Best Savannah Hotels

Perched on the bluffs in the heart of the River Street district, this swank new hotel is a favorite with a hip crowd of modern, design-loving travelers. The lobby is decked out in an ultra-cool mix of angular contemporary furniture and vintage British-style leather and wood. The 75 guest rooms are equally dramatic—including headboards made with slabs of reclaimed shipyard wood and chandeliers encrusted in faux barnacles. There are two restaurants, the casual American dining of Rocks on the River, and the trendy tapas bar of Rocks on the Roof, which lures in fashionable locals with its stunning view of the Savannah River.

Despite its relatively large size (126 suites), the Mansion on Forsyth Park maintains the intimate vibe of a much smaller hotel. Rooms are all uniquely decorated with a stylish mix of antiques and bold modern prints. Think ornate French antique tables lacquered in neon orange paint, leopard rugs, crystal-dripping chandeliers. The onyx and marble lobby whispers "money." If you stroll in wearing a ratty pair of jeans, you might feel a touch intimidated (though you'll be treated graciously, anyway). The hotel restaurant, 700 Drayton, is one of Savannah's most highly rated. If you can, snag a room with a view over the oaks of Forsyth Park.

On Lafayette Square, this gracious boutique hotel doesn't skimp on its "Gone-With-the-Wind" style and, for that reason, it's one of the top Savannah places to stay. The 17 rooms have four-poster beds with jewel-toned damask comforters, Persian carpets and ornate wrought-iron balconies. They're each named after a prominent Savannah resident, like Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low or writer Flannery O'Connor. Carriage House rooms offer a bit more privacy. You can rent the whole thing for family functions or other events. In the mornings, enjoy a full Southern breakfast in the sunny dining room. In the evenings, make like Scarlett O'Hara and have a cup of tea in the opulent sitting room. The inn's intimate nature makes it a popular choice for honeymooners and couples on romantic getaway weekends.

With its gingerbread trim and wrought-iron balconies, the Marshall House looks like something out of a vintage New Orleans postcard. Built in 1851, the hotel served as a hospital during the Civil War. A multi-million dollar 1999 renovation made the place sparkle again, though some say it's still haunted by the ghosts of Confederate soldiers. Find out by sleeping in one of the 65 rooms. Unlike the hotel exterior, the guest rooms are pure modern design with geometric wood headboards, crisp white linens, wall-mounted LCD screens. Guests are a mixed-age crowd of sightseers, many in town for romantic weekend getaways.

This retro-cool motor lodge is an unexpected delight in Savannah, a city where 'the '60s usually refers to the 1860s. Decor recalls the classic motels of Route 66—Space Age pole sign, bright primary colors, bubble-shaped lamps. The 42 rooms are spacious and comfy, a far cry from the average highway-side accommodation. The neighborhood, slightly gritty West Savannah, could be nicer, but you're just a short drive from the Historic District. Guests tend to be young, hip and possessed of a well-developed sense of kitsch.

Three miles from the Historic District, the Baymont is a pleasant, if generic, chain motel. But its clean, sunny rooms and friendly service make it one of the better budget picks in town. Rooms are decorated in soothing whites and earth tones, all with large flat-screen TVs. The crowds run the gamut from business travelers to sightseers, to those just passing through town on their way to somewhere else. Common areas are well-scrubbed and well-lit, and the outdoor pool's a relief on Savannah's famous million-degree summer days.