Crashpad411 is where I found mine...

Don't know if it's true, but I heard during indoc the company was going to start providing a hotel for initial training, but the union intervened because they didn't want the company to use it as leverage later. Take it for what it's worth...

leverage as what?

Company probably more like, we want to provide new hires hotels but to do so, we will need to institute CDO's on the pilot group or take a week of vacation away. Oh ALPA, your not willing to go along.....

Regardless, in the big scheme of things, it's budget dust...

All of the hotels that the company uses, i.e. Holiday inn North, Crowne Plaza and Doubletree provide regular van service to the training building and anyone can ride, a $1 goes along way.
The crown bus goes to the trng building at 15/45 past the hr and airport at top of the hours.
At night, I've even called the Crowne to get a ride from the Trng center to the airport and they don't ask for room keys or anything, very happy to give a ride, again a $1 goes a long way.

Google ATL crashpads. Also use your time in indoc wisely, there are multiple bulletin boards with crash pad postings around the training center. There will be some close to where you will be during indoc, but also in the sim buildings, and over by where the FAs do their training. Once you have your ID (day 1) you can go into pilot lounge at airport where there will be a ton more. Make sure you poke into the commuter room, lot of postings in there.

I found a nice crashpad with a private bedroom about 15 miles from airport and rented a car. It was still cheaper than any of the hotel options on VA and it was nice to have a car.

The GO has a nice gym, think it's 30 bucks for the month. There are places to eat and all kinds of room to study. Realistically, all you need is a place to sleep. If you don't mid sharing a room, shouldn't have a problem finding a pad close. If you want a private bedroom you'll pay more, if you can find one.

Quality Inn and Suites South is 43 and change out the door, with 10th night free. Hard to beat. Free breakfast. The problem staying there in training is that their shuttle doesn't start till 5 am, which is brief time for A periods. Guy in my class made that work somehow, would call the sim instructor the day prior. The Country Inn South is a few bucks more and has a restaurant and bar attached, and a 24 hour shuttle. Both are in pretty crappy areas (that make VA look nice). More to do around Quality, I feel find walking round there during the day, at night I stay inside.

I agree with the sentiment that 2K isn't that much in the grand scheme of things.....if you have it. I sure the heck wouldn't recommend going in debt for a hotel during training. Again, all you really need is a place to sleep.

Good luck

Great post! Guys would call the sim
Instructor the night prior and say what? Request a later start time or ask for a ride?

Personally I wouldn't have done it. As I understood it, he called and explained the situation and the sim guy agreed to sleep in 15 minutes.

Crappy area, yes. But I think the OP implied he's a 717 guy (Miami sims he didn't get). The Quality Inn is walking distance to the 717 sims, so possibly worth it.

Does the van at the quality run every 30 mins? Seems like it could be a pain waiting for a van 30 minutes every time you get done in class.