Smoky Mountains Vacation News - Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, TN

Chili Cookoff & Winter Magic in downtown Gatlinburg TN

Happy Camper — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:59:00 GMT

Mountain Rentals of Gatlinburg is excited to be a sponsor of the Chili Cookoff in downtown Gatlinburg this year! We love food so much in the Smoky Mountains we turn it into a competition – what a great excuse to graze our way through the streets of Gatlinburg TN! If the chili isn’t enough we will be giving away FREE popcorn. We hope to see all of our guests and our favorite locals!!!

The details:
Where: River Rd. (in front of Ripley’s Aquarium)
When: November 5th, 2008
Time: 5pm-8pm
Price: $7 in advance and $8 after 2pm
Why: Around 20 vendors will be serving up home cooked chili
Kids Activities
Entertainment by The Coasters, “Barry Scott & Second Wind”, The Griffin Brothers, Kevin McGuire (A fantastic DJ
The streets are all aglow as the Winter Magic lights are turned on
You are supporting the PTA at Phi-Beta-Phi
I will be posting pictures after the event…..

Gatlinburg Calendar of Events

We don’t raise our rates on cabin rentals!

Happy Camper — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:17:00 GMT

Labor Day, Shades of the Past Car Show and the Grand Fall Rod Run… these are all huge events in September and can take a chunk out of your wallet. Other places have Seasonal and Holiday rates, but at Mountain Rentals of Gatlinburg we have the same low rates all year so you can spend more money on the fun you came here for! Check out our rates, cabin rentals deals including Last Minute Special and our Smoky Mountains cabins that will accommodate all of your friends and family. September is a great time to visit, the events are fabulous, the streets are less crowded in Gatlinburg and the evenings are cooler.

We hope to see you soon!

Guest Appreciation Points

Happy Camper — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:27:00 GMT

We started our Guest Appreciation program in March of 2007 and have had a great response. This program allows all of our guests to create their own accounts and accumulate MRG Points so they may earn free nights with us. We just want to thank all of our loyal customers that stay with us and recommend Mountain Rentals of Gatlinburg. I have noticed recently that many of our guests have started to redeem their points for 2 FREE nights on their reservations – I hope this program has been easy to use and allows you to spend more time enjoying all that Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains have to offer!

Learn more about MRG Points at: http://www.mountainchalets.com/PropertyManagement/MemberClub.aspx

Summertime Fun - Smoky Mountain Tunes & Tales™

Happy Camper — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:38:00 GMT

Now is a great time for families to get out to the Smokies. The weather is divine and as always the mountains are breathtaking!
If you are looking for some great entertainment that won’t break the bank Smoky Mountain Tunes & Tales™ will be running all summer in downtown Gatlinburg. This is FREE entertainment on the main strip where performers are dressed in costumes that depict different time periods and provide you with traditional mountain music, clogging, storytelling and much more. The performers arrive to different areas of the main strip in Gatlinburg by horse and carriage (which we are proud to help sponsor) and the entertainment is continuous from 5pm – 10pm each night.

I love this event because it adds such an amazing atmosphere to the streets of Gatlinburg. This is such a fun place and I feel that Smoky Mountain Tunes & Tales™ event just adds extra excitement during the summertime. Smoky Mountain Tunes & Tales™ is a great experience for the youngest family member to the young at heart!

Online Survey and Customer Reviews on the rental unit page

Happy Camper — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:50:00 GMT

We are happy to announce we've recently added new features to our web site!

We are conducting a Lottery every 2 months for our guests who submitted a survey online. The survey can be filled with valid reservation and on the date of arrival or later. The winner will be chosen randomly.

Note: Our cabin rentals ratings are based on our survey responses from each guest for the questions: “Rental unit overall” and “Value for the price paid”.

After submitting a survey you'll be offered to write your review for public viewing on the rental unit page.

All you need - just sign in into your customer account and follow the steps.

If you never stayed with us before but have topics to discuss, you are welcome to join our forums.

