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Hotels Atlanta is the convention city of the south, with hotels to fit every budget and taste. Be it a modern establishment with all the amenities or a simple, spartan motel Atlanta has them all. Room rates vary widely depending upon how many conventions are taking place within the city. At certain times of the year, such as mid-April, rooms within the city centre are almost impossible to obtain. Visitors who are attending a convention should select a hotel as close as possible to the venue to reduce transportation time – traffic in the city centre, particularly during the rush hour, is horrendous. A state 7% occupancy tax and an additional 7% city tax is added to the cost of every hotel room per night. The prices below are the starting price for a standard double room and include sales tax but not service charges. They do not include breakfast, unless otherwise specified. Business Hilton Atlanta In the heart of downtown Atlanta, this is one of the city’s largest hotels. A modern monolith that occupies an entire city block, this is a convention favourite and is always bustling with activity. The hotel is easily accessed from the airport by taxi, limousine or MARTA, the city’s rapid transit system. The rooms are bland in terms of decor – beige, beige and more beige – but in-room business facilities include high-speed date ports and a generous size desk. More luxurious accommodation is to be found in The Towers. The convention and meeting facilities are state of the art and feature flexible wall configurations. There are even classroom-style meeting rooms complete with plug-ins to accommodate those taking notes electronically. Five restaurants are on site, including Traders Vic’s, a Polynesian extravaganza, and Nikolai’s Roof, an elegant Atlanta favourite. 255 Courtland Street Tel: (404) 659 2000. Fax: (404) 221 6301. Website: www.atlantahilton.com Price: From US$149. J W Marriott Hotel The glass and shining steel exterior of this handsome hotel belies the traditional interior, which features Chippendale-style furniture in both the lobbies and guest rooms. The rooms are of average size but are well appointed, with deep, comfy armchairs and large desks. The baths almost equal the size of the sleeping quarters and have a separate glassed-in shower and tub. In-room business amenities include high-speed modem points, an in-room fax machine and a halogen desk lamp. The hotel can accommodate a large range of meeting sizes with its seemingly vast selection of conference rooms. To add to its desirability, the hotel connects directly to the Lenox Square Mall (the largest shopping mall in the Southeastern United States), making it a perfect location for serious shoppers, especially at weekends. The J W Marriott Hotel is easily accessed by MARTA (Lenox Square Station), or by taxi or limousine service from the airport. 3300 Lenox Road NE Tel: (404) 262 3344. Fax: (404) 262 8689. Website: www.marriott.com Price: From US$209. Swissotel The sleek and gleaming white exterior of this hotel belies its European heart. The rooms are generous in size and comfort. Furnished in a modern, upbeat style, in shades of grey and lavender, the rooms ooze comfort. The bathrooms are large enough to host a hockey game and gleam with marble, brass and glass. In-room fax machines and large desks with halogen lamps make this hotel a favourite with business travellers. Located in Buckhead, adjacent to the Lenox Mall, the hotel is easily reached by taxi, limousine or MARTA (Buckhead Station). The only on-site restaurant, The Palm, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Conference facilities include state-of-the-art Picturetel video-conferencing. 3391 Peachtree Street, NE Tel: (404) 365 0065. Fax: (404) 365 8787. E-mail: emailus@atlantaatswissotel.com Website: www.swissotel.com Price: From US$159. Westin Peachtree Plaza The landmark cylinder shape, designed by architect John Portman, makes this hotel easy to distinguish in the Atlanta skyline. Pie-shaped rooms are outfitted in pastel hues and dark woods. The lobby is eclectic, combining old-world charm with contemporary accents. Within the hotel guests will find a small shopping arcade, the Savannah Fish Company restaurant, and the Sun Dial restaurant at the very top. The Sun Dial revolves, making it a mecca for tourists eager for a complete view of the Atlanta area. An on-site business centre provides comprehensive secretarial, faxing and computer facilities for businesspeople. 