Need Atlanta hotel advice
 

I'm taking a short trip to Atlanta in late January. We will be going to the Georgia Dome one night, and I don't know anything about that area of town. I'll be traveling with two teenagers and another adult. We want an area with restaurants and shopping. We're flying into Hartsfield and do not want to rent a car. These are my questions: <BR>1. Where would you recommend staying for easy Marta access to the Dome? We'll be returning late at night, so we want a safe area. <BR>2. If we decide to stay in Buckhead, how long is the Marta commute? <BR>3. Would we be better off staying downtown?

Hi Sal. I am surprised that someone who knows the Atlanta hotel situation better than I has not responded to your inquiry. So at least I can bring it up to the top in hopes you will get another response or two. I live near Atlanta, and go into the city for specific events, and normally return home afterwards. <BR>I can make a few general observations, but there are others who know more than I. <BR>First the Atlanta underground Marta system is mainly a north - south route and an east - west route. It most definitely is not as comprehensive as the underground systems in cities like Paris and London! <BR>There is parking around the Ga. Dome, but it tends to be expensive for heavily sold events. You park in odd open lots here and there. For example, when I went to one Peach Bowl game, we parked at a Marta station north of town and took the Marta train. After the game we followed the crowd out because we did not want to hang around after the event and walk in that area. <BR>The other time we drove, paid the fee, about $20.00 as I recall, and went straight to the car after the game when there were still many people doing the same thing. <BR>Taking Marta was not the best experience because it was so crowded. <BR>People were packing into the cars like there was no tomorrow. But I guess there is safety in numbers. <BR>In the downtown area, few hotels that I can spot on my map are close to a Marta underground station, except for the Westin Peachtree Plaza, The hotels in Buckhead tend to be some distance away from the Lindberg Metro station. <BR>The Lenox Square station is near a couple of hotels: the Marriott and the Sheraton. <BR>The Omni Hotel at the CNN Center is close to the Ga. Dome, but I have had no experience in trying to get from one to the other. If you are going to a major event, I would expect a crowd of people in the area. <BR> <BR>One plan I suggest that you Not consider is parking your car in the Lennox Station Marta Garage and walking to the train station. <BR>I parked there once and had to return to my car about 9:30 PM. Walking from the train platform up that lonely escalator to the elevator that led to the garage was the longest 5 minutes of my life. No one, I mean no one, was anywhere in sight except the two of us! Fortunately, the situation remained that way. <BR>Taking a taxi to the event might be a solution, but my experiences with Atlanta taxis has been less than satisfactory. The last time I took one, the driver barely spoke English. In fact, I don't think he did. Let's hope someone with a more optimistic view and a more practical suggestion or two will respond.

I agree with much of what Bob said. You'll be disappointed if you stay downtown (not much in the way of restaurants or shopping unless you like places like Planet Hollywood and Hard Rock). And while it may be safe, it's not the most comfortable place to walk in at night due to the large number of homeless. <BR> <BR>Your best bet is either Midtown or Buckhead. With 2 teens, I'd probably pick Buckhead and the Embassy Suites is a good choice. You can, in good weather, walk to restaurants and 2 good malls, and there is a MARTA station (Buckhead) right near by. The ride from the airport to that station is about 35 minutes and from there to the Dome is about 15-20. <BR> <BR>Within Buckhead, cab service is a flat $5 plus $1 per extra person. As Bob said, cabs can be bad. Yellow cab is pretty good if you can choose. <BR> <BR>Post back if you have any other questions. Welcome to Atlanta.

The Omni Hotel would be the closest hotel to the GA Dome and also the Embassy Suites at Centennial Olympic Park. However--there's not much activity around there at night though it is improving. For shopping and restaurants you may prefer Buckhead especially if you're carless. The Sheraton Buckhead, JW Marriott, and Lenox Inn are a short walk from the Lenox Marta station and the Holiday Inn Buckhead, the Embassy Suites Buckhead and the Grand Hyatt are near the Buckhead Marta station. The Ritz Cartlton Buckhead and the Swisshotel are just a little further from either station. If you choose to stay in Buckhead get the Doraville train from the airport and you won't have to change --should you get on a Dunwoody train you'll have to change at the Lindburg station. The train ride from Buckhead to the dome would be about 20 minutes or less.

Thanks everyone for the great advice. I think we'll stay in Buckhead. <BR> <BR>If you could answer one more question. We'll be returning from a concert at the dome around 11:30 or midnight. Will MARTA be safe at that hour or should we get a cab? Thanks.

