Review Gatlinburg

‘Trip Tips’ Category

Renting a cabin or chalet can be either a great experience or a very poor experience for a person coming to Gatlinburg.  I am putting together some tips for those who are interested in renting a cabin and how to make it the most rewarding of experiences.

Planning Period

The first step you are going to want to do is to decide what type of cabin you are looking for.  Here is a list of the different types of cabins and chalets.

The Cabin – A cabin has a wood exterior and interior.  It is not necessarily a log cabin.  Cabins generally have natural wood or tongue and groove.  Cabins tend to run less than actual log cabins but offer essentially the same amenities.

The Chalet – Chalets are basically houses, just like the house you have at home.  They tend to run the same cost as a regular cabin.  If you are not interested in the log or wood look but are merely interested in not doing a hotel then chalets are generally reasonably priced and many are wonderful to stay in.

The Log Cabin – Log cabins are made of logs that means both inside and outside will have the log look.  Log cabins in this area tend to run more than other rentals due to the desire of people to stay in authentic cabins.  There are numerous kinds of log cabins but the ones most typically seen in the area are round logs or the Tennessee log cabins.  The Tennessee log homes generally have flat boards and you will see white between the logs.

The selection of the type of cabin or chalet you wish to rent is up to you and is a personal preference.  Each type offers a different appeal and it is up to the renter to decide which best suits their needs.

After you have selected the type of cabin or chalet that you wish to rent you should decide where you would like to stay.  The Gatlinburg area is not so large that you will be incredibly far out from the attractions no matter where you stay.  However, here is a basic guideline for you.  Please remember that all traffic lights are numbered.

• The Spur – The spur is a stretch of highway that spans between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.  It boasts convenience to both towns, however during busy times traffic can be an issue.
• Downtown – Starting at Traffic Light #1 (the first light you come to when you come out of the Spur) and winding to Traffic Light #10 (Ski Mountain Road and the entrance to the Great Smoky National Park).  Cabins in this area are convenient but not necessarily private.
• Ski Mountain – Ski Mountain begins at Traffic Light #10 and follows up to Ober Gatlinburg.  Most of the mountain is encompassed by Chalet Village which is an excellent resort that boosts swimming pools for the cabins on the mountain.  It is convenient to Gatlinburg and to Ober Gatlinburg.  Most but not all cabins also feature great mountain views.  The negative to the area is that it is the older area of Gatlinburg and some of the chalets in this area may not be as luxurious as ones in other areas.  Another negative is that during the winter the roads can be difficult to navigate.  If you rent in the winter and your cabin is on Ski Mountain then be sure to have four wheel drive or chains.
• Highway 321 – Highway 321 heads out of Gatlinburg at Traffic Light #3.  This area remains convenient to Gatlinburg but sets you slightly away from the main town.  This is also where the grocery store is located!
• The Arts & Crafts Community – This is a great area spanning a loop from Glades to Buckhorn and back to Highway 321.  You can find a lot of private cabins in this area.  Also the roads tend to be not too bad.  It is located only minutes from downtown, so it makes visiting the attractions easy.  The drawback is that the cabins in this area may or may not have views.
• The Bird’s Creek Area – Bird’s Creek Road is one of the back roads that runs behind Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.  Do not let “back road” stop you from renting out there.  Bird’s Creek Road is paved and won’t give flatlanders too many nightmares.  It is convenient to both Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge but without the traffic of the main towns.  You should be able to get from your cabin into either town and out again without much difficulty.
• Highway 416 – Another wonderful back road (that is paved) and a great location for those who only want to pop in and out of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.  Highway 416 also runs along the Little Pigeon River, which is great during the summer!
• Cobbly Nob Area – The Cobbly Nob area is further down Highway 321 out of Gatlinburg.  It is approximately a 15 minute drive into town.  This is where you go to enjoy the mountains, relax, and have a quiet vacation.  Cobbly Nob Village is located in this area and also has swimming pools.  Like Ski Mountain if you are renting in Cobbly Nob Village during the winter then definitely have four wheel drive or chains.

So now you know what type of cabin you are interested in and where you are interested in staying, what should you think about next?  Well, how about how many people are going with you?  Most cabin rental companies do not charge per person.  It is a house cost.   There is a restriction on how many people can stay in a cabin and most rental companies will not allow people to bring sleeping bags or provide cots for additional people.  You should consider this when looking.  You need to factor in adults and children with the exception of infants or children that sleep with their parents.

• Studio – Studio cabins are all one room and generally only sleep 2 people.  At times there will be a sleeper sofa in the unit.  But remember, if you get a studio with a sleeper sofa… it is all one room… that could make for a very long week.
• Sleeper Sofas – An important thing to note is that sleeper sofas are really not that comfortable, no matter how well they are maintained.  Also, a sleeper sofa in the houses of most folks isn’t used on a regular basis.  Sleeper sofas in cabins are used weekly, so the lumps are going to become more evident with each and every stay.  I am not saying don’t use them but I am saying don’t try to put a 300 lb guy on one and expect it to be the lap of luxury.  Consider all sleeper sofas and futons to be there for children and not for adults.
• Layout – It is important to ask yourself before you go to a cabin if layout is important based upon sleeping arrangements.  Parents with young children might prefer a one story or at least a house that has all the bedrooms on one floor.  If you have elderly members in your party then you might prefer to have limited steps and at least one room on the main floor, this also includes those who are handicapped or with limited mobility.  It is important to take into consideration the steps both inside and outside of the cabin.

