View Full Version : Best place to stay and receive a mail drop near Unicoi Gap/Helen GA
I am taking a zero day in Helen GA during my section hike next week and pick up a mail drop. Where is the best place to stay in or around Helen GA that won't cost out the butt. Having a shuttle pick me up would be a plus!:banana
Longboysfan
05-02-2017, 12:32
The Helen GA post office.
Slo-go'en
05-02-2017, 13:38
Helen is a Bavarian theme tourist town which caters to serious beer drinkers. If you booked a room on line for tonight, the prices average about $80. You will typically pay a higher price as a walk in at the front desk. Do a google search and see what's available. I won't speculate on what a shuttle will cost, but I suspect it would be substantial.
A much better plan is to go the other way to Hiawassee. The Budget Inn is $49.95 a night and Mull's Motel is similarly priced. The Holiday inn will be in the $100 per night range. If you can manage an other day and get to Dick Creek gap, the Top of Georgia hostel is a possibility, but they fill up quick and I would recommend spending the night at Deep gap shelter in order to get there early in the day.
capehiker
05-02-2017, 14:55
Call the Helendorf Inn and ask if their thru hiker rate is still in effect. If it is, it's only $44+tax which is great for the accommodations you receive.
bigcranky
05-02-2017, 15:14
Helen is cute, and walkable. Like Gatlinburg was twenty years ago. A real piece of Americana. Hotel prices aren't cheap, but not out of line for a tourist town -- probably cheaper on weeknights this time of year. Getting a ride from Unicoi gap isn't that difficult, and we got a ride back as we were walking downtown to Betty's grocery store to try and find a ride. Someone just stopped and offered.
I wouldn't call Helen a place for "serious" beer drinkers. North Georgia is something of a craft beer desert. Plenty of overpriced "German" pubs, though. We got a good meal at Bigg Daddy's (yeah, seriously), and it was reasonably priced.
Whack-a-mole
05-02-2017, 23:17
King suites at the holiday inn in hiawassie have a Jacuzzi. Pure heaven.
One Half
05-02-2017, 23:28
Why not stay at Top of Georgia Hostel? $25/ night. Free shuttles. I think they will drop you in Helen for the day. They do mail drops and full resupply as far as I know. Then you can spend a day in Helen.
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capehiker
05-03-2017, 04:30
Why not stay at Top of Georgia Hostel? $25/ night. Free shuttles. I think they will drop you in Helen for the day. They do mail drops and full resupply as far as I know. Then you can spend a day in Helen.
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Helen is 30 minutes from Hiawassee. I've never heard of TOG taking a hiker to Helen for the day for free. Heck, even as a hostel guest their shuttle policy is regimented. I'm sure they'd do it for a fee, but then you'd be paying more than a hitch into Helen and staying at a motel.
Hiawassee Holiday Inn has a hiker rate as well.
One Half
05-04-2017, 08:18
Helen is 30 minutes from Hiawassee. I've never heard of TOG taking a hiker to Helen for the day for free. Heck, even as a hostel guest their shuttle policy is regimented. I'm sure they'd do it for a fee, but then you'd be paying more than a hitch into Helen and staying at a motel.
Thank you. I didn't realize that. I know TOG picks up and drops off at Unicoi. I had my friends pick me up there though and we ate in Helen before heading to their place in SC.
Thank you. I didn't realize that. I know TOG picks up and drops off at Unicoi. I had my friends pick me up there though and we ate in Helen before heading to their place in SC.
Even if there is a fee for it, might be worth it to slack that section from Unicoi to DCreek the next day. Unless, of course, your AT beliefs prevent you from doing that sort of thing. Definitely worth a call to them to ask.