Alexandra's Goodie Baskets

Happy Camper — Fri, 16 May 2008 12:45:00 GMT

I hope all of you Moms had a Great Mother’s Day!

All Moms that stayed with Mountain Rentals of Gatlinburg got carnation and the chance to win a beautiful gift basket from Alexandra's Goodie Baskets.

Alexandra's Goodie Baskets are always gorgeous and can be customized for any occasion.

Find more at http://www.mountainchalets.com/HoneymoonIdeas/GiftBaskets.aspx

This basket was filled with:

Gourmet Chocolates
Tea
Bath Products
and Oh... Soft Blanket!

The Winner of Gift Basket is……..Mrs. Connie Beeson from Indianapolis, IN

Congratulations! We’ll see you next year!

Limited Time Offer: Get Extra 20% Discount -

Happy Camper — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:49:00 GMT

Owners Special:

Get Extra 20% Discount for Active Military/Policemen/Firemen May - June arrivals ONLY. Call Reservations 1-866-482-1044.

This discount applies to log cabins listed below:

"Lil' Bit of Paradise TR#2" Authentic Log Cabin in Timberidge, Gatlinburg

"Sweet Potato Patch TR#20" Authentic Log Cabin in Timberidge, Gatlinburg

"Mountain Mist" Authentic Log Cabin in Kings Way, Gatlinburg

"Honeymoon Memories" Authentic Log Cabin in Kings Way, Gatlinburg

Gatlinburg’s 6th Annual Ribfest & Wings festival

Happy Camper — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:35:00 GMT

This year Mountain Rentals of Gatlinburg will be sponsoring the entertainment for Ribfest! The stage will be set up on River Road and we will be giving out Frisbees, Beach Balls, Koozies and more. The entertainment will be the Beat Daddys and there will be activities for the kids! Come down and join us for some Good Food & Fun!

Details:

Date: April 17th
Time: 4PM-8PM
Location: River Rd. & Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies Plaza
Admission: $12 for a wristband or $1 for a bone or two wings

Owners Special Offer: Get Extra 10% Military Discount

Happy Camper — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:49:00 GMT

"Appalachian Retreat" Cabin in Beech Branch, Gatlinburg is now offering extra 10% Military Discount with valid Military ID.

Call Reservations: 1-866-482-1044

Smoky Mountains of Artists

Happy Camper — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:53:00 GMT

There are so many talented artists in Gatlinburg, TN and I suppose in part it is due to the abundance of natural beauty of the Smokies which is a great source of inspiration for all. While you are in the area you must visit the Arts & Crafts Community where you can watch many of the artists create magnificent pieces in their shops.
Alewine Pottery is one of the places you must visit. It is a family owned business and has a dazzling array of pottery from luminaries to salsa bowls. Robert Alewine is the master artisan and you can watch him on the potter’s wheel for hours as his masterpieces take shape. You can get a sneak peek at their website www.alewinepottery.net.
For a delicious home cooked meal Windwalkers Café is the best food in town! We eat there at least once a week and besides the food the café is always good for a mid-week pick-me-up. The owner Annette is always good for a smile and friendly chit chat. She is from Louisiana and cooks most of the food ranging from jambalaya to southern favorites like turnip greens and corn bread. After you have had your fill you must try one of the desserts, her homemade pies and cakes are absolutely sinful.
The Jim Gray Gallery is an opportunity you will not want to miss; his paintings and sculptures are awe-inspiring. You can spend hours in the Gallery just trying to take it all in. You can learn more about the artist and view his work at www.jimgraygallery.com.
Grab a cup of coffee at Coffee & Company and I assure you Starbucks will no longer be appealing! Jeanette, the owner, will tell you the same and if you don’t believe me just ask – at your own risk! The coffee is a staple in the community and many of us spend hours in the shop since she has wireless internet access (WIFI) and treats to go with the coffee.
There are so many wonderful shops in this quaint community that you will need to plan a day just to meander through at a leisurely pace and enjoy all this area has to offer. The hustle and bustle of downtown feels like a world away when you are in the Arts & Crafts Community of Gatlinburg Tennessee.
We would love to know what places you can’t miss while visiting.

