cabrits

hi,

just completed a recent 4-night stay at this place the week preceding the SEC football championship between LSU and Georgia. first thing that struck me was how big this place is. it has 47 floors with an atrium-like layout (ala a typical embassy suites).

as plat, i got upgraded to an ambassador suite, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking downtown atlanta. it was probably one of the nicest non-ocean views from any hotel room i can recall, regardless of brand. they had what i thought was a very nice concierge lounge on the 42nd floor with a very nice selection of quality hot items, salads, and desserts.

it's attached to a business center with an extensive "food court" that was bustling during lunchtime with local corporate personnel. as pointed out in an earlier post, you can also use the indoor walkway to get over to the hyatt. the local metro stop is nearby, allowing you easy access to most places of interest.

this was my first time to atlanta, and i was thoroughly pleased with this property.

socrates

beat me by 2 minutes

arizonawildcat

Can someone give a quick note of advice on which Atlanta area Marriott to choose from for my family trip? Here are a few specifics of what would be important to us:

- I would be traveling with my wife and two small children (ages 7 & 8). A pull out sofa option or two beds would be a plus.
- Would be staying late March probably a Tuesday through Friday
- I am a Plat and would appreciate a nice Concierge Lounge for free breakfast, snacks, etc.
- My kids love to swim so a pool (preferably indoors) would be huge
- Location within the city not that important as we would have a car to go anywhere
- Walking distance to a few things shopping, food, etc is a bonus. My wife will be with the kids one day without a car while I am out
- Cost is important, just not nearly important as the variables above. I would pay a little more to have the things listed.

Thanks in advance - I appreciate the insight and opinion of those of you who know the ATL based Marriott family of hotels.

arizonawildcat

Any thoughts here? Didn't want to start a new thread on ATL and was hoping to get a response or two before the thread got buried. Thanks!

arizonawildcat

Help...anyone out there with an opinion on my question? I am thinking about the JW if that helps narrow the call

sixsixsixtynine

If I had kids, I'd pick the Ren at Hartsfield...since you're a Plat you can get an airport-facing room and y'all will have fun watching airplanes all evening.

TrojanHorse

Residence Inn works the best for me with the kids; b/f every day, no worries about a CL closure on the weekend, happy hour thing at night during the week (most nights) and bigger rooms

i stayed at the RI downtown ATL for the final four years ago and it would be fine with kids, there's a subway stop not too far either

just remember its one of those city type high rise RI's and those are not as spacious as the suburban RI's that seem to be more spread out and have bigger rooms

iztok

arizonawildcat, I would suggest Marriott Northwest by Galleria.

Why?

1. Awesome and very friendly staff.
2. Breakfast is above average.
3. Evening appetizers are above average.
4. GM empowers its staff.
5. Indoor/outdoor pool. They close outdoor partition in the winter.
6. They are used to kids as in the summer they get plenty of tournament kids staying there.
7. Free parking just of I-75 (NE corner of I-75/I-285)
8. Easy to hit interstate wherever you want to go.
9. Free shuttle to take your family to the Galleria mall when you are out.
10. Great rates (PM me if you can't find good rate).
11. Restaurant is decent downstairs and you are close to many great restaurants within free shuttle range of all sorts of budget levels.

RatherBeOnATrain

I say keep the missus happy - pick a hotel close to things she can do with the kids! The Center for Puppetry Arts and Georgia Aquarium are not that far from downtown and midtown properties, so those would be short cab rides (or long walks). They could also get to those destinations via MARTA's rail service, which has frequent service from Buckhead and the airport.

Zoo Atlanta has Giant Pandas, but it isn't very close to any Marriott properties, nor is it on either of the MARTA rail lines.

If you've never been to Atlanta, you should realize that even if it looks like things are close to one another, you may not be able to easily get between then by car. At certain times of the day, it can take you an hour to go two miles! Keep that in mind for yourself - don't stay by the airport if your business will be in Gwinnett.

GeorgeBurdell

I'd recommend the Marriott Suites mid-town. Rooms have a separate bed-room with French doors into a living room with sleeper-sofa. The hotel is on 14th St. near Peachtree. The MARTA station is 3 blocks north. Colony Square is 2 blocks away. The High Museum is close by. There's a lot of good restaurants within walking distance. Atlantic Station (lots of shopping, restaurants) is a short cab ride away.

When I took my wife there for her birthday, I seem to recall we were given free breakfast but not sure about that.

dw

I just got back from a stay at the Renaissance Atlanta Midtown (the former Hotel Palomar) and was overall very impressed with this property, from the service, to the decor, to the condition of the rooms. I understand that the hotel was built with a different flag in mind, but I think that the general appearance and vibe of this property is what the Renaissance flag should strive for.

Surprisingly, the hotel has kept the usual Kimpton evening wine hour around, so every night between 5 and 6 pm they had complimentary red and white wine in the lobby, along with a few light appetizers (once night it was crudites with dip, the other crostini with mushroom).

One downside is that there is no lounge at this property, but Golds and above are given breakfast for two in the hotel restaurant M-F (there is no buffet, so you can basically order whatever you want), as well as a $10/night minibar credit (regardless of the day of week).

Being a fairly new build hotel, the non-suite rooms seemed to be pretty much identical other than views. The hotel does charge more for "city view" rooms, but as far as I could tell, the only difference between a regular room and a "city view" room was not the floor the room was on, but the fact that the city view rooms face in the direction of downtown Atlanta, while the regular rooms face in the direction of the rest of Midtown. The hotel was sold out on the day I arrived, so I wasn't expecting much in terms of room assignment, but I was given a regular room on the 20th floor (the second highest guest room floor).

The property is a little bit removed from everything else in Midtown (I would say it's just a few blocks too south and a few blocks too west), but I would assume that most guests will have a car, and for those that do not, I noticed that there were often a few taxis waiting outside the hotel. Parking is valet only at $30/night, and with the exception of late morning on a Sunday when everyone from a wedding party the night before was checking out, the valets were pretty quick.

ncflyer59

Just finished a couple of nights here. No plat lounge (ri) but its in a 1920s apartment building so the rooms have character. Walk to subway and lots of neighborhood restaurants within 3 blocks. Has two bedroom suites with pullout couch. Cat 3 I think. Enjoyable change from the cookie cutter. Eric on front desk does a great job.

iztok

I have a stay this week (Mon-Thu) at Atlanta Marriott Perimeter Center property and I got an email from Rooms Controller & Elite Coordinator (Lisa K.) welcoming me to the property and telling me they are having elite reception Tuesday night and I am invited and if I have any room preferences to let her know.

So I asked for a quiet room (prefer on the CL level but not a biggie if not) and she booked me to CL level away from the noise. ^

I thanked her and since her second email asked if I have any questions about the area not to hesitate and ask. So I asked about outside running options (which streets/areas are safe). To which she sent me 3 maps with marked courses of various lengths ^

I am impressed and I haven't even checked-in. I think this is really a good example of a "spirit-to-serve"! I am looking forward to meet the leadership team during the reception!

Email below:

SkiAdcock

As long as she's being so helpful, chat w/ her at the reception about keeping the lounge open on the weekend or providing breakfast coupons

Cheers. Sharon

iztok

"Unfortunately, our property does not distribute breakfast vouchers for our Elite members on the weekend, but it is certainly a suggestion that we can look into implementing for the future!"