The River Terrace Resort and Convention Center in Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Everyone likes to get away, for a few days of rest and relaxation, from work and other everyday responsibilities. Finding the right hotel is an important part of your getaway planning. Every hotel looks great in their brochures and websites, but how many times have you arrived only to find that the actual accommodations did not meet with your approval. I recently spent a couple of nights at the River Terrace Resort in Gatlinburg Tennessee. I would like to share with you my impressions of this hotel, and possibly help you make the decision if it might be right for you and your family.

River Terrace Resort is located on River Road. This is easy walking distance to many of the attractions and stores in Gatlinburg. Parking in Gatlinburg can sometimes be difficult, and having a hotel this close to everything is a real plus.

Locating the hotel was easy. If you are coming from Pigeon Forge, simply continue into Gatlinburg until you reach stop light number five. At this light the main drag splits off onto River Road. Bear right onto River Road and you will see the sign to River Terrace on your right. Turn right and cross the small bridge across the Little Pigeon River. The hotel office will be immediately on your right.

The hotel grounds are quite expansive. There are seven buildings, two swimming pools, Jacuzzi and picnic area. Parking is ample but occasionally cramped.

The process of checking in went smoothly. The clerk was courteous and efficient with the check-in process. We were given magnetic card keys to the room and directions to the building that we would be staying in. Each of the seven buildings is given a descriptive name and we had no problem finding our room. Each building has conveniently located parking.

My family and I stayed in building number two which is named Duck Watch. This is a two-story building that overlooks the Little Pigeon River. Our room was located on the second floor which could be accessed from a steep ramp. We were unable to find an elevator to the second floor. This ramp was steep enough that it could pose problems for people with disabilities or any one with lack of mobility. There was construction taking place near the ramp. Hopefully they are addressing the access problem to this building.

Access to all rooms is through outside doors. This is only a minor concern, but for security reasons, I always feel more comfortable entering my room from an interior hallway. The magnetic card key caused some minor problem entering the room because the lock was not clearly marked. After flipping the card a couple times we were able to gain access to the room.

On initial inspection, the room seemed dated but reasonably clean. The room was a typical shotgun style room. Immediately on the right was a small bathroom and on the left a decent size closet. The sleeping area was large with plenty of room to move around. My family of three had plenty of room and did not feel like we were getting in each other's way.

The amenities of the room included a dorm sized refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, hair dryer and iron. The refrigerator was able to keep drinks cool but not cold. We did not use the other appliances but they all seemed to be in working condition and clean. The room had the typical combination air-conditioner and heater. These worked well and we were able to keep the room quite comfortable.

A large sliding glass door led to a balcony which overlooked the Little Pigeon River. Our balcony only had one flimsy plastic chair. What could have been a nice and relaxing area to spend some time was compromised because of the sparse furniture. The sound of the Little Pigeon River flowing beneath the balcony was very nice.

The only entertainment equipment in the room was a small 19 inch television. The remote control was not working and the power switch on the television was broken. We were able to get the television to come on with a little fiddling of the power switch.

The bathroom facilities which included a combination shower and tub were reasonably clean. The shower worked well but we did experience problems with running out of hot water.

The two queen beds were comfortable and the linens were clean. The carpet in the room looked to be several years old and was slightly stained in some areas but appeared to have been vacuumed before we had arrived. I would give this room and acceptable rating for cleanliness given the age of the hotel.

The maid service was adequate. They cleaned and straightened the rooms well and left the appropriate supplies needed. There was nothing special about their service that left you feeling welcomed or appreciated. Not that special attention was expected but it's always nice to see a little pampered treatment.

My overall impression of the River Terrace Resort in Gatlinburg Tennessee is comparable to my experiences with other moderate priced hotels in this area. Many of them have been around several years and are showing their age. The service was adequate but nothing special. The accommodations were adequate but again nothing special. From my point of view the one thing River Terrace has going for it is the location. If you don't plan to spend much of your vacation time in a hotel room and you want easy access to the shopping area of Gatlinburg then I think you will find River Terrace to your liking. On the other hand if you want to be pampered and enjoy five-star accommodations you need to look elsewhere.

The River Terrace Resort and Convention Center is located at 240 River Rd., Gatlinburg, TN 37738. Their toll-free telephone number is 800-251-2040.