Savannah Area Accomodations
In Savannah, there are surely as many lodging possibilities as there are sand gnats in summer marsh. (We love Sand gnats so much we have a baseball team named after them!) By far the most popular area, though, is Savannah's Historic District, which includes River Street, Broughton Street, City Market, and Forsyth Park.
The Historic District offers a wide variety of dining, shopping, touring and entertainment pleasures. It’s hard to imagine visiting this area without checking into a bed and breakfast. Woven into the city’s historical landscape, these elegant restorations are perfect for wedding parties and/or romantic getaways. The Foley House, overlooking Chippewa Square, claims to be the first established boarding house following the civil war. Central to the historic district, this B & B is within a short walking distance to everything, including River Street. The Hyatt Regency, Olde Harbour Inn, and River Street Inn overlook the river and are only a few strides away from the action.
Historic retreats and waterfront lodging can get expensive, though, so you may choose to mix and match your accommodations. Midtown and Southside Savannah also provide a comfortable atmosphere for visitors, and there are some locations that are especially suited for the business traveler. The Hampton Inn—Savannah Midtown (on Stephenson Ave) is slightly off the main path but comfortably so. It is conveniently next door to the Carmike Cinema 10 and a fun, funky tropical restaurant, The Toucan Café. A newly renovated YMCA is also just a stone’s throw away on Habersham Street.
Don’t overlook Southside accommodations, either. Look for Springhill and TownePlace Suites on Abercorn Street. They are both pretty close to Armstrong Atlantic State University and central to both Southside malls. While in this area, be sure to have lunch at Tangerine Fusion + Sushi Bar. It’s quietly elegant for the area. Olive Garden and Logan’s Steak House are located here as well.
 
Tybee Island is a great place to vacation in the summer. The beaches are better than ever these days, especially with the addition of a new Tybee pier. This is a fun place to enjoy the sun and surf. There is also fishing equipment available to rent and food options under the pavilion. The Desoto Beach Hotel is well-known for its oceanfront accommodations. With an outdoor pool near the ocean, this is a good choice for a fun family weekend. Or you might feel a little whimsical at the Atlantis Inn. More suited for adult couples, there are theme-based suites and a deck located on the roof. An adjoining coffee shop offers snacks through lunch. Free wifi is available here also.
Wherever you stay, be sure to visit the "World Famous" Breakfast Club (on Butler Avenue at 15th Street) for a really delicious breakfast. The “Popeye Omelet” is fresh and ginormous.
Tybee is only 16 miles from downtown Savannah, so if you should decide on in-town lodging, you could strive for the best of both worlds - a fun day at the beach, and a wonderful evening of dining and dancing along River Street.
Feel free to send us an email anytime and share your Savannah experience. We look forward to hearing from you.
Savannah Historic Hideaways:
Privacy Meets Luxury in Downtown Savannah
by David Norman
In 2001, when Mike and Suzanne Schulz bought the properties that were to become Savannah Historic Hideaways, they had to use a crowbar to get into the main house. Obviously, repairs and restoration were in order. However, any renovation had to be done in a way that would foster the house’s unique and native charm. Their best bet, they decided, was to go back to the original blueprints and use as much of the 140 year-old on-site materials as possible, while taking care to add all the expected modern conveniences. Fortunately, for residents of Savannah and visitors alike, they were more than up to the challenge.
The primary building is the Taylor Manor, a three-story structure that sleeps six to ten and boasts a marble foyer, heart of pine hardwood flooring, tall windows, and expansive ceilings. The living room somehow feels both spacious and cozy at the same time, no doubt attributable in part to the built-in bookcases that stretch from floor to ceiling and the leather decor and mahogany tables that warm the room. Throughout the house, Mike and Suzanne’s goal of using original on-site materials whenever possible is evident. The dining room’s black and gold marble fireplace, for instance, has a mantelpiece created from the site’s original wood, now over 400 years old. Likewise, the kitchen’s handmade countertops are constructed of that same pine, recovered from the original site. With handmade cabinets and stone-tiled flooring, the kitchen itself is large enough to accommodate an antique oak dinette set with seating for four, if you prefer not to eat in the residence’s main dining area.
The Manor, like the Carriage House in back, combines southern charm with modern conveniences. There’s a 30-inch widescreen TV/VCR/DVD in the living room, as well as TV/VCR combinations in the upstairs bedrooms, a jetted tub in the master bedroom, and all the modern appliances one would expect in the kitchen. But for a change of pace, stroll through the faux-French doors in the back to enjoy the quiet of the redbrick patio, beautifully landscaped with foliage and flora and surrounded by white stones. The area is complete with a charcoal grill, iron umbrella table and chairs, and built-in benches for outdoor entertaining.
On the second floor, the master bedroom has a walk-in closet along with a private balcony overlooking the courtyard, and the two queen-sized bedrooms, which are joined by French doors that can be left open to form one large suite, have mirrored closets built in, brick and mortar fireplaces, and plank floors. The third floor bedroom features an attic-design that is particularly suitable for children and includes its own TV, VCR, and Nintendo GameCube.
If you’re looking for a bit more privacy, you might try the Carriage House, which is a separate, freestanding residence. With its own entrance off East Jones Lane, it’s the ultimate getaway and has room for two vehicles in the off-street driveway. (In fact, if you rent the Taylor Estate, a combination of the Taylor Manor and the Carriage House, you can park up to four cars off the street, a rarity in downtown, historic Savannah.)
Like the Manor, the Carriage House is decorated with overstuffed leather furniture and antique tables, but the walls have an added nicety: tapestries and oil paintings along with attractive black and white photographs.
Savannah Historic Hideaways’ location is perfect, and City Market, Bay Street, Forsyth Park, and River Street are all within easy walking distance. To top it off, you’ll not meet hosts who are more friendly and gracious than Mike and Suzanne. Whether you’re looking for the privacy of the Carriage House for a second honeymoon or want to enjoy the luxury of the entire Taylor Estate for a family reunion or wedding party, you can hardly go wrong with Savannah Historic Hideaways.
Visit Savannah Historic Hideaways website at www.SavannahHistoricHideaways.com.
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Lodging Links:
 Savannah Vacation Rentals
Savannah Lodging Website
Savannah Historic Hideaways
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Travel directory
Savannah Getaways
Savannah Getaways is a consortium of absentee property owners who rent these upscale historic district homes out to vacation and business travelers to this coastal Georgia destination at highly competitive rates by the day, week or month.
www.savannahgetaways.net
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