South - Savannah. To Rent a Car, or Not To Rent A Car?

I'm going to Savannah on Sept 16th, and leaving Sept 19th.

Here is my Dilema...
I book the Four Points Airport Hotel for $70/night and Rent a Car for $200.

OR I book at the Hilton Garden Inn Historic District at $125/night and DO NOT rent a car, which saves me $15/night valley parking.

Most of my activites will be in the city, just looking around and what not. I do need to go out to Typee Island and watch a taping of Paula's Party for The Food Network.

What would you do? Stay at the airport hotel, and drive into Savannah each day, park and look around, and use the car to go to Typee Island...or stay in the Historic District, not have a car but be within walking distance to everything and take a TAXI to Typee Island and back.

I'm looking for the most Economical and convienent way to go about this.

Thanks for your input.

I really enjoyed going to Savannah (only been once - even though I live relatively close by in Columbia SC), and I really liked walking the historical area, hitting the pubs, etc. That area isn't good for driving around (at least not too much). You may consider staying in the historical district, not renting a car, and then rent a car FROM downtown for the day you have to go the island. Just my 0.02$.

JP

Forget the airport hotel; stay in the historic district so that you'll be in walking distance of many restaurants, bars, historic sites, etc. The area near the airport is forlorn. :D

I agree. Stay in downtown - plenty of things to see/do in walking distance. Downtown area also used to have a trolley-type bus for tourists. It's been a couple of years since I've been back to Sav'h but I would assume they still do. Then rent car for day you go to Tybee

I agree with other posters. Stay in d'town. Beautiful area. You can rent a car for the day to venture out to Tybee Isalnd. They may even have a rental car desk at the hotel. You may also want to check out renting a bicycle one day. Its a great way to see the historical area and squares. And by bike you are going at just the right speed to cover a decent area and still see the real charm of the city.

Have Fun!

I also agree, stay downtown. I've been to Savannah several times and just love it. Only once did I not have a car and I didn't feel at a loss. All the other visits I did have a car but since I was mostly there for business, it was required.

Places like Tybee Island, the Forts, Wormsloe, or even Hilton Head, would require more than "on foot" transportation but since you're only spending a few days there, a daily rental or taxi may be just what you're looking for.

BTW, I've stayed at both the HGI by City Market and the Desoto and both are good.

Please do enjoy!

Stay downtown -- no doubt about it. The Bay street HGI looks nice from the outside, the Hampton Inn on Bay St is more centrally located (by 2-3 blocks).

You can rent a car for one day from a local edition of any rental car company. They almost all offer pickup and drop off delivery.

Just did this 2 weeks ago. There are trolley's for pay that you can get from most major locations -- hotels and such -- that tour you through the entire district. The ones with a white body are my favorite -- can't remember the name ATM.

A no brainer. Definitely the Hilton Garden Inn - it is in a great location. You did not say how many times you will have to go to Tybee island but even if more than once it's worth staying in the Historic district.

Whatever you do, DO NOT rent from Dollar at the SAV airport! They are EVIL!!!!! (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=643684)