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The Old Name Actually, they don't call it Greystone Hotel anymore. Hampton Inn took over about 10 years ago and did a lovely job renovating. So I should be nicer and not hide their name when I'm shooting pictures.
But I take pride in staying at non-chain hotels. So I ignored the words on the blue awnings and focused the camera on the ornate carving above the main entrance. Then and Now
The rooftop sign and old cars make it clear which is the vintage postcard. My photo shows that little has changed with the exterior, since the hotel was built in 1927. An Empty Lobby  Don and I arrived on a Sunday afternoon last January. I guess that's why the place was so empty. This downtown Hampton Inn was catering to business guests, so I guess Sundays in winter are often quiet. Not Much Business for the Business Hotel  This certainly didn't look like your typical business hotel. The iron work, chandeliers, columns and ceiling design probably lured other kinds of travelers back in the day. There was no restaurant or lounge, but there seemed to be an attempt to bring some travelers together with a bar height, community table near a TV. But the only person enjoying that little area was the desk clerk who was stealing peeks at the football game. Heading Up  We checked in and lugged our baggage into one of these fine old elevators and headed to the 9th floor. We were tired on the last evening of our 2 week road trip. Welcome The little sign beside our door made me smile.
Every room had its own vintage photo from old Montgomery. I loved the pic of the Snow Cap Creamy Root Beer shop. A Good Deal  We weren't exactly in New York City, but Montgomery is the capital of Alabama and our location was pretty good. I was surprised we could have a room as nice as this, for about $100. River View
And through old glass and funny diamond screens we could actually see the river and the old Union Station. This wasn't a bad hotel for a chain. Walking About
We cranked on the heat in our chilly room and headed out to see what was nearby. Commerce Street was pretty empty, but there were some great historic buildings to see as we walked towards the river. Cold After wandering, we were ready to kick back and enjoy the last night of our trip. I headed down the hall with the ice bucket, while Don messed with the sluggish thermostat.
After numerous calls and some help from the valet guy, (since the maintenance man had left) we asked for a new room. New Room  We headed down to the lobby and tore our desk guy away from the football game. He gave us a key to another room. We lugged our bags and our drippy ice bucket to floor 8. A Lovely Suite We spent some time in our second room but the heater was clearly not coming on.  We headed to the desk and our clerk walked us up to the room at the top of the stairs on the left. (I left the ice bucket behind) The suite was quite grand with a bar and large lounging area. It was a mighty nice upgrade and I shivered to Don that maybe it would be okay, even if it was cold. But the desk clerk agreed with us. The heat was not working. Final Room  Our last room was not a suite, but it was more spacious than the first and we could hear the heater kick on. We stayed and ordered pizza and enjoyed our warmth! Morning There was only one person joining us for the complimentary breakfast in the morning. My photo looks like a typical breakfast area in any nice chain hotel.
But honestly, the spread of breakfast in the adjoining room was a nice surprise. They had the typical stuff, but everything was fresh and chilled or just from the oven hot, like the little cheesy English muffins I loved. And all were served up in clever little containers and holders and pitchers that seemed above and beyond. Must hand it to them for not slacking off with so few customers. What's Notable? I will remember how sturdy this old building looked. The big blocky structure was more impressive close up.
I will remember the inside as clean, modern and cold... at least for a while. But my best memory will be of when we went to check out and were told our stay was free. We left just as workers arrived to deal with the heat issues.
Okay, I said I didn't like chains, but sometimes they do have more reason to keep their customers happy. Free hotel on our last night! That's a good deal!
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A Grand Victorian Hotel from 1892 On road trips, Don and I often drive way off course to stay in a place like this.  But in January, we were simply looking for any hotel between Savannah and New Orleans. Don's internet search revealed this gem, right on our route. Americus We booked a room and began to wonder about the town of Americus. We found out there was a lot going on, around the oddly named town. Americus was the headquarters for Habitat for Humanity and some other interesting organizations.
It was also very near Plains, the home of President Carter. We decided to leave Savannah early to give us some exploring time before check-in. Atrium Lobby We had quite a stunning view when we entered the 3-story lobby with balconies and arched ceiling. We hardly needed any more excitement for our day.
