The Heavyweight Championship of Gatlinburg Lodging: Hotels vs. Cabin Rentals

Gatlinburg, Tennessee has become an extremely popular tourist destination over the past 70 years. People come from all over the country to experience the sights, sounds and attractions that Gatlinburg has to offer. The activities are plenty, the food is filling and the action is non-stop. At the end of the day, darkness eases in and the visitors, beginning to tire out, make their way back to their rented cabins and hotel rooms to get a good night’s sleep before heading out to do it all over again the next day. Now that you’ve decided to join in on all of the Gatlinburg fun, you only need to ask yourself one question about your Gatlinburg lodging: Hotels vs. cabin rentals -- what choice is right for me?

There is no real answer to that question, as everyone has different wants and needs when it comes to vacation lodging. Gatlinburg hotels can offer things that Gatlinburg cabins can’t offer, and vice versa. That definitely applies to Gatlinburg as well. It’s time to start thinking about what kind of a Gatlinburg experience you are looking for, so that you can find accommodation that suits your desires.

Gatlinburg Lodging: Hotels vs. Cabin Rentals, Round One -- Housekeeping

Let’s face it, Gatlinburg can be exhausting. The typical visitor’s day involves siteseeing, shopping, eating, listening, watching, walking, talking and laughing. You may note that sleeping did not make that list. After a full day of not sleeping, it might just be the only thing you want to do.

The great thing about coming back to your room at one of Gatlinburg’s many hotels is that the room is clean, the heater is on and the bed is made -- in some hotels even turned down. No fuss, no problems. Just jump into bed and get some shuteye. But with a rented cabin, you won’t really know what the housekeeping situation is like until you arrive. And since there’s no manager on site when you rent a cabin, you may end up crashing around in the dark looking for a key to a utility closet or throwing open drawers and cupboards to try to find the sheets.

The housekeeping issue is not hugely important to some people, but it is worth thinking about. You may not want to lift a finger on your Gatlinburg vacation, in which case a hotel might be the best Gatlinburg lodging choice for you.

Gatlinburg Lodging: Hotels vs. Cabin Rentals, Round Two -- Character & Atmosphere

It’s fairly safe to say that if you’ve seen one Motel 6 room, then you’ve seen them all. This, of course, doesn’t mean much if you’re just looking for a place to crash. If you don’t plan on spending much time awake in your room, then character and atmosphere probably won’t mean a thing.

On the other hand, finding two cabins that are exactly alike is quite a challenge. Gatlinburg’s rich mountain heritage and log cabin history means that you’re sure to find a wide variety of cabins to choose from, each with its own personality and spirit. Even each of the newer cabins and chalets, filled with well-appointed amenities and furnishings, has its own style. And since most rental cabins are privately owned, their owners have a tendency to treat them like homes, not just as pieces of property or businesses. This often means renters feel more at home, and perhaps even more relaxed, making Gatlinburg cabin rentals a tempting choice.

Gatlinburg Lodging: Hotels vs. Cabin Rentals -- Round Three: Pets and Space

Have a dog that loves to vacation with you? Then you know the importance of finding a place to stay that accepts pets. As a general rule of thumb, hotels are typically not interested in housing your pet. And those that will house pets may tack an additional fee on to the bill to cover cleaning and disinfecting.

Rental units like cabins and chalets are more likely to accept pets, though some of these may also add an additional cleaning fee. But since there are so many individually owned units to choose from in Gatlinburg, and since many of those allow pets, finding a place where both you and Rover can curl up by the fireplace shouldn’t be such a tall order to fill.

And what about space? A hotel is a public place, after all, so that means that whenever you are not in your room, you are with or around your temporary neighbors. Obviously, a cabin with its own private yard and surroundings will offer more of an opportunity to be alone. So if you’re looking to really get away from it all during your stay in Gatlinburg, perhaps a cabin or chalet is the way to go.

And the Gatlinburg winner is…

You.

It’s a draw between Gatlinburg hotels and the Gatlinburg cabins, because, well, both types of lodging do exactly what they are designed to do: house people. And since there are so many Gatlinburg lodging options to choose from, the real winner is the guest.

So, do some Internet research, choose the lodging that meets your requirements, have a lovely flight and enjoy your Zs.