city/hotel recommendation south of atlanta?

[gasman61]

My college aged DS has been accepted into the Disney College Program and has to report on Memorial Day. He would like to have his car for his 7 month stay, so he and I are driving from Cincinnati. I am wondering if someone could recommend a hotel where we can break up the drive, preferably south of Atlanta. We will be driving on a Saturday.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Karen

p.s. If there is a more appropriate board where this should be posted, let me know and I'll post it there instead!

 

[NicoleLarson]

I would suggest Warner Robins. It's about an hour and half past ATL. You would want to stay off of Watson Blvd in the Centerville area, that should be about an 8 hour drive. If you wanted to drive further Tifton or Cordelle would be ok. I would not stay in Macon, it has the highest crime rate in all of GA, so lots of not safe places.

 

[Swimalie]

As one who lived in Warner Robins (and worked in law enforcement at the time), I would not suggest staying there. The crime there is getting to be as bad as in Macon. My mother-in-law still lives there, not too far off Watson Blvd and had a guy break down 3 doors to rob her at 7am, while she was home! Keep going south of the Macon/Warner Robins/Perry area and you'll be better off.

Also, bed bugs (Warner Robins is in Houston County, Macon is in Bibb County) http://www.macon.com/2012/04/21/1998737/bedbug-infestations-not-uncommon.html

 

[LadyBeBop]

We're also from the Cincinnati area. I guess it depends on when you leave. If you leave at the crack of dawn, you'll make it close to the Florida border (Valdosta). If you leave at 9 AM, you'll be hard-pressed to make it to Macon.

I wouldn't stay in Warner Robins. That is just out of the way.

I don't think staying on the Macon bypass (I-475) would be too bad. There are a cluster of motels all together toward the end of the bypass. However, if you leave early enough, you'll make it to Cordele or Tifton.

Eight hours from here to Macon is probably with no stops and exceeding the speed limit. Realistically, with minimal stops and observing the speed limit, it's about eight hours to south Atlanta and 9 1/2 hours to the Macon Bypass. Make sure you take the bypass. It's actually a shorter route. It's another hour south to Cordele and an additional 45 minutes to Tifton. So if you leave at sunrise, you'll easily make it to Tifton by sunset.

 

[Mickeefan]

If you can make it to Tifton, you're drive the next day will only be 4-5 hours. Nice!

 

[firecracker725]

If you can make it to Tifton, you're drive the next day will only be 4-5 hours. Nice!

This is my vote as well.

OP, you will have to drive atleast an hour and a half south of the city to find something decent. If you're just talking about getting through the city to avoid traffic and staying IN South Atlanta, this is a bad idea. To say it's not an attractive area is putting it mildly. Your choices are to stay north of the city or drive a good bit further south.

 

[Praise2Him]

We stay at the Country Inn and Suites in either Cordele or Tifton. Both are fairly new & nice.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

I visit friends in Macon every year or two and we stay on the North side of Macon. We stay in a Residence Inn and the employees are super friendly and the rooms are clean and nice. They have a full breakfast, too. I wouldn't stay on the South side of Macon, but the North side has a lot of new development and is safe. It would be about an hour south of Atlanta.

 

[rcraw45425]

We live south of Atlanta and actually get on I 75 at Tifton. They just built a new Hilton Garden Inn at exit 62. It's listed at #5 on trip advisor but the Hampton Inn that's number 1 is an older property

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g35313-Tifton_Georgia-Hotels.html

Two years ago my younger daughter had the first audition call time in Perry GA for All State Symphonic band. Faced with a two hour ride I booked the two of us into a Hilton Garden Inn in Warner Robins. It was in a safe newer area and the hotel was super nice. The manager bumped us to a suite as they were not busy and it was spacious and super clean. I agree with others about Macon/Warner Robins in general, but that was a positive experience.

 

[letsgoreds]

Another shout out from Cincinnati area (we're in Mason). I wish I remember where we stayed last time. There was a Holiday Inn Express and we were across the highway (west side). Well...there was a train that ran and honked its horn all night long, and made for a miserable night. It was because of that trip, that we're going to try to drive through the night this time (December). Last time we stopped, but really didn't sleep, so this go around, we figure we might as well have more time in the parks, and money in our pockets.

I am keeping these stops in mind in case one of the kids has a hard time sleeping in the car (youngest will be 3.5), or DH and I just get really sleepy.

Thanks!

 

[tallygirl]

I grew up in Cincinnati (my parents live in Mason now!). We live in FL now and make that trip often. I second Tifton or Cordele,

 

[Swimalie]

Two years ago my younger daughter had the first audition call time in Perry GA for All State Symphonic band. Faced with a two hour ride I booked the two of us into a Hilton Garden Inn in Warner Robins. It was in a safe newer area and the hotel was super nice. The manager bumped us to a suite as they were not busy and it was spacious and super clean. I agree with others about Macon/Warner Robins in general, but that was a positive experience.

The Hilton Garden Inn is just off Watson Blvd, an area I would avoid. It is a newer hotel but not too far from an older area that does not have a good track record. After working in law enforcement in the city, there are few places I would feel safe.

 

[rcraw45425]

The Hilton Garden Inn is just off Watson Blvd, an area I would avoid. It is a newer hotel but not too far from an older area that does not have a good track record. After working in law enforcement in the city, there are few places I would feel safe.

thanks for that heads up! The high school All State second round auditions are in Cordele, I'll probably just drive that if I have to. this was also two years ago as well, Sounds like WR is like Columbus, crime just steadily getting worse!

 

[Belle & Ariel]

Another vote for Country Inn and Suites Cordele.

It is mile marker 100 meaning 100 miles from Florida border. Downtown Atlanta is about mm 250.

Staying in Cordele leaves about 1 1/2 hour drive in GA and 3 hours in FL to get to Disney plus your stops.


Country Inns has a 30% off special through June 29 for this property. Use code 30PCTOFF.

It is good at some other locations also.

 

[gasman61]

I was able to use Hotwire and figured out which hotel was the Country Suites in Cordele, so I got a room there for $53! Thanks for the suggestions!