We'd already lunched in good old Plains, just 10 minutes away. Then we wandered and visited a museum. Then it was off to President Carter's childhood home, where we had the whole farm and his little house to ourselves... except for a cat. The Carter's Presence At the hotel, we half expected to bump into the former President and First Lady. The Carters have been strong supporters of preserving the old hotel and there were reminders of them everywhere. There was Rosalynn's Tea Parlor and the Carter Presidential Suite, but we weren't able to peek in either.
That's okay, we knew the next morning we would be seeing the Carters for sure. We had been informed the day before that President Carter does a "Sunday School", inspirational talk each Sunday, at Maranatha Baptist Church. Travelers from around the country and world are encouraged to visit the church. We had a feeling the hotel had quite a number of guests, staying just for that purpose. Even if it meant lining up in freezing temps at 6 am to assure a seat in the small church. Quiet Lobby  The lobby was empty when we checked in, although there was quite a line up of motorcycles in front.  It was fun exploring while it was still peaceful. I imagine it was a bustling place at the turn of the century. I also imagine a lot of dust collected on those railings and chandeliers when the place closed down in 1972 for almost 20 years. Fire and Floors  I could have used a real fire, since cold winds were gusting outside. But the Christmas lights on the logs tricked me for a moment. I loved the patchwork of marble on the floor...  ...and the curious designs, in the pine and maple wood floors. I don't even now what to call that metal and glass inlay? Cozy Arches, Creaky Stairs I just loved the feel of the stairs that took us to the upper levels that overlooked the lobby. The wood was warm and smooth and the stairs felt slant-y and fun.
They did have an elevator, but our room was conveniently near the top of another set of stairs. Low Railing Here I am at the top of the "our" set of stairs. The floors and walls all had a crooked funhouse feel that made me feel a bit tipsy.  In this photo, I am demonstrating (with exaggeration) the dizzy effect and how you might want to remember how low Victorian era railings are. Of course Don is a foot taller and could have demonstrated this better. The Moorish Influence The real fun of this hotel design was happening on the top level near the rounded ceiling.  I loved the flame shaped arches, cut into the angled walls. This exotic revival style made its way into American architecture in the later 1800's. Balcony Drama The little balconies that jutted out above the lobby, were corded off. A wise move, since their slanted floors looked unsafe.
But I felt that if I stood near, long enough, I would be inspired to recite some Shakespeare, write a mystery thriller or paint an image of Rapunzel letting down her golden hair! Imagination Just staring at the swooping arches and beams made the imagination go to work. I didn't have time to write or paint or put on a play.  But why didn't I at least have a little fun with one of those balconies and a paper airplane? More Balconies  Oh if only the wind hadn't been so chilling. I love outdoor terraces and the hotel had two levels of them...  ...wicker rockers, cafe tables and cooling fans for the warmer months...  ... and a sweet little downtown view. This was a curious town and we didn't really have the time to explore it! One More Balcony This little balcony wasn't corded off and I could step out onto the rounded space and peer over the metal railing.
There were more quaint buildings down the street, but the best view was obviously the turret. What fun to study the cone shaped roof and rounded windows and the steep roof between! From Below From the street I could look up to the right and see the balcony, where I stood before. It looked a little like the Stature of Liberty's torch!  I loved how the gables looked like tiny houses, jutting out from the roof. Our room was on another side of the hotel, with an identical gable for our windows. Our Room for the Night Our hall was cozy and so was the room.
I loved having the windows in the gable, reminding me of my grandmother's house.
We chuckled at the ceiling with lots of pipework jutting out from the decorative border. I'm glad the latest renovations of 2010 did not remove all of the old charm. The bathroom had the original tile floors but there were proper updates elsewhere. The View Not only did we have a sweet little view of the storefronts, we had an old window and shutters to frame it!
The sun set over those buildings and there was a nice evening glow! Dinner? The lovely Rosemary and Thyme Restaurant looked classy and comfortable. It was good enough for FDR years ago. At least I heard he made a speech here.
