Atlanta's population has seen dramatic increases in past years, especially in surrounding cities and suburbs. The count of city residents is approximately 520,000, while the metropolitan area burgeons at 5.4 million. Top employers in Atlanta include Delta Airlines, BellSouth, county school systems, Emory University, AT&T, the CDC, Coca-Cola, Cox Communications, and Georgia-Pacific. Atlanta charges a sales tax of 7%. The same amount is also incurred on lodging.

For air travel, Atlanta is served by Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, located just ten miles south of downtown. Ranked as the world's largest passenger terminal facility, Hartsfield sees 2600 flights move through its airspace daily. Along with the terminal building, six concourses comprise the airport, and all are accessible via the people mover. Consisting of nine, four-car trains, the people mover picks up and delivers travelers at 14 designated stations. Waits for a train are generally less than two minutes. Also on the airport premises are a MARTA (subway) station, which transports folks to downtown and Buckhead in 20-30 minutes. Also available are desks for car rentals. Depending on your location, a taxi from the airport to Atlanta should cost between $25 and $30 and take approximately 30 minutes. Budget-minded travelers can opt for an airport shuttle, which makes stops at most hotels in downtown, midtown and Buckhead. They run daily, except after 11pm, and cost approximately $15 to $20 one-way. You'll find the shuttle desk in the South Terminal.

Unless you're in a circumscribed area, Atlanta is more car- than pedestrian-friendly. So, it's in your best interest to rent a car. If you don't, however, there are alternatives. MARTA ­ or Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority ­ is Atlanta's subway system. It has four lines: an east-west route and a north-south one. Service is best inside the perimeter, which is the portion of Atlanta that lies inside Interstate 285. Tickets cost $1.75 each, and trains run from 5am to 1am daily. Taxi service is another viable alternative. It's most efficient in well-known neighborhoods and in areas surrounding prominent hotels. Credit cards are accepted as payment, and 24-hour service is available.

To keep abreast of local happenings, you may want to peruse a city newspaper. The most widespread standard is the Atlanta Journal Constitution, which addresses news locally and around the world. The Atlanta Business Chronicle examines the city's commercial climate and is a good resource if you're job-hunting. Creative Loafing provides the low-down on entertainment and lifestyle; it's the most prominent alternative publication. The Hudspeth Report addresses dining and entertainment and comes out on a monthly basis. More specialized papers include Southern Voice (gay and lesbian) and Atlanta Daily World (African-American).

When you're not familiar with a city, you feel completely adrift. That's exactly what local visitors' centers hope to ward off. They've compiled a vast collection of resources to help you better understand a particular city, and they're more than eager to share their time, hints, and literature. In Atlanta, the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) operates four centers to assist travelers (404-222-6688 or 800-285-2682). Their locations and contact information are as follows: Georgia World Congress Center 285 International Blvd Atlanta, GA 30313 Hours vary. Hartsfield Airport Department of Aviation, Atrium Atlanta, GA 30320 Mon-Fri 9am-9pm, Sat 9am-6pm, Sun noon-6pm Lenox Square Mall 3393 Peachtree Rd Atlanta, GA 30326 Mon-Sat 11am-6pm, Sun noon-6pm Underground Atlanta 65 Upper Alabama St Atlanta, GA 30303 Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun noon-6pm

Although tipping is generally a personal matter, there are some guidelines that prove helpful to travelers. At restaurants, servers typically get 15% of the bill, although 10% acknowledges basic assistance, and 20% awards exceptional service. It is also common now for some restaurants to charge an automatic gratuity of 18% for groups. You should be aware of this possibility before providing an additional tip. Taxi drivers usually fit into similar guidelines by receiving a tip equivalent to 15% of the tab. Often, a dollar tip covers many situations. Bartenders are customarily given $1 per cocktail, hotel maids are provided $1 for each day of a stay, bellhops get about $1 per bag, and a coat-check clerk typically receives $1 as well. The exception is a concierge, who generally receives $5-$10 for standard service (additional assistance suggests more).