Gateway Inn

My fiancé and I have stayed here several times without issues, except that I had reluctantly put up with the uncleanliness and ongoing bug problems in all or most of the rooms. On this visit, we had to change rooms because the first one had cockroaches everywhere. That’s on me for lowering my standards. I’m a 55-year-old Knoxville resident who has stayed in many hotels locally and around the country. This is the first review I’ve ever posted, but I felt I had to after the way the man at the front desk, who told me he was the owner, treated us. We were called at midnight and told we had only one car registered. That was true at check-in, but my fiancé had to be at work at 5 AM, and we were going in opposite directions. We brought his car so he wouldn’t have to drive 45 minutes out of his way on an already hour-and-a-half trip to his job site. We were told to move one car or pay for another room. I understand parking is limited, but I counted at least 16 empty spots. We had to get up, pack our things, drive less than a mile, and rent a room at another hotel for four hours. It was our choice, but being asked to pay for a room we wouldn’t use was outrageous and insane. We had paid for two nights at check-in. The owner could have simply said that next time we could only have one car per room, or found a less disruptive solution. It was the most unprofessional experience I’ve had, and I was hurt by how we were treated. We work hard and earn our money honestly; businesses should appreciate that we choose to spend it with them. Sorry this is so long, and thanks to everyone who read it. I’d be grateful if anyone from the business, including the owner, explained why it had to be handled this way.

We’ve been here for several months and haven’t had a problem. The owners are really nice, down-to-earth, and considerate, and the housekeeper makes sure you have what you need. You can walk to a store if necessary, and there’s laundry on site. The washers and dryers are great, not expensive, and do what they’re supposed to. Our clothes still look new, and I’ve had no problems using the machines. I like it here and feel safe by myself or with someone else.

For a one-star hotel, it was pretty good. The king bed and TV were very nice, and the room was quiet apart from an annoying fridge sound all night. There were a few occasional stains, probably from age rather than poor cleaning. No strange smells or bugs, and the owner was very nice and polite.

Tim and his parents run a clean, quiet hotel, and they’re very nice, even though they’re understaffed. I always love staying here, and we enjoy our stay every time. I know the older man in the mornings, and he’s a complete sweetheart.