But we figured we'd just get a burger from the hotel pub. However, by the time we were hungry, the bikers had taken over the chairs outside the pub and a big crowd in cowboy hats was approaching. We got our food-to-go and enjoyed eating in the room with our own wine. 5:30 Alarm The voices and laughter of the bikers, echoing in the lobby, finally came to an end around midnight. We woke early, dressed in layers and headed to the car in the dark. A few other hotel guests were doing the same, but our biker crowd seemed to be skipping church.  Eager travelers lined up to make sure they got one of the 300 seats in church. Luckily, there's a seating area for the 35 or so active members, so they don't have to suffer this weekly. But the long wait and cold, didn't end up being so bad. There was a fun energy as the travelers got to know each other. The sun was rising, while a full moon was lowering. Plus, there much to watch. The Secret Service checked us over, the bomb sniffing dog was very frisky and Organizer-Jan was a hoot, as she snapped commands and also made us laugh... very much the way she probably did as Amy Carter's teacher years ago. But, What's Notable About our Hotel Stay?  I will never think about the Windsor Hotel without associating it with President and Mrs. Carter. Posing with them after church, (as all guests were invited to do) was the icing on the cake. They are an amazing couple, still giving to their community and the world! What a memory!
"The Hippest Hotel In Savannah" I found this nifty looking place, with its claim of hipness, on the internet.
Don and I were planning a southeast road trip, so I booked a room, 2 months in advance. We looked forward to staying at the 1960's motel, on our third night in the old Georgia city! A Sad Looking Parking Lot Check in was at 3:00, but we thought we'd stop by at 1:00, just in case.  The drab weather didn't give the motel a lot of extra appeal, but I knew what was waiting inside the lobby! Krispy Kremes! The website boasted some pretty fun offerings, like complimentary popcorn, RC Colas, Moon Pies and Krispy Kreme doughnuts. As I peeked around the wall near the desk, I could see the doughnut holder was empty.  Rats. Then the desk clerk announced that our room would NOT be ready before 3. "We're doing some remodeling and things are kind of crazy..." She added, anxiously. I assured her with giddy enthusiasm. "No problem! We're just excited to have a Friday reservation! We're on a long road trip and we love staying at retro places like this!" Back at 3:30 Don and I killed a couple cold, drizzly hours and returned. There were 2 young women at the desk, teaming up to share the grim news that their furniture delivery hadn't come in and they didn't have a room to accommodate us.  I gasped and sputtered and carried on. I didn't care that they'd booked us a night at the "Historic B" or that they were giving us a voucher for a future night's stay. I just refused to believe I was not going to have my night in this fun and funky motel. I was going to be their most fun guest, eating up all the silliness and blogging about it later. Nope, they did not have a spare room reserved for people who REALLY wanted to stay. Angry and Armed There are reasons that people like me should not be allowed to have guns. When I'm mad I start shooting and I'm sure these poor girls wondered why I was shooting photos of the office and the popcorn stand... and the Greyhound bus depot across the street.  They must have thought I was getting some kind of evidence... which I sort of was... but mostly I was just clicking my camera trigger because I felt powerless. Calming Me With Sweets Don wasn't silent. He reminded them that we'd paid for our room 2 months earlier and if we'd just been told about the concerns at 1:00, we could have gotten a refund and left rainy Savannah a day early.  I chimed in that I didn't care if they'd paid for our night at Historic B...whatever that was. I had paid $131.43 for a zany motel that served Krispy Kremes and Moon Pies. "Well... you can have some Moon Pies." I was told. I was still fuming, but that almost made me laugh. The nervous young woman fumbled under the counter and handed me a box of Moon Pies and two RCs. Oh brother. Stomping Around With My Camera We left with our sweets and a voucher, that we'll never use. Don headed to the car and I wandered past a few workmen and trucks to see just what we were missing.  The retro, white cinderblock, the colorful panels and the pansies really didn't look that awesome. Plus there was a heavy gloom hanging in the air and it wasn't all weather related. Up For the View I climbed the stairs that made me remember motels of my childhood. I peered in rooms with doors wide open, awaiting new carpet. The odor of cigarettes and fast food containers made me chuckle to myself.  Just moments ago I was insisting they find us a room, even if it was partially ready. Luckily I hadn't been persuasive enough. As I peered across the street at the hissing buses and the folks hanging out at the depot, I realized it would have taken more than a few Krispy Kremes to make the place feel fun and friendly. Historic B We were refused a refund, since Thunderbird had kindly covered the room at the Historic B. Not our choice, but there were few options on a Friday. We found the place and paid the $17. parking fee.
