One of our favorite things to do is to visit Savannah, Georgia and when we do, we love to stay at the Hamilton Turner Inn. It is truly Savannah at it’s most glorious and personalized experience.
Originally built in 1873, HTI (as we call it) was turned into a luxury hotel in 1997 and is consistently rated by travelers and travel sites as one of the top stays in the city. A short walk will find you at a multitude of restaurants, the historic Lucas Theater, or any of the 22 squares in the city, each with its own rich history. It also made a cameo appearance in the movie “Midnight In The Garden Of Good and Evil,” directed by Clint Eastwood and staring Kevin Spacey and John Cusack.
We have visited Savannah many times and will be going much more since our youngest daughter will be attending Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). When we go, we start our days with a morning walk before breakfast. Walking through the historic downtown district is always fun. Remember to look up as you are walking to see all of the fantastic architectural touches on the exterior of the buildings. Be careful of course to watch out for the sidewalks. Large cracks from massive trees lining the path to an out of place brick can wreak havoc if you aren’t careful. This is a trip where you should take a good pair of sneakers that will be comfortable for 10,000 steps per day.
Once finished with our walk, we go into the dining room of the inn. We are usually greeted by Tim who will always be decked out in a very fashionable wardrobe. He and Steven both have great insight into the area and can give you great ideas on where to dine and what to visit.
Breakfast always has a southern flair. From tasty omelettes to shrimp and grits, there is always something bursting with flavor that will stimulate your taste buds.
The 17 guest suites are all unique and each stay will bring a different experience. The premier rooms are each decorated with amazing details that befit a historic boutique hotel. However, our favorite room is in the James Turner Carriage House.
The Carriage House is perfect for a family getaway or a trip with multiple couples in town for a weekend. Our favorite room in the Carriage House is the Flannery O’Conner room. It is located on the first floor and the entrance is a beautiful foyer where friends can gather to watch a movie or the big game on TV.
Upon entering the room, you look past a hallway and your eyes go straight to the French doors. Those doors open up to the courtyard where we enjoy sitting in the evenings, her with a glass of prosecco and me with a cigar and a bourbon. Legend has it that occasionally, people have seen a ghost smoking a cigar at the Hamilton Turner Inn. I think it is likely they may have seen me in the courtyard! More about the ghost stories later…
The elevated queen size bed is soft and very comfortable. Exquisite lamps on the bed side tables provide plenty of light for reading or you can turn on the TV for a bedtime movie.
The completely updated bathroom has a huge shower big enough for two! Dual vanities also provide plenty of space for both of us to get ready at the same time in the mornings or to freshen up at the end of the day.
Large, soft towels and wash clothes are another luxurious touch. The qualify of the linens in the bathroom and on the bed is evident. No detail is left to chance.
Every day at the Hamilton Turner Inn brings luxury experiences. Morning coffee with the newspaper in the parlor, a southern breakfast that rivals the best chefs in the area and evening wine and hors d’oeuvres. My favorite though is the cookies. I know that sounds crazy, but something about the fresh cookies while sitting in the parlor looking out on Lafayette Square puts me in a trance.
Beware that many of the ghost tours of Savannah stop in front of the Hamilton Turner Inn as it is believed to be haunted. There have been innumerable reports of ghostly sightings and paranormal activity at HTI. Some have claimed to hear the sound of children laughing while others have heard billiards balls, even though there is not a billiards table in the house.
Others have claimed to see a man smoking a cigar on the rooftop while some have reported a civil war soldier strolling through the halls at night, and even knocking on doors waking guests! Could it be that the house is actually built on top of that Confederate soldier’s grave site? We will leave that to the paranormal specialists.
It is hard to describe the Hamilton Turner Inn. It is a combination of a historic home tour, a bed and breakfast, a luxury hotel and a ghost tour all in one. Truly one of the gems of Savannah, Kirke and I highly recommend it and give it a five star rating.
