How to Find Cheap Hotels In Helen, Georgia

Tucked inside the Blue Ridge Mountains along the Chattahoochee River is Helen, Georgia, a former mining town. In 1969, the floundering city underwent a major transformation, and Helen now resembles a quaint alpine village with old-world architecture and cobblestone streets. Helen is a one-of-a-kind town, welcoming visitors to the northern part of Georgia with a combination of history, nature and bang-up family fun.

Things You'll Need

• A computer with Internet connection to book accommodations

Instructions

Know Your Destination

1. Venture to one of the formerly active gold mines; tours are available regularly, a few times a day.

2. Revel in the resplendent outdoors from the great Chattahoochee to the unparalleled double waterfall. If it's fresh air and fresh fun you're looking for, then Helen, Georgia offers tons of cheap, fun activities.

3. Dance to all the polka music you can handle and get your fill of schnitzel, too, when you visit Helen during its grand, six-week-long Octoberfest. The annual celebration runs from mid-September to mid-November.

Choose Your Transportation

1. Take a flight to Gainesville Airport, a regional airport with connecting flights to larger facilities. With the airport a short 35-mile drive from Helen, you'll save driving time and even money in the off season.

2. Hop in a horse-drawn buggy and take a ride through town. For a special occasion or just to see the sites, it's a fun, cheap way to get around. The cost is about $5 for adults and even less for children.

3. Call one of the local taxi services and you won't have the hassle of parking or driving in an unknown city. Ask about the Taxi Pass Program to receive one full day of unlimited in-town rides.

Select Your Accommodations

1. Snuggle up with that special someone in a rustic country cabin and unwind from the activities of the day in an oversized feather bed. Check ahead about amenities, though; when some cabin rentals say 'rustic,' they mean it.

2. Book your accommodations in a lodge near to Unicoi State Park. The amenities offered at the park, such as fishing and beaches, can more than make up for lackluster lodging.

3. Choose to stay at one of the hotels next to the Helen Welcome Center. Your accommodations will be cozy and you will be right in the heart of things, with many excellent restaurants close by.

4. Book early for fall trips, as Octoberfest can fill up the cheap hotels quickly--especially in the first and last weeks of the celebration.

5. To book accommodations, contact Alpine Helen-White County Convention and Visitors Bureau at [phone] or visit their Web site (see Resources, below).