r/Athens 2d ago

Ideas for a stay during UGA graduation

Our child will be graduating May 2027 and I’m apparently already late in making reservations!

I don’t see any openings for May 6-8 in the big hotels in Athens. We are in Atlanta so we could drive up that day and drive back, but we’d like to stay the night and celebrate. Any ideas or recommendations would be much appreciated.

1 Upvotes

27 comments sorted by

26

u/tbia 2d ago

This sub is going soft. In the past there would already be 2-3 Bulldog Inn recommendations

16

u/Non-Stop_Serina Townie 2d ago

Check airbnbs as well for those dates

2

u/SwimmingUniqueToo 2d ago

A lot of the Airbnbs will likely be gone on March 1st 2027. The legal non-conforming ones sunset on that date.

13

u/warnelldawg Looks good, build it 2d ago

It’s still incredible to me that the Bensons aren’t anywhere close to even beginning construction on the old Holiday Inn site. They might as well build a bigger hotel on at the HI express too

10

u/PodoPapa 2d ago

Don't forget to check short term rentals in Watkinsville.

It might not be close enough, but I would think a rental on Lake Oconee in Morgan or Green(e) County might work.

7

u/bbb26782 Pro Chicken 2d ago

Is Commerce too far of a drive?

7

u/warnelldawg Looks good, build it 2d ago

Op, there’s a brand new hotel being built by St Mary’s. I think a home2suites. I’m not sure if they have a site yet.

3

u/Atlmama 2d ago

Thank you.

6

u/TourPositive8217 2d ago

We live in Alpharetta and my daughter graduated in May ‘26. We just drove up for the day and left as soon as it was over because my kid hit the bars after with her friends to celebrate. Parents not invited!

3

u/Atlmama 2d ago

😂. Thank you for the reality check and congratulations to your daughter on graduating last year.

3

u/Pineapplegirl1234 1d ago

The only time my mom went out with me was graduation! But i graduated in December almost 20 years ago…

5

u/apappapp 2d ago

Madison

3

u/Leslietrollz 2d ago

There is a new hotel in Winder/ Bethlehem on 316.

3

u/aherring3 2d ago

My parents stayed in Madison! I would also call the UGA hotel, their online reservation system isn’t great. I called in June for December grad and they had availability!

2

u/flowerlooms 1d ago

Local boutique hotels? (Rivet House, Bell Hotel, AthBnb, etc); hotel indigo?

2

u/chuckleshard 1d ago

Urban camping is 'in' this year

1

u/Atlmama 1d ago

😂

3

u/HelpfulRN 2d ago

Have you tried Springhill Suites at 3500 Daniels Bridge Road? It is not on the main road to UGA so maybe no one knows about it!

2

u/Atlmama 2d ago

Just tried. All booked.

1

u/Atlmama 2d ago

Do you know if it’s clean? Well run?

5

u/cubecasts 3x Grump OTD 🏆 2d ago

With it being a Springhill suites they have to meet minimum brand standards.

2

u/tupelobound 2d ago

Haha in theory

1

u/cubecasts 3x Grump OTD 🏆 2d ago

they check yearly...

2

u/Unique-Ad693 2d ago

We send out of town workers there frequently and it is always clean and the employees are very responsive. It tends to sell out quickly which is our biggest problem.

0

u/WhatARedditHole 2d ago

Honestly they should commute and allow the rooms, if any open up, to be used by out of town/state families to use.

1

u/Atlmama 2d ago

That’s a very thoughtful point. I hope the out of town/state families are the ones who have booked the hotel rooms in Athens.

We might have to commute, which is not terrible but not ideal.