Ellijay Vacation Rental Frequently Asked Questions

Where are your cabins located?

Our mountain vacation cabin rentals are located around Ellijay, Jasper and Carters Lake, GA, about 60 to 70 miles north of Atlanta using I-75 north to I-575 north. I-575 north is a 4-lane highway that travels all the way from north Atlanta right smack through the middle of Jasper and Ellijay, GA for convenient and quick accessibility to our cabin rentals. It usually takes about 1 hour from Atlanta to arrive here. Our vacation homes are spread out throughout Gilmer, Pickens and Gordon counties and many reside within gated mountain resort neighborhoods with a variety of amenities guests can use. Most of our cabins are easily accessible from the main highways, while still being tucked away in beautiful natural surroundings. Our vacation cabins range from 3 to 20 miles from these mountain towns, depending on the cabin or resort. We purposely spread our mountain cabins around so guests can choose from a wide selection of locations. Here is a Google map showing the relative locations of each of our cabins. KZ Cabins - mountain cabin rental location map

Are the cabins easy to get to?

Yes, provided you have a vehicle with gas and have passed a driving test. (Trust us, we’ve encountered situations where neither of the above were true which made if very difficult for our guest to get to the cabin.) All of our mountain vacation cabins are accessed from paved roads, all of which are accessible year round (except perhaps for the once in a blue moon snow storm). We do have vacation cabins that are located on top of mountain ridges or on the sides of mountains (hence the awesome views) which by definition require some inclines and curvy roads to access, and are easily accessed with 2-wheel drive vehicles, and have substantially large driveways to accommodate multiple vehicles unless specifically stated in the listing. Nonetheless, expect a lot of narrow, steep, curvy, windy, hilly roads in the mountains (because the folks around here didn’t feel like chiseling out tunnels everywhere nor building escalators or cable cars to every house in the mountains.) Oh, p.s. there is very little street lighting on top of mountains so try to plan your trip to arrive before dark because, well, it’s just easier to see!

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

25 years old and must have with a major credit card in your name. We have the right to request proof of age at the time of booking.

What are your rental policies?

This link will take you to the page that lists all the details about our Rental Policies. You automatically agree to the terms in this agreement when booking a reservation with KZ Cabins. KZ Cabin Rental Agreement and Policies.

Do you have any cabins that sleeps more than 12 people?

Yes, we have several that will sleep 12 or more guests, some even 20! They may not all have separate private bedrooms but many have futon sleepers or sofa beds that allow for the additional sleeping capacity. You can use the ‘Accomodation’ link to review the maximum occupancies of each of our vacation rentals and browse the bedroom and bed type setups from there. Additional guests require additional cleaning fees. Use the ‘Instant Quote’ button on any listing to build your custom quote and see the total price with your extra guests.

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

Rental Price depends on a variety of factors. We clearly itemize our fees and charges in the ‘Instant Quote’ section of each listing. Other required charges are departure cleanings (necessary so the cabin looks and smells gorgeous and is prepared for your arrival even if it is immediately after another reservation) Damage Insurance, Resort Gate fees (on select communities) and a booking fee may apply. And don’t forget the beloved lodging tax (mandated by the County and State). Our departure cleaning fees range from $100 to $170 depending on the size of the home, its location and whether or not it has a hot tub. Lodging taxes range from 12% to 13% depending on the County in which the cabin resides. Resort Gate fees are $25. Booking Fees are $24.99. Damage Insurance is a one-time flat $45 and covers damages up to $5,000.

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

What stuff is included in the cabin?

All our mountain cabin rentals are fully furnished and include the following unless specifically stated otherwise in the listing: Fully equipped kitchen with oven, stove, refrigerator, microwave, toaster and coffee pot, dish and flatware, full complement of cooking pots and utensils, washer and dryer, 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. In addition, we provide a complimentary start-up supplies of toilet paper (2 per bath), paper towels (1), garbage bags (2), hand soap (1 per bath), dish soap (1), laundry detergent (1), dishwashing detergent (1). Many cabins may include more than this list of basic inventory items.

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. Remember that there are major commercial and retail outlets all around the area such as Super Wal-Mart (Ellijay), Kroger/Ingles/Food Lion (Ellijay/Jasper), CVS/Walgreens (Ellijay/Jasper) and many convenience stores that sell just about anything you forget to bring.

Where are the nearest grocery stores? Should we buy all our groceries before we check in?

