Hotels in Savannah
The undisputed stars in Savannah are the charming small inns in the Historic District, most in restored old homes that have been renovated with modern conveniences. Price ranges can vary greatly, though like Charleston, rates are generally expensive compared to other parts of the country. Advance reservations are necessary in most cases, since many of the best properties are quite small. High season is from March through June (Mar–Apr is often the busiest time), and again from late September through November. You will find that the cheapest rates will usually be on weekdays during low season, which is January, February, and late July to early September. The price ranges listed include both low and high seasons. Very expensive hotels often have some smaller, more moderately priced units. It never hurts to ask.
If you can’t afford a stay at one of Savannah’s historic inns, you can opt for one of the numerous chain motels on the outskirts. The biggest cluster can be found near the airport around exit 104 of I-95, 13 miles west of Downtown; further south around exit 94 (16 miles from Downtown), known as Savannah South; and along Hwy-204 (Abercorn St. extension), 5 to 6 miles south of the city center, in what’s known as the Midtown area. With so many choices, rooms in these properties are usually exceptionally good deals, with most motels offering doubles for well under $100 outside peak periods and holidays.
Self-Catering Apartments
Anyone looking to get into the local swing of things in Savannah should consider a short-term rental apartment. For the same price or less than a hotel room, you could have your own one-bedroom apartment with a washing machine, A/C, and a fridge to keep your booze in. Properties of all sizes and styles, in every price range, are available for stays of 3 nights to several weeks.
Recommended Agencies
The companies below are especially recommended.
Airbnb (www.airbnb.com) offers over 280 properties in and around Savannah. The San Francisco-based Internet venture connects private property owners with travelers at a variety of price points.
Couchsurfing (www.couchsurfing.org) is another website connecting travelers with folks willing to rent a house, room, or apartment. It offers over 1,450 options in and around Savannah.
Vacation Rentals by Owner (www.vrbo.com) is a hip rental agency that offers over 360 rental properties in and around Savannah, everything from one-bedroom historic condos for $130 per night to six-bedroom mansions for $585 per night.
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17 Hundred 90 Inn
As the name suggests, this intriguing B&B has foundations that date all the way back to 1790, with major additions in the 1820s and 1888, with the separate Guest House building a beautiful Georgian built in 1875 just across the road. Everything was completely renovated in 2011.…$$Historic District - Hotel
Azalea Inn & Gardens
Located near Forsyth Park, this is another romantic inn a little out of the way, but with the added bonus of a tranquil outdoor pool and incredibly welcoming hosts Teresa and Micheal Jacobson. Food and drink is a major part of any stay here, beginning with the gourmet breakfasts, and…$$$Historic District - Hotel
Ballastone Inn
This luxurious and highly romantic hotel lies next door to the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace. The building dates back to 1838 but was enlarged in the 1880s and is today littered with period antiques and authentic reproductions. High Tea (afternoon tea) at 4pm is a special treat…$$$Historic District - Hotel
Bohemian Hotel
Hip Marriott-owned hotel purpose-built in 2009 right on the water, with a buzzy rooftop bar and restaurant popular with the Savannah in-crowd. The hotel is decorated throughout with an exceptional art collection. The rooms feature a blend of whimsical 18th-century decor (lots of…$$$Riverfront - Hotel
Catherine Ward House Inn
This Victorian clapboard gem is another B&B close to Forsyth Park. Built for Irish immigrant Captain James Ward and his wife Catherine in 1886, the house is a spectacular example of High Victorian Italianate architecture. Fully renovated most recently in 2005, rooms are charming…$$$Historic District - Hotel
Dresser Palmer House
This spectacular Italianate townhouse was built in 1876 for cotton merchant Henry Dresser and Samuel Palmer, who ran the largest hardware store in Savannah. It is now one of the most appealing B&Bs in the city. Its beautiful ironwork porch, where you can sip coffee in the…$$$Historic District - Hotel
