My wife and I would like to stop at either Charleston or Savannah for 2 nites on our way to Hilton Head (we are driving). Having never been to either, we are not sure which would be the best. We would like to stay in a nicer b&b that is close to the sights. I'm gathering from other replies that Savannah is easier to see on foot than Charleston is. Any suggestions would be appreciated. We are traveling in August. Thanks in advance-

I think Charleston is much nicer than Savannah. It's a very romantic city and has lots to do. I'm sure a b&b would be nice, but my favorite hotel is the courtyard by Marriott on the marina. It is right on the water and is a part of an absolutly beautiful marina. If you decide to stay here, be sure and tell them you want a room facing the Marina. You wont be dissappointed. Have a great time whatever you decide.

I find Charleston clean, charming and safe feeling. I won't detail my specific opinions about Savannah except to say that between the two I'd definitely choose Charleston (even if the cost and effort were twice as high).

I vote Savannah. If you go there, you should eat at Mrs. Wilkes' Boarding House, this is a family style place that is absolutely the best real southern food that I have ever had. Enjoy.

We spent a week in Savannah and Charleston a couple of years ago. We left Savannah early because we got a little bored. There were a lot of retirees on architectural tours. We didn't see many people our age (late 30's/early 40's). Savannah is certainly very beautiful and definitely worth visiting, but we didn't find a whole lot to do after we'd been there a day or two. Charleston, on the other hand, is a larger city, also gorgeous and architecturally significant, but more to do and see, more museums, more restaurants. Just more to do at night, too. If I absolutely HAD to choose, I'd pick Charleston.

Absolutely, Charleston. Visited Charleston several years ago; Savannah 2 months ago. Like the earlier poster, we were booked for 3 nights & left after 2 -- the squares after dusk are empty except for the homeless; River Street is so short that 1 night does it all with no real "go back for's".
Don't know where you got the impression that Charleston's Historic District is more difficult to walk than Savannah --- quite the opposite. You will need the get-on-get-off tour bus in Savannah, not Charleston. We did take an introductory trolley tour in Charleston, as well as an historic walking tour, but really the trolley tour only takes you out to the military school ( interesting due to the women cadet question) which was not easily "walkable" from the Historic District, so we could have easily skipped that tour.
The market in Charleston is lots of fun; in Savannah it's a multi-storied cement parking garage. There was a good selection of houses to tour in Charleston & the one we selected was great. In Savannah Lee's headquarters were closed (it's used by the Church so opening is unpredictable, unlike a real museum). We selected the house that started the Savannah historic preservation movement as our alternative -- it was so-so.
Drive into Charleston via the historic route, see Magnolia Plantation on this route, then stop to visit Ft. Sumter, drive into the heart of Charleston, park and don't get in the car again until you leave.
RE: Mrs. Wilkes' Boarding -- we had read about this prior to our visit & decided that it was not for us (fried chicken is not our idea of a nice lunch). However, since we were in the area about 12:30, we walked over to see what it looked like. There was a huge line. I commented to my husband that no way would all these people be served since it closes about 2pm. The response from someone on line was "Oh, no -- we are waiting for the 3rd seating. It only takes about 40 minutes for each seating." -- Sometimes on vacation we do grab a quick lunch -- the most memorable being a slice of pizza at the end of the Arne bridge in Florence, but usually we like to relax with a leisurely lunch, 1.5 hrs to 2 hrs. for a glass of wine, an omelet or pasta, cheese plate or dessert, espresso (this was one of the great lunches we had in Paris last fall). If grease and rush is your thing, go for Mrs. Wilkes, Savannah.
However, in Charleston we did have lunch on the porch at Poogan's Porch ( 72 Queen St). Great food, service & ambience -- and linger we could & did.
Hands down, Charleston -- a place to enjoy and hopefully we will return. Savannah, ok we have seen it; it's been crossed off our USA list; absolute no interest in returning.

Good question! I vote for Charleston! Superb water views, fabulous restaurants and much more to do IMO: Aquarium, Ghost tours, Carriage tours, fabulous "Charleston" Houses,,,, One of my favorite things to do, was go to the newly built waterfront park and sit on the swings there, that was one of the highlights of our trip there! Charleston is a very Romantic city. We stayed at the Doubletree, which is in the very center of town. Very big plus: they have great beaches nearby. I do like Savannah, but I adore Charleston! Judy

Here's one more vote for Charleston. We enjoyed Savannah....but enjoyed Charleston much, much more, pretty much for the reasons already posted.

