Do you want to take family trips to visit Aquariums in the U.S. and fear it’s too expensive once you account for plane tickets, hotels, potential car rentals and tickets? One of the best things about utilizing credit card points and miles is that there are so many ways to use those points to make your trips much more reasonably priced. Here, learn how to use your points and miles to book flights and hotels, staying within walking distance of the Atlanta Aquarium and other Atlanta attractions.

Why the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta is one of the top Aquarium’s to see in the US

Located in downtown Atlanta, this cutting-edge facility features exhibits featuring thousands of aquatic species. Visitors can enjoy engaging presentations featuring dolphins and sea lions, as well as up-close encounters with beluga whales, sea otters, penguins, and more. By far the best feature of this aquarium according to my family is the Ocean Voyager, one of the world’s largest aquatic exhibits. With over 4,500 square feet of viewing windows, there is also a 100-foot-long underwater tunnel. We felt immersed while marveling at the diverse sea life including a larger-than-life whale shark as it swam only feet above us.

Georgia Aquarium ticket prices

Anytime General Admission: $64.99 per person

Plan Ahead Admission: Starting at $39.99 per person

Summer and Late-Day Savings: From $25 per person

You can buy a CityPASS: Visit the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, and Zoo Atlanta plus two more attractions for a discount. Choose between the following other Atlanta Attractions:

Fernbank Museum of Natural History

College Football Hall of Fame

National Center for Civil and Human Rights

Aquarium Food Choices: Check out the Coastline Cafe menu before you go to decide if you want to plan to eat here or elsewhere.

How to book Flights to Atlanta with Points and Miles:

To get to the Georgia Aquarium by plane, fly into the Hartsfield- Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), approximately 12 miles from the Georgia Aquarium. To get to the downtown area where the aquarium and the hotels mentioned below are located, you have the following options:

 

• • Rent a car

• • Get a rideshare

• • Take the MARTA train Red or Gold line toward downtown stations

No matter where you are flying from, you have many options to fly to Atlanta. Atlanta is a HUB (and serves as Corporate Headquarters) for Delta, but many other carriers hold a large presence. If you have a preferred airline or status, chances are you will be able to find a preferable flight into and out of ATL. 

As far as the best points and miles deals, that will depend largely where you are coming from, whether you value direct flights, and how flexible you are in your flying dates. Here are some options and examples:

All flights listed below are one-way award rates.

Delta Award Flights to Atlanta

Transfer American Express membership rewards points to Delta, use points from a co-branded American Express Delta card or use earned Delta skymiles.

Here are some of the cities Delta flies direct from to ATL:

Eastern: Boston (BOS), NYC (JFK, LGA), Philadelphia(PHL), Baltimore (BWI), Raleigh (RDU), Charlotte (CLT), Charleston (CHS), Orlando (MCO), Richmond (RIC)

Central: Chicago (ORD, MDW), Nashville (BNA), St. Lewis (STL), Kansas City (MCI), Houston (IAH, HOU), Austin (AUS)

Mountain: Denver (DEN), Salt Lake City (SLC), Phoenix (PHX), Albuquerque (ABQ), Colorado Springs (COS)

Pacific: Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA), Las Vegas (LAS), San Jose (SJC)

From the East Coast, you can find one way Main Cabin seats from New York City from 8,000 skymiles (6,800 if you are a Delta card member):

From Houston, 7,500 skymiles (6,300 for card members):

From Denver 7,500 skymiles (6,300 for card members):

From San Francisco 17,000 skymiles (14,400 for card members):

Tips and tricks for searching for Delta flights

Make sure to check “My dates are flexible” in the search bar.

When your search results load, switch over to “Price Calendar” to show the full month’s price list by date. If you are flexible with your dates, this may save you some additional money or skymiles. 

In addition, check out the Delta Flight Deals page from the top navigation bar. You can search by origin, destination, and money or miles.

Search Delta flights here: Delta Airlines

Southwest Award Flights to Atlanta

You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to Southwest, use points from a co-branded Chase Southwest card or use earned miles within your Southwest Rapid Rewards account.

Here are some of the cities Southwest flies direct from to ATL:

Eastern: Baltimore (BWI), Orlando (MCO), Raleigh (RDU), DC (DCA)

Central: Nashville (BNA), Chicago (MDW), New Orleans (MSY), Houston (HOU), Dallas (DAL)

Mountain: Denver (DEV), Las Vegas (LAS), Phoenix (PHX)

Pacific: Unfortunately, I could not find any direct flights from these states, but there are 1 stop flights from Los Angeles (LAX), Burbank (BUR), and Long Beach (LGB) for as low as 8,400 points

You can fly from Raleigh, NC or Nashville, TN direct to Atlanta in Wanna Get Away for 2,925 points:

From Phoenix starting at 3,929 points:

 

• • Tips and tricks for searching for Southwest flights

When searching a route, look for the Low Fare Calendar. Click the link to see a month at a time.

