nice view of the river as well as town. The room was nice, the bathroom needed a total reno.
It is in an excellent location , so it depends on what you are going for, the room served us well as the bed was comfortable, it was light and cool. It was very warm and humid when we were there. We mostly just slept and changed clothes there.
There was another hotel, right in the middle of the Historic section, maybe a Hilton?
I would probably stay at the Hyatt again :)

travelplans = blacktie = leone = sobetraveler = no personal experience, most advice based upon his Fodors grudges = ignore.

Interestingly several of our relatives, and two friends, booked into a Hyatt in Savannah, I believe along the river, and initially liked it, but were not overjoyed with the bathroom. They did stick it out, but recommended when we brought down our aging uncle that we find a better place that is actually located in the Historic area, which we did, and it was lovely. The Hampton Inn, as I recall. Unrelated question: are some of these posters hysterical?

LOL, Joan, I guess we can add
frequentflyer to the list~

Okay-well, I'm not sure what to do. The conference my husband is going to is at the Hyatt-but he doesn't have to stay there, but preferably somewhere close. My mother and I will be joining him for part of it. So knowing that, do you think we should stay at the Hampton Historic District, the Mulberry or stick with what we got?

Also, maybe I should start a new thread, but the same people may know answer to this question. Should we go to the afternoon tour or evenign candlelight tour of teh historic house and garden walk for the Festival of Houses and Gardens going on there?
Would the Rutledge Avenue tour be a good one? Thanks alot!

Oh, the replies, lol, again, and again. Sorry to keep you waiting. Have a good holiday season and joyous 2005. Now, for some fun and travel!

OOPs joan, there he is again!! LOL

Oh, I would do the candlelight tour!
and the Hyatt is in the Historic District, as far as I know. It is on Bay and River streets, you just walk straight from the hotel, past all the gardens, and squares.
I recommend that you eat at the Pink House!
It is such a lovely city, we are going back soon, to see the Christmas decorations~

If it is for a conference based at Hyatt you could just stay where you are - it is not like it is a dumpster or anything - we just like the Hampton Inn better. Hyatt is right on River St (the street closest to the river, obviously) and the back is on Bay St. Bay St is actually one flight of stairs up from River Street, even though they are parallel. Hampton Inn is on Bay Street about 3 blocks from Hyatt. Both are convenient to shops, restaurants, etc.

Laurelee...if you click on travelplans, frequentflyer, and busiest beaver's names...you'll find they have no posting history. It is the same person, and he unregisters after he posts. Joan hit the nail squarely on the head regarding his posts and his reason for doing it. Unfortunately his game is a serious disservice to anyone wanting information on that hotel.

First, the Hyatt is very definitely squarely in the historic district and most convenient to everything--the river, River St., City Market and the squares. The historic district is relatively smalll...a mile from north to south, so easily walked from the hotel. Secondly, as I've posted several times, but Leone/blacktie/travelplans/etc is either forgetful or chooses to ignore, that hotel ownership changed hands over a year ago. Hyatt has been and will continue to be the operator. The new ownership has plans for a multi-million dollar renovation, and I have no idea what stage they are in. I have not personally been in the hotel since Labor Day 2001. In view of the reports regarding a renovation, I just looked at their website to see if room decor has changed since our '01 visit, and it has, so the renovation has begun. The fabrics are all different, but the case goods are the same still--have no idea if that is in the works as well. I have a fairly intimate knowledge of the hotel, having lived in it for 4 years while my husband was the GM. We were transferred 8 years ago but love the city and go back periodically.

That hotel is definitely better than the Mulberry, and the Hilton. Have not been in the Hampton Inn so can't comment on that. For the entire period we were there, it was the premiere hotel in the historic district. Now the Westin has arrived and is very definitely heads and shoulders over the rest, but they are also across the river so not as convenient.

I wouldn't worry about the hotel. See if you can't get a riverview room (something the Hampton Inn definitely won't have) as it's really worth the extra. The ship traffic is unbelievable. We lived on the 7th floor (really 10 floors up from the river as the 3 floor garage is under the hotel) and the bridges of the ships passed us at eye level. You sure can't beat the view. If you go to their website, the room shown is a corner room that overlooks both River St and the River. All the rooms on this corner are x36 rooms and the best of all. (336, 436, 536 etc) You are going at a beautiful time of year by the way. Things will be in bloom and the weather won't have turned hot and humid. Have a great trip.

Thank you for the replies-I'm going to try and request a #36 room and see how it goes. Have these rooms been renovated-I suppose I could ask them that-if they tell me. Were there any terraces or outdoor places with hotel-pretty courtyards? I noticed other hotels offer places like this.

I am sure that the Hyatt is a decent hotel. However, part of the charm in visiting Savannah is getting away from the busy area along the river where the Hyatt is located and staying at one of the many charming upscale B&B's a few blocks away. The Presidents' Quarters and the Eliza Thompson House are two such examples of this. It costs no more to stay in one of these places than the Hyatt or the Hampton but you get a far more unique experience than staying in a bland chain hotel.

