We were very impressed with our recent stay at the Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort, and recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone – particularly families – wishing to enjoy all that the Smokies and Gatlinburg area have to offer.
We own with another time-share company, Diamond International, and find time-share accommodations work very well for our family. We have four children ranging in age from 7 to 21, so we highly value space and flexibility. Reviews of time-share properties often seem to misunderstand the concept; it is important to recognize that these resorts are not hotels. The maid does not come into the room to clean and change the linen every day. We particularly enjoy the space of timeshare apartments and willingly trade the services of a traditional hotel for the independent living of a time-share apartment.
We exchanged via Interval International to stay here. We think this review is fair and accurate of Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort as a time-share property. We look for quality accommodations, helpful staff and pleasant facilities and location, and have had a variety of experiences over the years in the US and Europe. Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort ranks up there with the very best we have stayed in.
We really liked the location of the resort. It is not on the Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge strips. It is located _just_ outwith the national forest with an entrance off the parkway between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. This made it easy to drive everywhere but gave us a calm and peaceful resort experience, despite the fact that we were only a few minutes away from the commerce of the main tourist areas.
The resort is large but very clean and well-staffed. There are security people at the gate 24 hours a day and the front desk was staffed at all hours of the night. There are trolleys around the resort and to nearby areas, but we drove around the resort or when we left. Again in response to another reviewer, we have a large vehicle and had no problem parking, nor did we find the spots small. We did see other guests parking in the fire lanes, which is very disappointing behaviour on their part.
We were a little skeptical about the policy of placing your trash on the curb, but after seeing it disappear within the hour every time and seeing the mother bear and her three cubs walking around, which was a huge event for the kids, we agreed with the policy.
We did not visit either of the onsite pools, which were quite small, but we did visit the waterpark one afternoon and had a great time. We also used the onsite gym, which was excellently equipped and maintained. There are kids’ (and adult) organized activities, but not a gym childcare facility or “parents night out” childcare, so if you have small kids you will probably need to stagger your gym hours. It is open 24 hours a day, by the way. The waterpark closes at 7pm or we would have used it more. As it was, by the time we returned from Dollywood, Splash Country or the National Park, we were usually too late.
With respect to the unit, we were really impressed. Check-in was quick (less than 10 minutes), polite and painless. We were assigned a very nice concierge and we were pleasantly surprised to find that we had been upgraded to a very large two double unit at the top of the mountain. Our concierge graciously allowed our two young daughters to ride up the mountain in the golf cart with her, which was a great hit. At our arrival to the unit, on the fourth floor of building 3000 (an elevator building), she took the time to explain the property and show us the amenities. (In response to some other reviewers, we should add here that a tip is appropriate in these circumstances, just as it is when a bellhop shows you to your room in a nice hotel. Don’t be cheap!) We were asked to undertake a “survey” on the property and, while we knew immediately this would be a sales pitch, we were happy to make an appointment to attend, especially given the treatment we had received. Everyone has to make a living, right?
We had a beautiful one-bedroom unit for the adults with a huge king-size bed, a plasma television and a Jacuzzi in the room. We had a shower with the traditional shower head from the wall and a “rainshower” head that came down from the ceiling. There was a double sink and locking separate room for the toilet. There was a full kitchen with microwave, dishwasher, garbage disposal, large refrigerator and a separate clothes washer and dryer tastefully placed in a closet. The large dining table separated the living room from the kitchen in an open plan. The living had two nice leather couches (one a queen sleeper), another plasma television and a gas fire log. We had a nice balcony that gave us great views of Obergatlinberg and the Smokies (see pictures).
The kids had their own adjoining one-bedroom lockoff apartment with bath and mini-kitchen. Both bedroom and livingroom (again with a leather sleeper sofa) in their apartment also had plasma TVs. Each TV had cable and a DVD player. Altogether, we had could have slept 8, comfortably and with privacy.
We were very impressed with the quality of the furnishings and the tasteful interior decorating. The interior designer and the buyer have done a great job of purchasing quality furniture, rugs, wall decorations and lighting that are placed in an excellent woodlands motif. It manages to be rustic without being cheesy; authentic and still extremely comfortable. The beds are superb.
We found the salespitch a little tedious for people who already own timeshare. We don’t need to be sold on the concept but want an honest explanation of the facilities and costs. We’d suggest stripping away some of the fluff and sexism (“the little woman is the one I talk to”) and a presentation limited to one hour might be more productive. There is, of course, no obligation to attend (unless you go on a very discounted sales experience, in which case that’s what you signed up for!).
Our whole family agreed that the Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort was one of our best resort experiences: the property is well maintained and equipped; everything was scrupulously clean; the staff were always friendly; the location is great and the views are superb. We made a point of speaking with Mr Fishlock, the Manager, to tell him how much we had enjoyed the resort and were really delighted with how invested he is in each guest’s stay. He runs an extremely professional team. Congratulations! We can’t wait to return.