The Garden of Good Guidebook
Welcome to Savannah! This guide is very useful and will save you valuable time during your vacation! Please take a few minutes to read through it and familiarize yourself with its contents. Most importantly, please either bookmark this web page or keep it open in your device’s browser, so it’s easy to reference during your stay with us! If, for some reason, a question isn’t answered, PLEASE call us. We are here to ensure you have a perfect vacation!
Our website, BeOurGaston.com, extensively details:
It is extremely helpful.
Getting here/Contacting Us
Address
206 E. Gordon Lane
Savannah, GA 31401
Accessing the Garden of Good
Like many homes in Savannah’s Historic District, our property spans the full block from front to back. The front of the main house faces Gaston Street, while the rear faces Gordon Lane (the alley).
The Garden of Good is a carriage house, located above the garage area, which is why guest access is from Gordon Lane, not Gaston Street. Historically, this is where horses and carriages entered the property.
When you arrive on Gordon Lane — whether from Abercorn Street or Lincoln Street — look for the garage door with an antique black door beside it marked 206. This is the entrance to the rental.
Please also watch the video below for instructions on using the Lockly digital lock.
Having an issue? Call us!
(757) 293-8324/Kelly or (757) 293-8323/Patrick
Using the Digital Lock on Gordon Lane
This is a Lockly lock, which is known for its security features, but it can be tricky to use at first. Watch the video, and you will get the hang of it in no time. Please Note: You will see the same digit appear in more than one circle, but it doesn’t matter which circle you tap. This is a security feature to prevent someone from seeing/learning your code.
Do not grab the sides of the lock because there is a fingerprint sensor on the right. If you touch that sensor, it will not recognize your print and, subsequently, think you are trying to break in…thereby locking you out!
Also, this door locks automatically behind you. If you need to prop it open to bring in/take out your luggage, just be sure that it is, in fact, locked once you no longer need the door to remain open.
Arrival and Departure Information
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Parking for Free
Free street parking is available daily from 5:00 PM to 8:00 AM.
During the day, some blocks — including ours — have 2-hour parking restriction signs. However, if you park just one block east or one block south, those 2-hour restrictions no longer apply.
Another thing to watch for on all nearby streets is street sweeping. Each street has one weekday overnight when parking is not allowed for sweeping, and cars left there can be ticketed.
Best rule of thumb:
Park on a block without a 2-hour restriction sign, and always double-check that you are not parked there during that street’s sweeping hours.Paid Parking
If you prefer not to worry about the 2-hour parking rule, there are also paid metered spaces on Abercorn Street, which is just beside the entrance to our carriage house.
You can read more about parking here: Parking
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You can check in as early as 3 PM on your day of arrival. If The Garden of Good happens to be ready earlier than that, you will receive a text letting you know. Conversely, if you know your time of arrival, please let us know. We like to have someone on site in case you need assistance operating the locks for the first time.
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There are two codes to access the Garden of Good. The first one is the Gordon Lane (“Alley” door), which gets you onto the property via our garage, and the second one is the code to enter The Garden of Good itself. These codes will be sent to you 2-3 days prior to your arrival. If a mobile number was provided on the reservation, the codes will be texted to you, as well.
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Check out is no later than 11 AM. As you are departing, we often have guests checking in the same day at 3 PM, so we need all four hours for housekeeping to properly clean the apartment. Occasionally, we don’t have anyone checking in the same day, so you are welcome to ask for a late checkout! It can’t hurt!
In terms of a checklist of things you need to do upon checkout, there isn’t one. This was your vacation.
The one thing I would appreciate is if you could shoot me a quick text, letting me know that you have, in fact, checked out. This allows me to alert housekeeping. 757.293.8324
“Provisions” Fridge, Groceries, & Wine/Liquor Stores
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It’s late and you’d like a glass of wine, or you arrived late and would like a snack… Or heck, it’s noon and you want a beer!
In our garage is a refrigerator aptly named “Provisions.” Inside, there is a variety of alcoholic/non-alcoholic drinks, as well as snacks, for purchase, which can be paid in one of two ways (note that a 7% required GA sales tax will be added to the digital payment apps but not the cash payments):
Scan the Venmo QR code and pay @BeOurGaston directly via Venmo. Or,
Leave the amount you owe in cash in the envelope on the refrigerator shelf.
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The nearest large grocery store is Kroger, which is about three blocks away. 311 East Gwinnett. As you leave the garage, turn right and walk to the end of the lane/alley. Then turn right again on Lincoln. Walk south about three blocks, and you’ll run right into it.
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There is a shop called “Provisions Wine and Groceries” that has the perfect selection of items to fill the picnic basket in your room. It’s located at 101 West Liberty Street.
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“Johnnie’s” is just over a block away and has a very, very good selection of wine, beer, and liquor. As you leave the garage, turn right and walk to the end of the lane/alley, then continue and walk to the end of the next lane/alley. Turn right and Johnnie’s is just ahead on your right (where Gaston and Habersham intersect). 501 Habersham St.
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We have a page on our website that is dedicated to restaurants and bars, which can be found via the following link: restaurants & bars
About The Garden of Good
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The garage door is heavy and will close and lock on its own after about 30 seconds.
