The Park Vista - a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel - Gatlinburg — Hotel in Gatlinburg

I would like to take a moment and critique our recent stay at the Park Vista on New Year's Eve. First, check in time is 4:00 pm, we were checked in at 4:20. Not a huge deal, but for the rate of $288 plus taxes and fees, you would expect better. We were told earlier in the day we could probably check in early as well. And the person working the front desk wasn't very welcoming, I know it's alot checking people in to such a big place yes, but for the price you do expect a little more, and I am not hard to please at all. This was my first time visiting the Park Vista, and the first time in Gatlinburg for New Year's Eve, I really should have done my homework, totally my fault. My wife and I were looking forward to a really nice night celebrating New Year's Eve in an adult setting, especially it being New Year's Eve. More to come on that. After checking in late, we reaxed some and did enjoy a nice view before heading down to the New Year's Eve buffet dinner. The buffet dinner was a really nice try Park Vista, but you missed the mark on a buffet costing $60.95 plus tax. The choices were there, but the quality was not. Really wished we would have head to the massive Gatlinburg crowd and had dinner at Chesapeakes, it is really a great place. And the bill would have been half the price, and really top quality food. Again, nice try on the dinner, but really sub par quality in my opinion. After dinner we went up to our room and relaxed a little before heading down to the New Year's Eve party. Arriving in the lobby we were met with at least 30-40 children ages 5-9 ready to party also. I just assumed New Year's Eve in Gatlinburg at one of the nicer hotels, it wouldn't be a kid and adult party. I guess parents today celebrate New Year's Eve in Gatlinburg with their little ones, and not to mention the many dogs joining the party! I love kids, I love dogs, but not necessarily for a New Year's Eve party, just my opinion. They did have an 18 and older party area that my wife and I could have gone to, but you had to pay $75 each for that. Just a suggestion Park Vista, for the adults who would like an adult only atmosphere for New Year's Eve, let them have access to the 18 and over area for no charge. Especially for the money spent on the room and buffet! Two years ago my wife and I spent New Year's Eve in New Orleans. The room at thd Wyndam was $160 a night, and dinner at one of the most upscale restaurants there was $110 for dinner and drinks.. I am suprised that Gatlinburg is that much more expensive. So, my suggetion, I would not recommend the Park Vista or Gatlinburg at all for New Year's Eve personally, and I realize it all depends on what you're looking for in a New Year's Eve party. I don't complain much at all about anything, but I wanted to give those thinking about the Park Vista and Gatlinburg for New Year's Eve. Personally avoid Gatlinburg all together during that time. If you do go to the Park Vista for New Year's Eve, eat dinner in town, I just personally am not a fan of hotel food, never had any that was really good. And attend the adult party if you are not interested in partying with 5-9 year olds and their pets. I appreciate the Park Vista for being a very family friendly hotel, I was just suprised it being New Year's Eve at one of the nicer hotels in Gatlinburg, the party for New Year's Eve wasn't geared more...

