Safe hotel near Atlanta?

[Soccerpooh]

We are driving down to WDW from NE Indiana next Friday. We are planning on leaving around 7am and according to the GPS will hit Atlanta around 5 or 6 pm. We want to stop for the night at a hotel just north of Atlanta and let the kids swim while we relax. Can anyone recommend good area to look for a hotel? We will be coming down on I-75, so obviously we need one near the interstate. I have been looking online (trip advisor, Priceline) and getting conflicting info on the Marrietta and Cobb-Galleria areas. Are these safe areas? Any recommendations or advice is appreciated! TIA!

 

[uva185]

I've stayed at the Embassy Suites Galleria which is right at the intersection of I-75 and I-285. Very convenient and nice.

It has a pool & hot tub.

http://embassysuites1.hilton.com/en...assy-Suites-Atlanta-Galleria-Georgia/index.do

 

[clkelley]

If at all possible, try to get South of Atlanta on Friday night. That will make it a much quicker trip on Saturday morning. We usually stop at a hotel on 475 around the Macon area.

 

[Soccerpooh]

If at all possible, try to get South of Atlanta on Friday night. That will make it a much quicker trip on Saturday morning. We usually stop at a hotel on 475 around the Macon area.

Won't traffic be a nightmare if we hit Atlanta at 5 or 6pm Friday evening? We figured that it would be easier to get thru Atlanta Saturday morning vs. Friday evening. (I am afraid our nerves will be fried by then, after spending 10 hours in the van with the kids! ) Last time we drove we went 95. This is the first time we are taking 75.
Thanks!

 

[clkelley]

Won't traffic be a nightmare if we hit Atlanta at 5 or 6pm Friday evening? We figured that it would be easier to get thru Atlanta Saturday morning vs. Friday evening. (I am afraid our nerves will be fried by then, after spending 10 hours in the van with the kids! ) Last time we drove we went 95. This is the first time we are taking 75.
Thanks!

I missed arriving in Atlanta at 5 or 6. Yep, stopping North of Atlanta might be better, but make sure you get an early start on Saturday morning.

We usually don't go through Atlanta till after 7pm, so therefore try to get South of there.

 

[L & B Mom]

Yes, Friday Traffic in Atlanta is horrific! Rush hour starts around 3:30 and continues till about 7:00 pm. That being said you should not have too much trouble going into Atlanta (everyone will be coming out). The North end of Atlanta is by far the worst. Of course it all depends if there are any accidents or events going on.

The earlier you leave Saturday morning the better the traffic should be. I would take I-285 around Atlanta (Saturday Morning) to I-675 to I-75. This cuts off the bottom corner and is not only shorter but tends to have less traffic.

Atlanta also has traffic reports on overhead signs so keep an eye out for them and they will tell you what traffic is like up ahead.

If you stop North of Atlanta stay north of I-285 (major bottleneck) You should not have any problems in Marrietta.

Good Luck!

 

[mamaprincess]

I've stayed at the Embassy Suites Galleria which is right at the intersection of I-75 and I-285. Very convenient and nice.

It has a pool & hot tub.

http://embassysuites1.hilton.com/en...assy-Suites-Atlanta-Galleria-Georgia/index.do

This sounds like just what we need. We will be arriving friday night and leaving Saturday morning so hopefully traffic won't be an issue.

 

[Soccerpooh]

Thanks for the replies- very much appreciated! Can anyone tell me if Marrietta or the Cobb-Galleria area is a safe area? I have read a few posts on various boards that suggest they are a little sketchy. I am leaning towards the Cobb-Galleria area- looks like a lot of choices around there. The Embassy Suites looks like a good choice! Thanks!

 

[2010Goofy]

If it helps, I let my grandparents stay at that very hotel when they were here visiting me earlier this year (they prefer having a hotel vs. staying with us since all we have is an extra room with a dble bed).

 

[carlamouse]

I've stayed at the Embassy Suites Galleria which is right at the intersection of I-75 and I-285. Very convenient and nice.

