The Starling Atlanta Midtown: a Darling 4-Star Hotel Experience
- Jaz The Sag
- Dec 29, 2024
- 7 min read
Updated: Mar 20
From the moment I entered the building to the moment I checked out, my time was nothing short of lovely. I enjoyed my stay at The Starling Atlanta Midtown, Curio Collection by Hilton. Highlights about this hotel include it being pet-friendly, the on-site spa, the amenities, the proximity to downtown sites, and the overall atmosphere. I have to speak about the friendly staff throughout the hotel because customer service is of utmost importance to me. It can make or break an experience.
The hotel is part of Hilton's Curio Collection, which is an upscale hotel brand within the Hilton Worldwide portfolio allowing hotels to maintain a unique style and independent flair for the most part. The modern interior design and decor attracted me because every room has its own look and feel that contributes to the hotel's overall style.
Trip prep and planning
Circa 2022, I chose the Starling Atlanta based on the location (near restaurants and entertainment) and must-have amenities I desired for a stay-cation. I wanted to take my puppy on his first trip so it checked my boxes.
My booking strategy factored in the weather, the time of year, and availability. I reserved a two-night stay in the middle of the week in late September -- right as the season transitioned from the dog days of summer to crisp fall.
Why?
Because I strategically avoid Atlanta's peak traffic times during weekday rush hour and weekend crowd. 😮💨
Because summer vacation is over so kids are back in school and everything's back to the regularly scheduled programming. 👍🏾
Because most reservations occur over the weekend when people are off work, so there's more room availability during the week. 😀
Because there were no major holidays so the rates are usually better. 💸
Hotel room view and mood (design & aesthetics)
My pup and I enjoyed our room with a view of the bustling city day. One of the first things I peep in a hotel room is the bathroom. I approved and so did the pup who attempted to check the water levels of the toilet.
The hotel had a different name and branding, formerly W Atlanta Midtown, before it became part of the Hilton's Curio collection. And the current "Starling" name comes from a socially inclined bird commonly seen in the Georgia skies. I knew there was a reason I was attracted to this hotel:
"...coordinated patterns symbolic of the dynamic community surrounding the hotel and the vibrant individuals who visit. Connecting to the energy and creativity of these birds..."
My room was pretty simple, but the music notes in the hall and park picture in the bathroom hints at a leftover theme from previous branding. Or it's just an eclectic blend of different tastes. I appreciate it either way. All of it contributes to The Starling Atlanta's atmosphere and the stay.
I appreciate how spacious the king room was for me and a large dog crate. We're both large, so we appreciate room to take up space. And et me say, the room's decor was such a vibe for selfies. Hello, natural lighting and simple furniture!
Room service
I see it, I like it, I want it, I got it...yuh. Now, for room service I went basic with dinner on the first night: Burger and fries. I LOVE a good hamburger. I love french fries. The miniature bottles of condiments were the cutest. It's the little details for me. Breakfast was exquisite: Brioche toast topped with eggs, salmon, red onions and capers. Chef's kiss. Divine!
A night's sleep
I had a terrible night's sleep during my stay that had everything to do with seasonal allergies and the environment. If hotels opt to be pet-friendly -- which I greatly appreciate as a dog mom -- they need to get rid of carpeted floors. There's no amount of vacuuming that eradicates allergens and pet dander.
My sinuses were kicking my ass to the point I couldn't sleep comfortably laying down because then I couldn't breathe. On top of that, I wasn't able to use the channel button on the remote for the television in my room because of an incident...thanks to my not-fully-training chewy pup.
So, as new movie previews repeated on loop in the background and I fought to breathe and sleep at the same time, I lowered the volume on the TV and discovered a recent album release on Spotify called Starfruit and then became a new fan of Moonchild. I fell in love with the soothing jams of their Voyager album minutes later. Y'know how a song captures a moment and transports you back in time every time you hear it? Moonchild's album Voyager captures the relaxation, joy and serenity of my stay-cation in fall 2022. This got me through crummy nights of sleep due to a sinus infection. HIGHLY recommended.
Activities and trip itinerary
The plan was to chill-lax and enjoy my room for the stay-cation...but I'm not really wired to sit and stay put. My pup and I set out to explore a bit, which meant I had to find some dog-friendly activities around Atlanta.
