This unforgettable trip through South Carolina and Georgia tours places reminiscent of long-ago days of gracious Southern living... a rarefied world of plantations, 19th-century mansions, magnolias and live oaks hung with Spanish moss. Explore National Historic Landmark Districts in Savannah, Jekyll Island, Charleston and Beaufort... visit Fort Pulaski and a maritime museum in Savannah... stay beachfront at Hilton Head Island... take a privately guided tour of Drayton Hall, and stroll through the gardens of Middleton Place... discover Savannah's beloved Madeira traditions on an exclusive private evening... spend some special time with Aunt Pearlie Sue, master storyteller of Gullah-flavored folktales... take a private cruise in Charleston Harbor... celebrate 300 years of history in Beaufort... and more. South Carolina and Georgia tours are as refreshing as a cool glass of sweet tea!

Day 1 Georgia tours... on your mind
Meals D
Tour departs: 3:00 PM from Florida's Jacksonville International Airport. For guests spending the previous night on Jekyll Island (highly recommended), a transfer is included from Jacksonville International Airport to the Jekyll Island Club Hotel in the heart of the island's National Historic Landmark District. Enjoy a welcome cocktail reception and dinner at your elegant Victorian hotel, which was originally founded in the late 19th century as a hunting retreat for some of America's richest and most powerful families including the Rockefellers and the Vanderbilts.
Lodging: Jekyll Island Club Hotel

Day 2 St. Simons Island and historic Savannah
Meals B, L, D
Tour Jekyll Island's 240-acre historic district, including Faith Chapel and Rockefeller's Indian Mound, and travel to nearby St. Simons Island, hosting expansive marshlands, oaks draped with Spanish moss and glorious beaches. Travel to Savannah for a two-night stay at a hotel overlooking the waterfront, close to River Front Plaza. You'll admire the city's elegant architecture and geometric city design, with 24 park squares featuring live oaks draped with Spanish moss; it's one of the country's most graceful cities. Tonight, enjoy an Exclusive - discover Savannah's Madeira traditions at the Davenport House Museum, and dine in the historic district at 45 Bistro in Savannah's oldest hotel, The Marshall House. Experience the best of Georgia tours!
Lodging: Hyatt Regency Savannah

Day 3 - Landmarks of historic Savannah
Meals B
Begin your day with a private tour of the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace in Savannah, family home of the founder of the Girl Scouts of the USA, and visit the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, interpreting the great Atlantic sea trade of centuries past. A local expert provides an insider's view of Savannah's park squares and notable buildings, part of one of the first planned cities in America, on a guided tour; its National Historic Landmark District is the largest in the country, and features more than 1,000 architecturally significant buildings. The remainder of the day is yours to explore more of Savannah on your own, perhaps wandering the city's trendy waterfront district.
Lodging: Hyatt Regency Savannah

Day 4 Civil War history and the barrier beaches
Meals B, L, D
Bid Savannah farewell and head off to a key site of the Civil War, Fort Pulaski National Monument, an impressive brick fortress captured by Union forces in 1862. It was here that military history was forever changed during a Civil War battle that saw the introduction of "rifled cannons." Continue on to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, boasting one of the most pristine marine estuaries on the east coast, where you'll find miles of barrier beaches that are ideal for walking and beachcombing. Following dinner at your inviting oceanfront resort, take a journey through the roots of Gullah culture, from West Africa to the Carolina coast, with master storyteller Aunt Pearlie Sue; her warmth, humor and exuberance will be long remembered.
Lodging: Hilton Oceanfront Resort

Day 5 Step back in time in Beaufort en route to Charleston
Meals B, D
Take time for an early morning walk on Hilton Head's pristine beaches if you wish before journeying north along the coast. Arrive in Beaufort, "Queen of the Carolina Sea Islands," where you'll view the timeless architecture of its National Historic Landmark District. Head to Charleston, the lovely and historic first capital of South Carolina. An exclusively chartered private boat cruise of Charleston Harbor this afternoon imparts a wealth of information about the city's centuries of maritime history. Your home for the next three nights is an elegant 150-year-old hotel, The Mills House Hotel, at the center of Charleston's historic district - and within walking distance of much of Charleston's historic district. Dinner tonight is at your choice of several fine Charleston restaurants.
Lodging: The Mills House Hotel

Day 6 Charleston 2012... and four centuries of architectural treasures
Meals B
A local guide takes you on a tour of Charleston to see centuries-old cobblestone streets and well-preserved homes representing a range of architectural styles from the Revolutionary War period to Antebellum mansions - classic Georgia, Federal, Adamesque, Greek Revival, Italianate and Victorian. Many of these homes surround very pretty "secret" walled gardens; additional highlights of the city's 789-acre historic district include The Citadel and the Battery. The rest of the day is free to do as you please; Charleston is a great city to explore by foot, or you might decide to see it by horsedrawn carriage; other ideas are visiting the Gibbes Museum of Art, or seeing Fort Sumter National Monument, where the first shot of the Civil War was fired in 1861. And of course there are many restaurants and cafés to enjoy the easy living this city is so well known for - be sure to get a taste of Charleston's famed "she-crap soup"!
Lodging: The Mills House Hotel

