Frequently Asked Questions about Pinnacle Cabin Rentals - Helen GA

Below is a list of frequently asked questions we have received from our guests.  If you have a question that isn’t listed on our FAQ, feel free to email us at info@pinnaclecabinrental.com and we’ll respond in a timely manner.   Of course, you can always call our office at 706.754.2533 with any questions any time!

Where are your cabins located? 

Our mountain and golf resort vacation cabin rentals are located in or around the Alpine Helen, GA area.  Helen is approximately 1.5 hours from the city of Atlanta and easily accessible from the two major highways that head north through Atlanta (I-85 and GA 400).  Several of our properties reside within a gated resort offering reduced golf packages and a variety of amenities guests can use.  Most of our cabins are easily accessible from the main roads, and many offer spectacular mountain views.

Are the cabins easy to get to? 

Most of our vacation cabins are accessed from public roads or paved mountain roads, all of which are accessible year round (with the exception of the occasional snow storms during the winter months).   

How old do you have to be to rent a cabin?

21 years old with a major credit card in your name.

What are your rental policies?

Please refer to our Terms of Use under the ABOUT US tab from our website homepage.

Do you have any cabins that sleep more than 10 people?

Yes, we do have properties that will sleep 10 or more guests.  Not all have separate private bedrooms but may have futon sleepers or sofa beds that allow for the additional sleeping capacity.

How much are your cabins? Do you have any other fees or charges?

Price depends on many variable factors. Nightly rents begin at $145 and increases from there depending on the cabin size, location, number of guests, and the season.  All charges are clearly itemized when you reserve your cabin online.   Our fixed charges consist of a $25 booking fee, the rental fee for the property, lodging tax of 15% (as mandated by the county and state), and cleaning fee which includes a complete cleaning of the cabin as well as the draining/sanitizing/refilling of the hot tub.  

There is a $25 non-refundable damage waiver insurance to cover any repair costs for any accidental or unintentional damages to the Premises for up to $250.  All accidental damages must be reported to the office before your check out for the damage waiver to cover repair/replacement costs. Repair costs for damage in excess of $250 or damage that is deemed intentional, will-full or a result of neglect will be charged directly to guest's credit card. This damage waiver does not cover unreported accidental damage, intentional damage, theft, excessive cleaning, or any damage or flea infestation caused by pets.

Are there any hidden or unnecessary charges? What other fees can I expect?

No, we clearly list each charge required for each cabin when going through the booking process.  All other charges are optional based on your wants or needs such as a pet fee for when you bring pets, firewood, additional supplies, etc.  Of course you can always call us if you have specific questions.

Do you charge more if we have more than 4 guests in a cabin?

No.  Each cabin has a price established with a maximum number of guests.  There may be special situations where additional guests are allowed over the maximum, and those would be subject to an additional charge of $15/pp. 

What furnishings are included in the cabin?

All our mountain cabin rentals are fully furnished and include the following unless specifically stated otherwise: Fully equipped kitchen with oven, stove, refrigerator, microwave, toaster and coffee pot, dish and flatware, full complement of cooking pots and utensils, towels and linens for each bed and bath, dressers or closets for storing your clothing, central heating and air, vacuums or brooms and mops, gas or wood burning fireplaces, cable or satellite TV, telephones with local service and patio furniture. Cabins are stocked with start-up supply of paper towels, toilet paper, dish/dishwasher detergents, and garbage bags.  

What should we bring that’s not in the cabin?

Our recommendation is to bring any personal or preferential items not listed above that you think you would like to have while on vacation such as hair blower, personal items, etc.  There are local grocery and drug stores in the area where these items are available.  A new WalMart is scheduled to open in Cleveland in Spring 2009, which is very convenient to Helen, and can supply anything you might have forgotten to bring.   We also provide a local information sheet that includes info on restaurants, grocery, local houses of worship, etc.

Depending on which mountain vacation home you rent, you have a few options.  If you are staying in and around the Helen area, Betty’s Country Store is right in the village of Alpine Helen and has excellent pre-made foods, fresh meats and produce, and is basically a mini-grocery store.  There is also an Ingles in Cleveland at the intersection of GA Hwy 129 and GA Hwy 75 (also known as the Helen Highway).  We recommend buying groceries on your way to the cabin so you can settle in and get the most out of your vacation time.

What is your cancellation policy?

