Which Savannah neighborhoods work best with a dog?
Savannah's Historic District might be the most dog-walkable square mile in the South. Its grid is broken every couple of blocks by a shaded square with benches, grass and live oaks, so a relief stop is never far from any hotel. Staying between River Street and Forsyth Park puts everything within a twenty-minute walk. The Victorian District and the Starland District to the south are residential and artsy, with inns and guesthouses. Midtown and the Southside have standard chain hotels with parking at lower rates, a ten to fifteen minute drive from the squares.
Where can I take my dog in Savannah?
Forsyth Park's thirty acres are the center of local dog life, with a wide perimeter path and big lawns for leashed play. The squares themselves, from Chippewa to Monterey, make a natural walking tour. Bonaventure Cemetery allows leashed dogs among its oak avenues and river views, and Wormsloe State Historic Site welcomes them on its grounds and trails. For off-leash time, Herty Pines Dog Park in Daffin Park is fenced and shaded. Oliver Bentley's runs a historic walking tour designed for people with dogs, and many River Street and City Market patios are pet-friendly.
What should I know about Tybee Island, heat and leashes?
The rule that catches visitors out is on the coast: dogs are not allowed on the beach at Tybee Island at any time of year, and fines are steep. If your dog needs a beach day, Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, about an hour away, permits dogs with seasonal hours. Within Savannah, dogs must be leashed. Summers are hot and humid with biting gnats near the marshes, and River Street's old cobblestones and steep stone stairs are awkward for small or elderly dogs; use the ramps at either end.
How do pet fees work at Savannah hotels?
Savannah's Historic District hotels are a mixture of converted cotton warehouses, restored mansions and newer riverfront builds. Inns in historic houses often limit dogs to a few ground-floor rooms and charge a flat fee per stay, and some do not accept pets at all. The larger branded hotels along Bay Street and the river are more predictable. Out by the airport, Interstate 95 and Abercorn Street, economy and extended-stay hotels are cheap, since Savannah is a common overnight stop on the drive to Florida, and nightly fees dominate. St. Patrick's Day is the most expensive week of the year.