Common Questions about Vacation Rental Homes and Cabin Rentals in North Georgia

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHY ARE YOUR RATES BASED ON 4 WHEN THE CABIN SLEEPS MORE?

Outside of the summer months, the majority of our cabin rentals are booked for 2-4 guests.  If we based the rental fee on the highest number a cabin will sleep, we would be unfairly overcharging every party with less than the maximum number of guests.  We feel that it is most fair to all of our guests to base the rental rates on 4 guests and charge a per person rate for each add'l guest.

ARE THERE OTHER FEES?
We add no administration, registration or booking fees to your rental.  We must, however, collect 10% lodging taxes (state and local) as well as a cleaning fee.

Cabin rental cleaning fees are based on the amount of work that must be done to clean the cabin and hot tub after your departure.  The amount of the cleaning fee will be determined based upon the cabin selected and the number of guests in your party.

PLEASE NOTE:  If you book for 4 guests the cleaning fee we add to your rental will be based on only 2 beds being used, etc...(unless we are told otherwise). If however, you use 6 beds and 20 towels the cleaning staff will charge back to us for the additional labor and that overage will be billed against your damage deposit.

WHAT IS THE DAMAGE DEPOSIT?

At check-in, a credit card in the name of the guest who signed the rental contract must be provided for a damage deposit. A $200 hold will be placed on the card (just like they do at a hotel). This is a true damage deposit and will not be credited toward your stay. The hold is placed by your bank or credit card company (not us) and will remain in effect for up to fourteen (14) days.

Because we don't hold the money we can not remove the hold. (That is done by the card issuer). We strongly recommend that you use a credit card rather than a debit card for this.

The "hold" will automatically time out after departure provided no damage has ocurred during your visit and all polices have been followed. Please contact your bank with any questions regarding the hold.

WHAT ARE THE RULES FOR LOSS OF DAMAGE DEPOSIT?

We do not want to keep your deposit!  Please work with us to guarantee that we have no reason to.

All check-in and checkout procedures must be followed, and the property must be left clean and undamaged.  Failure to follow the posted check-in and checkout procedures may result in the loss of all, or part, of the $200.00 damage deposit and First Class Cabin Rentals reserves the right to further bill for additional cleaning or repairs. Please review the information binder provided in the cabin and abide by all procedures, rules, and precautions.

As we've said, we do not want to keep your deposit. However, we must protect our homeowners.  Please work with us to guarantee that the property is left in the same condition you found it.

Upon arrival, please report any damages, shortage of supplies, or housekeeping issues immediately.
(NOTE: Please call the office. Do no use the emergency pager for this.)

Please note:  Our cabins are privately owned.  The cabins are beautifully furnished and well kept. It is our mission to keep them this way.

THEY ARE NOT PARTY CABINS. As such, we  expect them to be treated with respect. There are several companies in the area who pander to the party crowd. We, however, do not.

WHAT ARE YOUR MINIMUM STAY REQUIREMENTS?

Unless otherwise stated, the minimum stay requirement is 2 nights ... we can NOT offer any 1 night stays.

Minimum Stay Requirements:

• New Years - 3 Night Mimimum
• MLK Weekend - 3 Night Minimum
• Valentines Day - 3 Night Minimum
• Memorial & Labor Day Weekends - 3 Night Minimum
• June, July, and October - 3 Night Minimum
• Thanksgiving Week - 5 Night Minimum
• Christmas - 4 Night Minimum

HOW DO YOU HANDLE HOT TUB MAINTENANCE?

Every cabin offers a hot tub.  It is our policy to drain, sanitize and refill the hot tub between guests. We chemically treat the water at this time and, to maintain water purity, additional chemicals (and directions) will be provided for use during your stay.

If a party is checking out immediately before you check-in, the water temperature will be below 102 degrees when you arrive.

If you prefer that we not drain the tub so that it can be used immediately upon arrival, please notify us at time of booking.
PLEASE NOTE: This is your choice - not ours.
This request must be made in writing.(e-mail, fax, letter)
 
WHAT ARE THE TYPICAL CABIN AMENITIES?
All of our cabins are individually owned, so each offers a different amenities package. Please refer to each cabin's individual website for specific details.

All cabins offer either a DVD, VCR or both (see each cabin's website for details)

All cabins are equipped with satellite TV. While not all offer the same channel package, all cabins will offer the four main networks (ABC, CBS, NBC & FOX). 

NOTE: Pay Per View movies cannot be ordered. This is blocked by the owner and we are not able to change it. 

