MNtraveler

Hello. My husband and I will be returning to Minneapolis from St. Lucia on December 5. We had a brief layover in Atlanta, but Delta has cancelled our flight so we will unexpectedly be staying overnight. Can anyone recommend a nice hotel that is near the airport? We will be arriving around 8 p.m. and leaving early the next morning, so we need to stay close to the airport. However, we are willing to pay for a nicer hotel. Second, are there any restaurants that are a close cab ride from the airport/hotel that you would recommend? We enjoy fine dining, but do not want anything formal, since we will be in transit. We're looking for something that would be high-quality food and that is not part of a chain (preferably). Or, possibly there is a hotel that would have a restaurant onsite, which would be great. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated!

fishee

We're in the same situation -- overnight layover. Which airport hotel did you choose and how was it?

The reviews on tripadvisor of some of the airport hotels are terrible -- bugs, theft, vandalism, I've never seen so many negative reviews for so many hotels in one little area.

iceeu2

There's several good hotels out near the airport and with shuttle service.

Westin, Renaissance, Hilton, Marriott, Embassy Suites, and lots of others.

rkkwan

I'd use Priceline to bid for 4*, and possibly 3*.

There are lots of zones in the Atlanta metro, so one can get plenty of "free rebids" if you try 4*. IF you know how to do it.

fishee

I was thinking of using PL as well, but I was afraid the hotel would end up far from a METRA station. I'll be with my family and a 7 yr old so shlepping all over the place at the end of our Costa Rica trip might be tiring. Are METRA stations everywhere?

ATL hotels are so expensive -- higher than Chicago and even SF in some months.

rkkwan

Why do you need to be close to METRA? If you're just overnighting between flights, you just need the hotel to have shuttle. Check all those 4* and 3* hotels listed on in the ATL zone on biddingfortravel. All should have shuttle.

fishee

So you think I can count on any 3-4* having a free shuttle as long as it's in the airport zone?

That would be great -- I'll start researching which zones don't have any 4* hotels... thanks

rkkwan

fishee - One needs to be careful with Priceline for airport zones. That's why I suggest you check each out each of the hotels that have been reported on biddingfortravel, through the hotel's own website to check about their shuttle policy. That's very important.

I believe all the ATL hotels PL uses are fine, but you should check. I know some they use here in IAH can be quite far and the shuttle runs like very hour. Which is NOT useful.

fishee

I just got a free night stay at the Days Inn Downtown Atlanta at 300 Spring St at Baker.

However, they don't have a free airport shuttle in which case my group of four will want to catch a cab (35/each way). Even though the room's free, I'm thinking of staying at an airport hotel for around 75 bucks where we can get a free shuttle and a continental breakfast.

If there's anything for us to do downtown, I'd be more interested in taking advantage of the free room but we land at 8 pm and depart at 10:30 am which doesn't leave us much time. How difficult would it be to take the Metra to this hotel for a group of four with luggage from Costa Rica and a 7 year old?

any thoughts on this option? The hotels seem similar: Days Inn downtown or Bestwestern Atlanta Airport East (Hapevlle).

thanks if you have any idea which option I should choose...

Kay2

I've never been to the BW (formerly some other flag) on I-75 near the former Ford plant in Hapeville, but I have seen it from the highway. As far as I know it is an industrial area. The website says IHOP onsite--that may be the only restaurant besides McDs. Maybe the original Chick Fil-A Dwarf House is close.

The Days Inn downtown is one block downhill from Peachtree Street. The closest MARTA station, Peachtree Center is a couple of blocks away, one uphill. It is located behind some larger hotels, office buildings, etc., but would be closer to restaurants than the BW. It is further from the airport, but its website says airport shuttle. You could check with them to determine if they mean a commercial service or free hotel van. Tripadvisor folks don't seem to like it much.

xrae

We stayed at Country Inn & Suites near Atlanta airport last October and it was a nice hotel with restaurant on-site, free continental breakfast, and good airport shuttle. There were no security or cleanliness problems.

The restaurant was good, not a chain, but it was not busy at all.

It's not the Marriott or the Westin, but it would be fine for one night.
http://www.countryinns.com/atlantaga_arptsouth

starrsville

I'll drive by on Sunday and take a look, but on memory I wouldn't stay at that Days Inn.

There's an AmeriSuites downtown that may work. If you stay at the Country Inn or Suites or other airport hotel, you can take the shuttle back to the airport and hop on MARTA to go into Downtown or Midtown (although I'd just jump in a cab)

fishee

Any other thoughts on the Days Inn downtown at Spring St/Barke? Sounds like taking MARTA would be a pain but I'm tempted to stay here since I can get a free night.

However, the Best Western Airport East at Hapeville is still an option since with its free airport shuttle and free breakfast, it would actually cost less than paying for a cab r/t to the Days Inn.

wintersp

I believe your overnight would be smoother with an airport hotel - maybe CountryInn, with a shuttle or pickup and breakfast and return. Arriving at Fishee - Arrival at 8 means you won't be downtown until,at best, 9 - then dinner etc. Day's Inn has never been known for a decent restaurant - and that is not a great location. Usually in Atl they want you at the airport 2 hrs early so that becomes a crunch in the am. Free isn't always the best deal!

wintersp

Fishee - I just read your post again. I live in Atlanta. The last time I was in the hotel in the Hapeville location, it was not a place I'd want to stay. The location isn't so hot either. You don't actually have any time to 'do' anything in the city and since you're traveling with a 7 yr old, I'd just do the airport hotel. Country Inn showed $75.00 and the others may be higher but rkkwan gave good advice on checking for location and prices. By the way, that location is just a strip of separated hotels - nice ones - and not a place you would walk and block or two and find a restraunt - unless it was in another hotel and then you would need a taxi or hotel shuttle. Pick a place with a restraunt and breakfast and shuttle and make the relax with your time between flights. Marta is not a good place to schlepp around late with luggage and a child.

starrsville

fishee, I drove down Spring Street for about 15 blocks but didn't see the Days Inn. Just checked and it is Downtown (not Midtown). TripAdvisor reviews are mixed. Location is fine.

BUT, given your short time between flights, I'd stay at a hotel near the airport. Take a cab into Atlanta for dinner if you want, but I don't think I'd ferry the entire group to a downtown hotel for that short turnaround.

I would chose something other than the BW though. So many options near the airport, why that one?

Stay at the Country Inn or a Hampton.

fishee

I agree we should stay at an airport hotel since we only have 13 hours in Atlanta. I think we're going to be exhuasted after our trip so we're just going to shuttle to the hotel, eat, and pass out.

I'll check out Country Inn, I was hoping to pay less than $80/night. thanks!

akila

The Westin Airport is nice and clean and they have a free shuttle to the airport; it is about a five minute ride to the airport. Personally, I would not stay at the Hilton Airport --- it is very close to the runway and, though I haven't stayed there, I would think the noise is terrible.