A modern hotel in an historic area checks a lot of boxes for me. That’s why I loved staying at The Alida, where I had a spacious and modern room but could step outside onto centuries-old cobblestoned streets in Historic Savannah.
From our hotel, my friend Hope and I could stroll through tree-lined squares, City Market and the shops along Broughton Street. The new Plant Riverside District is just across the street.
One morning, before the heat wilted our clothes and our spirits, we walked up to Forsyth Park to see the famous fountain and wander through the 30-acre park.
As an aside, I want to mention how lovely and kind the people in Savannah are. On our stroll to Forsyth Park, a lovely older gentleman in a blue seersucker suit, seemingly oblivious to the rising heat, greeted us with a warm, “Good morning.” Two joggers complimented us on our straw hats as they passed us by.
And when we stopped at Russo’s Seafood on the way out of town to fill Hope’s cooler with shrimp and other freshly caught seafood, a man at the counter offered to carry the cooler to our car.
Savannah calls itself the “Hostess City of the South” and it truly lives up to its nickname.
Anyway, in addition to the location of The Alida, here are other things I enjoyed about this Marriott property.
The Amenities at The Alida
Presenting me with a baked good goes a long way to winning my heart and The Alida has cookies every day from 3-5. We were also offered a cocktail upon check-in. My margarita was a bit strong for me as I am not an accomplished day drinker, but I appreciated the gesture.
Guests can enjoy complimentary use of bicycles, coffee and water stations with fruit on each floor, and coffee, granola bars and fresh fruit at the bar in the restaurant Rhett each morning.
There’s a nice pool with cabanas, perfect for cooling off after a day of sightseeing. I was also impressed with the equipment and size of the fitness room, located just off the pool.
Guests can request to have a turntable, what we used to call a record player, delivered to their room and can select some classic records from the lobby.
Get a taste of the South with some books, hats, gifts and Savannah- and southern-themed items on the shelves near the check-in desk where some of the food items, like salted maple pecan bars, were quite tempting.
The Rooms at The Alida
The first thing I appreciated about The Alida as I was walking to my room was the brightly lit hallways. And I also love a well lit room with an excellent view – both of which I had on the fourth floor. I also adored the window seat where I could curl up and watch the occasional boat go by on the Savannah River.
The bed was super comfortable, and a small closet and drawers provided plenty of space if you’re the sort who likes to unpack a suitcase and not live out of one, like I end up doing out of laziness and desire to spend my time in just about any other way that hanging up clothes.
It took me a minute to locate the mini fridge, but then I appreciated that it was in a drawer so I didn’t have to worry about a wine bottle rolling out of it.
When I saw how close we were to River Street, I confess I had concerns about the noise level from late-night partiers, but I slept soundly and didn’t hear a thing.
Dining at The Alida
Guests receive a $30 dining credit upon check-in and have a choice of three places to use it. We headed up to The Lost Square, the rooftop bar, the first evening where the views of the river are amazing although we took shelter in the covered area during a short rainstorm.
I opted for the Yardbird, a chicken breast sandwich, and Hope had the Shrimp Po Boy, which definitely fell on the spicy end of the spectrum.
The next night we enjoyed an elegant and relaxing meal at Rhett, taking a seat at one of the tables outside where it cooled off just enough for a comfortable meal. We started with the delicious mushroom tartine, which was stellar.
The restaurant specializes in low country cuisine with items like sea crab soup, shrimp and grits, burgers, steaks and fish.
If you don’t eat dinner at Rhett, consider visiting during the Sparkling Hour, Monday to Thursday from 5-7 p.m. for a small plate and glass of sparkling wine.
We returned to Rhett one morning for breakfast where I had a huge piece of avocado toast and Hope had a grits bowl.
The Trade Room is the lobby bar where you can get a classic cocktail, Irish coffee or order off the whiskey bar menu. The dinner menu includes some small plates like a Caesar salad, burger, chicken and that amazing mushroom tartine.
It also has a happy hour, Thursday through Saturday from 4-6 with drink specials and trivia night every Wednesday.
For other options for accommodations in Savannah, please see our stories on The DeSoto Savannah, The Bellwether House and the Marriott Savannah Riverfront.
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– Jan Schroder, Editor-in-Chief. Follow me on Instagram for travel tips and destination photos.