Travel Tips and More

If you’re a frequent visitor of Pigeon Forge or the surrounding area, you probably know that cabins are a main staple for the lodgings there. There are plenty of other options, too – hotels, motels, condos, resorts – but cabins remain a popular choice among tourists.

The first few years we stayed there we stayed at various condominiums. This was a good fit for us; we weren’t used to driving the mountain roads and found it convenient to stay closer to Parkway and the main attractions. But eventually something went wrong with where we had been staying, and instead of finding a new hotel to stay at, we decided to try out a cabin.

It can be totally overwhelming to be honest with you! There are so many horror stories warning you about places being horrible to stay at. It’s hard to know where to start. So I’ve got a few tips to help you start out.

• Write out a list of amenities and features that you want. 

Wading through the hundreds of thousands of cabins available to rent in Pigeon Forge and in the surrounding areas is hard enough when you’ve whittled them down – starting with no preferences or a point of reference will be frustrating. We personally wanted a pool and a hot tub. We also didn’t want to be very far out from Parkway. Filtering those without pools/hot tubs and too far out of my parameters slimmed the amount of results down considerably! Also, this makes sure that each person you’re travelling with is happy with the end result.

• Once you’ve found “the one”, Google search its name! 

I don’t know if it’s due to differing fees on websites, but the exact same cabin can be listed for a different nightly rate on different websites. The price can vary hugely!! I’m talking hundreds of dollars sometimes, it is absolutely crazy. VRBO, Homeaway, TripAdvisor, Airbnb are all different sites, so cross check to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal.

• If you’re staying for a good amount of time, ask if they have a discount or ‘stay two nights get one free’ deal.

Ask politely, and don’t be mad if they say no (after-all, you know the price of the cabin. If they don’t offer this then that’s their choice). But I’ve found that many cabin owners are happy to give you a bit of a discount. The worst they can say is no, right?!

• Check reviews. And then double check reviews!!

I’ve heard so many horror stories of people turning up to their cabin to find it has been sold, or that their particular cabin is unavailable, or that it’s just plain dirty and not pleasant to stay in. Please double check the company you’re booking with, make sure to Google their name, and if in doubt, ask on the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg TripAdvisor forum. The people on there are more than helpful and your accommodation on vacation is so important.

• Look at the location tag on Instagram or Facebook. 

This might just be me, but I like a proper look of where I’m staying. I’m a little particular and can spend a while choosing somewhere. This gives me so much information! People post about their cabins and the resort, often posting candid photos of the pool and the resort, giving you a look that isn’t the one being sold to you by the company.

• Check the policies before you book.

Sounds obvious, I know. But read the small print. Personally, I prefer to book through the owner of the cabin. That comes with its cons at times too (such as not being able to get in contact with them, one year…that was a tense hour!) but it also gives you a more personal experience. I also personally don’t like companies that add in the small print that they can put you in a different cabin if something comes up. I know emergencies happen but it rarely covers that, and more often covers overbooking IMO. I want to stay in the cabin I’ve chosen – I chose it for a reason!

So…where do you like to stay when you go to the Smokies? Let me know! xo

1. The Island

The Island is an entertainment destination that is completely free to get into. It has a whole host of shops, restaurants and amusements. These cost money – although you can often find coupons for them in the coupon books (check out my post on saving money in Pigeon Forge for further info. I’ll link it below.) but you can also find things to do there that are completely free.

The Island. Even more beautiful at night, but I couldn’t help but snap a photo on this stormy day!

We love watching the fountain shows. In the middle of The Island, you can sit on rocking chairs and watch the beautiful fountain display that goes in time to the music. It’s captivating to watch and definitely something we like to do each time we go. We tend to go as it’s beginning to get dark, so we can walk around The Island a little and then sit as the sun sets to watch the fountain.

You can also go see the parrots from Parrot Mountain for free. They often bring the birds out so that you can see and stroke them. Cheaper than Parrot Mountain and more to do for the adults!

A display in a lovely soap store. We bought tons!

2. Cades Cove

Cades Cove is a beautiful loop not very far from Pigeon Forge at all. Most people already know about this one, but I thought I would still mention it. You can take a picnic down there and make a whole afternoon of it. We particularly enjoy going down to the streams and rivers to dip our feet in. You can get some beautiful photos in Cades Cove too. It’s a perfect backdrop.

The nature is (naturally!) incredible. It is packed full of huge trees, gorgeous flowers and of course, the animals. We loved seeing deer and bears, not to mention turkeys. Another thing to keep in mind are the fireflies. If you go late May to early June, you’ll get to see the synchronous fireflies. I haven’t had the chance yet but I hear they are a wonder to see! Maybe one day I will. 

 3. Flea Markets

We love visiting flea markets on our visits to Tennessee. Of course all shopping is free if you don’t buy anything, but flea markets are different. There are so many things to see whilst you’re there – wooden carvings, the local people, and lots of times, animals. Just spending an hour walking through the market can be a fun activity to do, and you never know – you might find a bargain along the way.

A beautiful blanket for sale in a flea market. We love finds like this!

4. Check out what events are going on when you’re there.

Depending on when you go, you might be surrounded by free entertainment! We tend to go when the Rod Run is on, and seeing as we like looking at the classic cars, we’re never short of entertainment when out and about. If that’s not your thing, be sure to check the events calendar to see what’s going on. If you go in the wintertime, be sure to check out Winterfest. The beautiful lights will provide hours of entertainment if you’re willing to drive around!

5. Check out the facilities that your hotel or condo complex offers.

A simple but often overlooked free thing to do. Where we stayed, there were handfuls of things to do each and everyday. There was build a bear activities for the kids (for a nominal fee), plus use of the pools, gym, and pool/ping pong tables. There was also bingo to do each day with prizes that was also free of charge. On days with especially bad weather, it can be sensible to have an indoorsy day. You could be missing out on what you’ve already paid for with your room or suite!

What do you like to do for free in Pigeon Forge? Let me know! 

It’s that time of year again when businesses are pushing specials and sales. It’s also a good time to book your cabin!

On the 28th of January, Amazing Views Cabin rentals are doing their annual sale. It’s a one day sale so be quick! You can save a lot of money on Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville cabins. You can visit them here!

Please do check out the reviews for this company yourself. I haven’t booked through them and have no experience of their customer service. I would always advise checking Tripadvisor and just doing a quick Google of any company or cabin’s name before you put down a deposit.

I will update this if and when other companies have sales. Let me know if you know of any!

 “Take vacations, go as many places as you can, you can always make money, you can’t always make memories.”

I think most people would agree with the quote above; I know my family does. But that doesn’t mean you can’t also want to save money on your vacations too! Through the years we have found little tips and tricks to save a little bit of money along the way, and also just to enjoy where you are staying a little bit more.

I’ve read a lot of travel blogs about saving money. The same tips tend to come up – “stay at a cheaper hotel,” “use websites like Kayak to find the best plane journey” and I even saw one that suggested working whilst on holiday to save a few bucks. Who wants to wait tables for three days then go back to your normal job?! 😲

Whilst that may make your holiday budget friendly, it also makes it hard work – the complete opposite of what a vacation should be! We may not save thousands, but we do save some and more importantly, we find unique things to do whilst we’re there which take our interest. I’m starting this blog in the hopes of sharing some little tips and tricks. Not only for saving money, but for making the most of your time and finding some new things. You may know some, but you also might learn some!