Okay I'm back after skimming the other 10 posts that said what I said.
Now I'll say, the Hampton Inn across from the visitor's center is not close to the historic district "really". Stay in the district.
I'm amazed that the daughter is doing this trip and arriving back to take her boards!!
Bummer that Provence/France didn't work.

I've got a suggestion for a good beach read. Try Savannah Blues and Savannah Breeze, both by Mary Kay Andrews. She is a hoot and will give you the insiders look at Savannah.

As well as looking at the hotels, try www.vrbo.com. You will be in town long enough to have a kitchen, if just to toast bagels in the morning.

Are you part of Hilton or Marriotts reward programs?

read something by Eugenia Price...the Garden of Good & Evil is not the full story of Savannah...

cheers! have a great trip!

Not the full story but certainly a very interesting one!! A friend's parents had a house in Beaufort and were invited to Jim's parties!

"April in Paris, chestnuts in blossom..."

but I heard that the chestnuts in Paris actually blossom in MAY and not April.

Tallulahgirl: Your plans seem to be pretty well set and your itinerary looks fine. We went to Savannah, combined with St. Augustine, FL for the first time last year and absolutely loved Savannah. I compiled a file from my research when planning our trip. It contains a lot of Savannah History (both revolutionary and civil war) the founding of the city, etc. If, even at this late date, you would like a copy please e-mail me.

Tallulahgirl,
We are working on a southern roadtrip from Jacksonville to Raleigh in early May, and though I can't say I've stayed at the places we're looking at, I thought some of them might be helpful....
-1895 Inn in Savannah (www.the1895inn.net)
-North Street Inn in Beaufort (www.northstreetinn.com)

I keep hearing that Charleston is wonderful but pricey, so we're going to do day trips there and skip staying in town. I know others will object, but we're trying very hard to stay in fun b&bs for (mostly) under $140/nt, which just isn't an option in Charleston.

Have fun! Being close to your daughter's age, I think I can imagine how she might be feeling, but I'm also sure she understands and is happy to have a mom who is so thoughtful about celebrating her accomplishments. And hey, maybe you could celebrate her 25th birthday in France, or just call her up one day and ask her to join you on a trip to France that you've planned without her knowledge (but with the cooperation of her employer).

Within an hour of check-in, my allegies were awful. When we finally thought to look under the bed next morning it was DISGUSTING. Dust had been there for MONTHS. The bathroom similarly filthy. Every other unoccupied room I looked into was the same. Nothing moved and dusted.

I began to wonder if they ever washed the bedcovers or matteress protectors. UGGGHHHH.

Our blinds didn't work and one was missing. Other rooms had the same problem. Our fan and overhead were also broken. (when had the fan been dusted?) Everything looked tired, cheap, and when you looked closer, really unclean and uncared for. Who needs to pay the big bucks they are asking for a room?

The Gastonian is no longer Relais material (although they let you believe it is without actualy saying they're not)-- new owners look like they "frankly, my dear, don't give a darn".