
Hotel Bardo Savannah
Best for culture‑and‑walkable Savannah stays, couples and small families who want a historic setting and easy access to downtown sights.
Prices in other currencies are estimates. You’re charged in USD.
Hotel Bardo Savannah is a restored 1888 mansion turned five‑star urban resort beside Forsyth Park; read this if you want a walkable, historic‑district stay with a heated 25‑meter pool and an on‑site coastal Italian restaurant. Montage Palmetto Bluff is a large, 5‑star Lowcountry property in Bluffton focused on riverfront nature, golf, boating and a full‑service spa — read this if you prefer expansive grounds, outdoor recreation, and a marina-style resort.
Updated

Best for culture‑and‑walkable Savannah stays, couples and small families who want a historic setting and easy access to downtown sights.

Best for outdoor recreation, multi‑day resort stays, families and golfers who want boats, pools, and long Lowcountry grounds to explore.
When Hotel Bardo Savannah wins: choose Bardo if you want to be in the heart of Savannah’s Historic District within steps of Forsyth Park, prefer a smaller urban property with polished dining and a heated 25‑meter pool, and value easy walking access to museums, squares and SCAD.
When Montage Palmetto Bluff wins: pick Montage if you want a broad Lowcountry resort with on‑site golf, a marina and many outdoor activities (kayaking, boating, ecotours), multiple restaurants, and a full‑service spa across expansive grounds.
Bottom line: Bardo is the convenient, historic downtown choice for sightseeing, short breaks and refined urban dining; Montage is the destination resort for multi‑day leisure focused on nature, golf and water activities.
| Category | Hotel Bardo Savannah | Montage Palmetto Bluff |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Restored 1888 mansion; polished urban resort built around historic architecture. | Expansive Lowcountry resort and village with riverfront, marshland and golf‑club recreation. |
| Location | 700 Drayton St, beside Forsyth Park in Savannah’s Historic District; walkable to museums and squares. | 477 Mount Pelia Road, Bluffton, South Carolina; set on the May River with marina access and golf nearby. |
| Size | 149 rooms (about 50 suites) across a restored mansion and adjoining buildings, compact two‑acre footprint. | 198 rooms and many cottage/ residence types across a large resort village and grounds. |
| Who can check in | Primary guest must be 21+ to check in; children welcome when accompanied by a parent/guardian. | Adults and children welcome; Montage Palmetto Bluff is not adults‑only. |
| Pools & outdoor water | Heated 25‑meter outdoor pool (open year‑round dawn‑to‑dusk) and seasonal poolside Bar Bibi. | Multiple outdoor pools listed (2 outdoor pools noted); marina on site and boating/river activities available. |
| Restaurants & bars | Saint Bibiana (coastal Italian), The Green Room (lobby bar), Bar Bibi (poolside), Club Bardo (private lounge). | Five restaurants on site (including River House Lounge) and multiple bars/lounges; 24‑hour room service available. |
| Spa & wellness | Saltgrass Spa (massages, facials, infrared sauna, holistic bodywork) and 24‑hour Technogym/Peloton fitness center. | Full‑service spa on site with treatment rooms, fitness classes and wellness programming. |
| Known for | Historic mansion setting beside Forsyth Park, city sightseeing, refined dining and an intimate private club (Club Bardo). | Riverfront setting, golf (May River Golf Club nearby), marina and broad outdoor activities (boat tours, kayaking, ecotours). |
| Event & meeting space | Multiple distinctive wedding/event venues (Ballroom, Courtyard, Carriage House, Event Lawn, Club Bardo) and several thousand sq ft of meeting space. | Conference center and meeting rooms with about 5,500 sq ft of conference space; ballroom and banquet facilities on site. |
| Parking & transfers | Valet parking (surcharge), EV charging, house car included in resort fee; street parking nearby. | Valet parking (surcharge) available; airport transfers by surcharge and limo/town car services offered. |
Hotel Bardo sits at 700 Drayton Street directly across from Forsyth Park in Savannah’s Historic District.
Choose Bardo to be in the center of Savannah’s historic attractions and walk everywhere.
Montage Palmetto Bluff occupies extensive Lowcountry grounds on the May River in Bluffton.
Choose Montage for a resort stay focused on on‑site outdoor activities and river access rather than walkable urban sightseeing.
Hotel Bardo offers 149 rooms and about 50 suites arranged around the historic mansion and courtyard.
Bardo is best if you want a historic room footprint and direct access to Savannah streets and parks.
Montage lists many room types from Inn rooms to River View Cottages and multi‑bedroom Signature Residences.
Montage is more flexible for families or groups who want cottage or residence layouts and more on‑site privacy.
Hotel Bardo concentrates dining around Saint Bibiana, The Green Room, Bar Bibi and Club Bardo.
Bardo offers refined, short‑walk dining concentrated within the property’s intimate footprint.
Montage has five restaurants and several bars across a sprawling property plus 24‑hour room service.
Montage is the better pick if you want varied on‑site dining options and flexible meal service during your stay.
Hotel Bardo’s signature outdoor water amenity is a heated 25‑meter outdoor pool that operates year‑round.
Bardo’s pool is a high‑quality, city‑center amenity suited to short stays and sightseeing days.
Montage offers multiple pools plus river access, a marina and a wide range of water and outdoors activities.
Montage’s signature is its water and golf program — expect multiple pools plus river and marina activities.
Hotel Bardo’s Saltgrass Spa and the 24‑hour fitness center serve as the property’s wellness anchors.
Pick Bardo for a boutique spa experience combined with intimate evening programming and a private club feel.
Montage provides a large full‑service spa and broader wellness programming across its grounds.
Montage is for guests who want a substantial, resort‑scale spa and daytime wellness plus outdoor activity options.

Hotel Bardo Savannah — steps from Forsyth Park and within easy walking distance of Savannah’s key historic squares and museums.

Montage Palmetto Bluff — marina on site, motor boating and guided boat tours make it the superior choice for water activities.

Montage Palmetto Bluff — cottages, village homes and multi‑bedroom Signature Residences suit multi‑room family stays.

Hotel Bardo Savannah — a restored 1888 mansion offering intimate event spaces, a 25‑meter heated pool and a focused dining program.
Hotel Bardo Savannah. It’s in the Historic District beside Forsyth Park and within walking distance of downtown attractions and restaurants.
Montage Palmetto Bluff — the property lists a golf course nearby (May River Golf Club) and on‑site boating, marina and kayaking options.
Yes. Hotel Bardo allows children when accompanied by a parent/guardian (primary guest must be 21+ to check in) and offers Camp Bardo; Montage Palmetto Bluff is family‑friendly and lists children’s pools and family room types.
Yes. Both properties list full‑service spa facilities and offer massages and facial treatments — Saltgrass Spa at Bardo and a full‑service spa at Montage.
Explore how Hotel Bardo Savannah stacks up against other hotels nearby:
vs. sites like Expedia, Hotels.com and other OTAs ·