Thunderbird Inn Savannah
Dec 31st, 2014, 07:34 AM
#1
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Thunderbird Inn Savannah
I came across The Thunderbird Inn many months ago when I was considering a trip to Savannah. I was so excited and instantly planned on staying there. Now my trip is actually happening I've been reading the reviews and I'm having second thoughts. Several of the "poor" reviews are things like "donuts are not a real breakfast" and "small bathroom" but there are others with "stained carpet, scuffed furniture and cleanliness issues". Recent experiences anyone? I really want to stay here but I must have CLEAN! Thanks.
. Darn. Can you recommend a moderate hotel in a better area that is waking distance to the historic sites?
Dec 31st, 2014, 05:00 PM
#4
It's not on the border anymore. A few years ago, one didn't go to the City Market/Ellis Square area at night because that definitely wasn't safe. The old 60s era parking garage was torn down and a new vibrant modern square was created and now there are folks of all ages hanging out and enjoying the evening on "that side" of the HD. Around City Market are the Andaz, Doubletree and the revitalized old Days Inn = Inn at Ellis Square.
"Back in the day", there was nothing around the Thunderbird, except the bus station across the street. No one wanted to stay at the new Hampton Inn because it was on the "bad" side of town. MLK used to be the boundary to "unsafe". Then SCAD bought old buildings, housed college students there, used the buildings for classrooms, the Marriott built a Courtyard, then Hilton built an Embassy Suites behind the Hampton, and a Springhill Suites went up on the corner and there's a new Country Inn and Suites on the other side of the Courtyard. When the Courtyard was built, only it and the Thunderbird were on that side of town. "Town" has moved to the left and the newest hotels in Savannah are on that side of town.
ALL of them are in walking distance of EVERYTHING in the historic district.
"Back in the day", there was nothing around the Thunderbird, except the bus station across the street. No one wanted to stay at the new Hampton Inn because it was on the "bad" side of town. MLK used to be the boundary to "unsafe". Then SCAD bought old buildings, housed college students there, used the buildings for classrooms, the Marriott built a Courtyard, then Hilton built an Embassy Suites behind the Hampton, and a Springhill Suites went up on the corner and there's a new Country Inn and Suites on the other side of the Courtyard. When the Courtyard was built, only it and the Thunderbird were on that side of town. "Town" has moved to the left and the newest hotels in Savannah are on that side of town.
ALL of them are in walking distance of EVERYTHING in the historic district.
Dec 31st, 2014, 05:16 PM
#5
The bus station is now the revitalized transportation center,
http://www.catchacat.org/about-cat/p...nsit-facility/
the visitor center is around the corner,
http://www.visit-historic-savannah.c...or-center.html
there's a cool new bar/restaurant across the street -
http://www.distilleryalehouse.com/
Lulu's Chocolate Bar is nearby -
http://www.luluschocolatebar.com/
A casual French bistro -
http://www.papillote-savannah.com/
and other new restaurants.
Don't forget the railway museum
http://www.chsgeorgia.org/railroad-museum.html
And the Telfair museum -
http://www.telfair.org/
http://www.catchacat.org/about-cat/p...nsit-facility/
the visitor center is around the corner,
http://www.visit-historic-savannah.c...or-center.html
there's a cool new bar/restaurant across the street -
http://www.distilleryalehouse.com/
Lulu's Chocolate Bar is nearby -
http://www.luluschocolatebar.com/
A casual French bistro -
http://www.papillote-savannah.com/
and other new restaurants.
Don't forget the railway museum
http://www.chsgeorgia.org/railroad-museum.html
And the Telfair museum -
http://www.telfair.org/
Jan 1st, 2015, 10:53 AM
#8
Jan 1st, 2015, 11:27 AM
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While I do not know about current condition of this hotel, starrs is correct about the changing/expanding areas of Savannah in regards to safety. SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) is a big part of the reason, as they continue to buy up and expand within the fringes of the Historic District. However, there seems to be a unique safety issue in some smaller southern US cities, in that there can be only a block difference between touristy and safe and really gritty gang areas - so if in doubt, ask the hotel.
