I originally asked about lodging at the Airport - since I don't mind trading off a short ride for a safer area, does anyone know anything about hotels near Perimeter - Medical Center? Is that a safe area? I'm looking at the possibility of the LaQuinta there OR I saw some good writeups on the Drury Inn which is at the Airport, thoughts on that? THANKS

We have stayed near Perimeter Mall, where there are lots of hotels, several times. We've had good luck using Priceline.

The Perimeter Mall area is safe. It's suburbia near several major hospitals and a mall. There is a Marta station at the mall.

Thank you both. Do you know about how far it is from the Airport? Driving time?

Driving time can vary greatly, depending on traffic. The airport is south and Perimeter is north, and DT is between them.

When we've been in Atlanta, we didn't need a car, so just took MARTA from the AP to Perimeter.

The LQ at Perimeter is very nice. I stay there on business a lot (and I live in the area - I hate Atlanta traffic).
You could take MARTA from Perimeter directly to the airport. You may want to see if the rental car agency has an in-town dropoff location and then take MARTA to the airport. Without traffic it's a 20 minute drive. With traffic = no telling

You're coming from Chattanooga, right? Then no need to drive over to the Perimeter area - there are plenty of options available in the Cumberland Mall area at I-75 and I-285 which is right on your way. There's a handy Embassy Suites there, but perhaps someone can make a specific recommendation.

Again, hopefully my response is not too late.

I would not recommend staying on the North end of time if your meeting is at the airport. It is NOT a short drive. Particularly if you have to be there in the A.M. I live NE, and work 5 minutes south of the airport. Have been at the office location for a year now and have experience absolutely no problem.

We have numerous project meetings at my office that folks have to fly in for. They often stay at the hotels near the airport and have not experienced any trouble. The hotel that I've heard them speak the least of is Hyatt Place when it was first transitioning from AmeriSuites.

The Perimeter is a minimum 30 minute drive with no traffic to the airport. Could be an hour or more at peak times. If you are just staying at the airport hotel the night before a flight, pick an airport area Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and stay inside.

Thank you all for your responses. They've been most helpful. I appreciate the advice to "stay inside" at the airport hotels...it sounds like a trailer for a horror flick!
I will be flying out of Altanta on a Sunday morning...is the traffic as bad on Sundays? THANKS!

Perimeter is not a bad area at all, but if you are looking for something closer to the airport and safer than the airport area, you can't go wrong with the Buckhead area.