When I got the invite to attend Dolly Parton's 37th season opener of Dollywood, I just had to be there! I love being in the presence of Dolly! It'll be my 4th time seeing her in person.
And with Dolly in town, I knew hotels would sell out quickly, so I hopped on Priceline to see what's available.
While browsing Priceline, I saw primarily cabins available and some budget-friendly hotels. (A lot of cabins were vacant because the snow was coming for the weekend)
I was traveling alone with my teen daughters, and we all needed space for ourselves to have our own beds and at least two bathrooms, so a condo would fit our needs.
I saw a couple of condos on Priceline had vacancies, but the star ratings were too low for my taste. When it comes to booking, the hotel/condo must have a 3 1/2 star or more rating, plus a majority of good reviews for me to book a stay.
At first, I wasn't having any luck and almost booked a cabin, but then The Resort at Governor's Crossing appeared (Retails about $200+ a night, depending on season).
I have seen that they have hotel suites and offer two-bedroom condos that fit up to 7 people. The reviews were decent on TripAdvisor, and The Resort at Governor's Crossing was rated the Best Resort for Families 3 years in a row! After seeing these things, my mind was made up, and I quickly booked our 3-night stay.
Judging by the photos, it looks a bit similar to Wilderness of the Smokies my family and I visited several years back, but a smaller version.
We arrived on a Thursday night, checked in, and the friendly front desk clerk placed us in Building 1; there are a total of 3 colorful buildings close together.
This 232 Luxury Condominium Resort offers a wide variety of experiences for guests ranging from indoor and outdoor waterparks to Firefly Cove, a park environment with putt-putt, play areas, and fire pits. Travelers frequently note the wide variety of activities, the friendliness of employees, the cleanliness of guest rooms, and the size of these luxury condos.
When we got to our condo, I noticed our window and deck view was of the backwoods, so there was a lot of peace and privacy.
But I also noticed the interior decor was a bit dated. White appliances, light brown cabinets, chipped dressers! Umm, I paid over $1100 for three nights and would like to have up-to-date interior design!
Maybe this condo is going for an old-school grandma's house theme? The Resort at Governor's Crossing is currently undergoing renovations, so I assumed that this condo we were placed in wasn't redesigned yet. I hope that's the case.
In the hallway leading to the main bedroom, I also noticed a picture of an older couple on the wall. Could this condo be privately-owned? I didn't snap a photo of the couple for privacy reasons. However, that could explain why the condo is dated; usually, older people don't like the modern style.
However, at least the condo was comfortable, spacious, and clean, which is the most important. Well...my bed was a little stiff, but nothing too terrible; it provided a good night's sleep.
The kitchen was stocked with supplies, and next to the kitchen was a dining room and living room with a leather sofa bed and TV.
The two large bathrooms have their own soaps, shampoos, and conditioners. And the master bedroom has a large jetted tub.
Each bedroom (2nd bedroom has two queen beds) offered a flat-screen TV with cable, plus free, high-speed WiFi.
After a while, the condo grew on me; even though I didn't like the decor, I had a pleasant stay there.
Another bonus was the location was close to everything like restaurants, shops, and entertainment, including Dollywood and Splash Country! Also, minutes from Gatlinburg. And a huge plus, away from the traffic on the main strip in Sevierville/Pigeon Forge.
I would recommend The Resort at Governor's Crossing to families looking for a home away from home, plus fun activities to keep everyone occupied on the property.
Also, check out Riverstone Resort and Spa in Pigeon Forge and a log cabin my family and I stayed in the foothills of Sevierville.
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