East Bay Inn
Enticing and good-value B&B close to River Street in an excellent, central location ideal for exploring the city on foot. The property dates back to 1852, when it was completed for trader Edward Padefford as a simple commercial building (the last cotton merchant closed in 1910).…$$Historic District - Hotel
Eliza Thompson House
One of Savannah’s most attractive mansions, Eliza Thompson House is another spot perfect for a romantic getaway. The garden courtyard, with its Koi pond (and iron sculpture by late Georgia-based artist Ivan Bailey), makes for a tranquil hideaway, while the house itself dates from…$$Historic District - Hotel
Hamilton-Turner Inn
As one of the city’s most famous homes, this hotel is almost a tourist attraction in its own right (though you can only see inside if you are a guest). The lavish rooms here run from suites to basic doubles, but all feature contemporary interpretations of period styles, with…$$$Historic District - Hotel
Marriott Savannah Riverfront
This fairly standard business hotel just about beats the Hyatt behemoth further down the strip, with a wonderful waterside location at the quiet eastern end of the riverfront. Like most of Savannah’s big central hotels it primarily caters to business travelers and…$$$Riverfront - Hotel
Marshall House
This aging gem was opened in 1851 by enterprising innkeeper Mary Marshall, making it the city’s oldest hotel. In the Civil War it served as a hospital, while Joel Chandler Harris, author of the famous “Uncle Remus” stories (of Br’er Rabbit and company), lived here in the late 1860s.…$$Historic District - Hotel
Park Avenue Manor
This gorgeous and justly popular B&B was converted from a beautiful 1889 Victorian home, showcasing the very best of Southern hospitality. Located at the southwest corner of Forsyth Park, it’s a little apart from the main section of the Historic District, but that hardly matters.…$$Historic District - Hotel
Planters Inn
This hotel has perhaps the best location in the city, right on historic Reynolds Square with room service from the Olde Pink House next door. Built in 1912, the inn lies on the historic site of John Wesley’s first parish in the 1730s. Rooms are simply but tastefully decorated with…$$Historic District - Hotel
River Street Inn
Housed in a 19th-century cotton warehouse on the river, this B&B offers excellent value considering the location, though some of its rooms are starting to show their age. The air-conditioning can also be a little temperamental—ask to move if it’s too hot. In general rooms are…$$Riverfront - Hotel
Savannah Bed & Breakfast Inn
This B&B occupies a fabulous location on Chatham Square, just 1 block from Forsyth Park. The stone-fronted townhouse, completed around 1853, is also a very good deal, with comfy rooms and superb home-cooked food—the freshly baked chocolate cookies are irresistible. The Value…$$Historic District - Campground
Savannah Oaks RV Resort
To get really good budget deals you’ll need to stay in an outlying motel, or camp out, and commute into the Historic District. Savannah Oaks RV Resort is just 12 miles from the center, on the banks of the Ogeechee River, and offers sites for tent camping as well as RVs. Kids will…$Outskirts - Hotel
Surf Song Bed & Breakfast
If you like B&Bs you’ll love this circa 1898 beach house, completely renovated in 2013, with maple hardwood floors, soaring coffered tin ceilings, and Victorian furnishings blended with modern amenities. You can lounge on the wraparound veranda, or take a dip in the small but…$$$Outskirts - Hotel
The 1895 Inn
Incredibly popular B&B housed in an artfully refurbished Queen Anne-style mansion loaded with antiques and Victorian art. With just four rooms on offer you will need to reserve this option many months in advance. The rooms are elegantly furnished (the Renaissance Room includes an…$$Historic District - Hotel
Tybee Island Inn
Another beguiling B&B close to the beach, shrouded in lush gardens studded with live oaks and classical statues. Each room is comfy and well-equipped with cable TV and designer linens. Owners Cathy and Lloyd are great hosts, while Gary is the maestro in the kitchen: his…$$Outskirts - Hotel
Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa
Savannah’s largest hotel lies in splendid isolation on the other side of the river from the Historic District. Getting across is easy however, thanks to the free ferry. As you’d expect, the amenities and rooms—which face either the golf course or the river—are the usual Westin…$$$Riverfront