Cabin Rentals Rating System

Happy Camper — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 20:12:00 GMT

Last year we introduced a star rating system for all of our rental homes. The ratings are based on our Survey responses from each guest for the questions: “Rental unit overall” and “Value for the price paid”.

Our hope was to give our guests an idea of what other guests thought about this particular rental unit. I would like to know what some of you think about this addition to the web site. Is it helpful? Is there something else that you would like to see that will better serve you?
We have also added a Forum to the blog if you would like to participate in any discussions about the topics listed.
As always I appreciate any feedback from you all because it helps us know what you need!

2007 Jeep Wrangler Winner

Happy Camper — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:24:00 GMT

Okay for those that aren’t familiar with our contest:

Mountain Rentals of Gatlinburg purchased a 2007 Jeep Wrangler 4X4 Unlimited to be given away to one lucky guest! This promotion was so much fun and created a lot of excitement, but the best part was giving it away!!!
I called the winner and it was possibly the best day I have had at work. I called the number listed on the reservation and asked for Mr. James Burns. He was having a difficult day and I was so excited I could barely contain myself. I proceeded to ask him if he stayed with Mountain Rentals of Gatlinburg on the specified dates, he said he had. I told him: “you have just won a Jeep Wrangler”. He said: "...this is a joke… Get OUT!" That made me even happier; he did not believe me AT ALL! We went back and forth for several minutes and I asked him if he was glad he brought his wife for their anniversary – (Note: Men - It is always good to take your wife on getaways!)
Anyway, I finally convinced him that this was no joke and he had indeed won a new Jeep! I had a smile for hours after our conversation. Upon meeting the family, his wife and 2 children, I was elated that such a deserving and genuine couple had won. They were from North Carolina, so we booked them a night in one of our cabins so they didn’t have to drive back. I think they were surprised by this as well.
Here are a few of pictures of the couple and the kids.

Photo 1: Jeep Winner - James Burns and family of Cary, NC

Photo 2: James Burns (Jeep Winner) & Beth Moncier (Marketing Director) - Passing the Title

Congratulations and from all of us at Mountain Rentals of Gatlinburg - Where your are family - ENJOY!

Smoky Mountains Memories

Happy Camper — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 13:00:00 GMT

One of my favorite memories is being 5 years old and visiting the Great Smoky Mountain National Park in the Winter. My mother and I had just moved to Tennessee from Mississippi, which never gets snow and you can wear shorts in the Winter, so the cold weather was a shocker. My Aunt had lived here for years, but we had only visited during the Spring and Summer because my older sister attended school. Anyway, we drove through the Park and for the first time…there it was SNOW! I stared dreamily and it was just as I had envisioned, beyond beautiful. The snow had fallen perfectly on the banks along the river and the rocks were capped with snow while water rushed around them. I was hooked! I threw snowballs, made snow angels, ate snow, built a snowman (it was my first one so he was pretty dirty :>) and picked icicles – I had never been that cold, but I knew there was no better place to live than the Smoky Mountains!

What are some of your favorite Smoky Mountain Memories?

