Since nobody has commented on this property in a couple of years, I'll chip in my .02 after a recent stay.
Location: Very good IMO. Ellis Square is near the far northwest corner of the historic district, but in easy walking distance of just about anything you'd want to visit/see. I considered some nearby non-Hyatt alternatives, but many properties are on Bay St. a block north, which serves as a major east-west truck route (& is thus very noisy).
As for noise from Ellis Square itself,
Originally Posted by
AttorneyVin
Ask for a room opposite Ellis Square; depending on the level of activity in Ellis Square at night, some noise may occur. We did not notice any major issue and loved the view of the Square. But, for the most quiet, request a room facing the other way.
Originally Posted by
Mastermind
If you want a quite room, an Ellis Square room is ok as long as it is NOT the weekend. We stayed in a corner suite on the square Sat-Wed. Only Sat. was there a noise issue which we understood.
we did notice some nightime noise (from a bar w/a band on the opposite side of the square) on a Tuesday. If you're especially sensitive, follow AttorneyVin's advice above; if you're like me & are willing to put up with a mild amount of weeknight noise (which didn't go especially late in any event), the view south over the city & the extra sunlight is probably worth it.
More generally, Ellis Square puts you close both to Broughton St. (main shopping drag) & the waterfront/Factors' Walk, which features numerous bars & restaurants.
Check-in: Was fine--attentive, quick, polite.
Room: Our king room was small by Andaz standards, even compared to ones in major cities. I wouldn't call it cramped; for two people, it was comfortable if not spacious. The decor was a bit somber, and somewhat exacerbated by there being only one window for natural light. If you're expecting light & airy accommodations, this isn't the best choice.
I did note a number of shortcomings in terms of room detailing (not enough wall hooks in bath) & maintenance/housekeeping (interior of minibar, while well stocked, was sticky & gross from a previous spill). In general, things were fine.
Common areas: As others have indicated upthread, this is not a very Andaz-y Andaz if you're used to NYC/5th Ave., Amsterdam, or the like. Interior design is clean & attractive, but not distinctive.
The pool is small, but well laid out & well supplied with towels & bottled water. There are cabanas with large couches as well as chaises longues & regular wicker chairs for guest use. It was refreshing after a warm day of touring, and not crowded around 4:30-5pm. (Pool closes at 9pm, which seems early to me.) There seems to be a poolside bar/cabana, although it was closed up when we were present.
Staff: Stayed only one night, so I can't comment (beyond the notes above) on daily room/minibar refresh. Housekeepers were friendly & helpful (e.g., when I asked about the ice machines); bell staff were generally attentive & quick to open the front door for entering/exiting guests.
Miscellaneous: The property is in category 4, and thus eligible for use of the annual Chase free-night cert. Even though we used a cert, we received WoH points (w/elite bonus!) for the stay's nominal cash value, which I've never had happen before.
To sum up, the Andaz Savannah didn't knock our socks off in the usual Andaz way, but it's a fine choice for a tourist visit to the city. I'd go back, especially with a cat 4 cert to burn.