The main door wasn't functioning, but we entered a side door, that had the same lingering cigarette odor of the motel. We stepped inside and spoke with the guy behind the desk. He'd been called by Thunderbird and was expecting us. Don chatted as he was handed the key, "Looks like the Thunderbird bit off more than they could chew, with their renovations." "Tell me about it." Our clerk snorted in response. More Renovations As we headed to the elevator, we saw a "Pardon our dust" sign and we realized the deskman's comment was not related to the Thunderbird Inn.
Sheesh. We had left one chaotic motel scene and stepped into another. The elevator seemed to be created with cardboard, Styrofoam and duct tape! We traveled upward, just shaking our heads. Sheets of Plastic We headed towards our room, past a fluttering sheet of plastic. Behind the slick curtain was a railing and the soon-to-be, new lobby below.
Chemical remodeling fumes wafted up and met with the eye-stinging chlorine smells that filled the hallway. The door to an indoor pool was propped open. Our Little Oasis Yes, our room was dated and waiting to be remodeled, but it was a huge step up from what we could have been enduring, if they'd given us the room I demanded at the motel.  Don and I were more relieved than mad at this point. We eagerly freshened up before walking to an iconic neighborhood tavern we had just learned about. Venting With Chalk As we passed the temporary lobby desk, I laughed because I hadn't realized before that the clever chalkboard wall was a temporary shield for remodeling.  There was a bowl with colored chalk, available at the desk. I grabbed a piece and went to the board, to vent. B for Beth Don teased that I should write something about the ghastly Thunderbird. I pondered, but then noticed the words above the fat "B". I figured all I needed to do was add 3 more letters to the B and I would feel satisfied. I did and felt oddly empowered.
Don and I headed off down the street ready to have a good time. And we did. It takes a lot to really get us down when we're traveling. "I'm glad to B... The Beth & Don traveling team!" What's Notable? The Thunderbird is NOT the Hippest Hotel in Savannah. I don't care how cute they might look after renovations, they handled their customers poorly.
"They" does not refer to the desk help. "They" refers to the possibly fictitious M.T., who is supposed to handle customer concerns. After a month of trying to reach him by phone and email, I give up. I will write a TripAdvisor review and warn others. Then I will try to forget this mystery man, who doesn't deserve to be in my Notable write up.
UPDATE: Yesterday I heard from the Mr. T. He apologized and offered a refund. Once a Warehouse in Savannah, Georgia Long before this impressive old building housed guests as an inn, it was filled with raw cotton.
Savannah was the world's second largest cotton seaport and warehouses lined the riverfront. Circa 1817  It's hard to grasp this hotel set-up. The huge brick and stone building seemed to grow from a high bluff. On the rear side, it looked way down on the waterfront. Bridges and Stairs All these levels meant we dealt with a lot of bridges and stairways, some with signs of caution, due to their age.
That added to the excitement! A Grand Line up! Our building was connected to others, just steps away from the beautiful Savannah Cotton Exchange building.
To find the hotel entrance, we crossed a bridge and entered on an upper level, facing the city. Lobby Once inside, it was hard to detect the age of the building.  The lobby felt classy and uncluttered, with a beautiful model ship here and a lovely riverfront painting there. The Rear It wasn't until we viewed the building from the rear that we got a good feel for the age. In 1817, the warehouse had only 2 stories, built of recycled ballast stone.  By 1853 they needed to expand and built upward, with 3 more floors. All these floors had outside access for removal of cotton bales. The bluff in front, along with additional alleys and walkways, allowed for that. More Stairs Entering from the lowest floor on the river side, we were better able to visualize the building as a bustling warehouse.
