Savannah Travel Diary & Hotel Recommendations 🌴

Savannah Travel Diary & Hotel Recommendations 🌴 Savannah is located in Georgia—you can fly into Atlanta first, then drive here (it takes about 3.5 hours). It’s also pretty close to Hilton Head in South Carolina, making it easy to add to a Southern road trip! This time, I checked out two Marriott hotels—here’s the lowdown on each, plus our favorite spots in the city 📝! 🏨 Hotel 1: The Bohemian Hotel Savannah Riverfront, Autograph Collection First up was this Autograph Collection gem! The room decor had such a fun "oyster" theme—even the light fixtures were shaped like oysters, which felt super unique to the coastal vibe 🦪. We got a riverview room, though the windows were a bit small (minor bummer, but the view was still nice!). Heads up: The hotel charges a $30 destination fee, but they give you a $30 dining voucher at check-in—total win-win! At first, I thought it was a Platinum member breakfast perk, but turns out every room gets it. Speaking of perks, Platinum members also get a complimentary continental breakfast (you can order a la carte too)—perfect for fueling up before exploring! 🏨 Hotel 2: JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District This one had a higher Google rating than the first, and we definitely liked it more—10/10 recommend! We got a huge riverview room with floor-to-ceiling windows, and the view was absolutely stunning 🌊. The hotel has three buildings, each with its own style, but the whole place has a cool industrial vibe—turns out it was converted from an old factory! So much character. The location is unbeatable too: Step outside, and you’re right on River St. No long walks needed—perfect for spontaneous snack runs or evening strolls. Overall, our stay here was smooth and enjoyable—easily the better of the two! 📍 Our Savannah Highlights (Chill Vibe Only!) We kept the trip pretty laid-back—pro tip: Check the weather before heading out and bring an umbrella (Savannah loves random showers! ☔). The city has such a different vibe from the northeastern U.S.—the architecture and culture are pure Southern charm, so it’s totally worth a visit to experience something new. ⛲️ Forsyth Park Savannah’s iconic landmark! The park has a beautiful fountain that’s made for photos 📷—we spent an hour wandering around, sitting on benches, and soaking up the sunny weather. Super relaxing. ⛪️ Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist Such a gorgeous church! The exterior is grand, and the interior (with its stained glass and intricate details) is even more impressive. We popped in for a quick visit, and it felt so peaceful. 🎬 Chippewa Square The famous spot from Forrest Gump—this is where Forrest sat on a bench waiting for the bus! Back in the day, the original bench was here, but it got moved to a museum because too many people were taking photos with it 😂. Still fun to stand there and quote the movie ("Life is like a box of chocolates…"). 🍫 Chocolate by Adam Turoni Since we were on an Forrest Gump kick, we had to visit this local chocolate shop! The chocolates look like tiny works of art—so pretty we almost didn’t want to eat them. It started raining while we were there, so we grabbed a table at the adjacent café and enjoyed our treats—cozy vibes all around. 🍨 Leopold‘s Ice Cream This century-old ice cream parlor is a Savannah staple—we had to join the hype! The portions are huge, and the flavors are classic (we tried mint chocolate chip—delicious!). Even if there’s a line, it moves fast—worth it for a sweet pick-me-up. 📽️ SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) Art lovers, don’t miss this! You can book a free show that tells the school’s history—it’s super interesting and gives you a peek into Savannah’s artistic side. The campus itself is also beautiful—lots of colorful buildings to snap photos of. 🚏 River St. Our favorite street in Savannah! It runs along the river, with tons of shops, restaurants, and even street performers. We loved watching huge cargo ships sail by while we sipped iced coffee ☕. Great for people-watching and picking up souvenirs. #Savannah#Marriott#MarriottBonvoy#SCAD#ForrestGump#JWMarriott