I'm planning a short stay in historic Savannah, and want to leave the city on 3/17. Many of the downtown hotels won't permit a 3/17 arrival or departure, apparently because of the St. Patrick's day parade. I have found one that will allow me to check out on that day, but will I be able to drive out of the city on that day?

Thanks for any info you can provide.

I do not understand this. How long does that parade last?

st. Patrick's day in Charleston is a big deal, and apparently in Savannah also.
I don't think it has as much to do with a parade as for the hotel room reservation
Maybe not--who knows.

Sounds crazy to me too. About half a dozen downtown hotels I've tried won't allow check in or out on that day, supposedly because you can't drive downtown on that day. But my plans require me to leave on that day.

I'm hoping someone with experience in the city can shed some light.

Not allowing someone to check in or out implies there is a good reason . It would mean that somebody who already HAS a reservation would be required to stay an extra day. Not driving...does this include taxis? I assume that emergency vehicles would be exempted. Perhaps one of the hotels would actually answer this question if you called them.

you may want to read this about the parade and the hotels:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g6...ay.Parade.html

Thanks

Most downtown hotels have a minimum stay surrounding St Patricks Day. There's even a stronger case for that this year with the 17th falling on Monday. I would expect to find a 2-3 day minimum stay and very high rates. If you have an early departure the 17th you will not be able to drive around downtown as major streets are closed until the parade has finished. I can't remember now when things open up again, but I'd say early to mid afternoon. One of our kids was flying in that day and I recall not being able to get into downtown until later into the afternoon. IMHO it's the worst time to experience Savannah. A couple weeks later the masses of azaleas are blooming, an incredibly beautiful time to see the city. Any chance you could go later?

You need to change your schedule for all the reasons OO suggests unless you are particularly fond of hotels and streets full of drunken college kids.

The hotel is not holding you hostage - they are likely setting a minimum stay rule that includes the night of 3/17. When our son was a student at SCAD they purposefully set Spring Break to include 3/17 to get students out of town/not be responsible. Savannah has one of the biggest St Patricks Day celebrations in the US - it is not just the parade. I do not believe you will be able to drive out of town, take a taxi, or anything other than a helicopter until late afternoon. People park more than a mile away and walk to the parade to watch, drink, drink and drink.

Could you stay in the "Midtown" area of Savannah - it is not midtown anything but an area about a mile or so long with hotels, strip malls, a real mall, and every chain restaurant on the planet. Not scenic, but there are alternate routes out of town or to I95 from there.

I do not know the purpose of your visit to Savannah, but your ability to appreciate its historic charm will be limited as festivities will span the weekend before the Monday 3/17.

Thanks for all the information.