Planters Inn on Reynolds Square

Planters Inn is the practical sweet spot of Savannah's historic hotels: a boutique property in a stately brick building whose front entrance opens onto Reynolds Square, one of the oldest and most charming squares in the city, in the northeastern corner of the historic district. The address is hard to beat for a first visit. The Olde Pink House, one of Savannah's most famous restaurants, stands across the square; River Street and Factors Walk are two blocks north; City Market and the Andrew Low and Juliette Gordon Low houses are a short walk west and south; and the Telfair museums and the Bull Street spine are within ten minutes on foot. The inn's style is traditional Savannah — antiques and reproductions, rich fabrics and a welcoming, residential lobby — with service that leans personal rather than corporate. Room types range from cozy standard rooms to deluxe fireplace rooms and balcony rooms overlooking the square, which are the ones to request for a special occasion. A complimentary breakfast is served daily, and the hotel offers concierge help, room service and meeting space for small groups. Fit: first-time visitors who want to walk everywhere, couples who want a romantic room on a square without inn-level prices, and history lovers who want the oldest part of the city at the door.

Reynolds Square is the reason to stay. Laid out in the 1730s, it holds a statue of John Wesley, the Methodist founder who preached in Savannah as a young Anglican missionary in the colony's early years, and it is framed by some of the district's most handsome buildings, including the Olde Pink House and the Oliver Sturges House. Early mornings on the square are lovely — light through the oaks, dog walkers, the smell of coffee from the nearby cafes — and evenings bring lamplight and the ghost tours passing through. The location also places you between the riverfront and the squares, so you can switch between River Street's energy and the quieter residential blocks in a few minutes.

Room strategy: ask for a balcony room overlooking the square or a fireplace room for winter romance; these are the inn's signature rooms and worth the premium. Standard rooms can be compact, as is typical for historic buildings, and rooms facing the square catch some evening street noise. Book a table at the Olde Pink House well ahead — it is one of the city's hardest reservations — and walk across the square for dinner. Families can make it work, but the atmosphere suits couples and adults best.

Practicals: 29 Abercorn Street on Reynolds Square; valet and off-site parking available for a fee; complimentary breakfast; AAA, AARP and military discounts offered; about twenty minutes from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. Rates sit in the middle of the historic district's range, rising on spring, October and St. Patrick's Day weekends. Fit: first-timers, couples and history lovers — a classic Savannah hotel on one of its most beautiful squares. Booking advice: Planters Inn is the value choice among the hotels set directly on a square, and it is particularly convenient for travelers who want both River Street and the house museums within a short walk. Request the room type you want in writing — balcony and fireplace rooms are limited — and book well ahead for St. Patrick's Day, when the square sits close to the heart of the celebrations. Travelers who prefer a full-service hotel with a pool should look at the Andaz or the Brice instead; those who value location, character and an included breakfast over amenities will find this one of the most dependable stays in the district. A two-night stay lets guests enjoy the square both in the quiet of early morning and the lamplit evenings.