The Gastonian, Savannah

My husband and I stayed at the Gastonian for one night on our honeymoon in Oct. of 2007. As with any other place we stayed there were pros and cons. Of course this was our first stay at a bed and breakfast so we had nothing along those lines to compare it to. I personaly loved it, it was charming and the staff very polite. The price is high but it was a time to splurge for us. There was an additonal tax that we were unaware of. Yes the parking is odd, but handled by the staff. Convenient location, comfortable bed, good food. A small issue on the back porch with insects but I laughed it off as an "experience". I do plan to return once more for sentimental reasons. I did feel bad about having room service for breakfast since the gentleman that delivered it had to carry the heavy tray by hand alone and he didnt seem to be in the best of health. The staff was extremly helpful the night of our visit, my husbands sugar level had dropped and he needed something to eat. It was not time for yet for dessert but I was given a brownie to take to him in our room without any trouble. I will always remember that act of kindness.

As a Christmas gift to my wife, I booked the Caracalla Suite at the Gastonian. It was to culminate with the bringing in of 2008 in beautiful Savannah. Do not trust the pictures on the internet...they are very misleading. Upon arrival, missing was the Southern hospitality of a gracious welcome. In fact, after a four day stay, we still could not get anyone to make eye contact with us at the reception desk. I found that weird. The suite, at one time, may have been lovely, however, the beautiful silk draperies, used though out the room, bed dressings and spa tub were flat out dirty. Still, we attempted to pretend charm. There was a lovely framed explanation that anything wrong in the room was part of the nuance of the home and was placed there by the Inn Keeper, whom we never met. In other words...don't complain. I will say, the toiletries were very nice. The parking is the strangest I have ever encountered in my life...and we are well traveled. The breakfast trays are a joke. I am used to paying for the privilege of telling you when I would like breakfast...not you, telling me. It was not silver tray...it was stainless steel. The stainless flatware used at breakfast had a white milky dried substance on it. When I asked for a new setting...they did what I asked, with the same results. My suggestion...a new jet dry. A fast and easy fix. The afternoon tea and evening desserts were doable, however, since I am in the south and wanting to love the southern hospitality...why not polish the silver that had not seen as much as a silver cloth since the inn opened? The breakfast foods were fine, as long as you wanted very little to start your day. And, don't ask for a second cup of coffee. Or, do not change your order which you had to give them the night before. Even the pink roses on the tables had been there for days, and, were dropped over and laying against the vase. I understood how they felt. The turn down service was timely and the praline on the pillow was a nice touch. These along with the bathroom amenities were really the only positive comments I could make about the Gastonian. Twenty five years ago...we visited Savannah. Since then, I had heard about the Gastonian and always wanted to stay there. After reading reviews of late, I almost backed out and choose another inn, but, decided to go with my feelings. Sorry I was wrong. In spite of that, Savannah showed us a wonderful time. The people are lovely and the restaurants we chose were outstanding, speaking of Vic's on the River and the outstanding, Olde Pink House. The Vanilla Day Sap is also outstanding. All in all, it was a gift my wife enjoyed. Just wish the memories of the Gastonian were of higher standards. She knew of my disappointment, and, I of hers, however, we made the very best of the time there. There is no way they can a member of Preferred or Select hotels.

We stayed at the Gastonian for our Honeymoon. The first thing we noticed was how seriously they take the idea of being authentically antique. From the silverware that looks like it has been in 25,000 mouths over the past 100 years to the tub without a shower curtain to the creaky old furniture that seems about to break. Our experience was also enhanced by the fact that to shower you needed another person to hold the spigot (shower head) over your head (just like the old days). Additionally, we were also impressed by the bathroom doors that were painted open. Bear in mind this was all for the special "Caracalla Suite" which was supposed to be ideal for honeymooners. The pictures are very misleading and they cannot capture the distinctive odor that lingers in the air. The parking is down right weird and a pain. The only...and I really mean the only redeeming value was the breakfast that was brought to our room each morning. It was excellent. So if you want to pay $400.00 a night for a good meal then this is the place for you.

The entry to the Gastonian was beautiful and the food in the evening, tea and canapes with another offering in the evening of cake and cordials was superb. However, the morning breakfast I had of a poached egg on creamed spinach and toast meant that the (toast) was the size of a fifty cent piece as well as the creamed spinach. Grits made with cream cheese were wonderful! Staff was very nice, but the room, (we had the carriage house with red claw foot tub) was not very clean. Soaps were not left on a daily basis as well. Shutters were very dusty and room service to clean the room was not very good. One night they didn't even change the sheets! I think this place was overrated in that there are plenty more offerings to choose from in the city. Most memorable offering, not from the Gastonian was that we ran into Paula Deen at the WalMart and was she nice and real. Have a picture to prove it.

Our expectations were high, given the write ups (one of the best B & B's in the WORLD) and the price (up to $500. but ours was $300. per night + taxes), so maybe our disappointment was a bit from that. Our first night's room (5 guests, including us, had to change rooms the next morning) was in the process of being renovated. There wasn't a curtain over one full length window, one armoir's door had to have folded paper in it to keep it closed, we found an old, dirty kleenex in one of the "guest robes", the adorable old-style bathtub (had legs) was also the shower, nothing to hold onto, no slip mat for the inside of the tub and difficult to get in and out of esp. for my 86 year old mother! The decor was not good and not finished. In the morning we went to have our "complimentary" breakfast and there weren't any seats available. Too many guests they said! We had to wait 1/2 hour to sit down. We decided to avoid that the next day and signed up for "silver tray" service in our room. No, could not have that at 8:30 as we requested. Had to wait until 9:30. Too late, we decided to go out for breakfast. "coffee in room" did not mean that each room has a coffee pot, instead one has to call for it, each day. Room bills would arrive each morning.....either for the wrong people...or the wrong day! The parking is interesting. Only six spots and 3 are directly behind the other 3. Which means that we have to give our keys to the person manning the desk, so that he can switch cars around as needed. Also, for the rest of the guests that did not get a parking spot, they had to find one on the street, which is not easy. The good news is that the people were very nice, always. The food was good, esp. the complimentary afternoon appetizers/wine and later in the eve a dessert and after dinner drink. The location is superb.

The Inn is wonderful. We had no problems while there. The Inn is within walking distance to just about everything and the food, wonderful. The staff was great, especially Walter. We can't wait to go back!! It may be a little pricey, but well worth it.

We had a wonderful stay at the Gastonian. Everything ran very smoothly from check-in to check-out. The inn has just been rennovated and is quite lovely. It has a beautiful garden and the afternoon tea was scrumptious. We also enjoyed the dessert in the evening. The breakfast was quite tasty and offered many selections. The staff was the best though. They helped us to make reservations and were quite knowledgeable. I would recommend this to anyone.