Set across from the beach on Saint Simons Island, in the Golden Isles of Georgia, Ocean Lodge is a luxury boutique hotel fashioned to look like a Renaissance-style Italian villa. Each of the 15 rooms is a spacious one-bedroom suite with full kitchen, separate living and bedroom area, multiple bathrooms, and private balcony. The decor is ornate and elegant, and the utmost attention is paid to guest comfort; the butler service is an example of this. Though the fitness room is merely adequate and the pool small (more of a plunge pool), there are plenty of common spaces where guests can mingle (should they ever manage to leave their plush rooms). The Rooftop at Ocean Lodge restaurant, on the -- you guessed it -- rooftop, is a Saint Simons Island hot spot, with a full bar, indoor and outdoor seating, and spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean. There is a free, daily cooked-to-order breakfast included as well. Romantic, beach-adjacent, and private, this adults-only escape -- children under 14 aren't allowed -- is a treat.

The 28-room, upper-middle-range Village Inn and Pub is a bed and breakfast built in a 1930s beach cottage, designed around the property’s ancient oak trees. Guest rooms are clustered around a small courtyard pool, with exterior hallways and picturesque wrought-iron balconies. The Pub is a laid-back local nightspot, frequented by guests and regularls, whose specialty is Wild Orchid Martinis. Guest rooms and common areas are furnished with 1930s-era antiques, but the amenities are modern, and beds are super comfortable. Free Wi-Fi, continental breakfast, and parking helps keep costs low.

The 40-room, luxury Lodge at Sea Island is on the site of a former cotton plantation, accessed via an avenue of historic antebellum oaks dripping with Spanish moss. Outside, the lodge resembles an English manor; inside, it feels like a 1920s-style golf clubhouse or hunting lodge, with personal butlers who deliver milk and cookies to guest rooms at bedtime. Golfers will be in heaven, but there are plenty of non-golf-centric activities, too. Rooms are huge and packed with amenities -- some have balconies with beautiful views of the St. Simons Sound. Listen for the nightly bagpiper who performs at sunset. Guests should note that some features -- such as the beach, spa, and swimming pool -- are located at the sister property, The Cloister, which is too far to walk to; however, there's a free regular shuttle there and back. Families will probably prefer a room at The Cloister so they can access the beach, pool, and family-friendly restaurants without the shuttle ride.

The 79-room, mid-range Hampton Inn St. Simons Island is conveniently located in the center of the island, just off the main highway. It's surrounded by plenty of dining choices for all budgets, and is within easy reach of all the major historic sites. The inn is a chain outpost with a roadside hotel atmosphere that offers no pleasant or unpleasant surprises. Rooms are spacious and clean, and the pool, while not huge, is larger than those found at many other chain hotels. 

This three-and-a-half pearl seaside vacation resort is popular particularly with families and retirees and offers a variety of room options, including villas. A number of the 195 guest units have stunning views of the sea and the hotel maintains a historic charm, particularly in its main building and lobby. Amenities include pools for each grouping of villas, immediate beach access, and a fitness center. The few complaints made about the property have generally been about units that haven’t been updated, some featuring older furniture and appliances.

The four-pearl Inn at Serenbe is a charming retreat surrounded by expansive farms and hiking trails in Georgia's countryside, a 30-minute drive from Atlanta's airport. The 27 spacious rooms include a mix of quaint, original units, more contemporary annex rooms, and stand-alone cottages. They're all thoughtfully designed with elegant country decor, plus coffeemakers and flat-screen TVs, but those nearest the restaurant may experience noise and some wear is apparent. The excellent farm-to-table restaurant is open all day and serves free breakfast, while free appetizers and tea are offered in the bar in the afternoon. Two outdoor pools -- one adult-only -- a treehouse, outdoor games, and animal village are just outside, plus there are shops, eateries, stables, and wellness facilities within the larger Serenbe community.

The family-owned Ocean Plaza Beach Resort is located across from a sandy beach on Tybee Island, about 30 minutes west of downtown Savannah. The crown jewel of the hotel is its Dolphin Reef Oceanfront Restaurant & Bar, featuring panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean. Rooms are about what one would expect from a budget property on the beach, with dated tropical comforters and mini-fridges, but some have great ocean views. The 210-room property is similarly priced to other value hotels in the area.

This clean and simple two-pearl property is less than a five-minute walk to the beach on Tybee Island. The 54 rooms include dated elements, like flowered bedspreads and curtains, alongside modern features like flat-screen TVs, microwaves, mini-fridges, and free Wi-Fi. Suites have kitchenettes with small stoves and ovens. This budget-friendly property offers a free continental breakfast and an outdoor pool, putting it a step above the Sandcastle Inn across the street.