Car Rentals at ATL

[Acela150]

As part of training with Norfolk Southern, I need to goto McDonugh,GA (How ever that's spelled)

I MIGHT take 19/20 to and from ATL. I'll need a car though. Is there any car rental spots in the station? Or any suggestions??

TIA

Steve

 

[Ind Ben]

None at the station,you might check Hertz or Avis they may have a place close by.

 

[offroad437]

Taxi or Marta to airport is best option. The north bound gets in too late for local enterprise and south bound too early.

 

[Bob Dylan]

I agree Steve, take the Bus and Marta Light Rail to Hartsfield and get your car there!

Taxis are mucho dinero to the Airport and traffic on Atlanta's "freeways" is horrible!

Check AGR for deals on Points and Car Rentals, they often have good deals with the various rental companies, Hertz seems to come up most often!

 

[Acela150]

Thanks for the help! I can always count on AU!!

 

[the_traveler]

The last time I took a train to ATL, I booked thru Amtrak and Hertz told me to take a cab to their location and they reimbursed the cab fare. (One way only, but I got the agent to deduct both ways from the rental!) But I agree, the airport is the best option.

 

[Ryan]

Airport rentals are more expensive. When you arrive, you can take a cab up to the Marriott in Buckhead. Short ride and they'll pay the cab fare.

Same thing in reverse, drop car with Hertz and cab it back to the station.

It's a bit of a pain, but that's the least pain.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Reason I suggested getting car @ Airport is that Mc Donough is about 25 miles SE of Atlanta on I-75 on the way to Macon and it saves driving in the horrible traffic on I-85 through downtown Atlanta.

#19 gets there during the height of rush hour and #20 rolls in during the evening rush hour which is even worse!

Taking the Bus and Light Rail from the Station to/from Hartsfield is the quickest and easiest way IMHO but it is correct that picking up a car in Buckhead, as Ryan said, will be cheaper and the cab will be covered by the Rent Car place most likely!

 

[Ryan]

Eh, by the time you get off the train, get a cab, get up to the hotel, get the car and get on the road, rush hour is practically over.

On the other way, the plan is to drop the car on the front edge of rush hour, grab dinner at the mall and then cab it back to the station.

The cab's also way easier than the bus->train->another train shuffle to the rental car joints.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Ryan:OK, I understand both scenarios! I don't like Atlanta, and sure hate to Drive there, it's worse than Houston, LA or Austin!!!

Since you've been there since me I'll bow to your advice, it sounds like good poop!!

 

[acelafan]

Or, take a $4 UBER or cab to the nearest MARTA station and then take the train (24 minutes from Midtown) to the airport. The car rental is a short connecting shuttle train ride away. I'm not sure about prices like Ryan said, though. You might be able to find some deals at the airport location using http://carrentalsavers.com/ Last time I rented a car at the airport 2 years ago it was super cheap but maybe I just got lucky.

I live here and agree, driving through town is a pain....during much of the day!

 

[Ispolkom]

Ryan:OK, I understand both scenarios! I don't like Atlanta, and sure hate to Drive there, it's worse than Houston, LA or Austin!!!

Since you've been there since me I'll bow to your advice, it sounds like good poop!!

Worse than Houston? That's saying a lot.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Ryan:OK, I understand both scenarios! I don't like Atlanta, and sure hate to Drive there, it's worse than Houston, LA or Austin!!!

Since you've been there since me I'll bow to your advice, it sounds like good poop!!

Worse than Houston? That's saying a lot.

Well, that's subjective, not objective! They're all bad but the drivers in Atlanta seem to be even bigger morons than the idiots here in Austin! As for LA and Houston, pretty bad indeed, but at least they seem to know how to drive when the traffic is moving and not in Gridlock due to construction or accidents! Hotlanta seems to be in this state perpetually!!

 

[StriderGDM]

I've done a variety of things.

My preferred location is the Buckhead Marriott Hertz. And yes, they will reimburse cab fare one way (never got them to do it both ways).

I've also taken the bus back from the Buckhead Marriott,it's not a bad ride, fairly cheap.

I've also done MARTA (hey why not, it's a train) and then walked from the closest stop (I think it's the Arts Center) but then again, I like to walk. (I think in the case I drove to the station, checked my luggage and then dropped off the car).

I've also done MARTA to the airport. That was by FAR the most time-consuming method and since my destination is Walker County (in the northwest corner of the state) added yet another 15-20 minutes to my drive.

I'll be doing such a trip in a little over a month (I tend to do it once a year.)

 

[chakk]

I just walk south from the Amtrak station to the nearest MARTA station -- about 10 minutes, IIRC.

 

[StriderGDM]

I just walk south from the Amtrak station to the nearest MARTA station -- about 10 minutes, IIRC.

Ayup, not to bad as long as you don't have much luggage.

 

[acelafan]

I just walk south from the Amtrak station to the nearest MARTA station -- about 10 minutes, IIRC.

It's 1 full mile, so a bit longer. Not bad in pleasant weather, though.

 

[Bob Dylan]

I just walk south from the Amtrak station to the nearest MARTA station -- about 10 minutes, IIRC.

It's 1 full mile, so a bit longer. Not bad in pleasant weather, though.

When does hotlanta have pleasant weather?

 

[chakk]

My Arlanta visits are always in January. Last time it was quite cold, about 3 days after a major snowstorm shut down the city. Never had a problem pulling a roller bag and one laptop computer bag on the walk between MARTA station and Peachtree St Amtrak station. The exercise was good for me.

 

[xyzzy]

Best weather in Atlanta (and most of the southeast) is mid-Sept to mid-Nov.