What a rare gem! From the time you drive up until the time you get up from the breakfast table you…read morefeel...at home. The room we stayed in was clean and comfortable, I love the pink retro tile in bathroom. There are little welcoming niches all around the property that invite you to sit a spell. The owner was very present and personable! Loved sitting in the porch rockers before daylight with a cup of coffee, then I moved to outside dining room as the sun was rising over the mountains. The breakfast was delicious too!

Not for the elderly who are not in top physical shape. The grounds and walkways are horrendous…read more Totally uneven and what is supposed to be a walkway is so dangerous we could not stay there. We were told that being that we could not stay there would be a charge card fee of $12 which I had no choice but to agree to. But, they charged $40. I feel like I was totally ripped off.

I've read all of these reviews, and it seems like the inn does, too. Most of the problems have…read morebeen addressed, and some just can't be. It's important to keep in mind that this is an old, historic building that is retrofitted to a modern world. So, rooms are a little bit different. Yeah, they don't have microwave ovens, or refrigerators, but are those really needed? They have coffee makers, irons, ironing boards, and comfortable, spacious rooms. Our bed was tops, and we slept great. I also liked how the shower "got hot" very quickly; almost instantly, and the water pressure was great. The bathroom is a little small, but that's mostly because of the retrofit. I don't think the original hotel even had bathing facilities in each room. The bathroom is big enough for anything you really need to do in there. The closet is small, too, but again, it's big enough. We were there when a golf tournament was going on, and yet, the rooms and hallways were still very quiet. On top of that, the service is incredible. Several people came by our table to ask if everything was ok, and how we liked it. It is the epitome of Southern Hospitality, and charm. There is a big, outdoor pool for the kids, a lot of beautiful, green space for enjoying the lovely mountain view, and, of course, golf. We don't play, but it was kind of fun watching tournament attendees tee off. When you stay at this place, expect to be treated very well, and made to feel like a guest. As for the problems with checking in, it's not that hard. There's plenty of parking, even when a tournament is on. Golfing, or not, it's a nice, quiet, peaceful retreat.

Very disappointing experience for a milestone birthday…read more I booked the Waynesville Inn and Country Club, a Hilton Tapestry Collection property, for October 21-24 to celebrate my 65th birthday. Unfortunately, we were so disappointed with our room that we checked out immediately and stayed at a Hampton Inn, which was much nicer and less expensive. When booking through central reservations, I was told that only a mobility-accessible room was available. I specifically asked whether that meant it was on the first floor, because that was not what I wanted for this celebration. I was told no. Yet the room we received was on the first floor. Before our arrival, I called the property, requested a room with a balcony, and asked to be placed on a waiting list. I spoke with the same agent, Reed, on multiple evenings as well as others, explaining what I was looking for and that this was a special birthday trip. No alternative became available, but I wish those conversations had given me a clearer understanding of the accommodations we would actually receive. Our room was in an annex that, to me, looked more like a basic roadside motel than the charming country club property I had anticipated. The parking area behind the building added to that impression. At check-in, I commented that I hoped the inside looked better than the outside and was assured that the rooms had been fully remodeled. The room was extremely bland. The best way I can describe it is a college dorm room before anyone has decorated it. A scratched wooden table with thin legs held the coffee maker, and the furnishings felt sparse and uninviting. Nothing about it felt special or celebratory. I was so disappointed that I did not think to take pictures, and I regret that. Reed explained that the central reservations staff had never visited the property and would not have known about the first-floor location. That may explain the misinformation, but it does not excuse it. My issue was not the room's accessibility features. It was the inaccurate information, the appearance and condition of the accommodations, and the missed opportunity to set realistic expectations after I had clearly explained what I wanted. A little honesty and clearer communication would have gone a long way. I could have booked a different property in advance instead of starting my birthday celebration by checking out and finding another hotel.

This was the cleanest hotel shower I have ever been in. They also had nice towels. All of the…read morehousekeepers and breakfast employees were wonderful. Janet, in housekeeping takes pride in her job. Try to get a room upstairs in the front for the best views. There are rocking chairs in front of those rooms. About 2 miles from the historic downtown.

