Atlanta has an interesting and diverse history. The city was established at the intersection of two railroad lines in 1837. Throughout the years, Atlanta has been active in several historically relevant events, including the Civil War, the Civil Rights Movement, and more. If you're a history buff, there are museums and venues to visit around the city and the larger metro area that are sure to please.
The city of Atlanta has been known by many nicknames. The most commonly used contemporary nickname is The A. A-Town and the ATL area also used frequently. As you're walking around the city, you'll notice there are many streets with "Peach" in the name, and that is partially due to the city's nickname "The Big Peach." Atlanta is also known as the City of Trees, or the City in a Forest, due to the beautiful tree canopy around the metropolitan area.
When you're heading to Atlanta, Georgia, you have a variety of hotel options. Finding the best one depends on what you're looking for. Make sure to check out the variety of hotel options and offerings throughout Atlanta.
Best Time to Visit
Atlanta can easily be visited year-round. With a variety of entertainment options, you can always find something fun and interesting going on in and around the city. If you're looking for festivals, outdoor events, and music, head to Atlanta between May and August. This time of year, hotel prices generally go up, because of so many visitors in the area. You should also be aware of any conventions located in Atlanta, as these usually happen in the spring and summer. Conventions can make it more difficult to find a great hotel room.
Mild weather during the spring and fall make Atlanta a great option if you want to see the beauty of the city without the heat. While there aren't as many events during these times of the year, there is still a lot going on in the city, including concerts, conventions, and more.
During the winter, temperatures average between 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit. If you're looking for a comfortable climate in the winter, Atlanta has what you need. Winter is a great time to get awesome prices on hotel rooms, since you're less likely to be competing with corporate events and conventions around the city.
Below is a chart of the current pricing seasonality of hotels and motels in Atlanta, GA:
Atlanta, GA: Prices by Star Rating Class
Below are 3 charts illustrating avg. nightly cost trends by star rating class in Atlanta, GA. Browse these illustrations to determine the best months to stay in Atlanta for upcoming travels.
Luxury Hotel Options
4 Star Average Prices: $151.64
Ritz Carlton Atlanta Downtown: If you're looking for a luxury hotel, consider the Ritz Carlton Atlanta Downtown. Located at 181 Peachtree St. NE, this is one of the finest hotels in the metro area. This five-star hotel offers 444 rooms across 25 floors. There are 22 suites on the property, as well, allowing you to get the luxury and style you're looking for. The Ritz Carlton Atlanta Downtown offers guests an ideal location as well as impeccable service. Whether you're looking for a venue for a group event or you simply want to get away, the Ritz Carlton Atlanta Downtown is the perfect option.
Renaissance Atlanta Midtown Hotel: With 304 rooms, 17 suites, and 21 floors, the Renaissance Atlanta Midtown Hotel allows you to choose from a variety of comfortable accommodations. The Renaissance Atlanta Midtown Hotel is part of the Marriott Hotel brand, giving you the comfort and convenience you're used to. With the RNavigators personalized concierge service, you'll find the best attractions, entertainment options, and food throughout the city. The Renaissance Atlanta Midtown Hotel is located at 866 West Peachtree Street NW.
Budget Hotel Options
3 Star Average Prices: $120.62
Savannah Suites Pine Street: The Savannah Suites Pine Street offers comfortable rooms at a great price. Located at 140 Pine Street NE, the hotel is close to many attractions throughout Atlanta, including the Fox Theatre, The Children's Museum of Atlanta, and SciTrek. The hotel offers 163 rooms that include kitchenettes with stovetops and refrigerators. The Savannah Suites Pine Street hotel also offers a 24-hour fitness center and wireless Internet.
Red Roof Inn Atlanta Six Flags: Located at 4430 Frederick Drive SW, the Red Roof Inn Atlanta – Six Flags is comfortable and convenient. Since the hotel is just over a mile from Six Flags Over Georgia, you'll be able to enjoy the park easily. The hotel is clean and newly remodeled, giving you the best rooms available. Red Roof Inn Atlanta Six Flags has 72 rooms with complimentary wireless Internet Access. There is also tour/ticket assistance through the hotel, allowing you to get your entertainment chosen and booked. As part of the Red Roof Inns brand, this hotel offers the style and amenities you're looking for.
Extended Stay America Atlanta Marietta Wildwood: If you're looking for a hotel that allows pets, allows you to stay on a budget, and has extended-stay options, check out Extended Stay America Marietta Wildwood. This hotel is near sites such as the Cobb Galleria, Chastain Park Amphitheater, and the Sandy Springs Festival. Located at 2010 Powers Ferry Road SE, this hotel offers a variety of rooms to fit your needs. There's a seasonal outdoor pool and a fitness center, allowing you to kick back and relax. This hotel is part of the Extended Stay America chain and offers their complimentary Superstart Breakfast every morning.
