The Alida, Savannah, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

We stayed one night around Christmas with my family. I used Marriott points as a Titanium member, because paying outright would have been too pricey. It’s an interesting place, with tasteful decorations, attractive shared spaces and a convenient riverfront location next to JW Marriott. The rooftop bar has great views and a cozy, upbeat feel. Service was generally friendly and cheerful, though a little uneven. Our room was spacious, with two king beds and minimalist bathrooms that were spotless. We didn’t care for the closet placement, which was awkward with three of us. Breakfast and coffee were vastly overpriced. Breakfast for two was included, but otherwise brunch was $50 per person. I skipped it since the food didn’t look like something I’d enjoy. Espresso drinks were expensive and not great. A nice place, solid four stars, but not a five-star experience.

The hotel sits right downtown in Savannah’s old district, with loads of good restaurants and shops nearby. The rooms are lovely, the bathrooms are cozy, and the shower had the best water pressure I’ve had in the us, with both hot and cold water. The hotel restaurants and bars are nice too, especially the cabanna at the pool and the rooftop bar. Staff weren’t unfriendly, but felt distant and not very attentive or welcoming. Check-in was quick, though I expected the front desk to be friendlier and more helpful. As a Marriott status member, I asked to extend late checkout by an hour. The hotel seemed to be running slowly, but they refused without discussion and offered it for an extra $40 per hour. The location fee is $30 and comes with two $18 vouchers per day. The second one is hard to use, since the only bar that accepts them opens at 5 pm and non-status guests check out at 11 am.

The Alida made for a fun winter break in Savannah right after Christmas. The seasonal setup had a charming après-ski lodge feel, and the rooftop yurt was cozy and adorable, as well as a cute photo spot. I joked it might not work as well in hot weather, but that’s just the weather. Brunch and drinks at The Rhett were fantastic. The hotel was busy the day after Christmas, as expected, but the team kept things moving. Check-in and checkout were smooth, and staff were warm, organized and welcoming. The servers and bartenders did a terrific job through the holiday rush. It’s very walkable and close to everything, so we barely needed transportation. Our room had no bottled water, which stood out but wasn’t a dealbreaker. As an American Express member, I used the partner benefits, including room upgrades and on-property perks, which made the stay even better. I’d definitely come back to Savannah and stay here again.

This is a beautiful boutique hotel with a lovely room and a great location. Someone should rethink the amenities and the first impression at the front desk, though. When we returned after settling in to look around, I had to ask for a glass of sparkling wine and a cookie, even though Happy Hour had begun and pre-poured glasses were sitting behind the desk, out of guests' reach. The cookie was delicious, but the wine was flat and warm. It’d be better to keep it in the bottle on ice and offer it properly. The $18 coupon we were told to use as part of the service charge is confusing too. It only works at the lobby bar, even though there’s a beautiful rooftop bar. Valet parking is inconvenient, expensive and sloppy, although the valets themselves are very nice and do their best with the setup. The front desk experience felt poor and entirely unwelcoming.