A washer/dryer is provided in each cabin. Please bring HE (High Effeciency) detergent if you plan to use them.

WHAT SHOULD WE BRING?

All of our cabins provide linens, paper products and fully equipped kitchens, so you'll only need to bring personal items (body soap, shampoo, hair dryer, etc...) and grocery items. The items our guests most often forget are coffee, laundry soap, a prepaid calling card for long distance calls and a camera.

**Please remember to bring your own towels if you will be visiting the river or lake. (The cabin owner’s belongings may not be removed from the property.)

**We also suggest bringing any specialty items that you feel the rental may not have; i.e. hair dryer, extra-large cooking pots, cast iron skillet, etc.

For the safety of our registered guests, and the security of our homeowner's properties, we are unable to provide the location to any of the cabins prior to guest check-in

All of our cabins are located no more than 15 miles from the Blue Ridge city limits.

Most cabins (and attractions) are located on gravel roads.  You should not need a special vehicle (4x4, etc...), but we do not suggest that you drive a sports car or other low sitting vehicle (If you have an option of arriving in a Corvette or a Trailblazer, bring the Trailblazer.

NOTE: Front wheel-drive mini vans may have trouble with steep mountain roads.

If you will be riding a motorcycle, please check with us first. Some cabins will not be accessible by motorcycle.

If you plan on towing a trailer, please check with us first so that we can advise on accessibility. Some cabins will not be accessible when towing a trailer.

CAN WE PREVIEW THE PROPERTIES?

As the cabins are located in different areas we, unfortunately, do not have the staff required to take guests out to preview cabins, and we can not allow an unregistered guest to go alone.

For the safety of our registered guests, and the security of our homeowner's properties, we are unable to provide the location to any of the cabins prior to guest check-in.

Very detailed photos of the property are provided online and anyone in our office will be happy to answer any questions you may have about the properties in detail.

ARE THE CABIN PHOTOS ACCURATE?

The pictures on-line are recent photos of the actual cabin you've rented which were taken with our own camera. In this case, what you see really is what you get!

WILL MY CELL PHONE WORK AT THE CABIN?

Cell phone service is spotty at best in the mountains.  Most of the mountain top cabins will allow you to use VERIZON or AT&T service.  In most of the lower cabins you will not have cell phone service of any kind.

NEXTEL/SPRINT stops working about 45 minutes south of Blue Ridge.  It will not pick up anywhere in this area.

WHAT ABOUT NOISE/NUISANCES?

Any cabin that is listed as a new cabin or in a new log home development may be near other cabins which may, or may not, have some level of construction underway at any given time.

Existing cabins which may or not be in a known new home development, may have constructions started around them unbeknownst to us. Unfortunately, we have no control over this and have no way of knowing if or when a new project may begin.  We will however make every effort to note it on the website as soon as we become aware of the situation.

If a cabin is located near the Sugar Creek Raceway, that will be clearly noted on the website for that cabin.

Raceway noise may be an issue in those cabins on Friday nights April-Sept.

IS THERE WILDLIFE IN THE AREA?

All of the cabins are located in the mountains of North Georgia.  As such, you are likely to encounter wildlife (deer, bears, raccoons, snakes and bugs of various types, including wasps and/or hornets, scorpions, etc…).
 
IS THERE PEST CONTROL AT THE CABINS?
All of the cabins receive quarterly pest control. However, the cabins are located in the woods, so you will very likely see pests of different times around the property.

Winter is ladybug season in the North Georgia mountains.  Everything possible will be done to reduce the ladybug population in and around the property, however, during your winter stay you will most likely see ladybugs in or around the cabin.   Please know that this is just a sign of the season in higher elevations. (They do not bite or sting.)

ARE THERE LOCAL GROCERY STORES?
There are 2 full grocery stores here in town (Food Lion & Ingle's)
where you should be able to find anything you need other than "specialty" items. Both stores sell beer & wine (Mon-Sat).


There is also a super Wal-Mart 16 miles south in Ellijay.
 
CAN WE PURCHASE ALCOHOL LOCALLY?
This is a dry county, but you can purchase beer & wine (Mon-Sat).
Many restaurants in town now have a pouring license where they can serve beer and wine only.  You can purchase alcohol at the Hilltop Package store 16 miles south in Ellijay. 
 

CAN THE GAS FIREPLACES BE USED YEAR ROUND?

Gas log fireplaces are available for use year round.
 
Under no circumstances should any member of the party de-install the logs, rearrange the logs or burn anything other than the propane provided (including marshmallows) in the fireplace(s). 

