Hotwire Hotel: 3* Gatlinburg - Pigeon Forge (Gatlinburg) Glenstone Lodge

[dangr]

Hotwire bid was $44, total after tax and fees is $55.35. Current best price through the hotel's website is $74 plus tax/fees, and I'm happy with this win. Used the BetterBidding HOTWIRE link -- thanks!

The reviews on tripadvisor for this place are all over the board, nearly evenly distributed from "excellent" to "terrible", so it'll be interesting to see how our stay goes. But for the price, I can't see having that much to complain about.

from hotwire's description:

Amenities

Free Parking

Free Internet

Indoor pool(s)

Pool(s)

Restaurant(s)

High-Speed Internet Access

Golf Nearby

Also did unsuccessful Priceline re-bidding using the BetterBidding PRICELINE link, up to $37, for 3*, trying to get Gatlinburg (Zone 1) and Gatlingburg North (Zone 3.) Three re-bids, starting at $30, all unsuccessful.

(Moderators: note that for City Zone, the system didn't seem to have a Gatlinburg South option, so I included it. Feel free to edit/correct.)

[AaronJB]

Congrats on your success.

Very nice win for this property and hope you are looking forward to your stay.

Thank you for letting us know about this new HOTWIRE property so that we can update the site's Hotwire Hotel List.

Thank you for sharing your win and using the site's PRICELINE or HOTWIRE links to start your purchases and searches.

Enjoy your stay.

[dangr]

The reviews on tripadvisor for this place are all over the board, nearly evenly distributed from "excellent" to "terrible", so it'll be interesting to see how our stay goes. But for the price, I can't see having that much to complain about.

I now understand why the reviews are all over the place. Our stay was fine, for one night, and for the price, I can't really complain too too much. The price was, as noted, great. The indoor pool area is spectacular (two pools, a hot tub, several waterfalls!) and the hotel is pleasantly located off of the tourist strip, but still an easy walk. We were very happy to have an outside facing room: the numerous rooms facing the pool would likely be quite loud during pool hours, and the humidity is practically like being in a steam sauna. The outdoor pool is unfortunately empty and locked, but would be nice during the summer.

We were told that "99% of our rooms are nonsmoking" but they clearly haven't always been, and the place hasn't been refurbished since its smoking days: you can easily smell musty old smoked-in room, in the furniture and wallpaper. The sink hardly drained at all, and at various times throughout the night there was a loud gurgling sound from the plumbing. The coffee maker had to be turned back on after turning itself off for no apparent reason partway through brewing. There was some weird thing going on with pitting and holes in the carpet, but it didn't bother us. Everything else worked decently. The room was basic, but did include a cube fridge, which was nice.

The hotel probably needs to be gutted, and really isn't worthy of the three star rating Hotwire gives it. There is just no reasonable way to say that this is equivalent to what Hotwire says you'll get for 3 stars:

"

Radisson Hotels & Resorts

Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts

Four Points by Sheraton

Hilton Garden Inns

La Quinta Inns

"

it's really more in Hotwire's 2 star class examples:

"

Best Western Inns

EconoLodge Hotels

Howard Johnson Hotels

Microtel Inns & Suites

Clarion Hotels

"

And actually, I've stayed in nicer and better maintained of all of those examples. But if I'd bid at 2 stars, I would have been totally happy with Glenstone.

I'm really not one to tear apart hotels, and am only posting this because of my original comment about the reviews. Glenstone wasn't horrible, the pool area was fantastic, and for one night, we dealt. But we agreed we were glad it was only one night.

[yellowdog]

dangr

Sorry to heat that the hotel didn't live up to your expectations.

We cross our fingers for a better hotel next time.

Yellowdog.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.