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The WiFi network you should connect to is “VIRUS,” which is my father’s idea to prevent people from unnecessarily using it! The password is 206Gaston
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There is an Ecobee thermostat next to the bathroom door, which is currently on an “at home” setting (72 degrees). Feel free to adjust the temperature to your preference by pressing the numerical digits and then selecting your desired temperature. In the warmer months, if you don’t mind, please set it to 75 or so if leaving for the day to prevent it from running continuously when no one is there.
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The Frame TV offers you the ability to select your own artwork during your stay instead of looking at a blank screen! Also, if, for some reason, the TV doesn’t automatically turn off when it gets dark in the evening, press and hold the power button to turn it off. This TV is also mounted on an extendable arm bracket, so it can pull away from the wall to be angled towards the bed, etc.
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There are blackout blinds in every window.
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If you don’t mind, please keep at least one or two blinds open when you leave for the day. Otherwise, the plants really struggle with getting enough light.
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This machine is not meant to handle large or heavy loads, but we wanted something in there in case you need to wash anything due to a spill, etc. There is all-natural detergent in a glass bottle on the counter above the unit, as well as stain spray and fabric softener sheets below the kitchen sink.
When finished using it, please leave the detergent and drum drawers open to air dry.
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”Picnicking” in Forsyth Park is a very popular activity in Savannah, so, above the refrigerator, you will find everything you need to enjoy your very own picnic!
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If you choose to cook something, please run the stove fan while doing so. These old buildings hold onto odors more so than their modern counterparts!
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In the Garden of Good on the counter, there are supplies for making pour-over coffee, as well as a French press. There is also a manual frother. You’ll find a selection of flavored sugars, too, and organic half-n-half in the refrigerator.
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There is a ceramic, lidded bowl with a selection of teas inside. This pairs well with our rose and lavender sugars!
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A microwave is by-request only. Honestly, in the years we have been operating, thus far, only one person has asked for it! If you need one, though, we are happy to deliver it to you.
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The shower fan/light combo is next to the Ecobee thermostat by the bathroom door. Trust me, we tried having the contractor put this switch inside the bathroom, but it couldn’t be done!
If you don’t mind, try to remember to switch the fan on to decrease the humidity levels while showering.
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If you need to take the trash out, there are bins in the lane/alley. The black and yellow are for recycling, while the green are for trash. Feel free to use any of them because even the residents are unsure of which ones belong to each house!
Guest Rules
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This is a largely residential area. Many of us have short-term rentals, but we live in the main house year-round. We kindly ask that you keep noise to a minimum between the hours of 9 PM and 8 AM.
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This is a smoke-free and vape-free property — no exceptions. If you’d like to smoke, we ask that you leave the property to do so.
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We love dogs. In fact, we have three of our own, but we do not allow them in the rentals. Sorry!
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Sorry, but no parties. The carriage house is a studio-type space, so I’m not sure why anyone would even try 🙃
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We get it; accidents happen. Please just let us know, so we can try to repair/replace the damaged item as quickly as possible.
We had a guest once who spilled a really oily substance (salad dressing??) on the sheets and, instead of letting us know. just continued to sleep in the soiled sheets.
First, no one should have to sleep in dirty sheets! And second, we could have removed the stain had she told us immediately.
Really, it’s okay!! Just let us know.
This is Savannah!
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You are in the south and, unfortunately, surrounded by bugs. We do have a mosquito control system in both the courtyard and front yard, which drastically cuts down on the population. I often prefer to be on our property having wine vs elsewhere because I don’t really get bit when I’m here!
All of that being said, there is all-natural repellant underneath the kitchen sink.
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I probably hate them more than you. It’s an abnormally severe fear of mine that I’ve had since I was a child. And, because of the insane panic their mere sight brings on, I have the entire property treated regularly. Cody, my pest control guy, will tell you that I go above and beyond to ensure those evil predators cannot survive on our property.
If you see a live roach, it’s about to die. If you see a dead one, I am so sorry, but at least it’s not alive!
USEFUL LOCAL SERVICES
Savannah on Wheels
Get 10% off of rentals and tours with code 206Gaston
Savannah on Wheels is a local bike rental and tour agency. It’s a great way to explore Savannah’s historic district, especially if you’re only here for a couple of days!
ConnectOnTheDot.com
Provides free transportation downtown
This is an excellent service for a particular cadré of people — those who need to get around but aren’t interested in a “tour bus,” per sé. If you’re not very mobile and need to get from point A to point B, this is worth checking out.
Royal Bike Taxi Pedicab
Is another pedicab option
If you can’t schedule/reach Savannah Pedicab, this is an option, as well.
Old Town Trolley Tours
The green and orange tour buses
See the explanation for “Old Savannah Tours.”
Old Savannah Tours
The white tour buses
Both companies (this one and Old Town Trolley Tours) operate hop-on/hop-off tours, enabling you to see the entire historic district. Check out their websites and decide which one appeals to you more. Most importantly, one of the stops is literally located by our house, and it’s used by both tour companies. Consequently, you can start and end the tour right by The Garden of Good! Turn left in the alley, then right on Abercorn. The Massey Center on the corner is a stop for these tour buses. Buy your tickets online first!
Savannah Pedicab
Our go-to pedicab option
Savannah Pedicab is great. They are well-priced and they can be scheduled. If you have dinner on River or Bay and you’re in a rush, just give them a call. It’s a convenient service for transportation.