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November 2025 by Steve “Festus” Patterson
Our room was absolutely terrible! Apparently there is a hole in the floor in front of the fireplace which is covered by a 4x5 piece of carpet. The floor is sagging beneath the carpet and is starting to collapse. The fireplace doesn't work and hasn't worked in several years. The drapes were dirty, the bed spread was dirty and some receptacles didn't work. The room had a bad odor and the bathroom left a little to be desired. The switch for the heat lamp in the bathroom was broken hence no heat lamp, and the toilet wasn't bolted down. We booked the room for 2 nights at $300 per night but left after the first night. Since it was a holiday weekend (Thanksgiving) they raised the price as though is was a 5 star hotel. I rarely leave reviews but this place is terrible, stay elsewhere!
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November 2025 by JUDY MCDONOUGH
We checked in around 1 pm and against my better judgment I was thinking we could rough it for 2 days. We'll I was wrong! There was a fireplace in the room that a sign said out of order. Went to the office to switch to another room that the fireplace work! The manager said that none of the fireplaces haven't work in the last 5 years ! Well then maybe cover them over so the cold air doesn't come in. In front of the fireplace the floor is rotted and if I were a big person I probably would fall thru. There was a piece of carpet over it. The curtain was a mess and dirty the bed cover was disgusting on both sides. I did not sleep under the covers, I had a couple blankets with me. The bathroom was very outdated, the toilet was not bolted down, the tub jets were missing (just holes). I asked the manager for the owners number so he texted him but the owner never called back. The cost of this shitty hotel was 300.00 per night my total was $605.00. This place needs to be abolished but instead I have the report from the town rated at 95! They must be blind or paid off!
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November 2025 by Glenn Suggs
It's one of the oldest hotels in town, so don't expect luxury. But it's way better than we expected. Very clean, safe, and our balcony over the river was awesome. The cable TV was the only place we stayed this trip with real aps to use for movies. Across the parking lot is a very authentic German resteraunt that's also river front. Within walking distance of all the good shops and bars in Helen. For the price and location of say excellent place.
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November 2025 by H Maeser
Lovely location, great value, and close to restaurants and entertainment.
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October 2025 by Rachel Hinshaw
Hands down the most disgusting hotel/motel I’ve ever been in. Thank God we were just using the hotel room for a restroom spot and parking. Floors were covered in other people’s hair and spears all over bathroom mirror and headboards. Bed covers were dingy. Just really really irresponsible and negligent on managements part.
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October 2025 by Robin Owens
Location isn’t everything.
We had a few rooms with a group. Between all the spiderwebs in the rooms, Doors that would not latch or open once latched, A bathroom with no way to turn on the shower this is a place I definitely won’t return to.
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October 2025 by Michael Howell
Ask for Mark..
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October 2025 by Sarah Suggs
We stayed at Unicoi lodge for a few nights but decided to stay in Helen for another night and they didn't have any rooms left. We walked into the Hofbrau Hotel after reading some very different reviews. So....the hotel main building is one of the original Helen buildings with other parts that have been built on over the years. It's an old building so you can't expect it to be super fancy. We had a river view room which was wonderful. Clean sheets, clean towels and hot water. These rooms have been painted and updated, the other parts of the hotel have not been updated yet. Which is why there are a variety of reviews.
The manager checked us in and he was a great guy. Very honest about the place and he has done a lot here.
We will definitely stay here again if we can stay in the same row of rooms. I liked it better then the Unicoi Lodge.
You can walk to the town center with all the restaurants and shops etc.
As for people worried about bugs.....this town is in the forests...there are going to be bugs. I actually killed two huge cockrs at the lodge and didn't see one at Hofbrau.
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October 2025 by Lisa Willis
Room was clean and comfortable. We will definitely be back.
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October 2025 by Deanna Carter
Nasty. We decided to cut our losses and go elsewhere. The man running the office was polite and suggested we contact booking.com about our issues. I would not recommend staying at this place. Very old bathroom, toilet was running when we entered, that sealed our decision to not bring any luggage in and just continue on our journey and find an acceptable establishment to stay.
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October 2025 by Christine M
We love coming to Helen during the Octoberfest. We always stay at the Hofbrau River Front Hotel. We love the patio and the river view. They are making a lot of up grades. The current manager, Mark Blihovde, has done an excellent job taking care of the place and people. Our patio room has had several upgrades. The bathrooms still need a bit of help but Rome was not built in a day! We will continue to stay here in the future and we look forward to seeing more improvements!
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October 2025 by Gypsy Alford
The location is great. Within walking distance to restaurants and stores. Needs a little upkeep (as stated by several reviews) but my room has been remodeled. Riverfront room for a great stay. The manager Mark was so nice. Right next door to hofbrauhaus restaurant.
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October 2025 by Erika Payne
This hotel was $200 a night so I thought it would be somewhat decent. I booked blindly not reading the reviews for a last-minute trip, I should have known it was going to be bad when it said no refunds. This was the absolute worst place I have ever stayed in in my life. It looks like it had not been cleaned since 1965. The rooms are moldy and dirty, and the sheets are disgusting. I woke up in the middle of the night and genuinely chose to go sleep in my car instead because it was dirty. Everything smells like cigarettes- Please do not stay here. If there was an option to give zero stars, I would have given zero
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September 2025 by Stephanie Swartz
I checked in and 5 mins later I checked out the mold smell was so bad had little window ac did not cool soon as turned on the mold smell threw me into asthmatic attack bathroom room was nasty and you walk out on walkway a big black widow nest I would not let my family stay
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September 2025 by Ashlyn G
Great location, TERRIBLE ROOMS. We are never in the room on vacation so we go for cheap rooms but this was far below expectations. They are rough and I mean it. Spiders, bugs, floor was not swept or mopped (as evidenced by pieces of trash and hairs all over the floor), tiles cracked to pieces. Hair dryer didn’t work. The tub/shower looked AWFUL. Thankfully we weren’t in the room except to sleep and only 2 nights or we would’ve left. (It was $400 for 2 nights) Uneven concrete and stairs so beware of that. Quick Crete patch work everywhere and it was wet, people tracked thought it.
I took Photos of the filth and bugs, showed to the gentleman at front and he was unapologetic. He shrugged his shoulders and Said “it’s a wood roach, we’re in the woods…” (as if I shouldn’t be upset over bugs in my room.) He also said “bathroom renovation costs $2,500 each we can’t afford that”.
Breakfast was expired muffins, yogurt and microwaveable biscuits.
There was a family cleaning the rooms Sunday, a young boy was running in and out helping. Rooms need to be cleaned WELL between guests. These are not.
It has potential, location is great right on the River but it needs WORK and lots of it.
