There is a distinguished charm about Savannah -- a feeling you get when you walk down the tree lined streets, the strong floral scent of wisteria in the air, historic grand old houses built facing town squares and parkland, the majestic Savannah River playing host to massive paddle steamers like days gone by and a sense of genuine southern hospitality that you feel in every restaurant, shop and person you encounter. In amongst all this historic elegance is a romantic yet vibrant city just waiting to be explored.
Vacations Made Easy (tel. 800/987-9852; www.vacationsmadeeasy.com) offers a selection of land-only Savannah get away packages. Their "Sightseeing in Savannah" three-night vacation package is valid for stays until December 31, 2006 and is priced at $299 per person based on double share. Children sharing with an adult pay only $29. The package includes your choice of one sightseeing tour, one walking tour and three nights' accommodations at one of the following properties: Holiday Inn, Quality Inn, La Quinta Inn, Clubhouse Inn and Suites or Best Western Savannah. Walking tours to choose from include a Hauntings Tour, Pirate's Walk Adventure Tour, Homemade Thunder Civil War Tour or Saunter in Savannah. Then select one of the following sightseeing tours: Old Town Trolley Narrated Tour, Historic Grand Tour, The Book Tour, Low Country Tour or the Hop-on/Hop-off Trolley Tour.
Its "Best of Savannah Comprehensive Package" includes tickets to Broadway on Bull Street presented by Savannah Theatre, choice of one sightseeing tour and one walking tour (same selection as above) and five nights' hotel accommodations from $509 per person based on double occupancy plus $49 per accompanying child.
Savannah Packages (tel. 866/327-8861; www.savannahpackages.com) has themed packages, again land-only with something for all tastes. The "Gates, Gardens and More" package features two nights' accommodations at your choice of hotel or inn, a 90-minute afternoon Gates and Gardens Walk Tour, unlimited trolley tour and transportation for one day, admission to TelFair Museum of Art and TelFair's Owens-Thomas House, admission to Juliette Gordon Low (founder of the Girl Scouts) Birthplace, dinner for two at the Riverhouse Seafood Restaurant and a dinner at the Historic Pirates' House restaurant and an evening horse drawn carriage ghost tour. The package is available until December 30, 3006 and is priced from $594 for two people.
With so many beautiful boutique properties and historic inns to choose from, unless you were particularly interested in a package deal, the best way to immerse yourself in Savannah would be to stay at one of these Georgian jewels. Although the deals change weekly (each Wednesday), check out BedandBreakfast.com's (www.bedandbreakfast.com) "hot deals" where you can search by state. They will always have a number of Savannah deals with savings on accommodation of up to 50 percent on select properties. This week's offerings include:
- Amethyst Inn at Sarah's Garden Inn (tel. 866/266-2714): Stay Sunday night through Thursday night with a two night minimum and save up to 20 percent off or pay the regular rate and the third night is free. A full hot breakfast is included. Regular rate is $165 and discount rate is $132 per night.
- McMillan Inn Bed & Breakfast (tel. 912/201-2128) is also offering 20 percent off its room rates during the summer -- regularly priced from $190 per night, now $152.
- Park Avenue Manor (tel. 912/233-0352): Enjoy a three-night mid-week respite in a lovely original Savannah home for 20 percent off the regular rate ($130 price is reduced to $104) during the months of August, November, December 2006 and January and February 2007.
The city of Savannah is actually number six on BedandBreakfast.com's list of most searched destinations for Bed and Breakfast accommodations.
The historic Azalea Inn (tel. 800/582-3823; www.azaleainn.com) located in the Forsyth Park neighborhood has a "Freedom Trail Discovery" package priced from $229 per night for two people. It includes accommodations, a full delicious southern breakfast, finger dessert, southern garden inn comforts, a Black Heritage Trail tour including the Ralph Gilbert Museum and First African Baptist Church, the oldest African Baptist Church in America, and entrance to King-Tisdell Cottage. Its two-night Romance Rendezvous package includes two nights' accommodations, champagne and strawberries on arrival, fresh flowers, full southern gourmet breakfast, early evening wine and hors d'oeuvres and late evening dessert from $399 per couple.
The Savannah College or Art and Design Film Festival (www.scad.edu/filmfest) will run from October 28 to November 4 in 2006. Over 35,000 people attend this eight-day annual event. Tickets go on sale at the SCAD box office at 216 East Broughton Street and by telephone at 912/525-5050 from October 1, 2006. The festival attracts some big name celebrities and film entries from around the world. A Reserved Seating Pass costs $750 and entitles patrons to attend all scheduled films, workshops, lectures, and opening and closing night receptions, as well as all scheduled evening receptions. A Gold Pass is $400 with entry to all scheduled films, workshops, lectures, receptions and opening and closing night receptions. A Silver Pass is $250 for all scheduled films, workshops, lectures, and opening and closing night receptions and a Bronze Pass is $150 and includes entry to all scheduled films. Individual evening sessions of films are only $10.
Travelocity (tel. 888/872-8356; www.travelocity.com) currently has the following round-trip airfares to Savannah for summer and fall season travel:
- From Boston $183 flying US Airways (now until September 30, 2006)
- From Milwaukee $183 flying United (now until November 16, 2006)
- From New York $217 flying America West (now until September 30, 2006)
- From Miami $223 flying US Airways (now until September 30, 2006)
- From Dallas $243 flying US Airways (now until September 30, 2006)
- From Los Angeles $323 flying United (now until November 16, 2006)
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