Our visit to the Park Vista Hotel in Gatlinburg Tenn. should have been a great time for our Anniversary Weekend, but it was not up to Hilton Double Tree Standards.|I attempted to book it thru Hilton Honors 7 days in advance, as I am a “Gold” member to get points, but the site indicated that nothing was available.|Therefore, I booked it thru Booking.com and got the same King city view $40 less than on the Hilton site. That didn’t seem right.|Upon arrival, I explained I booked thru Booking,com and the front desk clerk seemed disgusted with me because of that.|Then the front desk clerk made a big deal about many bears breaking into cars. That was the 1st we have heard about this issue in Gatlinburg.|They charge $15 per day to self-park a car in an outside parking lot. Wonder if that is used to pay for “Bear” security service in the lot.|I asked to be sure I was getting a King city view but was assigned a side view without a full city view.|The room, 1309 was rather small, had frayed carpet and had badly worn wood furniture which was dusty.|The balcony had a large pool of water on it. We thought it was from rain but it was actually from the AC affluents dripping from upstairs AC units. This had been going on for a while and they still rented it.|We turned on the TV which was difficult to navigate and the hotel displayed a large bear warning stating that there are about 25 bear car break ins in the area often.|The bed was good but the sofa was way too big for this small room. No light on the desk. No phone power ports.|The room entry doors are undersized (32”) and the bathroom is a “Micro” bath. No ADA compliance here.|The room had a small ice bucket but no glasses. Frig has missing racks. Trash cans had no plastic liners. Microwave was in the hall near the elevators.|On day one, I stopped by the empty hotel bar to inquire about a happy hour. The foreign bar tender seemed “tired” & she could not clearly explain what offerings were available|On day one we wanted to place an order at the restaurant and pick it up as a carry out. That’s apparently not allowed. Only room service with a 20% surcharge + tip.|We found that the pool snack bar would sell us a pizza to go.|On day two, we ordered breakfast off the menu at the restaurant. 10 minutes to be waited on. Foreign waiter screwed up our order and the bill. Pathetic.|On day two, we stopped by the empty hotel bar to order a drink. We were refused service because my 70-year-old wife did not have her ID with her. I had my ID at age 74 but we left.|The bartenders said it was because of Tenn. law. We had just spent the entire day all over the town, had drinks and were not ID’ed once. |I did not see the famous Double Tree chocolate cookies anywhere. I asked the front desk and they apparently hide them under the front desk. However, no signage to indicate that. Cheap out.|The center of hotel “atrium” with glass elevators is great as well as the pool area. Free “Red” town shuttle was also nice. The hotel looks great up on the hill but many disappointments when you get there.|This is just a poorly managed & maintained Double Tree which could do so much better. |Hilton should investigate how this place...

I gave this place a 3 star. Because it is too different hotels based off occupancy. I'm gonna document pros and cons. Pros: The rooms are large and have a refrigerator and coffee maker. The pillows are comfortable. The mattresses are comfortable. The pool is cute. The upper pool is made for adults and children over four feet. There is a slide for those children. There is a hot tub. The lower pool is made for younger children. There is a fitness center that is adequate. It has multiple machines as well as weights. It opens at six am. There is a fireplace in the bar lounge. You must buy a drink to enjoy it. There is an outdoor gas fire pit that is lit nightly. On entrance, the hotel is beautiful and has a lovely elevator. Circular system. Very much like embassy suites. The initial display is beautiful and it is in a location that is lovely and somewhat secluded at the entrance of the smoky mountains. CONS: On Sunday and Monday. I had no hot water for my shower.I was informed i needed to let the shower heat up for ten minutes with the water running to get hot water. I never had turned down service. The only time I received cookies was when I entered the hotel. I never received room service on the last day of my stay because it was on an off day.Monday, Tuesday Wednesday, Thursday in off seasons do not have as many guests thus paying guest do not get full services. . I was still charged $160 a night on average With tax and fees added including. Parking which is fifteen dollars a day. On monday, I received a phone call at six thirty at night asking if I wanted or needed room service. Of course I denied because it's six thirty at night. If you get a room that is Mountain View, please be aware. It's overlooking the parking lot. The swimming pool lower pool slide was being repaired, This meant children under four feet could not use it. The towels at the pool were inadequate. They were basically face towels. The pool and the hot tub finish was very rough. There was a mother that went down the slide in the pool and received a road rash on her elbow because it hit the bottom of the pool.. The outdoor fire pits are gas. You don't get a lot of heat from them when you're sitting around them. There are no fireplaces other than the bar. Breakfast is charged. this is not complimentary breakfast. On the weekends only, there's a breakfast buffet, which is $20. During the week. You must order allocart. There is no complimentary breakfast. To get into town, you must take a trolley or walk, which is about a fifteen minute walk into town. I could go on however, the basic concern is there are two different types Hotels. One which is in season or high occupancy, in which you receive full services. The other is off-season or low occupancy, in which there does not seem to be any services, and they really should be charging only about $60 a night. I would recommend them looking into a resort like Lakeside Lodge Clemson To know how to treat their guests for on...