Depending on which mountain vacation home you rent, there is an assortment of choices for groceries: If you are staying in and around the Ellijay area, Super Wal-Mart, Ingles and Food Lion are right off of Hwy 515 (the main 4-laner) and all within the city limits. If you are staying near Jasper, Kroger and ingles are right off of Hwy 515 and Hwy 53. If you are staying in the Carters Lake area cabins (Talking Rock Creek Resort), the closest groceries are the Kroger and Ingles in Jasper (about 17 miles from the resort). We recommend buying all your groceries on your way to the cabin so you can enjoy more time relaxing and less time driving back and forth shopping, especially if you are staying in the Carters Lake area vacation homes since that area is mostly protected natural forest with very little commercial development.

What is your cancellation policy?

You may cancel your reservation for a full refund minus a $75 cancellation fee up to 30 days before your arrival date. There are no refunds for cancellations within 21 days of your arrival date. To avoid losing your money due to an unplanned cancelation, consider purchasing travel insurance. This can protect your entire investment and even get you additional travel benefits for unforeseen events. Its well worth the 6.5% of the total reservation cost AND you can review it for 10 days with a money back guarantee. Visit this website to read all the juicy details about Travel Insurance. You can opt to purchase the Travel Insurance with your reservation online.

What does travel insurance do and why should I purchase it?

Travel Insurance protects you for all the things that could happen to prevent, interrupt or delay you from taking your vacation. If you have to cancel your reservation for any reason it will cost you. Even the best-planned travel can be impacted by the unexpected. Illness...medical emergencies...severe weather...mechanical breakdown…..delayed flights…lost passports or luggage and even financial default. Troubles can occur when you least anticipate them forcing you to cancel or interrupt your trip, lose your vacation investment, and incur additional expenses. And when you're away from home, things like medical emergencies and illness are even more difficult to manage. Travel Insurance can give you the peace of mind that the unexpected is covered. The cost is only 6.5% of the entire reservation cost and you have 10 days to decide if you want to keep it or get your money back. Visit this website to read all the juicy details about Travel Insurance. You can opt to purchase the Travel Insurance with your reservation online.

What is the a non-refundable Damage Insurance?

Instead of charging a large security deposit and risking not getting any of it back, Damage Insurance is just like automotive and medical insurance, you pay a small premium to protect you financially against accidental damages that occur at the cabin during your stay. It’s cheaper, more convenient and less risky for you to pay a small Damage Insurance premium that caps any accidental damage payout versus us holding your money on your credit line, and then deducting any actual damage costs from your credit card should any accidental damages occur. Our Damage Insurance is only $45, is non-refundable and covers you up to $5,000 in accidental damages. We recognize that accidents are inevitable and unplanned so why worry about losing hundreds of dollars on your security deposit for repairs or replacements when you can pay $45 and be covered. Bear in mind you are required to report the damages and the Damage Insurance does not cover damages resulting from neglect, unsupervised minors, willful intent or drunken antics. In those cases, you pay for damages, period.

Do you have any pet-friendly cabins?

We have many cabins that allow pets, often with size limitiations. Our pet-friendly cabins are denoted in the ‘Accomodation’ link of our website as well as the listing details. On the Accommodations listing page, look for the label, “Pets: Yes”

Do you charge extra for pets?

Yes, we charge a cleanup fee per pet so we can thoroughly clean the extra amount needed to ensure the house, furniture and property is extraordinarily fresh and clean for the next guests, who may be allergic to animal dander.

Do you have cribs?

Some of our homes may have cribs. Our listing will specify if they do. If not, 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, critters and vermin 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.

I don’t like bugs, mice and snakes. Are the cabins treated for those?

Yes, each cabin is treated quarterly by commercial pest control companies to control any form of crawling insect. Some cabins are treated by the Home Owner. The standard pest control treatment controls scorpions, centipedes, earwigs, ants, silverfish, roaches, and all bugs that have to crawl to get in. The treatment protects the house. The property and grounds themselves are kept natural and not treated. Every effort is made to prevent rodents and reptiles, but we can’t guarantee total extermination since our cabins are in the middle of their habitats and every now and then, a field mouse or squirrel may find a dime-sized hole in a corner somewhere and decide to pay a visit. The standard commercial pest control treatment doesn’t guarantee controlling rodents, reptiles, flying insects (like flies or wasps) and or spiders, although every effort is made to not give them any reason to enter (via cleanliness and tightly sealed vacation homes) We can’t guarantee none of these will enter a house because we can’t control when guest leaves windows or doors open or leaves food somewhere that attracts rodents and other vermin. In addition, it’s common for flying insects like lady bugs, flies or wasps to find ways to get into the cabins when the temperatures begin to drop below freezing, but this usually only lasts a few days and can’t always be prevented! Occasionally scorpions (tough little buggers) have been known to find a way in to basements but we can call the exterminator to come out and re-treat which takes care of the problem.

Which cabin is the best one?

The one you selected for your vacation!

Do all your cabins have hot tubs and wireless internet?

