Cabins at Resorts?

Gatlinburg, Tn -- LOVED IT. Park City ( Heber), Utah to snow ski, fantastic.

Make sure you have maid service daily. Some dont

Make sure you have WOOD for the fire. Some dont

BRING BUG SPRAY for your body!!!!!

Bring Lysol mold spray for a moldy smell if you have a sensitive smell. I love the cabins, but some have that cedar and to me it smells moldy.

I've done it many times on ski trips, hiking excursions and in the mountains in Europe. There are variations in the accomodations, ammenities and what is and is not supplied. Some provided everything you would need to prepare your own meals, like pots, pans, cooking utinsels, silverware, dishes, cups, etc. and some did not. Some have kitchen appliances, like a dishwasher or coffee machine, while others did not. Some provided bedding or linens (like towels) and others don't. Some have linen services where you have to pick up bedding, towels, pillows, etc. and return them when you leave. I think you really have to ask when arranging the accomodation what is included and what you are expected to do when you leave, so there are no surprises. There are some really rustic accomodations out there. Once I stayed in a cabin during the dead of winter with sub-zero temperatures and the heater was inoperable and had been for a very long time. When I asked whether it could be repaired, the management told me to use the fireplace but there wasn't any wood. Spending the night burning newspaper, paper toweling, TP etc. to stay warm did make me wish I'd booked a hotel.

Sorry to hear "brutally honest" had a bad stay. My husband and I took a few trip to the North GA Mountain of Blue Ridge and rented a few different cabins. Our experiences were so good, we bought a cabin as a 2nd home. Just last year we started renting it out and it's been great.

Everyone has their own policies as far as cleaning. Most of the cabins I'm familiar with in North GA charge a cleaning fee on top of the nightly rate. Sounds like "brutally honest" had to clean it herself.

Make sure you ask questions, and read the rental agreement to see what is expected of you. Our cleaning lady comes in and does all the cleaning, sheets, towels, floors, bathrooms, windows, hot tub, kitchen, etc......

Some cabins have everything you'll need as far as sheets, pillows, towels, TP, paper towels, etc.. while others you may need to bring your own.

All that is needed at our rental is toiletries and groceries! Again ask questions and you'll get a good feel after talking to the owner whether it will work for you (what exactly do I need to bring with me, etc?).

I truly believe vacation home rentals are the way to go. Private hot tub, full kitchen, game room, multiple bedrooms and bath (and fireplaces).

Good Luck! I don't think you'll be disapointed in a mountain cabin!

We stayed at a cabin this past winter, and after having done it, I think I would have preferred a hotel.

The biggest drawback was that we ended up having to make and strip the beds (though linens were provided), and we had to clean the entire place (scrub toilets, wash floors, etc!), or else we wouldn't have gotten our deposit back. This was on top of the "rental" fee that we paid for the cabin itself. The advantages we thought we were gaining (a kitchen to cook our own meals in for example) ended up not being of use to us. We ate all our meals out!

So be SURE to check the cleaning policy at whatever cabin you investigate. Many will do the cleaning for you...if you pay extra to have it done. And some require that you bring your own linens and/or towels.