We don't sleep well either night. First night my pillow smelled like a dog so I couldn't sleep and…read morehad to keep covers off me due to this. Told front desk, got new covers apparently and they had a blood stain on it and the nasty pillow was never exchanged etc and remained on the armoire until we left. Night two, after getting "clean linens" a bug crawled on hubs side of the bed and we didn't sleep that night either....needless to say we won't be back and the front desk was made aware and the manager had emailed and apologized....damage is already done.

I remember telling my wife the last time we were here that if I could build my dream cabin-it would…read morebe the Balsam here at the lovely and cozy Swag. Two bathrooms, two steam showers, sauna, living room with fireplace, outdoor balcony with fireplace and shower, and it's right across the fence from our nations most popular park-Great Smokey Mountains National Park. We walked right out our door to hike. Nearby trials take you to waterfalls, waterwheels, and the spectacular panoramics from atop Gooseberry Knob or Hemphill Bald. We returned from one of our hikes just in time for the Swag's stellar bbq picnic. That leads nicely to the food and service which is as good as it comes-and frankly what you can expect from a Relais and Chateau. Tables with your names for breakfast and dinner, nightly bites during happy hour, and even lunches to go for your adventures. Which, for us even included horseback riding at the nearby stables. Naturally, they were waiting for us when our ride ended in one of their electric fleet of Volvos to whisk us back up the windy road into a vacation of our dreams!

We have just enjoyed a wonderful fifth annual July visit to The Swag to celebrate our 56th wedding…read moreanniversary. The Swag is a premier lodge nestled on a mountainside in the Smoky Mountains high over Waynesville NC. It offers spectacular views, immediate access to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park by simply walking through a gap in the fence outside the main lodge, fine dining, pickleball courts, a spa, and a small gym and pool. An expert naturalist is often in residence and conducts a variety of activities, including organized hikes, talks about wildlife (bears, coyotes, bioluminescence and other interesting aspects of the natural world).  Other activities include a presentation on coffee making by their barista and wine tasting sessions. But if all you want to do is just have a wonderful place to  relax and enjoy being in the great outdoors, The Swag is one of the best places you can go. The Swag is a Relais and Chateaux resort so accommodations are excellent and range from a comfortable, well furnished bedroom for two to a cabin suitable for an entire family. À la carte breakfasts, packaged lunches (including backpacks and water bottles if needed), and four-course dinners are included in the daily rates. The lunch and dinner menus change daily, but dinner entree choices typically include beef, seafood, poultry and vegetarian options. On Wednesdays and Saturdays there is a mountain top lunch picnic with abundant food. Thursday evening is barbecue night. Food at The Swag is locally sourced and quality standards are exceptionally high.  Service at The Swag is truly exceptional. Every employee is focused on making sure all of your needs are met. The kitchen tries to accommodate any special requests. Much of the resort's clientele return year after year, and guests are automatically offered a return reservation for the same time and accommodation next year at the time of checkout. This is great for established clients and has allowed The Swag to build a large band of loyal followers, including us, but this does make it harder for first-timers to get a reservation for a time and accommodation they would like. My advice is just keep trying!  We got our first reservation after many tries when someone cancelled while we were on the phone with the lodge trying to get one. Tradition means a lot at The Swag, and that is a good thing. My only suggestion to them is to consider adding an à la carte section to the dinner menu as many other fine dining establishments do. It would give the kitchen more opportunity to try out dishes before adding them to the prix fixe choices and allow guests who may not want a full four course dinner every night an alternative. I realize that this would complicate the traditional pricing scheme, but that should be manageable.

We enjoyed our stay at the Yellow House in Waynesville. It is a beautiful house and property, and…read morewe had amazing mountain views from our room and on the porch relaxing in the rocking chairs. The quiet country setting is a very short drive from the busy area of town. Chad was a wonderful host, and the breakfast was delicious! Beverages and baked goods and snacks were also appreciated. We had everything we needed in our very cozy, comfortable, clean room, with beautiful furnishings and a fireplace for the chilly weather. The common areas for guests were comfortable and beautifully furnished as well. We only stayed one night and were fortunate to book that because the B&B was fully booked. We love the Waynesville area and hope to stay at the Yellow House again. Thanks!