Winter in the Great Smoky Mountains…

Happy Camper — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 20:06:00 GMT

I woke up this morning to the crisp cold mountain air that gives you an unbelievably invigorating feeling that gets you ready for the day. Enjoying the nip in the air for a few moments from my deck, with a steaming cup of coffee, while gazing at the snow capped Smokies I begin planning a day just for me. So many things to do! I have a decision to make…go shopping - maybe for some warm clothes to go skiing, ah, a nice day on the slopes… maybe a day at the spa…orrr the spa can come to me… a massage in the cabin… after skiing? Another cup of coffee.
A nice hike will do just fine, so I pack the Trail Mix and I’m off. Laurel Falls is a 2.6 mile hike round trip on a nice paved trail with a beautiful end at a 60’ waterfall. The trail was rewarding, to say the least, and I have spectacular photographs to return home with. The drive through Cades Cove and the Smokies presented an array of brilliant scenery with the mixture of snow on the trees and on the river banks to add to my photo collection!
Another cup of coffee in front of the fireplace and dusk is settling in. The fire is cozy and the Christmas lights and Christmas tree make me feel right at home and in the Holiday spirit. The plans for tonight are to take a stroll in the Winter Wonderland that is Downtown Gatlinburg and make the rounds through some of the specialty shops in The Village. Homemade crafts and candies abound in this bustling setting. The pure excitement and magnificent surroundings have made for an amazing day in the Great Smoky Mountains and a relaxing soak in the Hot Tub will make it complete!
Tomorrow, maybe I will sip wine in front of the fire…hot chocolate with extra marshmallows …or have that massage……….


Life's a Bear	Nestled Inn

	Appalachian Retreat

McIntoch RM#1

Our cabin rentals decorating for Christmas

Happy Camper — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 13:23:00 GMT

4 EVER
A MOUNTAIN SUNSET
A PRECIOUS PLACE
ABOVE THE SMOKE
ALWAYS
APPALACHIAN SPLENDOR
BEAR FOOTIN
BEAR NECESSITIES
BEAR TRACKS
BEYOND PARADISE
BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE TR#13
CV509 WOLFSONG
CV613 RIGHT AT HOME
GOD’S VIEW
JOURNEY’S END
LIFE’S A BEAR
MOUNTAIN HERITAGE
NESTLED INN
PAPS CABIN
RIVER’S EDGE
RM1 MCINTOSH
RM2 GRANNY SMITH
RM3 MOUNTAIN BEAR
RM4 TRAIL’S END
SILVER MOON
SMOKERISE
SMOKY HOLLOW
SMOKY MOUNTAIN HIGH
SWEET SURRENDER
TANGELWOOD
TR15 MOUNTAIN GLORY
TR4 COMIN HOME
TWIN VIEW
WOOD SPIRIT

Excellent Service - Part 2

Happy Camper — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 18:22:00 GMT

This entry I would like to focus on our Reservation and Front Desk Staff.
They are actually quite incredible if you consider it: 285 properties, each completely different, located throughout Gatlinburg and they field all the questions! Their knowledge of the properties and location is unsurpassed. These professionals go on site inspections to each home as it comes on the program and as updates are made so they can better serve our guests. We really have to appreciate them and the hard work they put in. Their job can be very stressful, there is never a quite moment, whether they are chatting online or on the phone there is always something to be done. Thank You!

And the Surveys are in:
Out of 4,400 Guests:
98% of our guests have rated our staff hospitality good - excellent!

Many of our Guests have commented on our helpful and caring staff members.

We have stayed in Gatlinburg many times & we have never received such genuinely hospitable service upon arrival. Thank you!
~ Guests from Mountain Bear Room #3

My husband and I were both totally impressed with the warmth of your staff. We made several calls before we made a reservation, and each question was met with patience and great suggestions. The gentleman who checked us in really blew us away with his professional description of your policies & directions and warmth & sincerity. We will definitely be back & will recommend Gatlinburg & Mountain Rentals.
~Erin & Try

Thank you so much! Again I would like to tell you we loved our trip to Tennessee and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay in the cabin. Also, the two guys that answer the phones to set up reservations, Nick and Matthew, were so helpful. We were kind of dissatisfied with our first cabin and they set us up in another quickly. Thanks so much for your help again.
~Cherie

Very relaxing stay. All individuals at your office are very courteous, friendly, and should be considered a high asset to your business company.
Thanks for a great vacation
~Jerry

Professionally Friendly, Thanks, Matthew!
~Guest from Blue Bird Point

Staff was exceptionally helpful & courteous!
~Cliff

Let us know what you think and your experiences!