Now you know where, how many, and what type.  The next step is to consider all your amenities.  I am not going to detail each amenity but this will give you a general idea of what you might want in a cabin.

• Mountain View, Private,  or On the Water (River or Creek)
• Cable Television or Satellite Television
• Wireless Internet or High Speed Internet
• Walking Distance to Attractions
• Hot Tub or Jacuzzi (The word Jacuzzi is generally used for an indoor whirlpool bath.)
• Pool Table, Foosball Table, Air Hockey Game, or any other games
• Size of Kitchen (Kitchenette, Regular Kitchen, Large Kitchen)
• Washer/Dryer
• Telephone Service
• Swimming Pool Access
• Indoor Plumbing… Okay… Just joking on this… All I have seen have had this!

Now, once you have all this in mind then do yourself a favor.  Look around at the different rental companies and then CALL them or if you are adamantly opposed to phone conversations then send them an email.  What you will spend days looking for online they can tell you quickly.   Let them know your arrival date, how many days you are looking to stay, where you are interested in staying, how many people are in your party, and any amenities you are interested in.

Cost and Payment

Now, after you have a cabin you want to rent you call the rental company and chances are the original cost that you asked for was the nightly rate.  The cost they give you is different than that and you ask why?  The answer is very simple, the nightly rate does not include the cleaning fee or taxes.  Now, before you start yelling at the poor reservationist on the other end consider this.  Cabins are not hotels and they do not send a maid to your house every day.  Adding it into the nightly rental would not be fair to you if you were staying a week and getting nothing out of those extra fees!  Instead cabin companies put on a cleaning fee after the nightly rent.  If you read the rules and regulations on their website chances are it is mentioned there and most of the companies have it listed on the cabin pages.  So, they aren’t scamming you, this is general practice around here!

What should you be looking at in cabin pricing?  This honestly varies based upon the time of year and also the specials offered by that company.  Most cabin companies offer prices in this range though:  1 Bedrooms – $75-$150/Night, 2 Bedrooms – $125-$200/Night, 3 Bedrooms – $175-$250/Night, 4 Bedrooms – $200-$300, 5 Bedrooms or More – $250 or more.  All of the pricing is dependent upon the amenities and what time of year you come.

As discussed previously in addition you can expect a one time cleaning fee with most companies.  This is generally based upon the size of the unit.  The cleaning fee for a one bedroom is typically around $50 and for a larger home can be over $100.

Tax should also be considered in the rental of a cabin.  Tax is 9.5% for the State of Tennessee and for Gatlinburg there is an additional city tax of 3.0%, so the tax you are paying for lodging is 12.5%.

When paying for your cabin you might be astonished that you are required to leave a deposit.  A lot of hotels only ask for a credit card but do not actually run it, this is not the case for rental companies.  Hotels rent rooms that they own all of, rental companies are renting out private homes owned by individuals.  Since they are they have a responsibility to secure the lodging for the owner.  Typically you will be either asked for one nights rent OR half of the stay, depending on company.  The remainder of your payment is usually due 2-4 weeks before your arrival.   So when you show up for your cabin you should be paid in full.

Most companies also now require that you sign a confirmation, a paper that gives them the right to run your credit card, and also a copy of their rental contract before you arrive.  This is done to protect their interests and once again is typical in this area.

The only other question is damage deposits.  If you pay by check then you may be asked to provide a credit card for the damage deposit, otherwise they may ask you for a cash damage deposit.  If you pay by credit card then they will use the credit card as the damage deposit.

Showing Up

Each cabin company handles their check in policy differently.  You should ask for instructions on the check in and check out procedures when you book your rental.  This way it is perfectly clear as to what you should do.  You may receive directions directly to the cabin or you may have to check in at a rental company.

Problems

If you have issues with your cabin then it is best to call as soon as you can.  Each cabin rental company should have an emergency pager number to call after hours.  There are things to call about and there are things not to call about.

Call after business hours if:

You can’t find your cabin.  Don’t just go check into a hotel.

You can’t get into your cabin.

Your cabin has obviously not been cleaned.

There is serious maintenance issues that cause the cabin to be livable.

If there is a true safety concern.

If your power has been out for a long period of time (several hours), do not call if it just went off.

Call during business hours (or at the very least during the day time) if:

The cleaning of the cabin is not up to your standards.

There are minor maintenance issues that need to be addressed.

There are issues with the hot tub and it is past midnight!

You are dissatisfied with the cabin.

Don’t wait until the end of your stay to voice your concerns.  You cannot get issues fixed if you wait until your stay is over and make a complaint.  Instead call when the office opens and let them know what is wrong or if you check in during business hours then call right after check in.  Give the rental company an opportunity to fix whatever issues you are experiencing.

Why a cabin or chalet?

After everything is said and done, I love renting cabins.  While a hotel offers convenience and no hassles, a cabin offers a lot especially for an intimate occasion or for a large gathering.  For intimate occasions it allows privacy and amenities such as your own hot tub or Jacuzzi.  For a large gathering it offers the convenience of fully equipped kitchens and everybody staying under one roof together.  You feel more at home in a cabin then you do in a normal hotel room.  Also, with a cabin or chalet you have the benefit of sitting on a front porch and just relaxing.  You can’t always do that in a hotel room.