Search Southwest flights here: Southwest Airlines

Other ways to get to Atlanta on Points and miles

Jet Blue Award Flights to Atlanta

Transfer  Citi, Chase, and American Express points to JetBlue or use earned True Blue points.

JetBlue offers a few options for direct flights to ATL, especially from the East Coast. You can also find some good deals flying with connections from cities like San Francisco (SFO).

Main cities JetBlue flies direct from to ATL:

Boston (BOS), New York (JFK), LaGuardia (LGA)

Search JetBlue flights here: JetBlue

American Airlines Award Flights to Atlanta

You can no longer transfer major bank points or miles to American Airlines. These points may be harder to acquire, but they offer some valuable points and miles deals. If you have a stock of these points or a co-branded American Airlines credit card, consider booking here.  

American Airlines offers great deals on direct flights from Charlotte (CLT), DC (DCA), and Philadelphia (PHL) for under 10k miles.

Los Angeles (LAX) to ATL has fantastic options as well.

Search American Airlines flights here: American Airlines

Alaska Airlines Award Flights to Atlanta

Transfer Bilt points to Alaska Airlines or use Alaska miles to book. 

Alaska offers daily flights from cities like DC (DCA), Charlotte (CLT), and Philadelphia (PHL) for as low as 4.5k miles one way. Other great direct flights can be found from Seattle (SEA) and San Diego (SAN) for as low as 10k miles 

Search Alaska Airlines flights here: Alaska Airlines

Where to stay in Atlanta: Hotels near the Georgia Aquarium

Cheapest Hotel on Points: Hyatt Place Atlanta/Downtown

Located about a 12 minute walk from the Georgia Aquarium, the Hyatt Place Atlanta/Downtown is a great option. It includes free wifi and a selection of food options. From the breakfast bar, the Market (packaged grab-and-go items) and the Placery (located at the lobby bar), you have the option to grab breakfast before heading out, pick up snacks for the walk, or sneak down for a late night bite. See one the many 5 star reviews guests have given the Hyatt Place Atlanta/Downtown.

Courtesy of Hyatt

Amenities: Free Breakfast, free internet access, On-site restaurant, fitness center, business services, digital key and check-in.

Walk: 8 minutes to the Georgia Aquarium

Points cost: Expect  6,500-9,500 points for a standard room (Award category 2)

How to book: Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt to book Hyatt hotels.

Check hotel availability here. 

Closest Hotel on Points: Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta Downtown

With only a 5 minute walk to the Georgia Aquarium or the World of Coca-Cola, the Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta Downtown is the most convenient choice. In fact, they are a “preferred hotel of the Georgia Aquarium”. Here, you will be close to so many of Atlanta’s top attractions and can enjoy the view from their outdoor rooftop pool. The hotel offers a buffet style breakfast, lunch and dinner bites and cocktails at Dos Bocas, and a Johnny Rockets. 

Amenities: Free wifi, on-site restaurant, indoor pool, outdoor pool, fitness center, business center, confirmed connecting rooms subject to availability. 

Walk: 5 minutes

Points Cost: 43,000-70,000 points for a standard room. Hilton prices their rooms dynamically so use the Find the Best Price tool on the Hilton website to see how many points it will cost you on different dates. 

How to book: Transfer American Express Membership Rewards points, points from a co-branded American Express Hilton card, or earned Hilton points to your Hilton Honors account to book. 

Check hotel availability here.

Luxury Hotel on Points: The Ritz-Carlton Atlanta

Stay at The Ritz- Carlton Atlanta at your own risk, because you may never want to leave! This hotel offers everything you may need to live your life in luxury. Enjoy AG, Modern Bar and Steakhouse with live jazz and a balcony, the Lumen Lounge live music bar, Jittery Joe’s Coffee bar, private dining rooms and experiences, and a TechnoGym fitness center with live Peloton Classes and complementary fitness-on-demand classes. Kids can enjoy the Ritz Kids Program with freebies and the opportunity to set up an in-room camping experience. For the points price, you will be getting a lot, so why not upgrade to a room with Club access for additional perks like a dedicated concierge, exclusive culinary offerings, and complimentary shoe shine and pressing of two garments. 

Amenities: Restaurant, bar, coffee shop, fitness center, wellness center, laundry facilities and more

Walk: 16 minute walk

Points cost: Marriott hotels offer dynamic pricing and The Ritz Carlton Atlanta is no different. Depending on your dates, standard rooms go from 42,000- 70,000 on average each night

How to book: Transfer American Express Membership Rewards points and Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Marriott to book Marriott hotels. 