Excellent Service – Part 1

Happy Camper — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 20:02:00 GMT

Mountain Rentals of Gatlinburg has built its foundation on professionalism, quality rentals and a courteous staff.
We take Surveys from each of our guests and enter them into a computer program that can generate reports for us. This lets us see how we are doing and gives our guests a chance to win a trip on us! The results are in!

Out of 4,416 Guests:
96% of our guests would stay with us again!
93% of our guests have rated our cleanliness good-excellent!
97% of our guests have rated our promptness of service good-excellent!

The tireless efforts of our Housekeeping and Maintenance staff has not gone unnoticed. We have a wonderful Housekeeping staff with very efficient inspectors and a great group of cleaners. They treat each home as their own and are very detailed oriented from the guest check in to their check out. Our maintenance staff is equally as efficient and quick to respond to our guests needs. Thanks to all of you!

One guest recently sent this letter.

Dear Sir/Madam:
I just wanted to take this opportunity to express my gratitude in the assistance in retrieving my wallet and its full contents. Your actions in regards in this matter exemplify the treatment that we received during our entire stay. Your staff was extremely courteous and helpful to us on several occasions.

For example, within one hour of our maintenance call concerning the air conditioning a technician was out and fixed the problem. Of course, the retrieval of my wallet, license and credit card was a great relief. I will always feel free to highly recommend your services.

~A recent guest from Baltimore, MD

Smoky Mountain Children’s Home

Happy Camper — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 16:54:00 GMT

Friday, July 13th Mountain Rentals of Gatlinburg treated the children and their caretakers of Smoky Mountain Children’s Home to a night out at the ballpark. They attended the fireworks night at Smokies Baseball Park and were treated to a picnic before the game. There were plenty of smiles to go around including my own. I went to this event hoping to see children that endured hardships become enthusiastic kids. I did get a little of my expectations, but what I walked away with was much more valuable. I spoke with the director and some of the caretakers to get a better understanding of what the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home provides. These children come from homes that are unfit or they have problems of their own that require outside help. They live and learn at the home while there are about 8-10 children per house with a designated caregiver. I thought the kids would be so excited about getting out of their daily routines to the ballpark – who doesn’t like the park, the smells, sounds- the excitement of it all, but it never occurred to me that some may be quite jaded. I was informed that two of the older children were not interested in attending our little picnic. The boys asked to roam around a bit and permission was granted so I watched them walk away. Imagine the disappointment I felt and a little sheepish considering my level of enthusiasm. So, I accepted this reality and began watching some of the younger children playing.
I decided before the game started I better snap a few photos of the staff (you cannot use photographs of the children due to rules and regulations) so I asked them to line up. They were happy to oblige, but four of the younger children were so excited about pictures that they had be in a few. Knowing I could not use these I still took them because the smiles were priceless. I learned that these children usually do not have any photographs of themselves! What? No baby pictures, no first curl of hair, no bath tub pictures to be used against them in high school?! No – nothing. I cannot imagine. The director told me that during their stay at the children’s home they try to create Life Books for them, so they will have something of themselves. I was truly touched by how involved and committed the staff seemed to be to each and every child. By this time a few hours have passed and I am just milling around the park and then standing in front of the bleachers I began feeling tearful and giddy at the same time because the two boys I previously mentioned were walking towards me with a coke and a bag of cotton candy. They had become the enthusiastic kids I had hoped for. I am proud to be part of a company that is devoted to making our community a better place.

A few ways we are working for You:

Happy Camper — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 22:11:00 GMT

Our website has been optimized to make online shopping a breeze. A new feature was added to allow our guests to view homes by the same owner and those within walking distance without navigating away from their rental choice.

See images 1 and 2.

A filter is available on our website to help you select the perfect cabin with all of the amenities, the setting and location you desire.

See image 3.

Gatlinburg Events and Attractions are within a click of the mouse or a phone call 866-482-1044 ext.2858 to our helpful Concierge. Your Vacation time is valuable, so let us book your tickets!
The weather forecast is always available online to help you pack the perfect outfit!
…. And we know you can’t wait to arrive so check out or webcam for a sneak-peak of Gatlinburg. It is live and streaming 24hrs a day!!!