Nearly all of them do. The ones that do are clearly labeled as having those amenities. 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. Is that true? Can we buy alcohol near you?

Yes! Unlike most of the counties in the north Georgia mountains which are dry counties and do not serve or sell alcohol, our mountain cabin rentals are located in the few counties that are NOT dry, specifically Gilmer, Pickens and Gordon counties, which have no restrictions on alcohol sales except the local law of no alcohol sold or served on Sundays. Note that the towns of Blue Ridge, Blairsville, Mcaysville and Hiawassee are all popular mountain town destinations north of Ellijay that are in DRY counties and restrict alcohol sales year round. You can buy alcohol at any package store, grocery store or convenience store (and get it in restaurants) in Ellijay and Jasper, GA.

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.

Can we fish/hunt at the cabin?

You may fish at any cabin that has water access. Fishing on public waters (like Carters Lake or most rivers) requires a State fishing license, which can be purchased on the internet, Walmart or any of the outdoor sporting businesses around town. Hunting requires more stringent permitting and has seasonal restrictions and generally is not allowed around the cabin.

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 5 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 4pm. You can guarantee an early check-in or late check-out by paying a early/late check-in/check-out rate that will reschedule our housekeeping teams to be able to properly prepare your vacation home for the next guests based on your check-in/check-out time. Early check-in can be guaranteed as early as 10am and late check-out can be guaranteed as late as 4pm. See the ‘Instant Quote’ button on each listing for the prices of early Guaranteed Early check-ins and check outs.

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 combination key lock box at the cabin that contains the key to the house. The directions we email you contain the combination code for the key lock box, so you don’t need to drive all the way to our office in Ellijay just to pick up keys. Once you arrive at the vacation home, you will need to follow the specific instructions on how to check-in remotely which are emailed to you with your Access Package.

I want to use my GPS to drive to the cabin. Can you send me the address of the rental cabin? No. We strongly recommend NOT using GPS to find your cabin because a majority of our rural mountain roads are not correctly mapped or are brand 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. It will save you time, frustration, gas and a late phone call to our after hours service asking for….directions!

What happens if we have an emergency or a serious situation after hours like the power goes out or I can’t find the ball game on the cable channel line-up?

For life threatening emergencies, always dial 911 first. During normal business hours, you can always call our office for assistance. If it’s after normal business hours, there are instructions and contact numbers in each vacation home for what to do/who to call in the event of outages or other urgent situations. In the case of finding ball games on channels the house doesn’t receive, leaves not changing colors in fall, rain ruining your weekend or your ipod battery charger being lost somewhere between the cabin’s bathroom and central Florida, we cannot control these events and they are not considered urgent enough to dispatch afterhours response services to your rental cabin. You can always send us an email to reservations@kzcabins.com which is monitored 24/7.

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 processing fee.

I want to book a cabin during peak season but I have to check with my other 12 friends to see what dates everyone wants to come so can you hold it for a few weeks until I find out for sure?

Sorry, but we don’t take our mountain cabin rentals off the market until we have received the down payment, just the same as airlines don’t give up seats until they’ve been paid for. We recommend planning well in advance for a vacation home rental so you can have enough time to secure your guests commitments and pick the dates and rental cabin you want. We can (and often do) take reservations a year in advance. Remember you can always cancel your reservation no later than 21 days prior to your arrival date for $100 cancellation fee or purchase travel insurance to protect your purchase in case of unforeseen events that cancel or delay your vacation.

Rental cabins that are fully equipped, safe and loaded with amenities are a much better deal than a hotel room!

Our north Georgia mountain cabin rentals are fully equipped vacation homes and mountain cabins and are completely furnished with modern appliances, complete kitchenware, full sets of linens, washers and dryers, bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms and dining rooms and even garages and lots of convenient extras to make your vacation or weekend getaway comfortable and memorable - all for less money than flying to a destination and staying in a comparable hotel.

In addition, many of our luxury mountain cabin rentals are located in safe and secure gated Resort communities with pools, tennis courts, basketball courts, fitness centers, picnic pavilions and security personnel. Many of our Georgia mountain cabin rentals are also pet-friendly cabin rentals and have propane gas grills, large outdoor decks overlooking the mountains and wilderness, fireplaces and firepits with seasonal firewood, therapeutic hot tubs and spas, high speed wireless internet, and full-size pool tables or other game tables. Most of our luxury Georgia cabin rentals have mountain views, lake views or river views and are easily accessible from major paved roads.

So isn't this a lot better than staying in a cramped hotel room! Come and stay a weekend or a few months in any of our GA Cabin rentals and mountain cabinsand see why the Blue Ridge Mountains and Ellijay, GA is a wonderfully exciting, affordable and convenient getaway.