2 Star Average Prices: $80.75
Best Hotel Discounts
Hotels around Atlanta offer a variety of discounts you should look for. Some of these discounts include:
AAA Member Discount – If you are an AAA Member, you can get discounts on hotels all over the country. Many of the hotels in Atlanta offer AAA Member discounts. Depending on your membership and the hotel you choose, you can get anywhere from 10-20 percent off your hotel stay. Some of the many hotels that offer AAA Membership discounts include InterContinental, Red Roof Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, and Fairfield Inn.
AARP/Senior Discount – Senior discounts and AARP discounts are also available at hotels in Atlanta. These vary in savings but usually range from 10-20 percent. Senior discounts are available based on age, and the required age may vary depending on the specific hotel you choose. Most hotels offer this type of discount, including Wingate by Wyndham, Candlewood Suites, and Castleberry Inn & Suites.
Military/Government Discount – If you work for the government, are a currently active member of the military, or have a military ID, you may be eligible for a military or government discount. While many hotels offer military discounts, fewer offer savings for those who work for the government. A military or government discount usually ranges from 15-30 percent, however, this depends on the hotel. Some of the hotels in Atlanta that you can get these discounts include Quality Inn & Suites, Hampton Inn & Suites, and Castleberry Inn & Suites.
Business Traveler Discount – If you are traveling with a group for business, or if you have a business account, many hotels in Atlanta offer business traveler discounts. These vary significantly in savings, depending on the hotel. Some of the hotels that offer this type of discount are Omni Atlanta Hotel, The Westin Peachtree Plaza, and Renaissance Atlanta Midtown Hotel.
There are so many options for hotels in Atlanta. It's important to decide what is most important to you – ratings, price, distance from attractions, or amenities. This allows you to choose the perfect hotel for your next vacation or business trip.
Best Value Hotels
Ramada Plaza Atlanta Downtown Capitol Park: Located at 450 Capitol Avenue SE, the Ramada Plaza Atlanta Downtown Capitol Park offers guests amazing values. Not only do you get beautiful rooms, but they also come at a great price. In addition to regular rooms, the hotel has suites and even an executive room for you to choose from. The Ramada Plaza Atlanta Downtown Capitol Park is near Lakewood Stadium, Turner Field, and Underground Atlanta. There are 375 rooms throughout the hotel, with in-room video game consoles, wireless internet, and private bathrooms.
Country Inn & Suites Atlanta NW Windy Hill: The Country Inn & Suites Atlanta NW Windy Hill offers several different room types, from standard rooms to beautifully well-appointed suites. Close by, you'll find the Vinings Historic Preservation, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, and more. There is an indoor pool, a spa tub, and a fitness center all within the Country Inn & Suites Atlanta, as well. You'll have access to the Be Our Guest breakfast, which is offered complimentary with your hotel stay. This hotel is located at 4500 Circle 75 Parkway.
Hampton Inn & Suites Atlanta Galleria: The Hampton Inn & Suites Atlanta Galleria is located at 2733 Circle 75 Parkway. There are eight floors to the hotel, 106 rooms, and 35 suites. The quiet, comfortable rooms allow you to relax whether you're here on business or vacation. At the Hampton Inn & Suites Atlanta Galleria you'll have access to an indoor pool, Jacuzzi, and fitness center. Nearby attractions include the Atlanta History Center, Swan House, and the Sandy Springs Festival.
Atlanta, GA in a nutshell
Atlanta was an accident - a beautifully contrived one, at that. The city is relatively young, tracing its infancy when a random point at the railroad map was called "Terminus." The railroads were built, and Terminus was renamed Atlanta. Today, Atlanta is proof that accidents produce the greatest discoveries. The industry's leading giants, including Coca-Cola, has decided to settle in this random point. The city's progressive feel is imminent wherever you go. The 1996 Olympics remain a thing of the past, as Atlanta is now a venue for the South's best nightlife, dining, and art.Guests must see its list of entrepreneurial achievements, starting with the Atlanta history center and the High Museum of Art. Tourists can visit downtown Atlanta and see the Georgia Aquarium, the CNN Center, the World of Coca Cola, and the Centennial Olympic Park, or visit Sweet Auburn's historic sites. Five million people have resulted from the railroad industry's mishap, and there is no stopping attractions and industries from dotting its fields.