Wish you were here!

100,000th Guest Checked In!

Happy Camper — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 21:24:00 GMT

It was a proud day for Mountain Rentals of Gatlinburg when our 100,000th Guest Checked In! We surprised them with a Smoky Mountain Gift Basket and a Gift Certificate to The Greenbrier Lodge! We also made them pose for a few pictures so we could post them on the blog - Thank you guys! I hope they will comment on their stay and experience with Greenbrier Lodge.
Mountain Rentals of Gatlinburg has worked hard to reach this milestone and with continued focus on customer service and professionalism we are looking to the future for our 200,000th Guest.

Happy Summer in da Smokies!

Happy Camper — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 18:48:00 GMT

School out for Summer! Vacationing in an area like the Great Smoky Mountains is perfect for the whole family. The Smoky Mountain National Park has hiking trails for all levels of experience from elementary to experienced. When choosing a hike you will need to consider skill level, how much time you would like to spend and the scenery you desire.
If you are interested in peaks you will want to visit Clingmans Dome. This beautiful area has roads that traverse the landscape with scenic pull offs that provide spectacular views. Clingmans Dome boasts an elevation of 6,643 ft (the highest point in the Park) so be sure to bring a light jacket as the weather is much cooler at this elevation. The 30 minute walk to the viewing area is well worth it with a view of approximately 20 miles on a cloudy or poor air quality day and up to a 100 mile view on a clear day. Several trail heads start here including the Appalachian Trail.
Waterfalls are one of the most spectacular features in nature. They give you a sense of wonder and awe as they rush down the mountain side. There are several trails that lead you through the lush landscape and end at a magnificent fall. Laurel Falls is 2.6 miles round trip with a paved pathway. This fall is 80’ high and the hike is considered moderate. Abrams Falls has a moderate rating and is 3 miles round trip. The Falls are only 20’ feet high, but this fall has the highest water volume of any park fall.
If you are looking for a scenic drive you cannot miss Cades Cove (Abrams Falls trail is accessed here). This 11 mile loop of scenic road has something for everyone. There are historic churches, cabins and barns waiting to be explored; some can be accessed from the road while others require a short walk. There are great areas for a picnic lunch and wildlife is everywhere. You may also ride bicycles along the loop. The traffic can be very heavy in season, most people take the loop very slowly and stop frequently to catch a glimpse of the wildlife and enjoy every minute of the experience, so be patient and appreciate all that the Great Smoky Mountains Park has to offer!

Share your Smokey Mountains stories and photos with us!!! Here are some of them...

Bears, Bears & More Bears!

Happy Camper — Fri, 18 May 2007 15:51:00 GMT

The Rotary Club of Gatlinburg held a Banquet and auction on May 10th to raise money for the Rotary. The Rotary Club of Gatlinburg is an asset to our community assisting in service projects, benefits for local charities, scholarships and providing assistance to those less fortunate in our community. Many area businesses participated, including Mountain Rentals of Gatlinburg, by purchasing a Bicentennial Bear to be auctioned and placed around various locations in our community.

The bicentennial bear was crafted by Kathy Teauge of Teauge’s Concrete Works. This blank canvas was the beginning of many beautiful bears to come! The area participating businesses enlisted local artists and members of the community to add character and charisma to these adorable creatures! The Rotary raised $15,000 and the most prized bear went for $1,400 (that was one charismatic bear).
We are looking forward to the Rotary Club of Gatlinburg continuing to flourish and help make our community a better place for all of our citizens.

Here are a few pictures of the Bears! Enjoy…

Explore the Eastern Foothills Parkway, A Road Less Traveled

Doug Clark — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 04:02:00 GMT

The eastern section of the scenic Foothills Parkway is a great way to start your Smoky Mountain vacation.

