Hello- back again for your ever helpful advice please.

UK bunch roadtripping from a stay in key west tostay with family in Ohio and stopping off in and around Savannah for 2 days to break the long journey (well aware it's a huge drive...) in July this year.

6 adults and a toddler. Will have large rental van.

Question:-

We are considering Mermaid Cottages on Tybee Island as option for 2 night stay (look lovely,very reasonably priced and plenty of off street parking)

Plan on heading into Savannah for a day trip - aware this city has lots to offer and 1 day is little time but can't be helped.

We are very keen to have breakfast/ evening meal where we stay but will eat lunch some place nice in Savannah.

We want accommodation which is WALKABLE if possible to some sort of little downtown area with little shops to wander in the evening and a couple of restaurants to choose from....

Is Tybee the place for us?? Is there a downtown area? If so accomodation suggestions to meet these requests would be very much appreciated?

If not Tybee- what about Hilton head? Or any other suggestions?

Many thanks
Sarah

If you want a little downtown area, Amelia Island (just over the state line) in Florida would be better.

Next would be St. Simons Island (next as you travel north).

Tybee is just outside Savannah and is great for a day trip as you describe. There are plenty of restaurants to walk to, just not the kind of downtown you are looking for. It's a great place to stay.

Mermaid Cottages have excellent reputations.

Anywhere but Hilton Head. A day in Savannah will be fine.

Only visited Tybee as a daytrip from Savannah and it looked like a pretty nice place.
I personally liked Hilton Head and stayed there twice in Marriott timeshares (if you can rent from an owner or Marriott these are all spacious two bedroom units). There is lots of greenery, low rise for the most part. Lot of the restaurants have early bird dinners which helps with the budget also. If going out after dark for dinner, check the place out during the day, as there are no neon signs so some places can be tricky to find.

For what you're looking for, I think Tybee would be fine. There is a small, walkable, very casual downtown area on the south end - not sure where you'd be staying - Mermaid Cottages appears to be a rental agency with rentals all over the island?

You'll fine Tybee much more convenient to Savannah than other choices.

Tybee and HH are about as different as night and day, too.

Hi guys many thanks for your Valuable input.

Still keen on Tybee I guess- maybe it is just choosing the right mermaid cottage so I'll email them to see where's close to restaurants etc.

If we did consider St Simons - anyone suggest budget accomodation within close walking distance to the little shops? On a quick look would the holiday inn express on main street meet our request if anyone is familiar?

Am I correct in thinking it's avoyt 1.5hrs St Simons into Savannah?

Thanks
Sarah

* about

Tybee will be fine.

If you want a magical cottage look for one updated by Jane Coslick,a local designer.

Mermaid cottages rents several
http://mermaidcottages.com/tag/jane-coslick/

HH resident for 33 years. Stay here or not. Savannah is an hour's drive and Charleston is about two hours. I visit Charleston several times a year. For Savannah, only the airport.

You should look into Charleston (and its several island suburbs.)

If you want a short walk to "town" on Tybee, stay in a cottage south of 12th Street (use the location map on the Mermaid Cottages site).

I'd stay on Tybee Island. Anywhere else is too far away for visiting Savannah. You could of course break your journey somewhere else, but Savannah is as good as anywhere, in my opinion.

We've been to Tybee a couple of times as day trips from Savannah and the best way I can describe it is "sleepy". Small "downtown" area but not much there. That being said, we looooove Savannah and cannot imagine not staying there. Curious why you would choose to stay in Tybee over Savannah. Coming from Key West, Tybee will be downright boring.

We chose tybee as downtown Savannah is a little $$$ and I was finding it hard to get availability too!! Plus we have a BIG van with us so parking $$ also, and to be honest we'll be happy to chill as really Savannah/ tybee is just a stop over point between our 2 main destinations, but we thought heck let's pick somewhere pretty rather than a roadside motel.....