210 Peachtree Street, NW Tel: (404) 659 1400. Fax: (404) 589 7424. Website: www westin.com Price: From US$255. Luxury Four Seasons Hotel The most opulent hotel in Midtown and one of the most luxurious in Atlanta, this hotel occupies only the first 19 floors of a 53-storey skyscraper. The remaining floors are occupied by offices and private residences. Guest rooms are decorated in soothing sage and cream, with mahogany furniture and original artwork. The bathrooms are a sybaritic delight, with separate tub and glassed-in shower, robes and hairdryers. The health club features an almost competition-length lap pool, exercise room, saunas, steam rooms and sunbathing patio. The hotel restaurant, Park 75, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, manages to be charming for daytime meals and elegant for evening repasts. The menu includes creative choices, such as buffalo steak and coddled salmon. 75 14th Street Tel: (404) 881 9898. Fax: (404) 253 3913. Website: www.fourseasons.com Price: From US$330. Ritz Carlton Buckhead This elegant retreat offers deluxe accommodation in a quiet, understated fashion. The lobby, bar and restaurant are lushly decorated in deep tones that make guests want to speak in hushed voices. For women travellers, the bar at the Ritz is one of the few places they can feel comfortable sipping a glass of wine solo. The Dining Room Restaurant has won numerous awards for its cuisine but it captures hearts for the cosy bar and dance floor just a few romantic steps away. The rooms are slightly on the small side but beautifully appointed. The health club features an enclosed, heated pool. Adjacent to both Lenox Mall and Phipps Plaza, this is an excellent location for a weekend retreat of shopping and dining Atlanta style. 3434 Peachtree Road, NE Tel: (404) 237 2700. Fax: (404) 239 0078. E-mail: buckhead.concierge@ritzcarlton.com Website: www.ritzcarlton.com Price: From US$239. Moderate Granada Suites Hotel Built in 1924, the Granada has a quaint, Spanish-Colonial style that is unusual for Atlanta. It began life as an apartment building and was converted in 1986 to an all-suite hotel. The rooms are generous in size and, although the decor may verge on dowdy, the staff are warm and enthusiastic. Included in the room rate are a daily breakfast buffet, cocktails Monday to Thursday evenings, and a free shuttle service within 5km (3 miles) of the hotel. There is no pool but there is a modest exercise facility on site. The hotel is located directly across the street from the MARTA Arts Center Station. 1302 West Peachtree Street Tel: (404) 876 6100. Fax: (404) 875 8269. Website: www.atlantahotel.org Price: From US$109 (including breakfast). Sheraton Colony Square An anchor of the Colony Square complex, this hotel is an excellent location for theatre, arts and symphony expeditions, situated as it is just a block from the Woodruff Arts Center and High Museum of Art and directly across the street from the 14th Street Playhouse. The rooms are large with contemporary furnishings in shades of creams and yellows. Many rooms have disabled facilities with lower cupboard bars and wider entry doors. For a bird’s-eye view of the Midtown area of the city, guests should ask for a room on a higher floor. The restaurant is somewhat disappointing in selections and service. However, the adjacent mall has several eating places for quick bites and elegant dining. The hotel is within walking distance of the MARTA Arts Center Station. 188 14th Street, NE Tel: (404) 892 6000. Fax: (404) 872 9192. Website: www.starwood.com Price: From US$119. Other Recommendations Ansley Inn Tucked into a quiet street in Midtown, one of Atlanta’s few bed and breakfasts provides travellers with a respite from the humdrum of hotel life. The hotel is housed in a beautifully restored English Tudor-style mansion, filled with paintings, chandeliers and quality antiques. Each guest room boasts a fireplace, Jacuzzi and private bath. There is also a corporate wing, furnished in a contemporary style, complete with working desks and high-speed modem points. The inn is located within a few blocks of the MARTA Arts Center Station. 253 15th Street, NE Tel: (404) 872 9000. Fax: (404) 892 2318. Website: www.ansleyinn.com Price: From US$119 (including breakfast). Grand Hyatt Buckhead A 35 ft tall waterfall and a 9000 sq ft Japanese garden set this modern hotel apart from its competitors in upscale Buckhead. Originally a Nikko hotel, the Oriental influence is still evident in the understated decor of black, grey and purple. High-quality Japanese art adorns the walls of both public and private rooms. The rooms are quite spacious and more American than Japanese (no futon on the floor). The outdoor pool is unheated but the health club includes both steam and sauna rooms. Located in trendy (and high traffic volume) Buckhead, the complimentary shuttle, which takes guests anywhere within a 3.2-kilometre (two-mile) radius, is a real plus for dining and shopping. 3300 Peachtree Road, NE Tel: (404) 365 8100. Fax: (404) 233 5686. Website: www.hyatt.com Price: From US$205. |
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