Atlanta Vacation-hotel advice (North Druid Hills, Decatur, Druid Hills: hotels, homes, restaurants)

[UK Monkey]

I realise this isn't trip advisor but some local advice would be appreciated...

Coming to Atlanta in April for 3 nights in downtown before moving on to Florida. There will be me, wife and the 2 kids ( 1 and 9 years ).

I have made reservations for the Hampton Inn Downtown for a 1 bedroom suite at $180 a night, but the £ has plummetted against the dollar and I'd now prefer to look at something a little cheaper.

Having doen the Google thing and found nothing I was wondering if there are any Independant hotels in Downtown that offer good value, I'm not after some flea-bag hostel but the standard of Red Roof and the like would suffice.

As an alternative I've considered staying at the Days Inn at Stone Mountain, what would be the commute time to the Aquarium on a Thursday or Friday morning ( bearing in mind that we'll be jet lagged and so will likely be up and out by 6am).

Any suggestions welcome.

[BobKovacs]

There really aren't any cheap hotels in downtown, other than the Days Inn thats a few blocks from the aquarium. I don't know what the rates are, but I'd imagine they're not too bad. The commute from Stone Mountain to the aquarium at 6am would likely be 30-45 minutes, but bear in mind that you'll be getting there far before the aquarium opens- I believe they open at 10am. You may be better off just waiting until 9am to leave- by then the rush hour traffic will basically be over, so your trip wouldn't be bad at all.

[Valerie-Lydie]

In the cheap ones, we always try to look for Super8 Motels (they are good enough and very practical, breakfast included and cheap around $60 or so) and La Quinta hotels are quite cheap and good again, don't know if there is one in Atlanta. There was another one with "Blue" in it (the name around $130)

[rackensack]

Look at hotels in the Perimeter Center area. They tend to be quite a bit cheaper than downtown (not dirt cheap, but cheaper), there's a wide range of brands and prices, you have tons of shopping and restaurants close by, and you have easy access to a couple of MARTA stations that would get you into downtown quickly and easily (or easy access to GA 400 and I-285, should you prefer to drive). That area probably represents the best compromise between location and convenience on the one hand and price on the other in the metro area. There are also some properties in Buckhead, like the Wingate Inn, that are reasonably priced but offer good service and location/convenience.

[TakeAhike]

Another option is Executive Park/North Druid Hills near I85.

There are several hotels/motels in this area including the Homestead Inn>>>
Homestead Studio Suites Hotels - Atlanta, GA Hotel

[Iconographer]

How about the Holiday Inn in downtown Decatur?
It's half a block from the MARTA station, and only 6 stops from the Five Points station downtown.
Rates seem to run between $100-$115.

www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hotel/ATLDC/welcome (http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hotel/ATLDC/welcome - broken link)

[DPAT]

There's also a Holiday Inn Express on North Avenue (across the street from GaTech). I've been in there once and it was pretty decent.

...Oh and it is only 5 minutes (or less) from the Aquarium.

[Smokipenelope]

Friends of mine usually stay at the Hampton Inn at Piedmont and Lenox and have told me the rate is $119 a night. Not sure how big of a room or if it is nice, but it seemed decent for the area.

[UK Monkey]

Thanks for that, I opted initially for downtown as we are hoping to cope without a car whilst in the downtown area.

If we stay at the Perimeter area and are pedestrians, are we gonna look like fools.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by UK Monkey

Thanks for that, I opted initially for downtown as we are hoping to cope without a car whilst in the downtown area.

If we stay at the Perimeter area and are pedestrians, are we gonna look like fools.

If I were carless in Atlanta, I would prefer to stay in Midtown, Buckhead/Lenox or Decatur over downtown. All very walkable, plenty of entertainment options, located on MARTA and nicer than downtown.