Smokey Mountains

[westjones]

Has anyone traded out for a week at a resort in the Smokey Mountains? If so, which one and did you like it?

We have never traded out before (have always stayed at DVC resorts), but that is an area I think we might like to visit.

 

[AirGoofy]

Has anyone traded out for a week at a resort in the Smokey Mountains? If so, which one and did you like it?

We have never traded out before (have always stayed at DVC resorts), but that is an area I think we might like to visit.

We never traded out, but we stayed in 2 BR in Gatlinburg. The room was amazing with all the comparables, plus a gas log fireplace. The views outside our windows were terrific as well. They have lots of activities and Pigeon Forge has Dollywood, a themed park with a few coasters. The only think with that area is that y have to pay for all the different things. You can bundle a few things. For example, they have a great Aquarium (Ripley's) and then a few other Ripley's attractions.

We had a good time but we have more fun at WDW. Plus, we spent a lot more there than I expected. So, even though it is a longer drive, we still pick WDW. But, it is worth visiting at least once.

 

[Muushka]

We rented a week at Wyndham Smoky Mountains, Sevierville from a TUGG member. I would not recommend this place. If you want to feel like you are staying in the mountains, this is not the place to stay. The resort itself was nice, the units were nice, but between the quarry that was blasting behind us and no views (where we were), we won't stay there again.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

I don't know about any place to trade out, but the Riverstone Resort in Pigeon Forge is a beautiful place to stay. The only reason I mention it is because the man who designed Old Key West also designed this resort. We stayed in a 2-BR last fall and even though there are no Disney touches, it reminded me somewhat of a DVC resort.

 

[westjones]

Thanks everyone! I guess I only wanted to go if we could trade out. We have two in college and so our vacations have to be DVC vacations for the next few years.

So if we can't trade out for it, we will probably stick with a DVC resort.
Thanks!

 

[Starr W.]

I own Wyndham points and just got back from a stay at the Wyndham Great Smokies Lodge. We stayed in a 2br Presidential Reserve unit(golf view). WOW it was huge, nice kitchen, full size washer/dryer. Beds were really comfortable, but that could have just been me being tired from hiking.

Well worth the Wyndham points, but you would never see this unit in RCI for a trade. And to be honest I wouldn't trade my DVC points for the Smokies.

 

[Sammie]

Thanks everyone! I guess I only wanted to go if we could trade out. We have two in college and so our vacations have to be DVC vacations for the next few years.

So if we can't trade out for it, we will probably stick with a DVC resort.
Thanks!

Which just goes to show that when DVC sells the RCI trade out, what you really can get is not as good as they like you to believe.

DVC is really only great for using it at DVC.

Rent your DVC points and just book something, you will probably come out with a place to stay and spending money.

 

[Dean]

Westgate, Wyndham Great Smokies Lodge, then the older Wyndham then Holiday Inn followed by Mountain loft would be my thoughts. Not all are through RCI or on the DVC list though. This is an area where renting is better than trading. Try to do a private exchange where you do a smaller unit for larger or short time for a full week.

 

[MousekeTom]

Would you consider just north of the Smokey's in Blowing Rock, NC? The Chetola Resort is quite nice and there is a lot of wondeful hiking along the Blue Ridge. Activities: Shops of Blowing Rock, free mountain music at different venues, Grandfather Mountain, Banner Elk, Vale Crucis, Mast General Store, ASU & Lees McCrae theatre, tame river rafting or tubing. You can find some of the usual touristy stuff, e.g. gem mining, Tweetsie Railroad, Mystery House, Go Karts, putt-putt, but I wouldn't recommend that stuff. It would be nice to time your visit with a monthly Art in the Park weekend. There are about three public golf courses close by if you like golf. May through September, daytime temps are in the seventies to low eighties.

 

[JimMIA]

We rented a week at Wyndham Smoky Mountains, Sevierville from a TUGG member. I would not recommend this place. If you want to feel like you are staying in the mountains, this is not the place to stay. The resort itself was nice, the units were nice, but between the quarry that was blasting behind us and no views (where we were), we won't stay there again.

When was that and what building were you in? We're there in a couple of weeks for a big family trip, so any intel would be appreciated.

 

[JimMIA]

We rented a week at Wyndham Smoky Mountains, Sevierville from a TUGG member. I would not recommend this place. If you want to feel like you are staying in the mountains, this is not the place to stay. The resort itself was nice, the units were nice, but between the quarry that was blasting behind us and no views (where we were), we won't stay there again.

We are just back from a week at Wyndham Smoky Mountains, which is our Wyndham home resort.

We were in Bldg 26, which is one of the buildings right next to the quarry (literally less than 50 yards). We had three families (11 people) all there for seven days, and none of us heard any noise of any kind from the quarry.

 

[Muushka]

We are just back from a week at Wyndham Smoky Mountains, which is our Wyndham home resort.

We were in Bldg 26, which is one of the buildings right next to the quarry (literally less than 50 yards). We had three families (11 people) all there for seven days, and none of us heard any noise of any kind from the quarry.

