How to Plan a Fantastic Trip to Savannah

Consider when to go, where to stay, what to pack, and more

Forsyth Park in the historic district of Savannah, Georgia

David R. Frazier Photolibrary, Inc. / Alamy Stock Photo

AARP

Published April 26, 2022

When to go

Due to the comfortable year-round climate, Savannah’s visitation (nearly 14.8 million people in 2019) is generally staggered throughout the year.

Winters bring crisp sweater-laden mornings that turn into enjoyable midday warm-ups. For bursts of color that will prompt a few oohs and ahs, visit in the spring, March-April, when azalea blooms present an enviable backdrop for your selfies, provided a late frost stays north. But just when the perfect temperatures (60s and 70s) arrive in the late spring, so do the “no-see-ums,” tiny flying bugs that bite at dusk and drive you inside for happy hour.

Summers in Savannah are sauna-like, and every day is a bad-hair day. But many businesses offer misting stations to cool you off as you hop the shops. Fall is nearly perfect, with cool fronts arriving in late October or early November.

Try to avoid graduation weekend for the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), which brings thousands to town, along with long waits in restaurants and few vacancies in hotels.

Two special events are worth adding to your calendar. For people watchers, Savannah boasts the second-largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the United States, with floats, bands, dancers, Irish families — and plenty of debauchery and mischief. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade this is not! Book your trip early to attend the monthlong festival and try to reserve a hotel on or near the route. Staking out a parade-watching spot starts early, along with the green grits and Bloody Marys served in many hotel breakfast rooms. Hotel rates will be higher then, and some require a three-day minimum stay.

If you’re a music lover, the two-week Savannah Music Festival (late March to early April) stages events at different venues throughout the Historic District, with world-class musicians and vocal performers — from country to chamber music to opera.

Ways to save: The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is free, and tailgating is welcome. Pack a picnic for the parade with tasty supplies from Parker’s Market Urban Gourmet. Tickets for the Savannah Music Festival are discounted 10 percent for those 65 and up.

Where to stay

Savannah Travel Guide

Things to Do
Where to Eat
Beach Day Trips

Savannah offers plenty of unusual places to stay, including traditional hotels, historic inns, garden apartments and carriage houses. Savannah’s 2.5-square-mile Historic District, America’s largest urban National Historic Landmark, is the most central place to stay. From eclectic room decor, formal tea times, happy-hour traditions and unique-to-Savannah treats, many hotels here lay on the Southern charm, such as the Kimpton Brice (pets welcome). They cost from $250 to upward of $350 per night but offer easy access to downtown.

More budget-friendly accommodations in the Historic District include Marriott’s Springhill Suites, with its perfect location near the downtown action, the Homewood Suites by Hilton or the Doubletree by Hilton, close to River Street.

For more contemporary flavor, check into the hippest spot in town, the Thunderbird Inn. Chosen as one of the top 10 retro hotels in the United States by USA Today, this hotel is well known for the quirky sayings on its sign out front and the free Krispy Kreme donuts for guests.

If you’re brave enough to try a “haunted” hotel, stay in the 17Hundred90 Inn, with its rustic bar and restaurant — and resident ghosts — for about $230 a night. It’s within walking distance of the Historic District. Another haunted lodging is the historic Marshall House, where wounded Civil War soldiers were hospitalized and guests have reported seeing images of wounded figures.

There are plenty of alternatives, however. Savannah’s local home-rental agency, Lucky Savannah, offers everything from multi-bedroom antique-furnished mansions to quaint cottages, garden apartments and carriage houses.

Ways to save: Save 10 to 20 percent on the cost of many accommodations from January through February. Avoiding a stay in the Historic District will save you money, too. Stay near I-95, about 20 minutes from downtown, and you’ll pay less throughout the year. But keep in mind that daily parking downtown can be expensive and inconvenient.

Home rental agencies like HomeAway, VRBO and Airbnb may save you money over a hotel stay. For instance, a new three-bedroom townhome on Airbnb near Forsyth Park goes for $161 per night with a two-day minimum plus an $85 cleaning fee and a $57 service fee. That’s much less than for many Historic District hotels.