A few years ago we stayed at the J.W.Marriot Hotel at Buckhead--a very nice place and great weekend rates normally. We took Marta downtown on business. We actually walked right across the street to the Marta station, so it was very convenient. Can't answer how late it runs. I will say that we were pretty much the only whites on Marta, but I never felt unsafe. I think the teenagers with you should make you feel even safer!

I stayed at the Hilton Peachtree Center just two weekends ago, and took MARTA from Peachtree Center to the airport. I tend to agree with previous info--not much around that part of downtown except a Benihana and other touristy chain restaurants. MARTA was fine--I felt safe as a single guy travelling about 9pm. It's cheap, too--$1.50 from anywhere to anywhere!

http://www.itsmarta.com/riding/rail_sch.htm <BR> <BR>Hi Sal: take a look at the above link. <BR>It will give you schedule info for Marta trains. If I read correctly, trains run past midnight, but the lateness depends on the day of the week. <BR>I am glad others responded, particularly Brian in Atlanta because she knows more about the situation than I do. <BR>One fact I might add is this: <BR>the Marta north line divides near the Lindberg station. One branch goes more east to Doraville; the other goes north to Dunwoody and a new station even farther up the line. The area around Permiter Mall is upscale but I do not know about hotels in that area. <BR>If you stay farther up line than the Lindberg station, make sure that you get on the correct train. <BR>E.g. you do not want to be on the Doraville train if your destination is the Medical Center!!

Marta should be fine if you're coming from a concert because there will be lots of other people doing the same thing. Just use normal precautions and you should not have any problems. I've ridden Marta from the airport late at night many times and have never experienced a problem.

The JW Marriott is physically attached to Lenox Square, a large mall. It has lovely large rooms and an excellent staff. The Swissotel is just across from Lenox and is great also, with interesting rooms. I'd advise the taxi to the dome and back. The train at night would give me the heebie jeebies. JMO

Thanks to all of you again for even more good advice! I'm going to start looking into the suggested hotels in Buckhead. The hotel attached to Lenox Mall would be a dream come true for two teenage girls, and would most certainly damage my wallet!

You'll be fine on MARTA after the show (as long as you don't miss the last train). I think they run till about 1:00AM most nights. Don't do a cab. They're pretty nasty (poorly regulated), and you'll drive through some areas where you'll prefer to be underground. :) <BR> <BR>One clarification of Steve's post. You'll need to take a Doraville train to get to Lenox Station, but a Dunwoody train to get to the Buckhead Station (http://www.itsmarta.com/riding/railmap.htm). <BR> <BR>If you can afford it, the Marriot at Lenox sounds like the best option.

I work right across the street from the JW Marriott and the Lenox Marta Station. <BR> <BR>If I were you, my first choice would be the JW Marriott, attached to the mall. Second choice would be the Sheraton, not attached to the mall but directly across the street and only about 1.5 blocks to the Marta station. Third choice, especially if price is an issue, the Lenox Inn. It is a two story motel. Clean, basic. It is also across the street from the mall, but a little closer to Marta. <BR> <BR>I would ride Marta to and from the airport and the concert. At the airport, the trains are clearly marked "Doraville" and "Dunwoody", in fact, the trains are on separate tracks. Just get on a Doraville train and ride to the Lenox station. As you exit the train, just follow the crowd. They will all be heading to the mall. <BR> <BR>I have only been scared on a Marta train once, and it was in the middle of the afternoon. A group of youths was engaged in a conversation which was quickly escalating into an arguement. At the next stop, I got of the train, waited 3 minutes for the next train, and got back on. Just pay attention to your surroundings and you'll be fine.

Was on the Marriot web site and checked the JW Marriot in Buckhead. Weekend rate in January is $198 or $213 with breakfast buffet for two. Good rate for a very nice hotel, but was just guessing that you are there on the weekend.

Thanks Patrick. We've booked our rooms at the Marriott!

I agree that the JW Mariott is a great location. However, I can recommend a much less expensive alternative with more room. The Embassy Suites chain has a special deal for weekends. I reserved a suite at the Embassy Suites own website (Embassy-suites.com) and found a price of $82.50 per night for three adults at the Embassy Suites at the Peremeter Center location over the Thanksgiving holidays. This location is within walking distance of a marta stattion, but the hotel has a shuttle that will drive you there. For $82.50, we had a king bed, and a pull-out sofa bed in the separate living room. The room also included a small refrigerator, microwave, and coffee maker, plus free breakfast buffet and evening cocktails. The rate at the Buckhead location was slightly higher, about 109.00 per night. Still, this is considerably less than the price for the JW Marriott.