Laurelee, hopefully you can't go wrong no matter what you select, since you may not be there long, but the advice from gail & scarlet seemed the tops. apparently they've first hand experience, as tourists and guests in Savannah. Either way, have a great trip to one of our favorite cities, and stay as close to the Historic aera as you can. Bay Street is good.

Oops there he is! :D

I'd really love to know why you do that Joe?

LOL, OO, he wants to be Famous :D

laurelee, the weather will be perfect when you are there ( I think :) We were in June and it was pretty hot by then.

Sorry Laurelee, I missed your questions. A 36 room is depicted on their website. That has different drapes, chair fabrics etc, from our '01 visit, but the furniture (case goods) is the same. That is usually a part of a renovation, especially as it's been there for a while, and it could be that portion isn't complete yet...or the picture hasn't been changed. You'll have to ask.

Neither the Marriott, Hyatt, nor Hilton have courtyards, but some of the smaller B&B's do. Hyatt does have an area along the East side of the hotel, off the lobby area where they put some outdoor tables for use during nicer weather and for functions. They should be in place while you are there, as April is about as nice as it gets.

Scarlett--<b>In</b>famous is more like it! :)

Scarlett-have you been on one of those candlelight tours? Can you tell me more about them...thanks. I'm trying to decide what I should make reservations for as I'm sure they book up quickly. We don't have a lot of time before we move on to Savannah.
Any thing else I should know for our trip?

I was just in Savannah in November. I took an outstanding private walking tour with Bobby Davis. www.exploresavannah.com
He will customize to fit your needs. By the way, I stayed at the Hilton DeSoto which is in a great location, but I wouldn't call it a great Hotel. It was fine for my purposes.

I've stayed at that Hyatt many times and love the hotel! The location is excellent and I've never ever had a service problem with a Hyatt.

As a matter of fact, I stayed there St. Patrick's weekend 2001 and was so impressed with the way the staff handled the crowds and people, I wouldn't consider staying anywhere else.

The Westin across the river is nicer and newer but the water taxi is a bit of a pain.

Such a short season to be so bitter. Have a nice holiday, a prosperous 2005, and if the joy bug comes around, invite it to take a big bite!

Well, I've certainly opened up a can of worms here--and also gotten some good advise. If I hadn't have read the reviews on tripadvisor, I would have no problem staying at the Hyatt based on what I read here-but the majority of the reviews there are very bad-makes it hard to go with it. Are there any real recent experiences at the Hyatt out there? Thanks, again.

Well, laurelee, it's your decision ... at least you don't rush to judgment, lol. I bet it's Hyatt.

lauralee, Scarlett was just there this Spring.

In all fairness, it is a Hyatt and they do have standards to keep. I wouldn't worry.

Fodors advice is only as useful as one's understanding of what people post. Enjoy Savannah, I'm sure whatever you choose will be tops.

Happytravels...that is indeed the case. I am certain you know that despite my past relationship with that hotel, or any Hyatt, I post in as unbiased a way as possible. I've recommended people stay across the river at the Westin depending on their situation, and that others select a B&B; that people avoid some specific Hyatts, and in a specific instance, where someone was torn between our current hotel and one downtown, recommended that they use one of the downtown hotels, rather than ours, as it met their needs better. I have no interest in furthering other Hyatt's and I am not one to be loyal at any and all costs. My aim is to help those in areas I'm familiar with and in as unbiased a manner as possible and I think I accomplish that. You might give it a try one day.

Now...to laurelee, my husband just forwarded me this email he received today from the current GM. I'll do a cut and paste, leaving out only his name. How timely!

<i>On December 13th Hyatt Regency Savannah will begin a $10 million renovation project of its entrance, lobby, guestroom, suites and guestroom corridors .
The hotel will close its doors for the first time in 23 years for the demolition of the lobby. We will reopen on Friday, December 17th.
On December 16th at 1:00 PM, power will be shut down to the building for approximately 4 hours for the testing of back up generators and other necessary maintenance projects.
We are truly exited about our hotel's renovation and how it will provide our guests with a sense of the historic feel of Savannah and the river front while including all the modern luxuries that they've come to expect.
Have a great day.


General Manager
Hyatt Regency Savannah
Two West Bay Street
Savannah , Georgia 31401

&quot;Extreme Makeover of Historic Proportions&quot;
Completion Spring of 2005</i>

OO, I hope they hold off on the opening until after March 17th! LOL!

GT...I know what you're saying! They'll only be closed for a few days, not for the entire renovation. I was going to add for laurelee too, that from my past experience with renovations (I've been through a major one while we lived there and another here) they take out one floor at a time so guests aren't inconvenienced by the work being done. Winter, from Thanksgiving until March is sort of slow in Savannah, and I'm sure they timed it with that in mind.