To do so may cause damage to the logs and may also allow poisonous carbon monoxide to leak into the cabin which could prove harmful to your party or future guests.  THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE - Any evidence of a guest tampering with the logs or burning anything other than the propane provided will result in the loss of your deposit.

IS FIREWOOD PROVIDED AT THE CABINS?

For cabins with woodburning fireplaces, a reasonable amount of firewood is provided for your stay October 1 - March 31.
The fireplaces do not have a gas starter so, if you are not proficient at starting a fire without one, you might want to bring small "Duraflame" type logs or "fire starters".

ABSOLUTELY NO LIQUID ACCELERANT IS ALLOWED! 
These are very dangerous (to you and our property).
YOUR FULL DEPOSIT WILL BE KEPT IF ONE IS USED.

CAN WE USE MAPQUEST or OUR GPS UNIT?

Both MapQuest and Yahoo Maps seem unable to find us and will send you out of your way and get you lost on poorly marked back roads.  If you want to use MapQuest or other GPS software for the basic highway directions, you should have no problem.

DO YOU OFFER SPECIALS/DISCOUNTS?
As you can see from our on-line calendars, our cabins are very popular. However, we will occasionally offer special pricing on last minute bookings for mid-week days in January or February, or in the case of a last minute cancellation at other times during the year.
 
We work hard to keep our rates as low as possible throughout the year (no high season or holiday rate hikes), so we do not offer ongoing specials (other than our two FREE NIGHT specials) under normal circumstances.

IS THERE A LOST AND FOUND?

When you leave the cabin at 10:00 AM it is very likely that another party will be checking in at 3:00 PM. 

If you leave something at the cabin, please call the office immediately and we will try to locate it for you. If is not found by us or the cleaning staff prior to the next guests arrival, it may not be there when they leave.  We can not be responsible for your lost items.

If an item is found, we ask that you set up a pickup time with the shipping company of your choice, pre-pay for the shipping and provide us with a pickup date.  We will happily box it up for shipping and have it ready to go.

Due to limited space we unable to keep "found" items for more than 7 days.

DO YOU OFFER GIFT CERTIFICATES?

Gift certificates are thoughtful and unique gifts for friends, family, or business associates. You may designate a specific dollar amount or a specific time period covering a multi-night night stay.

ARE THERE ANY SPECIAL PACKAGES OR SERVICES AVAILABLE AT THE CABINS?

Our "In-Cabin Indulgences" allow you to pamper yourself or each other.

Each cabin's spectacular mountain setting should be enough to make your stay special, however "In-Cabin Indulgences" awaiting you upon arrival could help make it "Unforgettable".

Chef Douglas - Cabin Cuisine

Massage Service

In cabin massage service - call directly for an appointment and pricing

• Jay Gibson - (828) 361-3654 or email ricjgib76@yahoo.com
• Majestic Mountain Mobil Massage - (706) 698-5700 or (706) 669-1581
• Fitness for the Mind & Body - (706) 455-9799

Gift Baskets

Baskets & more ... please call or email Sandy directly:

• Email - sebasketsetc@yahoo.com
• Phone:  (770) 926-4528 or (770) 596-5747

Call vendor directly for pricing and delivery information.

Baskets & gift packages must be ordered prior to check-in.

Payments must be made directly to the vendor

HOW ARE PAYMENT OF RENTAL CHARGES HANDLED?

In summary ...$250 of the rental fee will be charged on the credit card provided at booking. The remaining balance is due 14 days prior to arrival date.  We accept Visa, Master Card, Discover, American Express, Traveler’s checks and, of course, good old American cash. (Please note: We do not accept corporate/business cards.)

You may pay your remaining charges by check provided we receive it at least 14 days prior to check-in.

NOTE: For reservations made fourteen (14) or fewer days prior to the arrival date, 100% prepayment is required.

Please see the "About Us - Terms & Conditions" page of the website for a more detailed explanation of payments for your stay with First Class Cabins.

HOW CAN WE MAKE A RESERVATION?

Reservations may be booked up to twelve months in advance.  To make a reservation either go to www.firstclasscabins.com to book online or call our office at 1-877-277-5409 between the hours of 9:00am to 5:00 pm - Mon-Sat.

A prepayment of $250 of the rental fee, by valid credit card, will secure your reservation with the balance due fourteen (14) days prior to arrival.

NOTE: For reservations made fourteen (14) or fewer days prior to the arrival date, 100% prepayment is required.

