ravel Destination Savannah

SAVANNAH, GA -- Thanksgiving is a great time for bringing the family together and the Andaz in Savannah is a great place for families to meet at one of Hyatt’s newest additions.

Hyatt’s goals for the new Andaz hotels are to be upscale, boutique-inspired lifestyle properties that inspire the best of their locale. The Savannah experience does this by bringing together the rich history along with the modern found in few cities in America. Situated on Ellis Square, the Andaz is steps from City Market, the waterfront, southern cuisine and great carriage rides around the city.

Thanksgiving dinner at the Andaz is like having your own private home cook, as Chef Lauren ensures the food is sourced from local farmers. The free-range turkey was moist and full of flavor and what looked like regular mashed potatoes were white sweet potato mash, next to some tasty stuffing. If traditional sausage stuffing was not enough, there was also oyster stuffing prepared with local oysters.

The buffet was set up as if the private chefs were there to serve just you, including eggs cooked to order. Additional items from prime rib to crab cakes rounded out this Thanksgiving extravaganza. The feast ended with an assortment of deserts, but a chocolate-covered pear certainly fulfilled that perfect ending. The rich chocolate coating of the ripe pear was flavorful, as the chocolate adhered to the pear with each bite.

Savannah could be the best walking city to visit. The 22 squares, strategically placed around the city, give a break from what would be a typical urban city. For the shoppers, a stroll along Broughton Street will serve up a sample of local boutique stores as well as favorite brands. The food options focus on local seafood and southern cooking destinations like Mrs. Wilkes Boarding House, where it is not unusual to stand in line for an hour or more. This family-style eating establishment serves fried chicken with about 20 side items to pass about. Even the Andaz uses local food; like their shrimp and grits for breakfast, which could be the best ever. A walk along the river will bring endless eating and shopping options, while in taking a view of one of America’s busiest deepwater ports.

Years ago at this port, pirates needing crew would Shanghai patrons from the Pirates' House. Really, there was a tunnel below that ran from the bar to the harbor. If one were to drink a wee bit too much, they may wake to find themselves forced to work a ship on its way to Shanghai. The tunnel also served as a way to smuggle rum into Savannah during the days of prohibition. Just one of the many sea stories heard from the locals, as well as a ghost story or few.

The Andaz serves as a great resting place after taking in the sites, passing by movie scenes where Forest Gump was filmed, eating, and strolling, or just imagining what it was like to live in a city before the birth of our country. From the New York style bar that has award-winning drinks, to a pool patio with a warm fire pit on a cool Savannah night to share family stories, the Andaz is a great addition to Savannah.

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