Access the Foothills Parkway from Interstate 40 exit 443. This is an excellent way to get to Gatlinburg from the east. The Foothills Parkway is a scenic less traveled six mile road connecting to Highway 321 Cosby. Turn left at 321 and its an easy 20 miles to downtown Gatlinburg. Click here for the map

I took this less traveled route on my way back from a ride to Maggie Valley and Cherokee, NC. I’ve included some pictures from the Parkway. If you have a chance, I highly recommend the road less traveled. If you are driving from the east of Gatlinburg, this route will cut miles and time off your trip.

The breathtaking views of the mountains change from minute to minute. There are several pullouts where you can stop and take in the sights.

For more pictures and information about the scenic Foothills Parkway click here.

Life is good, enjoy it!

Doug

entrance to parkway from I-40 East exit 443

click on any picture to zoom in

view to the south and the park from the parkway

Tip: Thinking about a vacation in the Smokies? Click here to see our vacation homes managed by Mountain Rentals.

Choosing a Place to Stay While in the Smokies

Doug Clark — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 20:53:00 GMT

Planning a trip to the Smokies can be almost as much as an adventure as getting there. There are so many choices where do you start? Suit yourself. That is the best starting point. Pick a place to stay that suits your lifestyle.

You can choose from Hotels and Motels, Condos, Cabins and Chalets, RV Parks or Campsites. Urbane to Primitive and everything in between.

Hotels and Motels

Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville hotels and motels can accommodate 20,000 guests or more. Prices range from forty dollars to several hundred dollars per night. Amenities range from very basic to suites with in room whirlpool tubs and fireplaces. Most hotels and motels are close to the Parkway putting you near the action. Hotel rooms, while convenient are all pretty much the same wherever you go. Small, typically not very well decorticated, and often dated, worn and not very clean. If you travel on business, you know what I mean. So why plan a trip to the Smokies and stay in a hotel room?

If you like to be close to the action and are staying for two nights or less, a nice hotel or motel room may be right for you. Since there are so many rooms available you may be able to find a good deal. Be careful though, rates tend to skyrocket during peak seasons, summer, fall, and during the holidays. Pigeon Forge has several car shows and rod runs every spring and fall. When r ods run, rates peak.

To pick a motel or hotel, start by going on-line. www.tripadvisor.com for rants and raves.

Condos

Most condos like hotels and motels are within walking distance of the parkway. Many are in high rise apartment like buildings. Condos are typically larger like apartments and many have decks with views and gas fireplaces. Many have two or more bedrooms. Some condos in outlying areas like Cobbly Nob about 10 miles east of downtown Gatlinburg have amazing views of the Mountains.

Condos are typically owned by private individuals who use them as vacation or weekend getaways. They are decorated to the owner’s individual taste. As such their taste may vary.

Most owners use a rental agency to manage their units. Some owners manage the unit themselves. While some owner/managers to a good job many do not. If the owner is not local, and if he or she does not manage their units as a full time job and you have a problem, you may continue to have the problem will after 5:00 PM.

Go to Google and search for “vacation condos Gatlinburg” or “rental condos Gatlinburg” to find them. Look at the pictures, listed amenities, and property description. While you’re at it, check the availability calendar to see how the unit is doing. Use Google Maps to check the unit’s location too.

When choosing a Condo for your vacation in the Smokies, your choice of rental agency is as important as finding the unit that suits your needs. More on that later.

Cabins and Chalets

Like condos, most rental cabins and chalets are privately owned and managed by a rental company. Cabins and chalets are often the owner's vacation homes.

Cabins are typically log or wood sided in a wooded setting. Many have views of the Smoky Mountains. Some are on creeks or rivers. Most have a rustic feel but with all the modern amenities.

Chalets are found in similar settings, but have a more European ski lodge feel. Both typically have decks with hot tubs, grills, porch swings, rockers, picnic tables and such.

The smallest units like “Park Models” are 400 sq feet or less. They are studio units with one great room. These are often all honeymooners on a budget need. Larger rental homes may have 5 or more bedrooms. Typically 1 bedroom units go for $95 per night and up. Two bedroom units run $120 per night and up. Larger units can cost $1,000 or more!