Jan 1st, 2015, 01:42 PM
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Whatever you think but two years ago we drove right into a shoot out there in the daytime. There was a robbery going on and never saw so many cops. We were like egads. Guns were drawn like the old west. I would be with a group at night if I did stay there. City market has been nice for years but it starts getting iffy after that imo but I am careful when I am with my girlfriends. I am always there for St Patrick's day for three nights and we go early fall but have always stayed on Bay. Staybridge Inn is nice and reasonable. I have stayed at the Doubletree and Hilton Garden on Bay but not on parade rt so pick something on the other end of Bay. The Bohemian on river is very nice and the roof top bar has great views. Pricey though but you can go up and have a drink.
Jan 1st, 2015, 03:44 PM
#11
"...in that there can be only a block difference between touristy and safe and really gritty gang areas - so if in doubt, ask the hotel."
True.
But there's virtually no way to wander in the wrong direction from the Thunderbird. Walk away from the bridge toward the HD. If you do happen to wander a couple of blocks off that short walk, you'll be surrounded by SCAD students.
I've stayed at the Thunderbird for about 10 years now. I've never felt unsafe there. I follow the normal cautions one follows in any city, but I've walked my pups at night in front of the hotel and up past the empty lot that is now the Embassy Suites. I never felt unsafe. If you do, call a pedicab to come get you and take you wherever you want to go.
"Whatever you think but two years ago we drove right..."
"I am always there for St Patrick's day for three nights ..."
I believe you that it happened but my first thought is that if any place in any city where a robbery happens and cop cars congregate is immediately deemed "unsafe", then no one would go anywhere.
I've never gone to Savannah for St. Patrick's Day. I've been there the day before for work. I've been there the day after. Just like I'll never go to NOLA during Mardi Gras - unless I have a hotel room or rental on the second floor with a balcony. There's nothing about me that is drawn to a city during it's big party. Having said that, I did watch cams and FB coverage of last year's parade and it was very calm off the parade route. Last night I was watching coverage of the ball drop in our city and a fight broke out right in front of the reporter - and she COVERED the pushing and shoving. My thought was, "What an idiot!". Finally the cameraman was smart enough to pull the camera away from her. Folks do crazy stuff and robberies happen every day in almost every city. I don't hold that against the Thunderbird. It could have just as easily been any other hotel or location in the city.
True.
But there's virtually no way to wander in the wrong direction from the Thunderbird. Walk away from the bridge toward the HD. If you do happen to wander a couple of blocks off that short walk, you'll be surrounded by SCAD students.
I've stayed at the Thunderbird for about 10 years now. I've never felt unsafe there. I follow the normal cautions one follows in any city, but I've walked my pups at night in front of the hotel and up past the empty lot that is now the Embassy Suites. I never felt unsafe. If you do, call a pedicab to come get you and take you wherever you want to go.
"Whatever you think but two years ago we drove right..."
"I am always there for St Patrick's day for three nights ..."
I believe you that it happened but my first thought is that if any place in any city where a robbery happens and cop cars congregate is immediately deemed "unsafe", then no one would go anywhere.
I've never gone to Savannah for St. Patrick's Day. I've been there the day before for work. I've been there the day after. Just like I'll never go to NOLA during Mardi Gras - unless I have a hotel room or rental on the second floor with a balcony. There's nothing about me that is drawn to a city during it's big party. Having said that, I did watch cams and FB coverage of last year's parade and it was very calm off the parade route. Last night I was watching coverage of the ball drop in our city and a fight broke out right in front of the reporter - and she COVERED the pushing and shoving. My thought was, "What an idiot!". Finally the cameraman was smart enough to pull the camera away from her. Folks do crazy stuff and robberies happen every day in almost every city. I don't hold that against the Thunderbird. It could have just as easily been any other hotel or location in the city.