The person booking the cabin must be at least 25 years old and must be either the person, or spouse of the person, whose name appears on the credit card provided. 

$250 of the rental fee will be charged on the card provided. The balance of the rental will be due fourteen (14) days prior to arrival.

Please note: Until we receive the credit card information needed to hold the cabin, you do not have a reservation.

WHAT ARE THE RENTAL RATES?

Rates for each cabin will be listed on the at www.firstclasscabins.com.  All rates are based on 1-4 guests.  Please add $10 per night for each add'l guest.
 
WHAT IF I NEED TO CANCEL?

**ALL CANCELLATIONS MUST BE MADE IN WRITING – E-MAIL, FAX or CERTIFIED MAIL.
(Only the guest named on the rental agreement may request a cancellation

Each cabin listed on our site is a privately owned home, consequently cancellations affect the owners significantly.

For reservations cancelled 30 or more days prior to arrival, the full rental deposit will be returned minus a cancellation fee of $25 or 3% of any charges already made to your card, whichever is greater. (This fee covers our costs for things such as the cost of running your credit card and must be charged even if you cancel on the same day you book.)

Cancellations received 29-15 days prior to arrival: 1/2 of the rental deposit ($125) is forfeited.

For reservations cancelled 14 days (or less) prior to date of arrival, the guest is responsible for the amount of the entire cost of the booking and your card will be charged in full. NOTE: THIS POLICY INCLUDES LAST MINUTE BOOKINGS.

A CANCELLATION NUMBER will be sent out to you via email with 24 hours of receipt.  This is your confirmation that your email, fax or letter was received and the booking has been cancelled.  If you do not receive the cancellation number it is YOUR responsibility to follow up with us to verify that we have received it as we have no way of knowing that it was sent so we are not looking for it.

For your protection, if booking a longer stay, multiple cabins or a stay with a large group, Trip/Travel insurance is recommended.  For travel protection insurance Clark Howard, a nationally recognized consumer reporter, suggests using "http://www.insuremytrip.com/"  www.InsureMyTrip.com  or contacting your local AAA Travel Agent for specific insurance plans available.

WHAT IF I NEED TO MAKE CHANGES TO MY RESERVATION?

Should you need to change your dates, we can reschedule your reservation with no penalty provided the change is processed at least 30 days prior to your scheduled check-in date. (Your booking deposit will be placed in escrow for the future reservation.)

Changes to an existing booking are very time consuming as they require updates to multiple systems and schedules. We will gladly make one date or cabin related change to your booking free of charge. However, each additional change will result in a $25 fee. 

PLEASE NOTE:  This policy does not include additions/subtractions to the number of guests. There will be NO CHANGE FEE assessed for a change in guest count (All other normal rates still apply).

In order to expedite check-in, and not keep other guests waiting while we process your change, we do ask that you have the final guest count to us at least 24 hours prior to arrival. 

WHAT ARE THE CHECK-IN / CHECK-OUT TIMES?

Check-in is at 3:00 PM

Due to last minute bookings and the frequency in which customers choose to extend their stay we can not commit to allowing an early check-in.
Please feel free to check with us on the day arrival and we will be happy to accommodate you if the cabin is ready.

Prior arrangements must be made if a late check-in is required.

For check-ins after 5:00 PM, any outstanding balance due will be charged to the credit card provided and your check-in package (including key and directions to your cabin) will be left for pick up in the cabin shaped box adjacent to the front entry to the office. 

Check-out is at 10:00 AM

It is our mission to provide the cleanest cabins possible so that you will become our guest for life. This 5 hour window allows just enough time for the cabin to be cleaned and for the hot tub to be drained, sanitized and refilled between guests.

Please help our housekeeping staff meet their schedule without inconveniencing the next guests by checking out on time.

ARE PETS ALLOWED? - NO

We have a strict no pet policy in all of our cabins!  (Please do not disregard this policy as it will result in the loss of your deposit.)  Out of respect for our homeowners and guests with allergies, we cannot make an exception no matter how small or well behaved the pet is. 

IS SMOKING ALLOWED? - NO

We have a strict no smoking policy in all of the cabins!
Smoking is allowed outside on the porches and decks only.

Please use only the outdoor trash containers when disposing of smoking materials as inside cans can be hold the smoke odor long after you've departed.

Please, do not dispose of cigarette butts in the yard or surrounding areas. If discarded butts are found, additional cleaning fees will apply.

(Please do not disregard this policy as it will result in the loss of your deposit)