Savannah Lodging Tips
- Do Your Research. Don’t hesitate to call the innkeepers and chat; you’ll quickly gauge their attitude and sense of hospitality. And know the parking situation; many of these B&Bs provide only on-street parking, which can be tricky on busy weekends; though they usually pay for your parking pass, you still have to move the car on days when the streets need to be cleaned.
- Know What Historic Really Means. Among the negatives can be antique beds, albeit beautifully canopied, that are short, not even as big as today’s doubles. If you are tall or are used to a California King, this could be a definite issue. Rooms can be small, especially if they were originally backrooms meant for children or servants; rooms below street level—often called garden or courtyard rooms—can be damp. Windows aren’t usually soundproof, and some squares are noisy in the morning or late at night, depending on the proximity to bars. Many B&Bs in old homes require patrons to share bathrooms.
- Savannah Has Hotels, Too. Full-service hotels such as Hyatt Regency, Marriott, and Westin—as well as several boutique hotels—may be more appealing to visitors who actually prefer a larger, more anonymous property, or at least one with an elevator or swimming pool.
- Don’t Forget the Chains. Mid-range chain hotels and motels that normally would not excite or even interest you can be surprisingly appealing in Savannah. Some in the Historic District are creatively renovated historic structures. If you can’t afford to stay downtown, you’ll find many mid-range chains in midtown and the Southside (still less than 7 miles from downtown), as well as near the airport. The farther out you go, the less expensive your lodging will be.