Definately stay the 2 nights in Charleston, Meeting Street Inn is nice, our favorite is The Harborview Inn, they will send up breakfast in the morn., have wine and cheese in the afternoon, and freshly baked cookies and milk at night. There is a variety of tours to take to get an overview of Charleston, then walk around to explore on your own. Savannah you can do as day trips from Hilton Head, its only a 45 minute drive into Sav. from here.
Enjoy

Any doubt left? Charleston! Savannah has it's own charm, but I suspect you appreciate it more if you stay longterm or live there. For a brief "tourist" (sorry!) trip, I enjoyed Charleston more.

Well, actually there may still be an uncertainty about the choice. Brian, you asked about seeing sites on foot. Well, that's definitely Savannah, as others have acknowldged. You also indicated two nights ... possibly an additional reason for the smaller of the two. If that resonates, then you might consider saving Charleston for when you have more time, and use this briefer opportunity to see the smaller, yet quite charming town of Savannah. It will be in August, I believe you said, and that suggests heat and humidity. Perhaps shorter distances,less to see, briefer walks might be an unexpected blessing. But whichever you chose, how can you lose! Ciao

You might consider what we did. We left Hilton Head for a one day outing in Savannah. We had a local business connection who joined us for lunch at Mrs. Wilkes Boarding House. Don't miss this if you go - it's family style dining and the queue starts early. Don't get mad if you see locals sneaking in the back way. Flat rate lunch was about $12 but carried us through dinner time. We continued our day with a driving tour by our host. You can't beat having a LOCAL tell you all the little secrets that you may not hear on a tour, but a one day tour would probably be plenty if everyone else has you swayed towards Charleston.
Good luck.

While you're here...
Does anyone have anything to say about the dinner cruises in Charleston("Spirit of Charleston"? I've booked reservationas at a couple of the finer restaurants, and I'm wondering if this
dinner cruise will be a total disaster by comparison, or a pleasant, worth-the-$35-per-person outing?
Thank you !

Another vote for Charleston, though I love Savannah also. The last time we visited the two, we stayed on the riverfront in Savannah, trip before that at the Gastonian B&B. We stayed at Charleston Place Hotel - it was wonderful, and I think Charleston has the best restaurants of the two. I would happily live in Charleston!

Actually in August I think I might not have fun either place. But I assume you know what to expect. So, I would stay somewhere downtown Charleston. Meetingstreet Inn, Charleston Place, Planters, Indigo Inn, Jasmin House, they all have web sites and all very nice and close to the FOOD!!! Meetingstreet Inn is still a classic (almost a b&b feel) and gets you in the spirit of things right away.
Even if you have trouble getting up just a few steps, Charleston invites you to keep walking with rewards around every corner. Every time I return home from Charleston I think about buying a very nice camera!! Must eat dinner at Ansons (upstairs if you want it more just the two of you and she would probably like your effort for this!!) Blossoms, Magnolias, North of Broad, Carolinas and many others. Good cheap lunch can be had outside at Cafe Lana's. The Aquarium is finally open ('coming soon' poster in visitor center for the past 4 years!!)and is very nice.
Art galleries are more fun to stroll thru than the market. Walk the market quickly just so you can say "been there, done that" Then head towards the parks, Church St., Broad St., Queen St., and Water St.(if you can find this little treasure of a street).
We really are not talking about a huge area here. After these great dinners you will find yourself wanting to walk it off and you surely don't mind doing it in Chalreston.
I think you will want to make Charleston your next destination stop.
Savannah was worth seeing but, I have not felt the need to go back. A visit to Charleston is always on the list and still we discover more each time.

I think that most people would definitely prefer Charleston, of the two, as a place to visit.

Just returned from two weeks in the south staying in Savannah, Beaufort, and then up to Charleston. Loved them all. By all means eat at Anson, but I disagree with the previous poster about sitting upstairs. I went up there to use the ladies room and it's Siberia. No atmosphere at all. Loved the restaurant though.