We stayed 3 nights at the FS Atlanta last weekend (family wedding). The hotel did everything for us except guarantee good weather (it was about 15 degrees below normal - down to the 30's at night -50's during the day - the wedding ceremony was outside at 5 pm and the bride wore goosebumps!). This is about the 3rd or 4th time we have stayed at this property - and we are always treated well. Being primarily a business hotel in midtown - there are usually good weekend rates - and there are great ones now. Stay 2 nights (minimum room price $200) - get one free. And we got a room upgrade to a terrace room - and free breakfast through our FSPP agent. Unfortunately - a terrace is of little use when it is 38 degrees
- except to stick your nose out in the morning and see how cold it is. Also - we were able to use the FSPP amenity ($100 spa credit) and turn it into an $85 Sunday lunch credit. I spoke with our agent about this - and she said some FS hotels have some flexibility in terms of converting amenity X into something else.
This property is neither the best nor the worst FS I have stayed at in terms of the physical property (although it is certainly in the top third). It is quite nice - in about a 20 year old FS kind of way. Although it is obvious that the rooms are being updated pretty constantly - and aren't allowed to become in any way shabby or in need of obvious refreshment (e.g., the furniture is all nice - the TVs are new plasmas - etc.) So someone is doing something right here. FWIW - I have never stayed at the RC Downtown - but have stayed at the RC Buckhead in the past - and the rooms at the FS are quite a bit larger.
The bar is lively (especially on Friday nights) - it's a "watering hole" for locals who work in the area. We had a family dinner in the restaurant on Saturday - and it did a nice job with our party of 7. Food wasn't spectacular - but I would give it a B+ for an Atlanta restaurant. And some of it was downright fun - like the "lobster corn dogs". One thing that was obvious. The kitchen is trying to change with the times. Instead of closing - like the Dining Room at the RC Buckhead - it is dealing with today's economy by offering more in the way of "small plates" and the like which make meals more affordable. Nothing wrong with this. We dined at Restaurant Eugene (big deal Atlanta restaurant) one night - and it is doing the same exact thing. Unless you try to adapt these days - you wind up going the way of the dinosaurs - like the Dining Room at the RC Buckhead. Our Sunday lunch was pleasant (but simple - saving room for wedding reception Sunday night) - and our 2 room service breakfasts were impeccable (hot oatmeal on a cold morning - what could be better).
The staff - from the front desk - to the valets - to the food staff - is one of the friendliest I've encountered in a long line of friendly Four Seasons staffs.
All in all - an extremely pleasant stay. Except for the weather. And the traffic. Good grief - the traffic was horrible. I think perhaps my only caveat about the hotel is that if you're on a business trip with critical meetings in terms of when you have to be places - you don't want to stay here if your business is 20 miles away. Robyn
P.S. If you live in a smaller place near Atlanta like we do (we are near JAX) - Atlanta is a great place to go for shopping - museums (the new addition to the High Museum is wonderful) - spring flower season - etc. We went one January weekend a while back for the Honda Battle of the Bands. If you've seen Drumline and loved it like we did - and want to see the real thing - this is the place to see it. And - at current prices - it's hard to go wrong spending a long weekend in Atlanta at the FS.
