| Savannah travel tips posted by real travelers and Savannah locals. Savannah Map |
 | Savannah Warnings or Dangers | Tips 1 - 10 of 31 |  |
* Try to avoid bums who sell "palm leaf roses" (they can be very persistent! I saw someone hit a tourist with one because he wouldn't buy it.)
* Avoid "bum square" (the square west of City Market)
* Car theft is a growing crime - lock your doors and don't park somewhere you don't feel safe in.
* Be careful on the stairs going down to River St. - they're very steep! There is an elevator (and rest rooms!) from Bay St. to River St. at the River St. Visitors Center (next to the Hyatt).
* Be careful walking on the cobblestones on River St. - especially in heels! Leave a Comment
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Altho some might say it's a bit creepy walking the streets of Savannah at night... I didn't feel at all unsafe while I was there. There is an eerie feeling about it tho.
One danger I did feel was in my footing on their sidewalks. I did a fair amount of walking and I tend to be looking at every tree, house and garden along the way. You must beware of the the sidewalks as you step. The old bricks and blue stones are often heaved from an underground tree root and it could cause you to go bump in the night! or even the day. I'm one who manages to trip over my own toes sometimes..so maybe I noticed it more. Leave a Comment
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 by davecallahan
There are 182 registered sex offenders in Savannah.
See the website below for further information.
The bottom line is that the crime statistics indicate that tourists should be watchful during their visit to Savannah. Be sure to check with the motel/hotel staff to see if there are areas that need to be avoided.
We were there three days and spent our nights out in the suburb motels along I-95. We had no problems but we also did not veer away from the standard tourist places and did all our sight-seeing during the day.
Savannah government presents a crime map at this website:
http://www.savannah-crime.com/crimeView.php
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Part 1: I'm a Senior at the Savannah College of Art and Design. As a student here, I've heard plenty about the things that go on in Savannah, mostly thanks to the Clery Act, which requires the school to disclose crime information when it concerns students or their property. Don't let the beauty of Savannah fool you, it can be a very dangerous place. Keep in mind that I grew up in a rather bad part of a city so it's not like I'm some naive student from a nice place and a rich family.
It is true that the historic district is safe during the day. I'm a female and I've walked around downtown by myself during the day and never felt very unsafe. The homeless people in the square near the Jen Library can be unnerving, but I've never had anything remotely scary happen to me. Basically, you need to be paying attention at all times. Of course, bad things can still happen, even in the middle of the day. Last May a girl was abducted in broad daylight from across the street from one of the dorms and raped. I've heard of terrible things happening like that but usually in the middle of the night.
After dark is when it gets really scary. There have been so many muggings to students that it's impossible to keep count. Forsythe Park is not some place you want to be at night (or maybe even during the day if there's no one around). One time, five male students were held up at gunpoint and robbed there. It was only 7pm! I also heard of two female student's whose car broke down and while they were looking for help three men with guns robbed them. Also, the area south of Forsythe park is very shady, the area around Star Land and all.
There has also been quite a bit of violent crime too, especially murders. A college age girl (not a SCAD student) who was walking with two males through Orlean's Square (which is directly behind Oglethorpe House) at 3am on Christmas eve last year was shot and killed in a robbery gone bad.
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Part III: Driving through is fine though, just make sure your doors are locked and if you were unlucky enough to break down have a cell phone handy to call the police. Basically, if you have no reason, avoid Montgomery St. If you're going to points south of the city, take Abercorn or Habersham St. They are much safer. Even MLK is safer than Montgomery St. and it's only one block over. I had a friend who lived right off Montgomery and he came home one night to police all over the place and a dead body on his neighbor's porch.
Another really shady spot is at the corner of Henry and East Broad. Another Time Saver, another really shady area. In fact most of East Broad is kinda shady. I would avoid it all together, especially south of Gaston St. There's no reason for a tourist to be over there anyway.
It's also illegal to be in the squares late at night and I've heard that the police will tell you to get out of them. Also, note that it's illegal to ride a bike through the squares and the police will give you $116 ticket if they see you.
The one area that I think is pretty safe at night is River Street because there's a ton of bars there, and lots of tourists and cops.
Considering Savannah's size, there is a LOT of crime. And the problem is that it's difficult to define areas because it's everywhere. One side of a block will have a multi-million dollar mansion and there will be a dilapitated house two doors down. I wouldn't avoid Savannah, I love it, but I'd definitely be wary about going around at night, even with a group. Savannah is not safe and that's why the school has so much security. We have guards posted at every building on campus and roving patrols that go throughout the city.
Basically use your head. If you see bars on the windows of say, the beauty parlor, you know you're probably not in a very good area and should probably leave, quickly.
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Part II: Also a place to definitely not go at any time is the Time Saver, known by students as the Crime Saver. It's at the beginning of Oglethorpe Ave just as you are coming into the city from the Talmadge Bridge. The thing is that on the one side of Oglethorpe you have the tourist information, such as Grayline and all that and on the other side is the Crime Saver. I have heard tale that drug deals go down there and there are usually shady groups of young men hanging around. I have heard of students who dared to venture over there (probably to buy drugs) getting beaten up and robbed.
Also, the housing projects that are behind there are apparently some of the worst in the city. And there are a ton of housing projects all over the place. Most of them are okay, although I wouldn't go wandering around in them.
Also, down Oglethrope, there is the Thunderbird Motel, which used to be creepy but they've cleaned it up and renovated it. The Greyhound Bus station is across the street though and there are weird people who hang out there, although that seems typical of the location in any city.
One of my friend's and two other girls were chased down Oglethorpe St. in the historic district at 2am by two men who were trying to mug them. Luckily, they outran them. Oglethorpe is definitely somewhere you don't want to be after dark. It's badly lit thanks to the huge trees in the median. It's much safer to walk down a side street, such as Hull which is on the back side of Orlean's Square, because they're better lit. Or better yet, take a cab to your hotel instead of walking back. A safe place after dark to get gas or snacks is the Parker's at Drayton and Hull St. It's a hangout of students and is open all night.
I would also avoid Montgomery St. south of I-16 at ANY time of the day or night. That is not some place you want to be walking around, even in the daytime. One look and you will understand why. It is shady! And I don't mean like the shady caused by the Magnolia trees :D
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 by April1985
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Savannah has its bad neighborhoods, but I felt completely safe in the historic district. We didn't stroll around late at night. We are old fogey's and we go sightseeing early and after we eat dinner we just stay at the hotel later in the evenings. Just stay in the historic area when you are out walking about. and don't go beyond Foysth Park. I have been there twice and never felt in danger. There are lots of college kids (SCAD / Savannah School of Art and Design) just watch out for them on scooters and bikes. The school owns buildings all over the area and they are just going to their next class. Don't even attempt to drive around the city, streets are narrow and parking is very limited. Savannah is a city like any other, there are good areas and bad areas. Its is the most beautiful city I have every visited.
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 City of Parks and Squares by tatyanap
My advice -- park and walk. Leave a Comment
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As said before, pick-pockets and purse snatchings. The most common ' I need a quarter or fifty cents for the bus' as you pull out your wallet or go to dig for change, they snatch it and run. Also, when River Street is packed on weekends or events, it can be really crowded, best to keep your purse at home and wallet in front pocket. Savannah is not that bad, but like any city with alot of people gathered in small quarters, it can happen, so be careful! Leave a Comment
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