Walk to/in the park
I must say, the Southeast is beautiful during the fall season because the temperatures aren't extreme and a lot of trees are spilling with an array of orange, red, yellow and burgundy as leaves fly through the air and crackle beneath our feet on the ground. I got to take all of this in during a walk to the park with the pup. Piedmont Park is a two-to-five minute walk from the hotel so that was first on the agenda. Starting the morning with this activity was just what we needed.
The breezy, brisk walk from the hotel to park was an adventure for the pup because it was a new environment with all kinds of scents, action like cars passing, joggers, cross walks, waiting for traffic lights and signals, and passing other dogs and people. So this was great for socializing and exposing my 9-month-old doodle to a world beyond his back yard and doggie day care.
Dog-friendly eatery
We visited Sean's Heart of the Park for a quick late breakfast in Piedmont Park. This dog-friendly spot is located in the middle of the park with outside seating and daily menu of freshly made food.
Spa at The Starling
I made an appointment at the hotel's spa in advance for a massage with a treatment. I loved that it was just an elevator button away, onsite. Fresh, plush robes, fresh towels, a locker for your personal items, complimentary beverages and a friendly spa staff made it for me. Spa at The Staring is open to non-guests and located below the main lobby floor.
Dog park fun
Atlantic Station is nearby with a dog park and that's where we headed one of our days in town. My pup got to meet and play with a couple of other dogs and burn off some energy; that was the goal.
Indoor sky diving simulator
Until I check the real thing off my list, I visited iFLY indoor skydiving in Atlanta. It was less than 20 minutes from hotel (during regular work hours on a weekday). Although I didn't get to fly high, it's a cool experience to check out if you're curious about a high-powered wind tunnel.
Lunch with friend(s)
While in town, I met up with one of my friends and had lunch at Café Intermezzo Midtown, which is a 10-minute walk from The Starling. The food was delicious and the dessert was even better. The pastries and sweets are on full display ON PURPOSE. And yes, I left with a slice of cheesecake like they wanted and enjoyed it.
What I enjoyed about The Starling Atlanta Midtown
The high-rise hotel sits smack dab in the thick of Atlanta's Midtown area which is great for views of Piedmont Park, the bumper-to-bumper traffic in the streets, and city dwellers running or walking their dogs...or in my case, my dog briskly walking me. It's also a 10-minute drive to Atlantic Station.
The in-person staff was very friendly and for some reason, I wasn't expecting that, so I was pleasantly surprised and even appreciative of how helpful the attendants were. It's as if the staff was happy to assist the guests and enjoyed their work because they were compensated well and operated in nice, not-as-stressful working conditions.
Unexpectedly, I received a text message to check how I was enjoyed my stay. As a marketer, I'm usually not a fan of unsolicited text marketing from businesses -- yes, I know. But this survey text message from management was a pleasant surprise and a shining example of top notch customer service. I wasn't expecting a follow-up check-in message about my stay. But it's appreciated.
You can tell I was new to this and not used to this, but I quickly became accustomed to all of it overnight and I don't want to experience anything less now. What is that? Are my standards going up with age and experience? Absolutely.
Some notable hotel highlights and features
Free WiFi
Non-smoking rooms
Text communication
Concierge
Spa
Boutique
On-site restaurant
Outdoor pool
Fitness center
Pet-friendly rooms
Room service
Business center
Meeting rooms
In & out driving privileges
Jaz the Sag travel tips
When to book your hotel stay
Book your hotel stay in the middle of the week for cheaper rates. Checking in on Fridays and weekends are primetime booking windows and price per nights tend to be higher. Nightly rates vary by day of the week, as well as time of year (read: holidays and peak travel time).
Traveling and hotel stay with dogs
Wait until your pup is house-trained with basic obedience commands on lock...and preferably a year or close to that age. Because hotels are high people-traffic zones and you may not have a ground- or first-floor room with immediate access to outside. You may need to use the stairs or elevator for potty trips. A socialized and house-trained dog makes this reality a lot easier to navigate. And more pleasant when he or she inevitably encounters hotel guests and other pets.
Jaz the Sag rates it
A strong 4.5 arrows 🏹🏹🏹🏹
Some of the amenities were unavailable either due to the season or COVID-19 policies at the time.
NOTE: I am in no way affiliated with the hotel or company and this post is NOT sponsored and does not include any affiliated links. This is just a courtesy post of my own will, sharing an honest review and my experience.
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