Southern Charms with Globus

The Basics Advisor Traveler: Roni Palacios Tour Provider (Land-Based Tour): Globus Itinerary: Southern Charms Duration: 8 days Date: October 2019 Departure: Roundtrip from Atlanta Cities and Points of Interest: Columbia, Charleston, Beaufort, Savannah, Jekyll Island, St. Simons Island

The Service The hotels were very nice and comfortable, but we did not stay in the city center because the buses were not able to drive downtown. The location created a challenge for some tour members who had difficulty walking.

While gratuities were prepaid by many tour participants, my group was glad we didn’t prepay because of what happened on the last day. A Globus representative advised me that we would arrive at the airport around 4 p.m., so I booked accordingly. As it turned out, our tour guide had a flight herself that left at 2 p.m., so the driver deposited all of us at the airport around noon. We were not pleased at all to be at the airport for almost nine hours.

The Destinations Charleston was my favorite. The harbor was so beautiful and we enjoyed the ease of walking around on our own. Park benches were plentiful for sitting and people watching. The City Market was too cool—the vibe reminded me of Pike Place in Seattle or the market in San Francisco.

We visited Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens, one of the most photographed plantations and the filming location for the movie The Notebook. We were able to tour the mansion and walk around the slave cabins, which I found to be more interesting than the mansion. Afterwards we had a farm-to-table lunch near the gardens with a performance showcasing Gullah culture.

Savannah was also very pretty. We visited the American Prohibition Museum and enjoyed sightseeing by trolley. Another great stop was the Mercer House, made famous by the bestselling book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil based on the true story of a murder in the home.

Jekyll Island was a highlight of the trip. We were treated to lunch at the Jekyll Island Club, which used to be an exclusive winter getaway destination for wealthy families like the Rockefellers and the Vanderbilts.

The Takeaway The biggest issue was the miscommunication with airport arrival time, so make sure that is clear before making final arrangements. This tour did involve a lot of walking, so I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone with limited energy or mobility. The cobblestone streets, uneven sidewalks, and high curbs hindered many of the older ladies in my group. I had never been to the South before, and it was absolutely beautiful. I’m so glad I went!