The Best Hotels to Book in Georgia, USA

Sweet toothed-travelers will eagerly anticipate dinner at Savannah’s Azalea Inn, which is always concluded by a surprise homemade dessert – perhaps it’ll be its take on the classic chocolate chip cookie or a cranberry carrot cake topped with cream cheese and toasted walnuts. Set on the grounds of indigenous plants from the 19th century, where you’ll find a pool, fishpond and fire pit – rooms glory in period features such as hand-carved mantelpieces, dark-wood antiques and huge bay windows.

Reputedly a famous USA haunted hotel, Marshall House, was built in 1851 and served as a hospital during two yellow fever epidemics and the Civil War. Look out for presences in the hallways – especially on the eventful fourth floor – as taps turn on by themselves while you stay in rooms featuring rich fabrics and original fireplaces. Book a front-facing Superior King for views over Savannah’s Broughton Street or a Broughton Balcony King to access the wrought-iron veranda which spans the facade.

Mediterranean-style rooms at this Sea Island retreat are spread across the Main Building, the seaside Beach Club and the Cloister Ocean Residences – a gated enclave with an oceanfront infinity pool. Set in 50-acres of gardens, all provide access to the island’s five mile-stretch of private beach, a spa and fitness center, tennis courts and three swimming pools – as well as views of the river, marshes, dunes and coastline. The closest eateries are Italian Restaurant Tavola and oceanfront Mexican joint Southern Tide.

Built in 1892 on the site of an earlier warehouse destroyed in a fire, this pale brick structure now houses Savannah’s most generous inn. Complimentary perks include a Klondike ice cream bar in your freezer every morning, wine hour in the evenings and welcome gifts for your canine companion. Set just back from lively River Street, rooms feature whitewashed brick walls, wide-plank hardwood floors and some have river-view balconies. Watch out for the resident ghost Hank, though.

Life at this five-star hotel in central Atlanta revolves around a 40,000sqft (3,716sqm) pool area, complete with a Grecian-style water feature and a bar serving drinks and snacks straight to the red-and-white striped loungers. Also on-site is the wood-paneled St Regis Bar, where the bloody mary features a spice mix and pickled green tomato garnish – and the Atlas Buckhead restaurant, where you’ll find a substantial collection of 20th-century modern art.

Couples on a romantic getaway to Savannah won’t do much better than the R Bruce room, which features a King-size mahogany bed, an ornamental marble fireplace and a 12ft (3.6m) draped ceiling. None of Savannah’s Historic Inns would be complete without other-worldly residents – and in this case, they’re said to include Confederate soldiers lingering in the upstairs windows and a girl in white who walks the corridors. Complimentary benefits include breakfast and a wine and canapes reception every evening.

Art and food reign supreme at this elegant mansion overlooking Savannah’s Forsyth Park, in which you can browse contemporary exhibitions, take a culinary tour of coastal Georgia at fine-dining restaurant 700 Drayton and attend chef-led cooking classes. Evenings also revolve around the Bössenforder Lounge – home to a storied piano the staff will tell you all about – and a live jazz and blues venue with gold-framed mirrors and chandelier lighting. Most rooms have views of the park through sash windows.

This arty boutique boasts the finest roof terrace in Savannah, with a chessboard-style floor, outdoor pool, panoramic views and a cocktail and snack bar. Spread throughout rooms and common areas is a specially-curated collection consisting of 3,600 items and antiques and over 175 original works of art – see if you can spot the Paul Gaugin original. The Emporium Kitchen and Wine Market show off locally sourced produce, foraged wild mushrooms and net-fresh fish.

Dating from 1855, these two stately, Federalist-style mansions now houses 16 rooms, each named after a US president who has visited Savannah. Most feature original aspects such as high ceilings and soot-stained hearths from the 19th-century. The Luxury Kings and Queens with balconies have four-poster beds and private terraces overlooking tranquil courtyard gardens. Despite the B&B’s central location, free on-site parking is still available. Homemade Southern Breakfast and afternoon wine are also complimentary.

This landmark 1920s hotel in central Atlanta is much hipper than its forbidding exterior suggests. Sip, eat and mingle at an astroturfed roof terrace serving cocktails and street food in a speakeasy-style lobby bar – and at Tiny Lou’s, a French-American brasserie serving foie gras, black truffle fries and wild boar terrine. The double-bunk rooms are a great budget option for groups – featuring sofa areas, ensuite bathrooms and add ons such as board games, mini-fridges and beer buckets.