Check hotel availability here. 

Other Hotels within a 20 minute walk and what you may expect to pay in points. Check out the links for availability.

Each hotel program calculates their points amounts for redemptions differently. All of the below point amounts are for the same August date for a one night standard room amount. Please check the links to search for the particular date you would like to book to confirm points required per night stay.

Hilton

Similar to Delta Airlines, you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to book stays at Hilton Hotels. Several American Express co-branded credit cards offer generous Hilton Honors points, with some providing free night certificates and elite status.

Hilton uses dynamic pricing for award stays, so it’s beneficial to use their “Find the Best Price” tool. This tool helps you identify dates with the best redemption values, ensuring you maximize your Hilton Honors points. To use this tool:

 

1. 1. Search: Visit Hilton’s website and search for the area where you’d like to stay without selecting specific dates.

1. 1. Select Dates: Once the search results display, click “Select Dates” next to the hotel you’re interested in.

1. 1. Find the Best Price Tool: The tool will appear for the selected hotel, showing points or cash rates by month.

Using this tool can help you select the best points redemption for the dates you have available, ensuring you get the most value from your Hilton points.

 

• • Embassy Suites by Hilton Atlanta at Centennial Olympic Park 
    

     

    • • 48,000 points 
    • • 7 minute walk

• • The American Hotel Atlanta Downtown, Tapestry Collection by Hilton 
    

     

    • • 33,000 points 
    • • 11 minute walk

• • Hampton Inn Atlanta-Georgia Tech-Downtown 
    

     

    • • 36,000 points 
    • • 15 minute walk

• • The Candler Hotel Atlanta, Curio Collection by Hilton
    

     

    • • 47,000 points 
    • • 18 minute walk

Hyatt

Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt to book Hyatt hotels. Hyatt determines their points redemption amounts on the hotel’s award category and on whether the date falls on Off-Peak. Standard, or Peak timing. Here is what you can expect to pay in Hyatt points:

 

• • Hyatt Place Atlanta / Centennial Park 
    

     

    • • Award category 3  
    • • 9-15k room/17-23k suite
    • •  6 minute walk

• • Hyatt House Atlanta/Downtown 
    

     

    • • Award category 3 
    • • 9-15k room/17-23k suite
    • • 8 minute walk

• • Hyatt Regency Atlanta 
    

     

    • • Award category 3  
    • • 9-15k room/17-23k suite 
    • • 11 minute walk

IHG

Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to IHG to book IHG hotels.

 

• • Hotel Indigo Atlanta Downtown
    

     

    • • 55,000 points 
    • • 13 minute walk

Marriott

Transfer American Express Membership Rewards points and Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Marriott to book Marriott hotels. 

 

 

• • SpringHill Suites Atlanta Downtown
    

     

    • • 41,000 points
    • • 5 minute walk

• • AC Hotel Atlanta Downtown
    

     

    • • 37,000 points
    • • 9 minute walk

• • W Atlanta – Downtown
    

     

    • • 50,000 points
    • • 9 minute walk

• • Atlanta Marriott Marquis 
    

     

    • • 43,000 points
    • • 13 minute walk

• • The Westin Peachtree Plaza, Atlanta
    

     

    • • 44,000 points
    • • 13 minute walk

• • Courtyard Atlanta Downtown
    

     

    • • 35,000
    • • 14 minute walk

• • Twelve Downtown, Autograph Collection
    

     

    • • 48,000
    • • 13 minute walk

• • Ellis Hotel, Atlanta, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
    

     

    • • 45,000
    • • 16 minute walk

• • Residence Inn Atlanta Downtown
    

     

    • • 48,000 points
    • • 16 minute walk

Other close attractions In Atlanta:

 

• • World of Coca-Cola

• • State Farm Arena home of the Atlanta Hawks and venue for live concerts

• • Mercedes-Benz Stadium home of the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United FC

• • National Center for Civil and Human Rights

• • Centennial Olympic Park complete with a 20 foot Ferris Wheel 

• • College Football Hall of Fame

• • Children’s Museum of Atlanta

Conclusion:

Planning an affordable trip to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta is easier than you might think, especially when you leverage points and miles. From understanding the best times to visit and finding budget-friendly flight options to selecting the perfect hotel within walking distance, this guide has you covered.

Ready to Dive In?

Start planning your unforgettable Atlanta Aquarium adventure today! Use the tips and strategies in this guide to make the most of your points and miles, saving money while creating lasting memories with your family.

Share your experiences and tips below in the comments. I’d love to hear them!