Catherine Ward House Inn

After years of looking forward to it, my wife and I finally made our first trip to Savannah, and it lived up to what we’d hoped. Sam kindly helped with a small last-minute change, and we ended up with a wonderful room. It had a soft bed, a warm gas fireplace, a spectacular shower and bath, and plenty of space. The breakfasts were perfect, and we enjoyed the enriching social experiences. We never needed to drive anywhere. Our only complaint is that we couldn’t stay a few more days. We’d gladly return and recommend this classic, comfortable B&B.

We enjoyed the delicious breakfast and the staff were responsive and helpful. The Catherine Ward House Inn blends historic charm with modern convenience, and many restaurants and sights are an easy walk away. I can’t see a reason to stay anywhere else in Savannah.

The soft, comfortable bed and the inn’s excellent spot on Forsyth Park are the only reasons I gave this two stars. I’d hoped my milestone birthday stay at the Catherine Ward House Inn would be relaxing, but a broken air conditioner made it miserable. My room was on the top floor with two others, and none had working A/C when I arrived in the hot Savannah weather. No one warned me in advance. The room was 81 degrees at check-in. Later, around 9 p.m., after I’d been told the unit was fixed, it was still 77 even though I’d set the thermostat to 69. The proprietor first tried to tell me that was normal, and said the thermostat can’t go below 69 even when the A/C works. I pointed out that sleep studies put ideal bedroom temperature around 65-68 degrees. She had to check the neighboring room before accepting that the A/C was still broken, since it had the same problem. She brought up two fans and said she’d refund that night. I asked whether there was anywhere else in the inn to sleep, because the lower floors had A/C and the proprietor herself was sleeping on the main floor. She said they were full. She didn’t offer her room or have a backup plan or voucher for a nearby hotel or B&B. I spent the night lying on top of the covers with two fans pointed at my face and barely slept. In the morning it was 73 in the room, still warmer than outside, and there was no way to open the windows for a breeze. By the time I’d showered in cold water, it was back up to 81 before noon. It was 83 and humid outside that day. I couldn’t face coming back to the room after lunch, and spent part of my birthday worrying about heat exhaustion. For an elderly guest or someone with a respiratory condition, this could have been even more dangerous. The A/C was finally fixed on the afternoon of my second day, but I’d already been looking for another hotel at my own expense. It was a weekend, so little was available at short notice. The refund was another frustration: the proprietor refunded the least expensive night, almost $100 less once taxes and fees were included, rather than the first night without A/C as she’d promised. When I asked about the higher amount, she cited a policy I couldn’t find in writing and that contradicted what she’d told me the first night. She never responded to my follow-up. I hope the inn makes a backup plan for a failure like this and puts guests first.

The courtyard is charming, and the historic common areas are beautifully decorated. The Inn is right by Forsyth Park and in the historic district, so exploring Savannah on foot is easy. The breakfast and coffee were consistently delicious. I can’t say enough good things about it, and can’t wait to return.