It has a pool & hot tub.

http://embassysuites1.hilton.com/en...assy-Suites-Atlanta-Galleria-Georgia/index.do

I held my wedding reception there back in 1995. It was nice then, and Im glad to know that it still is. I am now divorced, but I still remember my reception fondly.

Regarding where to stay in N. Atlanta, we natives refer to the Cobb-Galleria area as Smyrna. There are some parts of Marietta and S. Cobb that are a bit sketchy. Stay close to the malls, and you'll probably be ok. Here's a couple of places near Cobb Pkwy. which is right off I75 south at the I285 junction. There's a Sheraton across the street from the Galleria that looks nice from the street http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/overview/index.html?language=en_US&propertyID=111. If you're low on road-trip supplies or gasoline, there's a Costco right behind that Sheraton. There's also an upscale hotel attached to the Galleria called Renaissance Waverly http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/atlrb-renaissance-atlanta-waverly-hotel/ I'm not sure of your price range, but I'm sure they both offer some kind of weekend rate or perhaps AAA discounts.

 

[carlamouse]

Won't traffic be a nightmare if we hit Atlanta at 5 or 6pm Friday evening? We figured that it would be easier to get thru Atlanta Saturday morning vs. Friday evening. (I am afraid our nerves will be fried by then, after spending 10 hours in the van with the kids! ) Last time we drove we went 95. This is the first time we are taking 75.
Thanks!

Check out GA Navigator for traffic and construction updates while in GA:

http://www.georgia-navigator.com/maps/atlanta

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I would recommend taking I-75 to the I-475 Macon Bypass and staying at a Hampton Inn located off exit 3.
http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/...ionid=RYE2GBRCQ5PQ4CSGBJF2VCQ?ctyhocn=MCNEHHX

However if you want to stay at a location off I-75 then I would recommend the Hampton Inn located in Perry, Georiga which is at exit 136.
http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/...ionid=RYE2GBRCQ5PQ4CSGBJF2VCQ?ctyhocn=PRYGAHX

 

[3pirates]

The Embassy Suites mentioned is fine...but you are well into the Atlanta area. If you want to miss the Friday afternoon fun, I'd stop closer to Kennesaw. That's sort of where town starts. We don't live on the I-75 side so I don't have any specifics, but my husband works with many people from the area and it is very suburban. Marietta can be a little sketchy...just depends where you are.

The idea of going on to Macon is good, but its another two hours or so.

 

[uva185]

Thanks for the replies- very much appreciated! Can anyone tell me if Marrietta or the Cobb-Galleria area is a safe area? I have read a few posts on various boards that suggest they are a little sketchy. I am leaning towards the Cobb-Galleria area- looks like a lot of choices around there. The Embassy Suites looks like a good choice! Thanks!

Should have mentioned I have family in the Smyrna area. It has always seemed perfectly safe to me.

My grandmother used to live in Marietta. Also seemed very safe. We always went to the Marietta square for the 4th of July.

 

[carlamouse]

The Embassy Suites mentioned is fine...but you are well into the Atlanta area. If you want to miss the Friday afternoon fun, I'd stop closer to Kennesaw. That's sort of where town starts. We don't live on the I-75 side so I don't have any specifics, but my husband works with many people from the area and it is very suburban. Marietta can be a little sketchy...just depends where you are.

The idea of going on to Macon is good, but its another two hours or so.

Kennesaw is just north of Marietta. It's very suburban, and it also has a huge shopping mall nearby on Barrett Pkwy. There are plenty of national-chain hotels and restaurants in the vicinity. If you guys are too pooped to go another mile, this is a good place to take a break. The traffic shouldn't be too heavy heading southbound on I75 during the evening rush hour, as most folks are heading north away from downtown Atlanta. Usually, the traffic is worst directly in the center of town. It clears up for a moment just below the I20 junction. Then it gets bad again below the airport through Clayton and Henry counties where southern suburbia is most concentrated. Don't be fooled by the I285 bypass. It's just as crowded as I75 during both rush hours.