Since these units are real homes, they include the things you would find in a typical home plus some extras.

Typical amenities include:

TV’s in the living room, game room and bedrooms
DVD’s
Stereos
Fireplaces
Fully furnished Living Rooms often with queen sleeper sofas and recliners
Dining rooms with dining table and chairs
Fully equipped kitchen with refrigerator, range, and dishwasher
Cooking utensils, pots and pans
Coffee maker
Micro Wave Oven
Dishes glasses coffee cups and silverware
Iron and ironing board
Bath or bathrooms with tubs and showers
Hair dryer
Jacuzzi tub
Hot tub
Outdoor furniture
Grill
Bed clothing
Towels and linens

The latest trend has been the addition of game tables like pool, foosball or air hockey. Some high end units have pinball machines and juke boxes. Many units have wireless high speed Internet.

As with condos, each home is decorated by the owner to reflect the owner’s taste and tastes may vary. Most successful home owners try to keep their units from becoming dated, some use professional decorators. Again, go on-line to and look at several homes before booking.

The question is, why stay in a hotel room when you can rent a fully furnished home for about the same price?

Cabin location is important. We prefer to be away from the crowd. We come to the Smokys to relax, enjoy nature and peace and quiet.

Some of the newer homes are being built in “cabin communities”. These units are built on small lots with 100 units or more crammed on to the side of a mountain. Thes developers are loosing touch with what the Smokies are all about. Hopefully the city fathers will put a stop to this. I’ll save that discussion for another day…

Choosing a Rental Company

In case you are interested, usually the rental company gets 40% of the rental revenue and the owner gets 60%. After additional charges the split usually is closer to 50/50. If I’ve tweaked your interest in becoming a vacation rental owner, choosing a rental company is as important or more to the owner as you the guest.

There are over 100 rental agencies serving the Smoky Mountain area. The quality of service provided by these companies varies tremendously. We have been coming to the Smokies for years and have used several rental agencies. After much research, we chose Mountain Rentals of Gatlinburg to manage our properties. We first found Mountain Rentals on the Internet. On Google I typed “cabin rentals Gatlinburg” and the Mountain Rentals website was on the first page. Their website impressed us with its professional design. It is easy to navigate and the pictures descriptions and virtual tours are very helpful.

As guests Mountain Rentals always provided us with quality properties that were clean and well maintained. Extras like the free goody bag on check in, discount tickets for area attractions and free horseback riding were a plus, but friendly service and their reasonable rates impressed us the most. If you are planning a stay in the Smokies, check out their website at http://www.mountainchalets.com/.

If you would like to see our cabins, check them out at http://www.smokychalet.com/

Hope this helps. Bye for now.

Doug, Carolyn and Sam Clark

Let the Good Times Roll

Happy Camper — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 13:01:00 GMT

My favorite Gatlinburg event is just around the corner - the 6^th annual Ribfest and Wings!!! It is a day made for over eating, entertainment and for men to claim the title of “THE MAN” by not crying from the hottest sauce you have ever tasted (Death by Wings) or win the hot wing eating contest! I have noticed that the men seem to get an exceptional amount of dust in their eyes though? I’m just givin’ em’ a hard time.
This event has something for everyone - a $10.00 armband gets you a pass to free-for-all sampling or you can purchase wings and ribs individually, the bands are rockin’ with Marshall Tucker Band (Southern Rock) and The Beat Daddys (cool cats, soulful rock-n-roll blues) and the kids? They are covered too - face painting and balloon animals.
I highly recommend you make it to traffic light #3 (across from Hard Rock Café ) on Thursday, April 19^th from 4 – 9 PM. After the event ends enjoy some of Gatlinburg’s nightlife. If you need a cold one to get rid of the pain go to Hard Rock Café, TGI Friday’s or Crawdaddy’s and if you need to work off the food go dancing at Blaine’s Bar and Grill, but anywhere you go “Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler!” ( Let the good times roll!)