The ballast stone walls met up with thick, brick arches and the stairs and walkways connected the floors and walls. Up to the Skylight The climb upward took us away from the rustic stone and brick, to wallpaper and pastel paint and wall murals, depicting historic river scenes. I loved having a little help imagining Savannah 200 years ago.
When we traveled all the way up, we found a small sitting area with potted plants and a wall of bookcases. The skylight, even with gloomy January skies, brightened the space. Hallways The halls gave a good view of the brick arches.
The wooden floors were filled with dark lumps and bumps, but smoothed so perfectly over time. I don't think you could get a splinter, if you tried. Hospitality Bar Since the lobby didn't have much in the way of lounging space, it was nice to discover some areas where guests could gather. There was a fitness area and a recreation room with TVs and pool table, but we did our relaxing in the Hospitality Bar.
I wish I'd gotten a photo of the cute little bar that served complimentary wine and the gracious spread of "snacks". We got a seat by the window and nibbled on hummus and guacamole, yummy cheeses and nuts. And even though I think of beignets as breakfast, I couldn't resist when they came around offering piping hot, powdery treats, fresh from the kitchen! Fresh Looking Room Our room was spacious and felt nicely updated. It was hard to believe our comfy hotel was actually in a warehouse state as recently as 1987.  Our windows let in lots of light, but not much in the way of a view... unless we wanted to wave to all the people going by on the walkway. Fireplace I'm not sure how this space was used in 1853, when they added the new floors. I like to picture the factors, those professionals who graded cotton, warming their hands at this fireplace.  If we'd gotten a river view room, we might have had a small balcony. That's where the factors kept an eye on the cargo ships arriving and unloading. Staying Warm and Dry It would have been fun if the fireplace had worked. It turned chilly that night and a fire would have been a treat.
The next morning we woke to rain and suddenly realized how handy that umbrella in the holder could be. Dining The hotel had two restaurants overlooking the river. We had a decent and informal lunch at Tubby's, on the upper deck.  But one perk of the hotel is that you really can walk anywhere. For dinner, we found the delightful "Boar's Head Grille & Tavern", just steps away in another old warehouse. What's Notable? I will remember less about our comfortable hotel room than I will the idea of what our hotel once was.  And maybe even more memorable than our warehouse/hotel itself, was what it was sandwiched between. I will always remember how our hotel opened to the busy river on one side...  ...and cozied up to the bluffs and brick and stone on the other side. Pretty nice combination!
Savannah, Georgia
This was our first visit ever to the colonial city and we lucked into a stay at a landmark hotel with lots of its own history. Once the John Wesley Hotel This 60-room hotel, in the heart of Savannah's historic district has an interesting past. It was built in 1913 on the site of the first parsonage of John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church.
The parsonage burned in a disastrous city fire in 1796 and In 1812, two identical homes were built on the site. The south-side home was demolished to build this hotel. There are stories/rumors of a brothel and ghosts and another fire... all after the successful early years. In 1984, the hotel reopened as the Planter's Inn. Reynolds Square The hotel looks across to Reynolds Square, one of about 20 squares that make up the historic district.
In the center is a statue of John Wesley. Like the hotel, he had a few secrets. It was an unfortunate love affair that forced him to leave Georgia. But he did refer to this very area as "Utopia", so that's what I chose to focus on! The Hotel's Connection One (or two) more quick thoughts on the exterior! You can see the house that appears to be glued to the side of the 7-story hotel. Please ignore the building on the left, since that is a parking garage.
That 3-story brick structure is the Oliver Sturgess home, built in 1812. The rear view makes the home look oddly dwarfed. It's curious to imagine this tall hotel taking the place of the "mirror-image" home that Mr. Sturgess built next door for one of his twin daughters. One More Building to Mention I must admit, one of the real reasons we chose Planters Inn, was because of it's proximity to The Olde Pink House.  That is another story for another blog. But this fine old restaurant was just across the street from the Sturgess home. There was no restaurant at Planters Inn, but you could get room service from the Pink House! Inside at Last! There's nowhere to park in Savannah, so you have to appreciate the valet service. Our very welcoming bellman loaded our few bags onto a cart and in we went.