Day 7 Grand plantations and gardens of centuries past
Meals B, L, D
Visit some of the finest plantations and gardens in America today. A morning trip takes you first to Drayton Hall, a Georgian Palladian mansion built in 1738 that is preserved in original condition, without electricity or plumbing. A guided tour takes in Charleston's only surviving 18th-century plantation house that is open to the public. Then it's on to Middleton Place, a National Historic Landmark that is home to America's oldest landscaped gardens - a landscaping masterpiece. Tour its mansion built in 1755 and the stableyards - and of course the formal gardens. This evening, relive this most gracious of South Carolina and Georgia tours during the farewell cocktail reception and dinner at your historic Charleston hotel.
Lodging: The Mills House Hotel

Day 8 Gracious days in Savannah and Charleston conclude
Meals B
This Charleston / Savannah South Carolina and Georgia tours end in Charleston, South Carolina. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Mills House Hotel to Charleston International Airport. Allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in.

Tour Value Includes:
An exclusive private evening featuring a taste of Savannah's beloved Madeira traditions at the Federal-style Davenport House Museum, followed by a charming dinner at 45 Bistro in Savannah's oldest hotel, The Marshall House
Special evening in Hilton Head with Aunt Pearlie Sue, master storyteller of Gullah-flavored folktales; she'll take you on a journey from the roots of Gullah history in West Africa to coastal Carolina
A private cruise in Charleston Harbor, where Charleston's rich maritime heritage comes alive, from the Revolutionary War to pirates to nature; visit places that bigger boats can't reach
A guided tour with expert interpreters that delves into three centuries of history at Drayton Hall, Charleston's only surviving 18th-century plantation house open to the public
A walk through America's oldest landscaped gardens, lunch and a house tour during a guided visit to Middleton Place
Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as detailed
15 meals (7 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 5 dinners); service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage

Overnight Accommodations:

Night 1 : Jekyll Island Club Hotel - Jekyll Island, Georgia
Once the exclusive retreat of the Rockefellers, the Vanderbilts and their millionaire friends, this lovingly restored and meticulous maintained Victorian gem has been voted one of the world's 500 best hotels by the readers of Travel + Leisure. Located in a protected area of Jekyll Island, the grandeur of the buildings and grounds of this historic landmark evoke memories of the Gilded Age. Guest rooms feature color cable TV / DVD, iron / ironing board, in-room safe, coffee maker and refreshments center. Leisure options include an outdoor swimming pool, croquet, a putting green and a lending library. Dining venues include the elegant Grand Dining Room, with its Ionic columns and commanding views of the Jekyll River and the alfresco dining experience at The Courtyard at Crane Cottage, which offers a casual yet sophisticated ambiance.

Night 2 & 3: Nights 2 - 3 : Hyatt Regency Savannah - Savannah, Georgia
The Hyatt Regency Savannah enjoys an ideal location near the River Front Plaza and the Historic District. Inviting guest rooms welcome with signature Hyatt Grand Beds® with pillow-top mattresses and lush linens, Portico bath amenities including Aquafresh® Extreme Clean toothpaste, coffee maker, in-room safe, iron and ironing board, Wi-Fi Internet access (fee) and iHome stereo with iPod® docking station. During leisure time, take advantage of the indoor heated swimming pool or the 2,000-square-foot StayFit® fitness center, featuring state-of-the-art equipment. Choose from a wide array of Torrefazione Italia Coffee selections at Perks Coffee Shop, where you'll also find salads, sandwiches, pastries and more. If the weather is nice, enjoy a cocktail and a lighter-fare menu on the terrace at the Vu Lounge.
*Wireless Internet access is available in guest rooms and public rooms for a fee.

Night 4: Hilton Oceanfront Resort - Hilton Head, South Carolina
Set on the pristine beaches of famous Hilton Head Island in the midst of the 2,000-acre resort community of Palmetto Dunes, the new Hilton Oceanfront Resort embodies true southern hospitality in a tropical paradise unlike anything else found in South Carolina's Low Country. Yes, the beach is beautiful. and that's only the beginning. Exceptionally spacious guest rooms, with sophisticated décor and private balconies, provide a full mini-kitchen with microwave and refrigerator, high-speed Internet access (for a fee), TV with on-demand movies, iron and ironing board, hair dryer and an in-room safe. Relax on the private sugar-sand beach, lounge by one of the outdoor swimming pools, go kayaking or canoeing on the 10-mile lagoon system at Palmetto Dunes, rent a bike and take a ride along the moss-draped trails, play tennis or get in a round of golf one of three championship courses recognized by Golf Magazine, Golf Digest and Golf & Travel. Sample a wine or champagne flight or your favorite cocktail at the exciting XO Lounge or enjoy the views of the Atlantic Ocean along with your beverage of choice at the Buoy Bar. This is truly resort living at its best!

