Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center

The location worked for visiting the Grand Ole Opry, but there’s little else nearby, and the area restaurants were pretty bad. We were there for my spouse’s conference and spent money on dining, shopping, and drinks, yet the conference rate meant a lower floor room with no balcony and a view of the white steel supports, even though we have Bonvoy status. Most rooms seem to have cute balconies overlooking a beautiful atrium, so this was a major letdown. The hotel wasn’t close to full. The water park is closed on weekdays, and there was no live music or dancing in the complex, which seems odd for a hotel in Music City. On our third day, a kids’ leadership convention arrived. The hotel put up “Quiet Zone” signs in the hallways the day before, so they must have expected trouble. Teens ran through the halls without chaperones, screaming, stomping, banging on doors, and yelling to friends. It was unbelievably loud. We spent good money to stay a week and didn’t feel like valued guests at all. A real disappointment.

The gardens and indoor atriums were easily the best part of our stay. Walking through them felt nothing like being inside a hotel. Most of the restaurants we tried served fresh, flavorful food, though incorrect opening hours on several restaurant websites made meal planning frustrating. The experience varied with the staff: some servers were wonderful, while others weren’t friendly or attentive. For the price, breakfast items and coffee felt extremely overpriced. A dry, ordinary piece of banana bread for $5 seemed ridiculous, and the coffee didn’t taste like true Starbucks quality. The odors were another problem. The Cascades lobby smelled strongly of mildew, and the Delta hallways had a dirty, wet-carpet smell. Given the room prices, I expected updated decor, a cleaner and fresher feel, and something more like a modern boutique hotel. The pool area was nice, but it lacked side tables for drinks and tables where guests could sit and work. I was also disappointed there was no live country music in the evenings, which felt like a missed chance for a Nashville resort. The property looks impressive and the gardens alone are worth seeing, but the prices, smells, and missing amenities left our stay short of expectations.

I was at the resort for a conference and liked being able to use so many indoor facilities without worrying about the weather. There were lots of restaurants, which made the stay convenient, and the location was easy to get to, not far from the airport. Nearby malls and entertainment venues were within walking distance. The place is huge, with beautiful interiors, and I enjoyed wandering around to explore it.

The hotel handled our conference of 1,500 people without seeming overwhelmed, and I’d recommend it for a large event. The new Foundry Fieldhouse worked well for groups of any size. We ate at Ravello Italian one night, and the food was incredible; the drinks were good too. Service was slower than usual, but I didn’t mind waiting in a good place. I was there for the CEPA exit planning conference. The rooms were nice, and the maps were helpful for finding your way. Soundwaves looked incredible, one of the largest indoor water parks I’ve seen. Even walking around inside felt wild. It has to be about the size of four football stadiums.