YUK: About the Smokies Chalet and cabin rentals

NEVER USE THIS PLACE:
Sixth Year Anniversary and a much needed time away from work and kids. Arrived to our chalet during 0-10 degree temperatures. Got settled into chalet, had turned the heat up from 61 to 75 degrees. Two hours later, chalet was still cold and hadn't budged past 62 degrees. Called chalet rental office at about 6:00 PM. Woman said to give it time, that the electric had been off that day and it was so cold and we were at such a high altitude, that it may take awhile, but she would call us back in a little while to see if it warmed up, but in the meantime, just stay upstairs where it was warmer since heat rises. Our bedrooms, bathrooms, hot tub, and pool table were all located downstairs! We decided to try turning it onto emergency heat, but found that the temp dropped even more, down to 59 degrees, so turned it back to the normal heat. Around 8:00, woman still hadn't called, so we called her. She said she was at another chalet, but did offer to refund our money or move us to another chalet, one that had no view, no hot tub, no pool table..only thing it had was a big screen TV. We said, "No" to that since that was not what we spent money and time to travel to. But, she did offer to bring us some extra sheets, blankets, and electric heaters so that we could sleep on the pull out sleeper upstairs and the heating man would come the next day to fix it. We decided to do that. We built a fire to keep warm. Around 9:00 PM, she called and told us to put it on emergency heat and we told her that didn't work before, but she wanted us to try it again and see what happened between then and time she got there with the heaters, blankets, and sheets. 11:00 PM had approached and we were sleepy. We didn't want to leave the fire burning due to a hazard while sleeping, plus we were freezing! So, my husband called her to see if she was on her way. She absolutely lost it with him saying that we hadn't told her the roads were icy (which they weren't). We told her that they weren't icy when we came up and it hadn't rained, snowed, or done anything to cause ice. She continued to yell at him. We now didn't know what to do so, I called her and she yelled at me saying it had been a bad day and she had worked her butt off and we expected her to risk her life, but yet she wanted us to come down the mountain and meet her in town (risk our lives since she's now saying the roads are icy). I kept asking her to "calm down". She continued yelling about how everyone was in there nice warm comfy beds except for her. I tried to tell her that we had NO WARM COMFY BED (I think she was actually in her bed and didn't want to come out). I finally told her that we would be down the next day for a full refund. She said that was fine, but I was going to pay the cleaning fee of $55.00, that she was NOT going to eat that fee. I refused and that infuriated her and she hung up on me. She then called back and told me that she was calling the police to report us as being trespassers in one of her chalet rentals and to have them to escort us down the mountain, since I would not pay the cleaning fee. I told her to please call them! I then called them for a road report and to see if she had made this ridiculous report. They said the roads were fine, which we figured they were, and that she had not made a report. My husband was so upset at this point, we packed everything and left at 12:00 midnight and got a motel room. I was glad to leave because at this point, I didn't trust this crazy woman!!

kim wrote:

NEVER USE THIS PLACE:
Sixth Year Anniversary and a much needed time away from work and kids. Arrived to our chalet during 0-10 degree temperatures. Got settled into chalet, had turned the heat up from 61 to 75 degrees. Two hours later, chalet was still cold and hadn't budged past 62 degrees. Called chalet rental office at about 6:00 PM. Woman said to give it time, that the electric had been off that day and it was so cold and we were at such a high altitude, that it may take awhile, but she would call us back in a little while to see if it warmed up, but in the meantime, just stay upstairs where it was warmer since heat rises. Our bedrooms, bathrooms, hot tub, and pool table were all located downstairs! We decided to try turning it onto emergency heat, but found that the temp dropped even more, down to 59 degrees, so turned it back to the normal heat. Around 8:00, woman still hadn't called, so we called her. She said she was at another chalet, but did offer to refund our money or move us to another chalet, one that had no view, no hot tub, no pool table..only thing it had was a big screen TV. We said, "No" to that since that was not what we spent money and time to travel to. But, she did offer to bring us some extra sheets, blankets, and electric heaters so that we could sleep on the pull out sleeper upstairs and the heating man would come the next day to fix it. We decided to do that. We built a fire to keep warm. Around 9:00 PM, she called and told us to put it on emergency heat and we told her that didn't work before, but she wanted us to try it again and see what happened between then and time she got there with the heaters, blankets, and sheets. 11:00 PM had approached and we were sleepy. We didn't want to leave the fire burning due to a hazard while sleeping, plus we were freezing! So, my husband called her to see if she was on her way. She absolutely lost it with him saying that we hadn't told her the roads were icy (which they weren't). We told her that they weren't icy when we came up and it hadn't rained, snowed, or done anything to cause ice. She continued to yell at him. We now didn't know what to do so, I called her and she yelled at me saying it had been a bad day and she had worked her butt off and we expected her to risk her life, but yet she wanted us to come down the mountain and meet her in town (risk our lives since she's now saying the roads are icy). I kept asking her to "calm down". She continued yelling about how everyone was in there nice warm comfy beds except for her. I tried to tell her that we had NO WARM COMFY BED (I think she was actually in her bed and didn't want to come out). I finally told her that we would be down the next day for a full refund. She said that was fine, but I was going to pay the cleaning fee of $55.00, that she was NOT going to eat that fee. I refused and that infuriated her and she hung up on me. She then called back and told me that she was calling the police to report us as being trespassers in one of her chalet rentals and to have them to escort us down the mountain, since I would not pay the cleaning fee. I told her to please call them! I then called them for a road report and to see if she had made this ridiculous report. They said the roads were fine, which we figured they were, and that she had not made a report. My husband was so upset at this point, we packed everything and left at 12:00 midnight and got a motel room. I was glad to leave because at this point, I didn't trust this crazy woman!!

What's the name of the rental company & the chalet?

