[Roaddog53]

We are coming down this week and planning on driving straight through, but if we change our minds, are there any good, inexpensive, SAFE hotels to stay at directly off of I-75 and probably in the mid to southern Georgia area? I know many travel that route too and looking for suggestions.

[lightworker888]

We have 2 shih tzu so we stay at Red Roof in Kennesaw. Have also stayed at Red Roof Hotel in Macon off 275. I'm sure there are other higher end places but we have found the Red Roof gives us a clean room, king bed and WFI for under $50 and there is a Red Lobster in the plaza across the street in Kennesaw so that works well for us.

LW888

[Roaddog53]

Thank you. I think Red Roof is a good value also considering all we want is a place to rest, CLEAN, not too much noise, and safe. Who needs more when just laying your head down...

[asianthree]

i just want to get thru atlanta but have use red roof couple of times

[Roaddog53]

Well I think the same way too! But at a certain point it is like the point of no return. Unless we JUST can't go on anymore, Macon would be about 5 hours of driving left. But better to be safe than tired and not all attentive.

[lightworker888]

Kennesaw is before Atlanta and we usually get there about 4 ish. We start out around 7:30 or 8 in the morning and stay on I-75 not the bypass. We usually get through Atlanta with some slow down but no stopping. Some have suggested that we take the HOV lane but we have never found the need and I was concerned that I would get lost as the HOV doesn't follow the I-75 exactly but it does join it later. As far as Atlanta was concerned it was rush hour either in the afternoon or in the morning so we looked for a good Red Roof. Have also stayed a Smyrna and it was good too. Just found the traffic a little fast getting in and out and the restaurants weren't as convenient.

LW888

[justjim]

We always stop at the Georgia Welcome Center on I 75 and find suitable lodging usually at bargain prices. Also, we don't stop until south of Atlanta. Going thru Atlanta is a breeze in the HOV lane. Macon is only about 2/1/2 hours south and if you take 475 bypass you will find all kinds of motels. From Macon you are only 6 hours or less to TV depending on how fast you drive. Have a safe trip.

[Yankee Quilter]

We have had very good luck with the Fairfield Inns.

[Roaddog53]

The Welcome Centers have brochures? We can't use the HOV lanes. In a truck and wife following

[justjim]

Georgia Welcome Center on I 75 has all kinds of motel brochures. Also, they have staff to help you if you need it.

[Sable99]

We have stayed at the LaQuinta in Dalton, Georgia. If I remember right, it near the northern border of Georgia. It was a very nice hotel and LaQuinta doesn't charge extra for pets. The only negative I would have about this hotel is that it was probably a mile from restaurants but there were several to choose from when you got there. I would definitely stay there again.

We usually leave around 6 AM and stop around 4 in the afternoon. I always check out the reviews on tripadvisor.com before we leave on a trip. I have a few amenities I always look for: elevators or 1st floor rooms for my 88 year old mother, handicapped accessible, continental breakfast, free wi-fi, exercise facilities, refrigerator for water and if we are going to Florida we usually have our cats! This hotel not only had a refrigerator it also had a nice size freezer.

[red tail]

check out drury.......great breakfast and 1.5 hr cocktails and heavy snacks also pet friendly

[keithwand]

We also have 2 Shi Tzus (Ben and Jerry) and stay at LaQuintas since they all take dogs and at no extra charge.
Some are nice and some look lke they will soon be condemned.
Knoxville/ Chatanooga-Bad
Valdosta, GA- great ,clean and free (3 small size drink limit) from 6-7P or aound that time.
Macon, GA off 475. New and nice. Some surroundings just OK.
Try and stick with LaQuinta Suites as they are usually better than their older properties.

[PandG]

We just stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn in Wildwood, GA, just north of Atlanta, en route to The Villages. It is convenient to I-75, is in a very safe and nice area, and has a restaurant across the street you can walk to.

The staff is very friendly, and upgraded us to a suite when our room's door lock didn't work--after we had unloaded all of our luggage in that room! They have a bar area that serves drinks (and maybe some food) at night. They have a *great* breakfast buffet for $10, which includes made-to-order pancakes, waffles, etc. The lobby area is very nice, too.

It's the Hilton Garden Inn - Atlanta NW/Wildwood, 2045 Windy Hill Rd. (phone # is 770-953-8850).

Good luck, and welcome to The Villages! When do you close, and which village will you be in?

Gail

[daviskgb]

We always stop in Tifton GA. Tons of hotels and places to eat. We asked one time why so many hotels and we were told it is the 1/2 way point to Orlando for everyone. Needless to say it was not really 1/2 for us coming from St. Louis but it was a good stopping point past Atlanta. We had a short drive in the next morning.