Atlanta, Georgia has played a great part in making America, truly the United States of America in the 20th century. Martin Luther King Jr., the architect of united America, famously said, 'The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.,
If one is to really look past the literal meaning of these words, it wouldn't be impossible to understand what the Atlanta culture really stands for. It's a culture of tolerance, of unity, of principles, of standing up for what you believe in and of equality. These are the qualities that often easily transcend times and places “ but somehow, for those who care to think, Atlanta embodies a bigger purpose than its sights.
And this is not to mean that there are no sights to see in Atlanta “ quite the opposite. Atlanta is riddled with historical buildings, important places, natural beauty and places of interest. It is, then, no wonder that a place like “ the capital of the State of Georgia “ has become a leading tourist destination in the South of America.
Tourism has become one of the most productive of revenue streams in Atlanta over the years, with over 2 million tourists estimated to regularly visit the city every year. The largest claim to fame that Atlanta can make is its incredibly consistent weather all through the year, a longstanding tradition of producing great leaders and politicians, world class standard of infrastructure, beautifully maintained parks and public places, well restored historical sites and buildings, a host of culinary delights local to the city and a variety of cultural shows taking place in the city, especially in summer months.
Variety of Budget Hotels in Atlanta
For travelers who are on the lookout for an affordable hotel to spend a night or two while they see sights around the city, there are many budget friendly options. Most of the budget hotels in Atlanta are either motels or lodges. If you are a solo traveler with not much valuables in the form of jewelry or cash on you, any street side motel in Atlanta can be a good enough option, given that you are not really unsuited to such cheap establishments.
If you are traveling with your family, you will be better off finding a slightly higher priced but much safer hotel within the city limits, than cheap hotels. Given the length and breadth of the city, it's really not difficult to find such a hotel in Atlanta.
The Best Hotels in Atlanta
As mentioned earlier, Atlanta is among the most toured cities in the South. This very reason is enough to explain the presence of innumerable luxury hotels in Atlanta.
At the top of this luxury hotel chain lies St. Regis Atlanta. A night's stay at St. Regis Atlanta can cost you upwards of $1,000. Similarly, there are other lavish places like Mandarin Oriental Atlanta, Four Seasons Atlanta, Park Hyatt Atlanta, W Atlanta Midtown, Ritz Atlanta, Marriott Gold Atlanta that do not leave any stone unturned and any option untried to make sure that their guests receive the very best of posh amenities that few other hotel establishments can manage or afford to provide.
Things to See in Atlanta
There's no dearth of things to see and places to visit in Atlanta. Fox Theater is among the best known places in Atlanta. The theater allows visitors to indulge in a number of seasonal plays, along with documenting the history film, music and plays in the United States. Another attraction in Atlanta that cannot be left unmentioned is Georgia Aquarium. Often counted among the best in the world, the aquarium is home to over 300 different marine species, and can easily become the high point of a trip to Atlanta for children and adults alike.
Atlanta Botanical Garden, in the same vein, presents a number of educational as well as entertaining sites in the form various exotic plant life species from distant corners of the world.
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Site in Atlanta, on the other hand, is a must visit place for every traveler and tourist, regardless of their age. It is a site that never fails to humble visitors with respect for the man who stood up against the odds. Perhaps, it is the best way to conclude your trip to Atlanta, and a very fitting one, indeed!
Hotels Near Airport in Atlanta
Many famous Atlanta hotels are within short driving distances of the international airport. Being the world's busiest airport, the Hartsfield-Jackson Int. Airport at Atlanta has world class transport infrastructure to ensure that tourists and visitors arriving do not have much difficulties in reaching their destination places in Atlanta. The real concentration of hotel establishments in Atlanta, however, happens to be in the downtown part of the city, where tourists as well as travelers who are in Atlanta on business find it easier to lodge in terms of getting around in the city.
Best Time to Travel to Atlanta
The best time to travel to Atlanta is during the months of May to August. These are the months when Atlanta is at its brightest and cheeriest with a number of outdoor music and food festivals taking place.
During winter months, even though winters down south are not really harsh, tourists can hope to find great deals with Atlanta hotels, allowing them to explore options other than merely cheap hotels.
This is not, however, a line set in stone. Many tourists, especially the ones from Europe, are best advised to visit Atlanta during mild winters that last from September through to January. This makes sense as the intense heat and humidity of summer may make the stay in Atlanta uncomfortable for tourists who are not used to such climes. In the end, it can be said with confidence that the geographical location of Atlanta has made sure that it remains an enjoyable place all year round, rarely experiencing extremes of weather (of course, barring seasonal high winds and occasional storms).