TN recommendation

[Medcinmn]

We're beginning to explore a TS purchase in the TN mountains. A few years ago we stayed in Laurel Crest (Pigeon Forge) and were happy. What other resorts in TN should I look for a 2/2 mountain TS?

Thx for any suggestions!

-Aaron

 

[grest]

If you take a look at the reviews, you should get a pretty good idea of what others have thought of the resorts they visited...just another resource for you.
Connie

 

[DianneL]

Tree Tops

We own at Tree Tops in Gatlinburg and have been pleased. It was our first timeshare purchase, bought in 1993. The property has been well maintained and the setting is nice and quiet. However, it is not within walking distance of downtown Gatlinburg and it is necessary to have a car to enjoy the area. I can't compare it to other timeshares in the area as Tree Tops is the only resort in the area in which we have stayed. Our unit is Week 22, two-bedroom, two-bath. It trades reasonably well, but not great. Good luck with your search.

 

[riverdees05]

Tree Tops

We own a floating (non-summer or leaf season) week. Tree Tops trades with both RCI and II. We have only traded with II and have felt good about the exchanges. We have a two bedroom with loft - stand alone unit.

We have owned it about 4 years and have not stayed in it yet, but hope to next year.

 

[BigAl_50]

Take a look at Crossville, TN

We own week 27 at Lake Tansi in Crossville, TN and have used it numerous times and enjoy the area. It also trades well through RCI.

 

[geekette]

If you enjoyed Laurel Crest, check out Mountain Loft, also a Bluegreen resort. It's not on the strip, but I like that. Quieter, more private, easy access to town, several pools and hot tubs, lots of different unit configurations, planned activities...

 

[tombo]

Gatlinburg Town Square is a nice resort and it trades with both II and RCI. Also GTS is one of only 2 timeshares in Gatlinburg within walking distance of main street in downtown Gatlinburg, and the resort has free underground parking when you are staying at the resort. I have purchased 2 weeks here because I love the resort and lately they have been selling for about $100 to $200 on e-bay. There are fixed weeks in Phase one and floating weeks in Phase 2. All of the phase 2 two bed room units are lock-offs. If you buy a floating week, make sure it floats the summer weeks because you can trade a summer floating week for any week of the year you want, but you can't trade a floating winter week for a summer week. If you get a fixed summer week you can trade it internally for any available week (1-52) for a $50 fee.

Parking will cost you between $10 to $15 a day in Gatlinburg, and it is very hard to find a parking spot at any price on crowded days.. Next door to GTS is the Crown Park Resort which is brand new. It seems like a nice resort but it is so new you will have a hard time finding a week for sale resale.

I am in Gatlinburg right now and staying at GTS. I have traded into several resorts in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge (many of these resorts were great and worth buying too) which weren't in walking distance of the main downtown strip. I personally prefer to be able walk to the attractions, restaurants, stores, and live music playing outdoors for free at numerous downtown locations. Last night at 11 PM it was cool outside and there were so many families and couples walking up and down the Parkway (main rd). It was fun and I couldn't have felt safer in my own backyard. There were different bands from rock to country playing outside at various parks and we listened to a couple of bands while we rested before moving on. If you get tired the trolley (costs 50 cents) stops right by GTS. I just got back from walking to a downtown restaurant to eat lunch followed by walking down the street looking in shops and people watching until we got hot and walked back to the room.

Less than a mile up the road from the resort and you are in the national Park on the Roaring Fork Motor trail. You can ride it in your car and stop at many lookouts and hike numerous trails including two trails to waterfalls. The motor trail is a one way road like Cades Cove with several old log homes and barns to stop and visit. The road ends back in Gatlinburg and is not nearly as crowded as Cades Cove. We hiked to Grotto Falls Saturday and just missed a momma bear and her 2 cubs according to hikers coming back down as we were on our way up. The waterfall is pretty and you can walk under it and behind it.

The rooms at GTS are nice and there is an indoor and an outdoor pool, shuffleboard, many rockers and tables with umbrellas, ping pong, and basketball. For the money I don't think you can find a better place in the Gatlinburg area than GTS.

 

[Lisa P]

GTS is in a great spot if you want to be within walking distance of the Gatlinburg tourist district.

We love Wyndham Smoky Mountains in Sevierville. It's on a road that connects Parkway (congested but lots of shopping, restaurants, activities and shows) with Middle Creek/Veterans Blvd (the excellent back roads that take you to Dollywood and lower Pigeon Forge while bypassing traffic). This resort has 2 clubhouses, 2 indoor pools, 2 outdoor pools (one w/nice mountain views), kiddie spray/splash zone, mini-golf, an activity room, 2 fitness rooms w/sauna & tanning, games rooms, computer area... we just enjoy it a lot.

But we only tend to go into Gatlinburg once in a weeklong stay. If you have Wyndham points (ours are based elsewhere, in NC), it's a fairly easy place to reserve and we're able to trade up using lesser points deposits in RCI, prior to the bulk spacebankings. But we rarely go in primetime.

 

[stratusnj75]

I would second the vote for Wyndham Smokey Mtns. The family and I went there on a whim in May, not really thinking it would be our thing, but we absolutely loved in and are planning on returning, hopefully with more of the extended family.

Devin