The Yellow House B&B is a hidden gem in Waynesville, NC! It's lovely and the accomodations are…read morebeautiful, cozy, and perfect for a good nights sleep! Oh and breakfast--a yummy start to your day! it was delicious! The owners and staff have done a wonderful job to make sure you have everything you need for a comfortable and delightful stay! A must stay while in the area!!! We'll definitely be back!!!

First, the NEGATIVES: . We paid for a lakeside room but our…read moreview was obstructed by a half-height wall jutting up from the 3rd floor And the windows weren't clean so when the sun hits them the view is dramatically reduced. The pictures they show online are not what we got, and we paid an average of $240 a night. . The TV is new and nice but the staff couldn't get the Bluetooth feature working for us. We spent far too much time trying. The remotes are just plain weird. We couldn't figure out how to operated the thing, had to call the front desk. . The sink is in the bedroom. The bathroom is claustrophobic. Also no exhaust fan. . There was no housekeeping our entire stay (Thurs-Sunday). We ran out of toilet paper and couldn't even find a housekeeping cart anywhere on our floor. Our garbage was overflowing. We ate in our room a couple of meals and there was no place to get rid of the containers. . No microwave . The bed is comfortable but it holds heat. We both woke up in the middle of the night feeling hot. BREAKFAST . For heaven's sake, people, figure out how to keep a steady supply of coffee. There was always a line of people rushing the urn when they brought it out. Also, if you would move it a couple of feet away from the cream and sugar, we wouldn't have to wait for the person in front of us to put it in their coffee before they could move away and let the next person pour a cup. . The only choice for eggs is scrambled eggs held on a steam table. Therefore, cold rubbery eggs. . Anything that could be over sweetened was. I'm looking at you, Baked goods and yogurt. ON THE POSITIVE SIDE, it appears the rooms have been updated since all the earlier complaints. Ours was very clean and reasonably modern. The staff were very nice. The public spaces were spacious and we enjoyed having our breakfast on a table on the balcony. BREAKFAST: The bacon and the biscuits were excellent, and there was always fresh fruit. I didn't try the waffles or pancakes, but they looked like you would expect when piled up in a pan. Apparently people come here and pay $15 for the breakfast. I wouldn't.

If incompetence, neglect, and spectacularly misguided priorities were hospitality awards, The…read moreTerrace at Lake Junaluska would be a five-star resort. Unfortunately, when measured against actual standards of service, cleanliness, and food quality, this establishment is an embarrassment. Apparently, a college football team that booked just one day before our arrival became the property's most treasured guests. Everyone else was merely an inconvenience. Rooms weren't ready until well into the evening, restaurant reservations were unavailable because the team took priority, and paying guests were left scrambling for dinner elsewhere. How charming. And then there's the culinary experience. The Bistro served a flaccid trout accompanied by boiled rice and succotash--a plate so uninspired it could have been the centerpiece of a hospital cafeteria's disappointing Tuesday special. On a brighter note, the cracker-crumb fried chicken reminded me of my family's humble home cooking. Unfortunately, that brief moment of nostalgia was destroyed by collard greens that tasted suspiciously like someone had melted a cinnamon Yankee Candle into the pot. Add the excessive parsley sprigs and lemon wheels, and suddenly I was dining at a 1960s Howard Johnson's. The realization that an actual chef might have been responsible for this culinary time capsule was particularly disheartening. Our server enthusiastically informed us that the "big boss" had personally arrived the previous evening to take care of the football team and prepare his supposedly phenomenal Cathead biscuits. Given the kitchen's other achievements, I consider myself extraordinarily fortunate to have missed that gastronomic spectacle. Apparently, executive attention and culinary miracles are reserved for the football team. Breakfast, supposedly included with our stay, was another triumph of lowered expectations. No coffee. No eggs. No hot breakfast worth mentioning. Apparently, providing the advertised amenities was simply too ambitious. Our room was poorly cleaned, with liquid leaking from the toilet onto the bathroom floor. Nothing says relaxation quite like questionable bathroom sanitation. And where was management during this parade of failures? Nowhere to be found. Not a single manager on the premises to address the growing frustration among guests. The collective disappointment was so palpable that we finally decided to leave. The Terrace has somehow managed to combine the service standards of an overwhelmed roadside motel, the culinary imagination of a bygone cafeteria, and the management philosophy that ordinary paying guests should simply be grateful to exist. Lake Junaluska deserves better. Its visitors certainly deserve better.