GoT...I enjoyed reading your remarks about crowd handling during St. Patrick's Day--nice to get feedback! That was a HUGE concern for the hotel each year...to get it right for the guests and the hotel (physically), and it sounds as if they have. My husband started a policy of giving registered guests wristbands to wear the 17th and only those people were allowed in. Prior to that, it'd become an unbelievable zoo.

OO, as one of those guests given a wristband, I was completely floored with the professionalism of the hotel staff and management during all of the St. Patrick's weekend chaos.

St. Patrick's was on a Saturday that year and we were a little worried about all the traffic in the lobby (I traveled with my gay boyfriend and his life partner). At 3PM, they shutdown the hotel to everyone but guests. They had security man at the elevator on River Street and hotel employee riding in the elevator and had security on every floor of the parking garage. The hotel shut down one of the elevators that went from outside the hotel to the main lobby.

Riding up the elevator to the lobby, the elevator stopped at one of the parking decks and two young men got on. Hotel employee asked to see wristbands, young men said they had not received them yet (we were given very definite instructions), hotel employee walkie-talkied police and escorted young men off elevator into the arms of the police for tresspassing.

We could not beleive what a sea of calm the hotel was! Being a former hotel manager, I understand the magnitude of this task.

As a matter of fact things went so smoothly, Jay, who is a college professer that teaches Hospitality Management, uses this Hyatt as an example routinely.

My hat is off to Hyatt Savannah for a job well done.

For anyone who has never spent St. Patrick's in Savannah, it is the second largest St. Patrick's gathering in the nation.

What a wonderful story GT!! I'll print it off to share with my husband tonight, who will be delighted to read it. Thanks so much! There was War Room strategy surrounding the event, as I'm sure you can imagine, with weeks of planning and co-ordination until it all fell into place properly.

I really hated St Patrick's Day...first year was curious to see it, then after that couldn't wish it away fast enough. Years like yours where it fell on or near a weekend, it was two or 3 days of madness...a la Mardi Gras--(where he got his first experiences with crowd control as his first two hotels, Royal Sonesta and Royal Orleans, were both in the Quarter.)

Our son was home for his Spring Break, arriving the 17th, the first year we lived there. I still laugh at his comment: &quot;That's the first time I've ever seen adults as drunk as kids in the dorm on a Saturday night&quot;. As a veteran of Saturday nights in the dorm, I knew exactly what he was saying!! :D

Regarding 3/17 in Savannah - the college my son attends purposely scedules Spring Break that week so students will not be in Savannah that week. He vows to spend at least one St. Patrick's Day in Savannah during his 4 years (I suggested it be the year he is 21 and of legal drinking age)

laurelee - please take it upon yourself to research other properties on tripadvisor and on this site. This thread is going nowhere - you have a couple of posters that have had experiences with the Hyatt and the Hampton but they are boring hotels that could be located anywhere. Look into some of the local b&amp;b's as I suggested previously. There are better options in Savannah than chain hotels. I am not against chain hotels - I did a two week trip to the old south last July - most of the places we stayed at were chain hotels. However, in Savannah, there are many good upscale well situated options that are better than what people are promoting here.

Hi laurlee,
If you decide that you want to look at B&amp;B's , there is one B&amp;B that we were considering. It is called the Planters Inn. It is right next to the Old Pink House, where you must go for dinner :)

http://www.plantersinn.com/

It was while we were having dinner there, that we learned about the candlelight tours. They sound great and I love getting to wander into other peoples gardens :)
They are amazingly friendly and hospitable in Savannah. We were walking, saw a man with his dogs, *very old dogs* and I made a remark to him about the dogs. We ended up standing and visiting with this man for almost an hour, invited in to have tea, it was heartwarming and made us like the city even more.

Scarlett, your link is for Charleston's Planters Inn, which has a great reputation, and you really <i>need</i> to go to Charleston. Here's one for Savannah's: http://www.plantersinnsavannah.com/default.htm

I haven't been in it, but have stayed at the Gastonian, which is beautiful (but has changed ownership since we stayed). Have looked at Foley House rooms on Chippewa Square--<i>really</i> nice and I love that square--of the B&amp;BS, that's probably my favorite, but the square has as much to do with it as anything else. Have looked at Ballastone and Kehoe House too, also good, but I did all this 8 years ago, and there are undoubetedly new guys on the block and I don't know how my favorites have held up. Kehoe wasn't a favorite actually--rooms were good but atmosphere seemed &quot;stiff&quot;.

Although I enjoy B&amp;B's, DH doesn't. It doesn't have a thing to do with his profession, but a privacy issue, and the fact that he doesn't want to go to breakfast and make small talk with anyone...perhaps because he has to in his job, he doesn't want any part of it when he's on his own time.

Whoops! Thank you OO, yes, the Planters Inn on Abercorn St, next to the Old Pink house. Which btw- provides their room service..good enough reason to stay there :D

I know, I do want to go to Charleston ~

Thanks for all your advise-I'll just need to make my decison now-always a difficult thing for me when it comes to lodging! Can't wait to see Charleston and Savannah for the first time....