Atlanta Getaway and Hotel Guide

The first thing to understand when visiting Atlanta is that it is a small town surrounded by a large community. While Los Angeles may have the reputation, you will not find a better example of uncoordinated runaway growth and urban sprawl than Atlanta.

The population living within the city limits is less than 500,000 while the metro Atlanta area is some four million. In a nutshell, the city is made up of pockets of communites with vague and ever-changing boundaries. Downtown will merge into Midtown which will blend into Buckhead, but they are considered distinct areas and each has its own personality.

And the name 'Atlanta' seems to engulf everything even though the business or attraction you may be visiting is no where near the city. Example: Atlanta Motor Speedway is 30 miles south of the city; Six Flags Over Georgia is 20 miles west of the city; Georgia Stone Mountain Park is 20 miles east.

Even business travelers need to do their homework before coming to Atlanta. For instance, Coca-Cola and Georgia-Pacific are located downtown while the 'Atlanta' headquarters of United Parcel Service is nowhere near the central business district.

You want to avoid driving on Atlanta's moving asylum, known as the expressway system, especially during peak hours. Cab rides to outlying areas can be expensive and sometimes unpleasant as Atlanta generally has the worst cab drivers this side of Calcutta. Despite the advertising, MARTA, the rail and bus system, is limited and often does not service where you want to go. And be advised: Atlanta is not much of a walking city. The best advice is to have a game plan when visiting Atlanta.

The downtown megahotels - Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Marriott Marquis, Ritz-Carlton Atlanta, Hilton Atlanta - cater to business and large conventions. They are all top-of-the-line establishments fully able to meet the needs of the business traveler, conventioneer or leisure traveler accustomed to the best.

There are a variety of moderately priced offerings downtown, such as the Holiday Inn, Ramada, Residence Inn by Marriott and Days Inn.

Most conventions are held in meeting and banquet rooms located at the big hotels or in nearby facilities, such as the Georgia World Congress Center or Georgia Dome.

It may be to your advantage to stay in the downtown area, even if you are visiting some of the outlying areas as it will likely offer the best all- around convenience.

The Buckhead area is launch pad one for those looking for Atlanta's nightlife. Buckhead also offers many unique stores and a variety of excellent restaurants and entertainment.

The elite hotels include the Embassy Suites Hotel Buckhead, J.W. Marriott Hotel at Lenox, Swissotel, Grand Hyatt and, probably the best in Atlanta, the Buckhead Ritz-Carlton. Two of Atlanta's premiere shopping malls, Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza, are within walking distance of these hotels.

Slightly less expensive but still high quality are the Hawthorn Suites, Doubletree Hotel and the Sheraton Buckhead. More moderately priced offerings include the Courtyard by Marriott Buckhead, Amerisuites, Fairfield Inn Buckhead and Summerfield Suites Hotel Buckhead.

While Buckhead would not be considered a high crime area, it is the center of Atlanta's nightlife and one of the places where you can park in one place and walk to several hot spots, and since it is where people with the money go, it is also the place where the criminals go. Pay attention when walking during late hours.

If Atlanta has a cultural center it would be Midtown. Midtown is home to the High Museum of Art, the Woodruff Arts Center as well as the Atlanta Botanical Garden and Piedmont Park. The area has an arty charm and while it is undergoing a renaissance it is best to stay close to your hotel at night unless you are riding a Rottweiler.

The area is also generally considered the center of Atlanta's homosexual and alternative lifestyle communities. It is also a short jump from Midtown to Little Five Points, clearly the most eccentric neighborhood in Atlanta.

The best in Midtown, rivaling the Ritz-Carlton, is the Four Seasons Hotel but other high quality offerings are the Georgian Terrace and the Sheraton Colony Square Hotel. Moderately priced establishments include the Marriott Residence Inn Midtown, Holiday Inn and Days Inn.

The area around Hartsfield International Airport is surrounded by nearly 40 hotels/motels in all price ranges. The best of the lot are the Hilton Atlanta Airport and Towers, the Renaissance Airport Hotel, Sheraton Gateway and Marriott Airport, all first class.

Almost every chain has a presence near the airport. The Days Inn, Best Western, Comfort Suites and Hampton Inn are but a few. However, some change hands frequently and would be best described as kennels. Stay with the familiar and major chains unless you know the area.

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