What's the difference? The Dolly Pig and her family of filth have transformed Sevier County into a redneck ghetto with out of control drugs, illegal aliens and crime. The more people that find out the truth the better off they will be. Piggy Forge is the a$$ hole of the universe. The depression should finally kill it once and for all. Thank God!

The rental company was "About the Smokies" located in Gatlinburg at light 3A on hwy. 321. The chalet was called "Panoramic Pointe".

kim wrote:

The rental company was "About the Smokies" located in Gatlinburg at light 3A on hwy. 321. The chalet was called "Panoramic Pointe".

Thanks

kim wrote:

The rental company was "About the Smokies" located in Gatlinburg at light 3A on hwy. 321. The chalet was called "Panoramic Pointe".

Now you know the truth about the Smokies. Sorry you missed steal your Dollarwood. They are the original thieves of the area.

yuk

this is a serious question...after reading all the comments of piggy forge...the wife and i are planning to see this place this wk end is it reaaaly that bad or just a lotta bs

USN wrote:

<quoted text>Now you know the truth about the Smokies. Sorry you missed steal your Dollarwood. They are the original thieves of the area.

deltakilo wrote:

this is a serious question...after reading all the comments of piggy forge...the wife and i are planning to see this place this wk end is it reaaaly that bad or just a lotta bs <quoted text>

My family and i have been to the area numerous times in the past few years. We have always been very pleased with our trips as there are plenty of restaurants, shows, and activities to keep everyone happy. Do be selective on lodging as many are older places. Pigeon Forge/ Sevierville area tend to have the newer places. In fact, one of the best we have stayed at is the econo lodge riverside. i normally do not stay at lower end chain hotels, however we lucked into this in a package deal and have since returned. Do not let the negative comments affect your trip. This place is known for them. Go and have fun, I am sure you will be pleased

You must check out the trip advisor website, they have a forum that can answer all your questions.
My family always has a great time.

What's the difference? The Dolly Pig and her family of filth have transformed Sevier County into a redneck ghetto with out of control drugs, illegal aliens and crime. The more people that find out the truth the better off they will be. Piggy Forge is the a$$ hole of the universe. The depression should finally kill it once and for all. Thank God!

Cecil Payne wrote:

What's the difference? The Dolly Pig and her family of filth have transformed Sevier County into a redneck ghetto with out of control drugs, illegal aliens and crime. The more people that find out the truth the better off they will be. Piggy Forge is the a$$ hole of the universe. The depression should finally kill it once and for all. Thank God!

This is really Mike Mgrdichian Tennesse's most
shameful child molester, from Kodak Tn ISP address is Bluefield VA.

I love visiting pigeon forge/gatlinburg. Never had a bad experience with chalet rentals until this year with the above mentioned company.

The company I work for has instructed us to never refund any portion of a rental. We are only to give a coupon for an additional stay and that is to have an expiration date. The hope is that the customer will put it away and not use it. If they do try to use it, we inform them that the prices have gone up and they have to pay the difference.

We also add additional charges when ever possible to cover the loss leader price of the cabin rental.

Another tactic we use is to move renters into different cheaper cabins so we can make more money.

We have been told that we are to really "stick it" to the renters because business is so slow.

I work for a huge cabin rental company and they have threatened to close because business is so slow.

Wow! That's good info to know.

C.C.W.-

What you are saying doesn't really surprise me. I own a cabin and used to be with a huge cabin rental company (wonder if it is the same one?) who would "stick it" to the owners whenever they could.

They kept saying it was "oops, a mistake" when I called a questioned a charge or rental amount on my owners statement. Sometimes I could get them to correct it and sometimes I couldn't.

I was told I had no say so in how my cabin was rented - that I was micro-managing it. Well, as far as I was concerned, until they were willing to step in and make my monthly mortgage payments I was going to be an active owner.

So not only are the renters feeling the brunt of their tactics, but so are the owners.

BTW, I am now rent by owner and loving it!

deltakilo wrote:

this is a serious question...after reading all the comments of piggy forge...the wife and i are planning to see this place this wk end is it reaaaly that bad or just a lotta bs <quoted text>

Have you gone and what did you think?

I wouldn't believe Cabin Company Worker.
I have personally worked with several cabin companies in regards to marketing and search engine marketing. In every industry you have "bad apples" but for the most part there are a lot of good companies in Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge. If this wasn't true, how else could the Smoky Mountains handle roughly 11 million annual visitors.
My only advice...Research for yourself! Based on my last study there are roughly 30,000 vacation rentals in the area. Surely you can find one that is competitively priced with good amenities.

I have never seen scammers like I have in the cabin rental industry. They tend to be filthy dirty and most of their advertised amenities don't work. I like it when they advertise "5 miles from Dollywood" and then when you get there you are an hour away. Most of these cabins are so far in the sticks, you'll never find your way there. I live in a subdivision that has unfortunately a large cabin rental place behind it. Thus, tourists drive through the subdivision like a bat out of heck doing their best to run over the kids playing. Then they can't find their cabins and sheepishly come back and ask one of the home owners they just tried to run over how to get there.
What cabin companies don't tell you is that if you show up anytime after 4 pm, they generally have left for the day and leave you a map and a key in a drop box. You are on your own at that point! You will drive for 2 hours in the sticks trying to find your cabin only to find when you get there it is filthy from a party and nothing works. There will be no one to call (becasue you arrived Friday night right??) until Monday and they WILL NOT REFUND A DIME. I am telling you, most cabin rental companies are TRUE scammers. I have stayed in many in my day (and yes I live here) and I would absolutely only reccomend one (Gatlinburg Falls) and really I would only reccomend staying in a hotel in Gatlinburg. Walking to everything is awesome and Gatlinburg is getting prettier every day (unlike Pigeon Forge)