How to get there

Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, replete with rocking chairs and ’50s-era music, is on the city’s outskirts, about a 15-minute drive from the Historic District. A taxi ride costs about $28; a car-share service like Uber or Lyft costs $25 to $33. Amtrak serves the Savannah Amtrak station, accessible by taxi or car-share. But don’t expect Grand Central Terminal: There are no accessible restrooms or WiFi, and vending machines are your only food option.

Ways to save: Many hotels in the Historic District offer free shuttles to and from the airport. A shuttle information center in the airport provides free phone service to those hotels.

What to pack

Bring your most comfortable walking shoes and leave the stylish clogs and stilettos at home. Dining year-round, no matter the restaurant, is always casual, so collared shirts (no ties) and casual pants for men, skirts or dresses for women.

With summer’s extra-high temperatures, keep your clothing thin. Winter, spring and fall require sweaters and only occasionally a heavier coat. It’s always safe to bring a foldable umbrella or a light rain jacket for sudden downpours, which are more frequent during the spring and summer months. And don’t forget bug repellent to ward off the pesky sand gnats that descend in late spring.

Safety

Savannah’s lively nightlife comes with cautions. Try not to go solo. Stay in well-lit areas and out of dark alleys. Don’t keep valuables in your car if you’re parked in a hotel garage. And always keep your wallet and purse secure.

Getting Around

From the sightseeing perspective, Savannah is a walker’s dream and a driver’s worst nightmare. Traffic crawls along due to trolleys, carriages and all those squares, so if you’re in a hurry, you’d best stay home. But walking comes with caveats. When you stroll — not walk — the streets of Slow-vannah, keep your eyes down. Many of the streets in the Historic District are constructed of ballast stones from the ships that sailed into the port in the 1700s. The early settlers who laid the surfaces did their best for smooth pathways, but the earth’s settling has left some uneven and treacherous bumps on the sidewalks. Rubber-soled shoes can become slippery, too. Pay special attention to the ramps leading down to River Street, and stay clear of the stone staircases that descend from the Bay Street bluff. Instead, use the glass elevator located next to the Hyatt Regency Savannah.

Other options:

1. The free Hop-On Hop-Off Old Town Trolley Tour. This makes a loop around the Historic District, and offers an easy option for seeing multiple attractions. The narrated tour makes stops at 15 sites, with guides explaining history associated with each stop. Hop off and explore an area at your own pace, then hop back on the next trolley and proceed to the next place of interest to you. $41.68 for adults (no senior discount); $21.35 children 4-12

2. Taxis. Unless you’re staying outside the Historic District and need transportation to downtown, you likely won’t need a taxi. Yellow Cab of Savannah has cabs that are wheelchair accessible; reserve in advance. Of course, you can also use Uber and Lyft.

3. Bike sharing/rentals. Savannah Bike Rentals offers electric tandem bike rentals ($100 for seven and a half hours) and traditional bikes (starting at $50 for seven and a half hours).

4. Pedicabs. This is the classic way to get around — especially for those who have difficulty walking. Drivers can be amusing characters, sharing ghost stories and historical tales (some true, some iffy). For short jaunts, Savannah Pedicab offers “Tips for Trips,” with a $10 minimum. Travelers are encouraged to tip their driver whatever they think the ride deserves; the company’s website recommends “somewhere between the price of a sandwich and the cost of a pizza.”

Accessibility

If you’re in a wheelchair or electric scooter or use a walker, be cautious at street corners for drop-offs. Popular River Street is made of cobblestones, the ballast from colonial ships, which makes the surface bumpy and uneven. While the sidewalks near the river are smooth, getting across the older surface is a challenge. Savannah’s newest attraction, the Plant Riverside Entertainment District on the west end of River Street, is accessible and easy to traverse, with modern surfaces, elevators and level areas.

As a historic city, Savannah has been slow to adopt accessibility. Barrier-free shops, restaurants and public restrooms are not plentiful around town. The Accessibility Guide to Savannah’s Historic Districts provides detailed information on accessibility to museums, historic sites, restaurants, tours, transportation and more.

%{postComment}%

Unlock Access to AARP Members Edition

Join AARP to Continue

Already a Member? Login

Benefits Recommended For You

See All