W Atlanta - Perimeter: Atlanta's Trendy Hotel on the Northside

The W Atlanta - Perimeter, the first W hotel to open in Atlanta, is located on the north side of the city just outside Atlanta's beltway, Interstate 285. The hotel is also accessible from Georgia Highway 400. The W is adjacent to Perimeter Mall, the most upscale mall on Atlanta's north side. It is about ten minutes from the exclusive Buckhead area, 20 minutes from the attractions in downtown Atlanta, and 30 minutes from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

The 275-room W Atlanta - Perimeter was the first W in Atlanta, opening in 1999. The hotel has been renovated extensively since then. Guest rooms at the W come in three levels - the Wonderful Room, the Fantastic Suite and the Wow Suite. All rooms feature W's signature bed with luxury linens, the Pillow Menu, a CD and DVD player, Bliss Spa bath amenities, high-speed Internet access, a fax machine, refrigerator and wet bar, bathrobes and private balconies. The Wonderful Room is 350 square feet. The Fantastic Suite, at 625 square feet, adds a living room and full kitchen. The Wow Suite is 750 square feet and adds a foyer and a larger work area to the amenities of the Fantastic Suite.

Other amenities at the hotel include the SWEAT Fitness Center, which provides cardiovascular and weight machines, as well as free weights and the services of a personal trainer; an outdoor heated pool; and the Acura Experience, a complimentary car service with driver. Dining and cocktail options at the W include the Living Room, a comfortable airy lobby space with drinks and snacks; the W Cafy, which has light fare for breakfast; and SAVU and the SAVU bar. SAVU, which offers Asian fusion cuisine, "flaunts its contemporary savvy,'' according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The newspaper goes on to say, "Like the food, service is an odd combination of colorful and hip, frivolous and flip.''

Meeting space at the W Atlanta - Perimeter comprises ten rooms totaling 10,000 square feet. The largest available space is the Greatroom, which can accommodate 250 guests banquet-style or 400 theater-style. The Greatroom can be subdivided into three spaces. Smaller conference rooms range from 500 square feet to 1,000 square feet, and two boardrooms are available for small groups. The hotel offers full catering, from snacks to banquets. Wireless Internet and state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment are available in every room. W also offers its Sensory Set-Up and Recess meeting packages to liven up the day for attendees.

Internet reviews for the W at Perimeter are mixed. Only 41 percent of guests on one well-known travel website gave the hotel an "Excellent'' or "Very Good'' rating; an equal number give it "Poor'' or "Terrible'' marks. One recent guest says the hotel has "lovely rooms with balconies, great bed, roomy bathroom and vanity ... very helpful staff.'' Others appreciate that the prices are lower than in-town hotels of the same quality. However, many guests complain about the age of the property and have had problems with cleanliness and various things in the room not working, especially the air conditioning. As with all W hotels, the party atmosphere in the lobby bothers those who are not into the "scene.'' This guest summed up the experience at this hotel, though, saying, "This particular W is far below normal W standards.''