Green Valley Motel

The room was very outdated, with chewed and scratched doors and a bathroom ceiling that badly needed work. I was itching so much from scratching that my legs were getting raw, and I checked out the same night I arrived. I wouldn't stay there again, even if it meant sleeping in my car in winter. If the state inspected the place, it might be shut down. I expected to get the pet deposit back, as I usually do, but the front desk said nothing would be credited at checkout. In the end they refunded two nights of pet fees. Expedia was supposed to charge me for one night and refund two, but said it couldn't find my stay under the itinerary number in the confirmation email. They only found the booking they made for me at another motel. I sent a copy of the confirmation and email, but still haven't heard back or received the refund. My next step is contacting the BBB about Expedia and the motel.

Bedbugs are the main thing you need to know about this place. We killed six in all, four in the bed with me and my two year old, and two that my husband found. We paid for three nights but stayed only two, with the lights on and me awake all night watching my baby. The room was clean enough otherwise, but every towel and washcloth had black stains, there was some kind of splatter on the back of the bathroom door, and black mold on the shower ceiling. The showerhead was awful, though the water was good. The front desk woman was friendly, and it was very affordable. I chose pay at property through Hotels.com, but they charged my card at 3 pm, before we arrived. We didn't actually check in until 9:30 pm.

The good parts were a comfortable bed, working air conditioner, hot water, and drains that worked in both the sink and tub. The bright vanity light was handy for putting on makeup. The refrigerator worked, though its freezer needed defrosting, and the small microwave worked fine. There was a convenience store within walking distance, plus restaurants nearby. The downsides added up. There was no hair dryer, Kleenex, iron, or ironing board, and no bathroom fan, which meant smells, a foggy mirror, and dampness after a shower. The carpet needs cleaning, the furniture needs updating, the bathroom tile needs replacing, and the bathroom and front doors need replacing too. They were badly damaged, apparently by a pet. It also needs paint, and the walls are very thin. My husband was drawn in by the price, but in some ways you get what you pay for. We stayed October 5-9 and wouldn't recommend this motel to friends or family. We won't be back.

For $250, we got five nights in a comfortable bed with basic cable and free wifi, and no bugs. We chose this place because we wanted money left over for other things, so the basics were enough for us. If you're on a budget, it's a decent option, but don't expect much beyond that. My wife and I stayed for our honeymoon. The hotel is centrally located on the Pigeon Forge strip, not far from the Island, and Casey's is down the road. The room felt dated, the phone didn't work, and the desk clerk was rarely around when we needed something. The walls were thin enough that we could hear the neighbors flush. It was okay, but nothing to brag about.