The first thing to greet us was the coffee set up, next to the vases. No silver tea services or teacups, but I never complain if there is coffee available! Then we headed around the coffee wall... Proper Lobby There was something distinctly formal about the lobby, although the staff was quite relaxed. Even though we'd booked the least costly room, we asked if we might get a room with a view of the park.  The pleasant desk clerk found polite words to sincerely explain that the cheaper rooms get parking garage views. Then she actually tried to see if she could offer a complimentary upgrade, but was unable to find an available room. Oh well. Columns for All!  That was fine. We hadn't expected an upgrade. Plus the columns were there for all guests to enjoy. And those were some pretty dazzling columns and moldings! To the Room We followed our bellman down the 3rd floor hallway.
I peeked out the windows and spotted the Olde Pink House, where we were planning to have dinner. I wouldn't have minded that view. Granny and Granpop's Room! I knew we weren't exactly getting the honeymoon suite, so I wasn't surprised. Don and I spend so many nights in hotels, that we book whatever is cheapest. In this case it meant single beds. I chuckled to the bellman that we'd gotten the room for the old folks.  (What I really meant was Ricky and Lucy's room, but figured he was too young to get it) He innocently put me in my place when he answered graciously in a slow southern drawl, "Yes Ma'am, but all the rooms are beautiful here."  And he was so right. How dare I poke fun at our lovely room. I chimed in with total agreement. The hotel was lovely and I rambled on about the beautiful lobby and he seemed genuinely surprised when he received a tip. But when we closed the door I had to laugh again. "I don't remember single beds being that narrow." There was something that reminded me so much of my grandmother, Daw's decor... which was comforting. Everything was neat as a pin, with formal drapes and knit bed spreads. She would have loved the green walls. View and a Bath In the blog, I always share a peek out the window and into the bathroom. Okay the parking garage was pretty bad.
I angled the camera to show more of the view. Please focus on the distant tower only. The bathroom was fine. The wallpaper said 1984, which is when the hotel reopened. But I was pleased with lots of counter space, which is never expected in old hotels. Surprise Glasses Don and I are always pleased to find real glass in a hotel. Even the nicest boutique hotel might try to get away with disposable plastic and that just bugs me.  But this was a pleasant surprise to have these retro frosted water glasses to sip our water. I so wanted to assume these were like the soaps the we are allowed to take home. But they stayed behind. Wine and Cheese Our cozy lobby became the gathering place around 5, with a complimentary spread of wine and cheese. I don't think there was a guest who missed this event, so we were lucky to find seats.
I'll try not to be negative, but once again, I was reminded of "old". Not the building this time, but that Don and I seem to travel with a lot of oldsters. It was kind of odd to look around the small crowd, murmuring over their wine. They seemed so old, these retiree travelers. And sadly we are not younger than all of them. I kind of felt like I was at my Grandmother's retirement/nursing home happy hour... which was quite lovely. But still. What's Notable? Our hotel was old, not in an iconic, memorable way, but a neat and tidy way. The hotel guests were kind of old, too. Savannah is also very old, but in the perfect way!
That is the notable thing about this hotel, it was within walking distance of the very best of Savannah! What surrounds the hotel, is what I will remember most!
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Ninety Notable
Nights My New Year's Resolution for 2014 was to start documenting some of the memorable overnights I've had in some very odd and curious motels and hotels. Like the adventures in my Dining Blog, I have learned to enjoy the surprises that happen when you step out of the comfort zone, far away from the well-known chains. I began with a few entries recalling my very first home away from home memories from my youth. Then, I started sharing about some of the quirky and unforgettable motels, hotels and inns that my husband and I have discovered in recent years. The best part about this challenge was making some lists with Don and getting on the road in search of new overnight adventures. I gave myself a 2-year goal to write up 90 stories and the goal was met. Now we just keep on adding! Archives
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