Night 5, 6 & 7: The Mills House Hotel - Charleston, South Carolina
The original Mills House Hotel welcomed its first guests over 100 years ago. Located in the heart of historic Charleston, this charming hotel extends gracious southern hospitality in the true tradition of the genteel way of life in this charming city. Each individually decorated guest room offers a hair dryer, coffee maker and iron with ironing board. Guests are invited to relax around the swimming pool as they enjoy Charleston's warm climate. Dining in the Barbados Room features an outstanding selection of Lowcountry specialties. Both the Best Friend Bar (named for the nation's first steam locomotive based in Charleston) and the First Shot Lounge (named for the first shot fired in the Civil War) are ideal venues in which to sip your favorite libation.

Inclusive Prices:
Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All hotel accommodations, motor coach transportation, entertainment, special dinners, sightseeing, porterage, and the services of local guides, drivers and the Tour Director are included. Transportation from Jacksonville Airport at 3 PM to the Jekyll Island Club Hotel is included, provided you have furnished us with accurate flight or train arrival information at least two weeks prior to the start of your tour. If you arrive late or miss the group transfer, there is no scheduled or public transportation from the airport to Jekyll Island. Transportation from The Mills House Hotel to Charleston Airport is also included when you check out of the hotel. Transportation to and from airports may be shared with other Tour guests.

Hotel Accommodations:
The tour price includes all hotel accommodations with private baths. Our standard is to provide the best available accommodations without sacrificing value. Although the quality may differ slightly from one hotel to another, our commitment to your comfort is unwavering. Two-bedded rooms are reserved in most hotels. Triples are usually two-bedded rooms plus a rollaway cot and are not recommended for comfort.

Meals: Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary.

Tour Director: Charleston/Savannah is conducted by a Tour Director who will remain with the group throughout the duration of the tour. Your Tour Director is a professional, fully trained employee.
Gratuities Included: All customary gratuities for hotel and restaurant staff and local guides are included.

No Options Sold: Your Tour Directors will assist you with information on free-time activities based on honest opinion and guidance, but they will not sell you anything. This means better value and a more relaxed and pleasant experience for you.

Not Included:
Transportation to the tour departure point and from the tour ending point is not included. We offer special rates on international air travel from select US and Canadian cities.

Hotel Rooms Before and After Tours: To avoid jet lag and possible flight delays, you may wish to make hotel arrangements for the nights preceding or following your tour. As a service, we will book additional nights for you on a space-available basis using special rates only available through us. Hotel room charges will be added to the tour cost. Airport transfers are included for these extended stays as described above under Inclusive Prices. If you wish to spend additional nights, please consult Extend Your Trip in the Accommodations section above on this webpage and discuss it with your reservations sales consultant or travel agent when you book your tour.

Luggage Responsibility:
Although every effort is made to handle your luggage carefully, we cannot be responsible, assume liability or accept claims for loss or damage to luggage and personal effects due to breakage, theft, or fair wear and tear through hotel, airline and group carrier handling. It is important for your own self-interest and protection that you make certain you have adequate insurance to cover these eventualities. Please refer to the Travel Protection Product that will be offered at time of booking for more information.

Lost luggage is an unfortunate possibility in today's world of airline travel. We suggest that you:
Pack at least one change of clothing in your carry-on bag
Split your items between your suitcase and a traveling companion's suitcase
Do not pack any vital medications or valuables in your checked luggage
Confirm that your luggage is checked and tagged to your final destination at airport check-in
Place your luggage claim tags in a secure place for your flight
File a claim for any missing luggage immediately before leaving the baggage claim area
Secure a case number and contact information for follow-up communications
Make certain that the airline has your onward itinerary
Your Tour Director will assist you with airline and other carrier communications, but has no inside contacts to guarantee or expedite recovery of lost luggage. All recovery costs, including the communication costs, are your responsibility. Check your travel protection details for covered expenses.
Personal Expenses such as phone calls, room service, alcoholic and other beverages not specifically included, laundry, dry cleaning, airline excess luggage charges, vaccinations, visa fees and services, airport arrival and departure taxes, individual airport transfers (when applicable), and other optional or incidental extras are not included and may be significant.

Tour Director Gratuities:
The customary gratuities for the Tour Director and local drivers are not included. We ask that gratuities be extended on a voluntary, individual basis and not as a group.

PRICES
From approx $2,690 US per person double occupancy