You may cancel your reservation for a full refund minus a $50 cancellation fee up to 14 days before your arrival date.  Once inside 14 days, the down payment to reserve the property is forfeited.  Once inside 7 days, the total amount paid is forfeited.  However, in the unlikely event that there is an unplanned cancellation, we always attempt to re-schedule to another time to avoid losing the entire amount paid for your rental. 

Do you have any pet friendly cabins?

Yes, we do have one pet friendly cabin. On the Accommodations listing page, look for the label, “Pets: Yes”

Do you charge extra for pets?

Yes, we charge a $50 pet fee (dogs only please - maximum of 2 under 25 lbs) so we can thoroughly clean the extra amount needed to ensure the house, furniture and property is fresh and clean for the next guests, who may be allergic to animal dander.

Do you have cribs?

We can arrange to deliver a crib to your vacation rental for your stay for an additional charge. Please inquire with the reservations office for details.

Are there wild animals around there?

Yes. Here in the mountains and protected natural forest, it is very common to see wild deer, turkey, and even a bear occasionally. One way to think about the environment of our mountain cabin rentals is that you are basically going camping in the mountains but staying in a luxury vacation home. Some vacation cabins are more secluded than others and hence you may see more wildlife than others. For your safety, we highly recommend NOT attempting to become good pals with the animals but instead, enjoy watching their natural character in their natural environments.

Do all your cabins have hot tubs and wireless internet?

All of our cabins have hot tubs, but not all offer wireless internet.  Those cabins that do have WiFi are clearly labeled. You can always call or email us and ask us which ones do as well.

I heard the counties in the mountains are dry and don’t serve alcohol.  Can we buy alcohol near you?

Yes! Although White County is a dry county, they recently passed legislation that convenience stores located outside the city limits of Cleveland are allowed to sell beer and wine.  However, the village of Alpine Helen is not bound by those restrictions and you can purchase alcohol at one of three package stores in the Village any day except Sundays.   Restaurants within the city limits of Helen are also allowed to serve alcohol. 

What is there to do around the cabins?

Everything…nothing….it depends on what you like to do. There are an abundance of outdoor activities available in the mountains from mountain biking to hiking to rafting to stream and lake fishing. The surrounding mountain towns offer shopping, agri-tourism, festivals and dining and then there’s always the preferred mountain getaway activity of kicking back in the cabin while gazing out over the mountain view, yawning deeply and slumbering into a deep and peaceful nap. Visit our Local Area Guide for more information about things to do in our area.

What time can we check-in/out? Why is check-in/out so late/early? Can we have a late check-out/early check-in?

Check-in time is 4pm and Check-out time is 11am. We require at least 4 hours between check-outs and check-ins in order to properly clean and prepare our mountain vacation homes for the next guest arrival. Therefore, we start our cleaning at 11am which gives the departing guests enough time to leave and our housekeeping team enough time to finish by 3pm.

What if we are going to arrive after your office hours? How do we check in?

We are set up to where you drive directly to the vacation cabin using the detailed directions we email you. There is a lock box at each of our properties that contain the key to the front door.   A week prior to your arrival you will receive the driving directions to your cabin along with the code for the lock box.  Pinnacle is always available after-hours should you need any assistance.

No. We strongly recommend not using GPS to find your cabin.  Many of the roads are relatively new and don’t exist on GPS software yet. Use our detailed turn by turn directions that we email to you to navigate to your cabin.  Being in unfamiliar surroundings in the countryside is not how you want to start out your vacation.  Always use the driving directions provided by Pinnacle.

What happens if we have an emergency or a serious situation after hours like the power goes out or the hot tub isn’t heating correctly?

For life threatening emergencies, always dial 911 first.   For questions relating to any malfunctions or issues with the cabin, you can reach Pinnacle at any time by calling our office.  Obviously there will be times when we cannot fix the issue – such as a power outage.  However, we always strive to correct whatever issues arise during your stay.

I accidentally left something behind at the cabin and I’m too far away to turn back and get it? Will you go get it and ship it back to me?

We will be happy to ship any of your left behind personal items for the cost of the packaging and shipping plus a $25 processing fee.

I want to book a cabin but I have to check with my friends or family to see what dates everyone wants to come so can you hold it for me until I confirm dates?

We can’t block the calendar for any of our mountain cabin rentals until the down payment has been received (same as airlines don’t give up seats until they’ve been paid for). We recommend determining your dates prior to checking on cabin availability.   Remember you can always cancel your reservation no later than 14 days prior to your arrival date for $50 cancellation fee.