Over the years, I’ve had the luxury of staying in wonderful hotels. Before I had children, I traveled the globe for work and stayed in the best hotels. Since I’ve gone back to work, the opportunities have presented themselves every now and then, and I still relish the idea of staying at a five star hotel. I am keenly aware of what qualifies a great hotel and the Four Seasons has always stood out in my memory as one of my favorite business hotels. When my kids were much younger, I had a job where the headquarters were based in Chicago, and I had the luxury of staying there every month during my stint at that company. Those nights in a hotel room, completely on my own with the lush pillows and room service were my absolute luxury and solace.
When we were given the opportunity to stay at the Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta, I was thrilled. I was curious how the experience would live up to my expectations now that I have a family. I was also eager for my own children to experience the hotel for themselves. To think that it took me over 30 years to get my first visit at a Four Seasons Hotel and it took my own children both six and eight years to have the same experience. Let’s not even get started about the brilliant, faraway places that they’ve been.
In addition, I was pleased with the hotel’s location. It’s strategically located right near some of my favorite Atlanta spots: The High Museum of Art, the Puppetry Center of Arts, Piedmont Park, the GA Aquarium, the William Brennan Jewish Heritage and Holocaust Museum and
not far from the highway to Virginia Highlands, one of my favorite parts of the city.
Before checking in to the Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta, I was asked the names and ages of my children, so I had a feeling that the hotel was up to something special. When we checked in, my kids were treated to a small toy from a wagon. They were delighted, and were equally happy when they got to the room to find milk and cookies waiting for them.
The rooms are spacious and ideal for a family. We had a suite, which gave my husband and I a separate room. The bed and pillows were just as I remembered and the room was impeccable. The hotel offers video games, board games and movies to entertain the kids. We literally dropped our bags, changed our clothes and ran off to the swimming pool. The swimming pool is a beautiful, luxurious experience. The decor is majestic, complete with Roman sculptures and marble. The water is warm and the jacuzzi relaxed all of us. I wish I had a picture of the pool, but to get a feel of its lushness, check out the image of the lobby below. My son was enraptured with the locker rooms as old habits don’t die young, and it was kind of hilarious when he locked his stuff in the locker (he’s always been obsessed with doors and locks). I personally enjoyed the steam room in the locker rooms and took a few minutes to myself.
Unlike some other luxury hotels, the kid friendly Atlanta Four Seasons has children’s items like vegetable stick with ranch, ‘ants on a log’ celery sticks with peanut butter and raisins or grilled cheese sandwiches on their kid’s menus that are available in their restaurants and in room service. Apparently, real children created the menu. The staff was very accommodating to my children at breakfast time, too. We felt right at home. They also have a “Kids in the Kitchen” program where children can head into the kitchen for a cookies class with the Executive Chef. I wish I had known about that program before I went, so definitely do your research before you arrive in this hotel or any other.
If you’re planning to be in Atlanta during the holidays, the Four Season offers a few treats for kids. “Nutcracker Teas” will be offered in partnership with the Atlanta Ballet on December 4th, 11th and 18th from 2:30-5pm. The afternoon includes a traditional tea service featuring a variety of 14 different loose-leaf teas, accompanied with a sampling of delicious finger sandwiches, house-made scones and decadent bite-size desserts. The Atlanta Ballet will perform selections from their version of “The Nutcracker”.
Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta is located at 75 Fourteenth Street Atlanta, GA 30309. The telephone number is 404-881-9898.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary visit in order to facilitate this review, but all opinions expressed are my own.
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I’ve had the pleasure to stay in a couple of Four Seasons hotels, but it wasn’t until an outstanding experience at their Denver location, that I became a more devout fan of the brand. This one sounds lovely.