Good! They stopped the blasted blasting! So glad you didn't have to deal with it.

Let me ask you, at this resort, did you feel like you were visiting the mountains? Maybe it is just me.....

 

[Dean]

Good! They stopped the blasted blasting! So glad you didn't have to deal with it.

Let me ask you, at this resort, did you feel like you were visiting the mountains? Maybe it is just me.....

IMO, mountain wise, there are better locations. However, there aren't many resorts in the area that give you a true mountain feel. Mountain loft, Westgate Laurel Crest and Tree Tops come to mine but there are a few resorts I haven't seen the location.

 

[JimMIA]

Let me ask you, at this resort, did you feel like you were visiting the mountains? Maybe it is just me.....

Yes and no.

Yes, in the sense that we had a great view of the mountains from our balcony. On clear days we could easily make out Newfound Gap and Clingman's Dome in the national park. Of course, you have to put that in perspective. We're all from Miami, so we had an acute awareness of the fact that the world was no longer flat!

OTOH, to me, staying on the Tennesee side is not a typical mountain stay because of all the touristy glitz there. I'm quite sure the strip from Sevierville, through Pigeon Forge and Gatlingburg has the world's greatest concentration of pancake houses, go kart tracks, and miniature golf places!

But we spent most of four days IN the national park, and in most cases, if you are on a trail 1/4 mile beyond any parking lot, you are alone. The only places where that wasn't true were the Clingman's Dome and Laurel Falls trails, both of which are paved "tourist" trails. But from Newfound Gap, we took a short hike on the Appalachian Trail and saw no one at all. Other hikes, even the River Trail from Oconoluftee Visitor Center, were equally quiet.

On two other days, we went rafting and zip-lining, and both of those were definitely mountain experiences...even if they were touristy.

 

[Muushka]

When we went, it was with Grammy at 93 and her daughter (my MIL) so our outings were quite tame!

I thought the units were very nice, as was the pool and rec area. I was just a tad disappointed in the views. For us, a quarry that was exploding and watching the units across the street being built by noisy contractors. By now I'm sure all work is completed. I just wish there had been more trees and mountains.

 

[Dean]

When we went, it was with Grammy at 93 and her daughter (my MIL) so our outings were quite tame!

I thought the units were very nice, as was the pool and rec area. I was just a tad disappointed in the views. For us, a quarry that was exploding and watching the units across the street being built by noisy contractors. By now I'm sure all work is completed. I just wish there had been more trees and mountains.

This illustrates a point I've made often on this BBS, to investigate thoroughly before going to a resort, making a reservation or accepting an exchange. The Wyndham's there are likely the nicest resorts in the area but there are other nice resorts in "better" locations from a mountain perspective. For example, I'm writing this looking out over the ocean from my 10th Floor Marriott Kauai Beach Club 1 BR. These are a hotel conversion and the kitchen is substandard IMO. Think DVC studio with utensils or for those that know, Marriott studio. No burners, no oven and the microwave is not even a convection. But it's just the 2 of us and we tend to eat out at least once daily. I've seen many limited kitchens and this is by far the most spartan I've seen in a 1 BR by a long shot.

 

[Muushka]

Dean, what the heck are you doing here and not out in beautiful Maui????

Actually I did do some research before booking that TS (actually got it from a TUGGER).

The construction had not yet begun when I started my info search and I guess we were just lucky with the blasting the week we were there!

 

[Dean]

Dean, what the heck are you doing here and not out in beautiful Maui????

Actually I did do some research before booking that TS (actually got it from a TUGGER).

The construction had not yet begun when I started my info search and I guess we were just lucky with the blasting the week we were there!

Just getting started and relaxing today on Kauai, since yesterday (change of islands) was a busy day. Just using your post to make the point, even then, there's no way to account for all variables.

 

[graueMaus]

IMO, mountain wise, there are better locations. However, there aren't many resorts in the area that give you a true mountain feel. Mountain loft, Westgate Laurel Crest and Tree Tops come to mine but there are a few resorts I haven't seen the location.

We stayed at Tree Tops and enjoyed our stay this past January (week after New Years). I would not say it is Mountain views though (unless you stay on the very top units (I forget what they are called). Though we used another method to stay there. We liked the location as it is in Gatlinburg and closer to the National Park than others. Personally I cannot stand Pigeon Forge or Sevierville. Gatlinburg is quaint and less touristy than those two. We went to Ober Gatlinburg for a day and had fun there as well.

 

[Dean]

We stayed at Tree Tops and enjoyed our stay this past January (week after New Years). I would not say it is Mountain views though (unless you stay on the very top units (I forget what they are called). Though we used another method to stay there. We liked the location as it is in Gatlinburg and closer to the National Park than others. Personally I cannot stand Pigeon Forge or Sevierville. Gatlinburg is quaint and less touristy than those two. We went to Ober Gatlinburg for a day and had fun there as well.

All resorts I know of in the area are hit or miss from a unit assignment standpoint. Some units have very nice views, others not so much. At least one of our members owns there and can tell you more.