my wife and I live nearby. We came for the breakfast buffet. the food was good and we have always…read moreloved the ambience. Every time we come here, we have interesting chats with the visitors and friendly staff.

This Inn is not for everyone... It is NOT a hampton nor a…read morefancy B&B. No AC and no room TV. It is a WONDERFUL look back into a historic time which has been made possible by two courageous folks and their crew! Claw foot tubs, wide porches w rocking chairs (and a playful cat) and its all tucked 3500 ft up by itself in the mountains. Enjoy the day(s)!!

We had a great experience from check in to check out! The lodge is nestled in the woods with lots…read moreof shade and trees. Our room was comfortable and decorated nicely. I didn't even want to get up in the morning with the A/C running and cozy king bed with the softest sheets. Lodge is a short 15 min walk to town with lots of shopping and restaurants. Great value for your money. Will be back again!

I gave it 3 stars since I didn't know I'd be climbing so many stairs. No lights outside our door…read morewhich was 12. The lock code didn't light up either. Didn't see many lights at other doors. Just one per landing. Rooms are clean and had everything we needed except with these old buildings there aren't enough outlets for today's needs. Maybe put lamps on the end tables that have USB outlets. Everyone needs to plug in their phones. I know it's difficult to wash the outside of the windows but maybe a couple of times a year wipe off some of the spiderwebs. Other than that the bed was very comfortable, but I never saw a Roku TV where you need a code to add your own apps. The notes tell you to take the garbage out but don't tell you what cabin it's near. The location is good and I would still come here now that I know more about it.

We stayed four nights here early in January. The temps were bitterly cold, but our room was warm,…read moreclean, and comfortable. It is an older motel, but is well kept, and we were generally pleased. The bed was soft but we slept good, and the heater worked well. Our room had a nice flat-screen TV with basic cable channels. We walked everywhere - to coffee shops, restaurants, and several breweries in downtown Waynesville. Nice proximity. The owners were accommodating when we decided to change our plans. We were however somewhat taken aback by several comments about Asheville and minorities made by one of them.

We absolutely love this place. Rick and Carolyn took personal Care of us and made us feel very…read morewelcome. We love the Smokies and when coming back this will definitely be our spot. We felt very safe and Loved the fact that we can just walk down the street to have dinner right in town and feel right at home. Jim & Myrna

This is an older hotel that is now an Econolodge. Its not posh or trendy by any means but offers a…read moregood value for the area. Rates are one of the lowest in the area and if you have a discount code at choice hotels and use it to book online that rate can even be lower. The rooms are large, the beds are good, the rooms all have a view, and each has a 2 chair deck where you can sit outside. There are several channels of free internet, and a free breakfast which isnt fancy but better than the average econolodge breakfast. I saw a covered pool. Hopefully it is open in season but I was there in April so it was covered. The drawback is some highway noise as your close to the highway, and having to pull out something to plug in your laptop. Its by no means the Ritz, but for what I paid I was very happy.

never got my security deposit back and was also charged TWICE, so not 50 dollars but 100. on the…read moremorning of my checkout the guy at the front desk wanted to have the door to my room painted. i have never been asked this before and when i am trying to check out, fresh paint can be quite an inconvenience. housekeeping was rude and always seemed bothered by the simplest request. would hand me her phone to text her what i needed because she couldn't speak English. the pool is nice and the balcony is too but the chairs on the balcony need to cleaned of bird droppings.