My family just returned from a vacation at Smokey Mountain Resort at the beginning of January. Overall, our stay was quite enjoyable! It snowed while we were there making for the perfect winter vacation. (They are good clearing the roads in the area, so the snow isn’t really a huge problem!) The resort is nice and basically what we expected based off our research. The particular week we stayed, the resort was not at full capacity. Therefore, the check-in process was a breeze and they were willing to accommodate our request for specific view and floor. We requested a city view, which was beautiful overlooking downtown especially after it snowed; so definitely ask for a city view if possible. The hotel has a tri-level parking deck which is convenient especially during the winter, but it could easily be very difficult to navigate during the busier seasons. We stayed in a 3 bedroom unit, which is a 1-bedroom unit and a 2-bedroom unit connected by a common entrance foyer. Both units were equally nice, comfortable and made for an enjoyable stay. Both have a stone fireplace in the living room, perfect for cold days and a large television overhead. The overall décor was also perfect for the mountain setting.
First, the 2 bedroom unit: The kitchen area has all full size appliances, darker granite counters and a stackable washer and dryer in a closet beside the refrigerator. There were plenty of plates, and utensils for everyone in our family to use. However, the kitchen was somewhat small with not very much counter space and the sink was the smallest we have ever seen in a 2 bedroom unit! (It is a 1 bowl style like typically used at a wet bar). There is a large dining room table which was nice when everyone came over for dinner! The living room is a typical size and the balcony came with 2 rocking chairs, even though it was really too cold for us to enjoy them. The master suite is very spacious with a king bed and a large, dramatic whirlpool tub. The 2nd bedroom has 2 double beds which meant no one had to sleep on the couch like at most places. The overall size of the unit was also a little smaller than others we have stayed in. Additionally, there were some signs of poor craftsmanship in places, but nothing that will damper your stay. Look to my pictures for more of an idea of what I am describing.
Now the 1 bedroom: It was equally as nice; however, everything was just on a smaller scale; not exactly what I would consider ‘spacious’. The living room is much smaller than the 2 bedroom, and the kitchen is simply along one wall beside the couch. The master suite was also not as large as the 2 bedroom’s but still had plenty of room. The bathroom was connected to the bedroom as well as the foyer and had plenty of counter space and a large tub/shower combination. The washer and dryer were also located in the bathroom. Look to my pictures for more of an idea of what I am describing.
The resort itself has many positive qualities. The location being the biggest plus - within walking to the main area of downtown Gatlinburg! The large lobby was a great place to wait for the trolley or to play a game of chess on the tables beside the fireplace. They have a small room where you could purchase candies and a craft room with daily activities during the summer, neither of which we took time to use. The game room was not very large and only had a pool table and one arcade game. The indoor pool area was nice to use since the pool is heated, however it is not very large. The outdoor pool area looks much bigger so it’s probably no problem for guests during summer months. Also, one thing that comes up in other reviews and is something that you may encounter during your stay here is the horrible internet service. I simply cannot understand at all why a resort so nice chooses to have such crappy internet service this day and time! The access is NOT wireless (btw even the small motel across the street has wireless), but instead it is wall mounted. They will provide you a cable if you forget one, but even then the service hardly works. We could only use the internet in the 2 bedroom unit and even then it took 10 minutes of fumbling to get it to work. By the way, my 20 year old son, who as you might imagine lives off the internet, was the one trying to get it to work; so yeah, he knew what he was doing! When we commented on it a few times to the front desk, they responded that the internet service was excellent and they have never had any complaints. Not to call them liars, but we heard someone complaining the day before not to mention all of the people who have commented on it in reviews. However, all of these problems with the internet will not ruin your stay, just be aware of it.
Downtown Gatlinburg is generally attractive, but there are some older parts in need of repair. As you would expect there is tons shopping and dining to keep you busy. During the winter, the city has a “Winter Wonderland of Lights” display and a special trolley that will drive you around to see all of it. Honestly, I’m glad they only charged 5 dollars for that ride because it was not very good. First of all, there are not nearly as many lights as you are led to believe there is and the on board entertainment, bless their heart, is annoying. In between the sparse patches of lights along the way, they would tell stories about the history of the area. However, most of the stories had a repeated theme: death. It made the ride somewhat depressing so naturally the lady would then attempt to sing a Christmas carol to brighten the mood. Overall though it is a decent way to see the city and the trolley is heated. So if you have nothing else to do, go for it!
We also visited Ober Gatlinburg while we were there. It was great place with a lot to do to keep you busy for a day. Definitely take advantage of parking downtown and riding the tram up to the top. Even though it costs money, the ride up is absolutely beautiful, and the parking up top is VERY limited!! However, I would not recommend the ski resort for people learning how to ski! I’m sure the ski school staff is great, it’s just that the practice or bunny slopes for beginners is way too small to really learn how to ski well; trust me I’ve seen a lot of slopes! Also, go during the week if you can; you cannot beat the prices! I believe we only paid around $30 for a daytime slope ticket. The tubing area is also very nice as is the ice skating rink! If you make the trip up there and ride the tram, you absolutely HAVE to wait until it is dark to ride back down because the view of the city all lit up is stunting and a perfect end to the day!
Overall the vacation was very enjoyable for my family! Gatlinburg is a great area and definitely worth a visit. Smokey Mountain Resort is nice and won’t leave you disappointed, just with a few minor inconveniences during your stay. Refer to all of my pictures for accurate views of both units and the resort! All of what I have said has simply been my opinion, from a normal, honest traveler. Happy vacationing!
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