Jan 1st, 2015, 05:29 PM
#14
tdelano,
What do you need to know? Read the reviews on TripAdvisor. Pay attention to who posted the negative reviews. If there's someone who registers just to trash a property, you can pretty much figure out that they are trying to hurt the hotel's reputation. I went through two pages of very recent reviews until I read one that said anything negative. One jerk of a guy made accusations about mites, the manager called in an exterminator and the jerk refused to look at the report. The Thunderbird is an older property that offers room at the lowest prices in Savannah, offers free parking and hundreds of people are happy with that option. If you don't think it's for you, stay elsewhere. If you want a perfectly pristine property, there are lots of new and newer hotels in Savannah. You'll pay up to 2 or 3 times the price and you'll pay for parking. Only you can decide what fits your price point and your standards. The Thunderbird is what it is. Read the TA reviews to get a better idea of what that is. If it's not what you want, stay at the Andaz or the Doubletree or the Hilton Garden Inn or the Holiday Inn Express or the Staybridge Inn or the Hampton on Bay or the Planter's Inn or the Hyatt. I've stayed at all of them and like them. They are all newer than the Thunderbird and cost more. There are other new(er) hotels in Savannah, including the brand new Embassy Suites adjacent to the Thunderbird and the Hampton Inn on MLK at the corner. Check their rates. Pay the extra costs for newer, pristine, better free breakfasts, etc. and pay their $30 parking fees. There's a large selections of hotels and inns in the historic district.
Put the Thunderbird behind you and pick another hotel. There are 844 reviews on TA, you're asking the same questions twice so it appears that this is not a good hotel choice for you. Pick another one. Have a good time in Savannah.
What do you need to know? Read the reviews on TripAdvisor. Pay attention to who posted the negative reviews. If there's someone who registers just to trash a property, you can pretty much figure out that they are trying to hurt the hotel's reputation. I went through two pages of very recent reviews until I read one that said anything negative. One jerk of a guy made accusations about mites, the manager called in an exterminator and the jerk refused to look at the report. The Thunderbird is an older property that offers room at the lowest prices in Savannah, offers free parking and hundreds of people are happy with that option. If you don't think it's for you, stay elsewhere. If you want a perfectly pristine property, there are lots of new and newer hotels in Savannah. You'll pay up to 2 or 3 times the price and you'll pay for parking. Only you can decide what fits your price point and your standards. The Thunderbird is what it is. Read the TA reviews to get a better idea of what that is. If it's not what you want, stay at the Andaz or the Doubletree or the Hilton Garden Inn or the Holiday Inn Express or the Staybridge Inn or the Hampton on Bay or the Planter's Inn or the Hyatt. I've stayed at all of them and like them. They are all newer than the Thunderbird and cost more. There are other new(er) hotels in Savannah, including the brand new Embassy Suites adjacent to the Thunderbird and the Hampton Inn on MLK at the corner. Check their rates. Pay the extra costs for newer, pristine, better free breakfasts, etc. and pay their $30 parking fees. There's a large selections of hotels and inns in the historic district.
Put the Thunderbird behind you and pick another hotel. There are 844 reviews on TA, you're asking the same questions twice so it appears that this is not a good hotel choice for you. Pick another one. Have a good time in Savannah.
Jan 1st, 2015, 05:57 PM
#15
http://savannah.andaz.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html
http://www.bohemianhotelsavannah.com/
http://doubletree3.hilton.com/en/hot...TDT/index.html
http://www.hiexpress.com/hotels/us/e...972524&dp=true
http://www.hilton.com/search/es/us/g...0/50?wt.srch=1
http://www.bricehotel.com/
http://savannah.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html
http://www.bohemianhotelsavannah.com/
http://doubletree3.hilton.com/en/hot...TDT/index.html
http://www.hiexpress.com/hotels/us/e...972524&dp=true
http://www.hilton.com/search/es/us/g...0/50?wt.srch=1
http://www.bricehotel.com/
http://savannah.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html
