This past March, I had the utmost pleasure of attending the Laughing Skull comedy festival in Atlanta, Georgia. After writing up a story about the underground comedy scene in New York City and the countless rising comics who live in the Big Apple, I decided to follow my writing to this national festival where comics compete to be crowned the winner of Laughing Skull. With over 400 comedians applying to the festival each year, only 70 from around the country are accepted to perform at iconic comedy spots around Atlanta. The opportunity offers a chance for aspiring comics to catch the eyes and ears of industry, managers and agents.
While in Georgia, I stayed at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in downtown Atlanta which surpassed all my expectations. After a festival that kept me laughing at more comedy shows than I have been to in the past 27 years of my existence, it was a real treat to stay at this oasis of serenity nestled in the heart of the city. Boasting itself as the intersection of Southern and Oriental charm, the Mandarin Oriental blends contemporary design with luxurious accommodations and convenient facilities to give its guests a truly unique experience.
Nestled on Peachtree Road, the hotel is within distance of the botanical gardens, aquarium, Lenox Square Mall and Phipps Plaza-placing its guests in the epicenter of Atlanta. Upon my arrival, I was greeted by a helpful staff who made check-in seamless and quickly showed me to my room-an expansive suite with a balcony and bathroom that makes my New York home look like a water closet.
The Mandarin Oriental seems to be all about the details-the plush bathrobes, the high end bathroom products, the vibrant orchids in the rooms, the chocolates and wine awaiting your arrival. The hotel’s facilities included a large climate-controlled pool and spa where hotel guests can enjoy massages in the 13 available treatment rooms (including one reserved for couples). A fitness center is also available for guests to use the Mandarin Oriental’s state-of-the-art workout equipment and machines.
While my stay at the Mandarin Oriental was short and sweet, it goes without saying that it was one of the highlights of my trip to Atlanta. To spend the evening soaking in my jacuzzi-sized bathtub with low lighting and floating orchids while watching CNN Parts Unknown was-in short-the epitome of relaxing.
Book this hotel if…
you are visiting Atlanta on business or pleasure-it doesn’t matter-the Mandarin Oriental is suitable for couples as much as it is for business men simply passing through. While everything in Atlanta seems to require a car to get to, the Mandarin Oriental is centrally located and near many restaurants and city attractions.
*I was invited for a complimentary stay at the Mandarin Oriental in exchange for editorial coverage. As always, all opinions expressed on The Pin the Map Project are unbiased and my own.
