Cherokee NC Getaway: Unbeatable Microtel Inn & Suites Deals!
Cherokee NC Getaway: Microtel Inn & Suites - My Honest (and Slightly Chaotic) Take
Okay, so, Cherokee, North Carolina. Sounds kinda… peaceful, right? Well, it can be. Especially if you're smart enough to snag one of those "Unbeatable Microtel Inn & Suites Deals!" advertised all over… well, everywhere. I mean, how can you not be intrigued? And yeah, I went. I survived. And I have opinions. Buckle up, folks. This is my unfiltered review.
First Impressions (or, How I Almost Didn't Make it Past the Parking Lot)
Let me be real: after a drive, all I want is a smooth check-in, a decent room, and maybe a giant iced coffee. Microtel, from the outside, looked… well, a Microtel. Functional. Don’t go expecting a castle (unless you're really into the Cherokee Casino… which is a whole other story). Parking? plentiful. Free. Yes. I’m already winning! It’s the little things, people. The air conditioning in the public area was a godsend too (needed after my car felt like an oven).
Check-in was… swift. They do contactless check-in/out. Thank goodness! I hate small talk when I'm tired. Although, I did wish they had a bellhop on hand. Dragging my suitcase through the lobby felt like an Olympic sport after that drive. There’s an elevator, thank God. My knees are not what they used to be. They also had a doorman, even though they have 24-hour security, so its a win win!
Accessibility & Safety: More Than Just Ramps (Thankfully)
Accessibility is huge for me, especially with aging parents. And Microtel, bless their hearts, seems to get it. They have facilities for disabled guests (which I peeked at, obviously – nosey, I know!). Definitely a big plus. The hallways were wide, and the elevators were easy to navigate. I give them props!
Forget the ramps, though – the REAL win here is cleanliness. Especially in these times, I am hyper-aware. They were doing all the things: anti-viral cleaning products, daily disinfection (I even saw a staff member wiping down the elevator buttons!), room sanitization between stays. Plus the staff were clearly trained in safety protocol. I felt… safe. And that's a priceless feeling. They even had hand sanitizer everywhere. And the little shampoo and soaps had "individually-wrapped food options". Its the little thing.
Rooms: The Good, the Okay, and the "Where's My Dark Chocolate?"
My room. Ah, the room. It was… clean. Very clean. They even have room sanitization opt-out available, which is pretty cool if you're into that. Mine was not smoked in! The air conditioning was working, thank you lord Baby Jesus!
What's Actually In the Room?
Okay, let’s unpack this. The essentials were there: air conditioning (praise the heavens), desk (for pretending to work), a mini-fridge (essential for… you know… stuff), a coffee/tea maker (thank god for those early mornings), and a decent-sized TV with a good selection of channels. I even had a wake-up service - thank g-d my phone is never charged.
The bed? Comfy enough. Pillows? Plentiful (and fluffy!). My only real gripe? No dark chocolate. Seriously, hotels, get with the times! A little treat on the pillow? The ultimate luxury!
Internet: The Lifeblood of Modern Existence (And Was It Worth It?)
Wi-Fi? Free. Everywhere, apparently. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! That’s it, I’m sold. I could work (if I really wanted to). The connection was mostly stable, which, given my history with hotel Wi-Fi, is basically a miracle. Although, I did have to reboot the router in the middle of the night once. Let's just say I "lost all the details".
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: A Culinary Adventure (Maybe?)
Okay, food. This is where things get… interesting. They do have a restaurant, and a breakfast buffet (if you’re into that, I am not). Western and Asian breakfasts too; I'm a breakfast person so I was so happy! Don’t expect Michelin-star dining, though. This is more… functional sustenance. They did offer coffee/tea in restaurant, and a snack bar for a quick bite. No complaints really, but I’d bring your own snacks if you’re a snacker like me.
Services and Conveniences: Above and Beyond (Sometimes)
The front desk was 24/7! A must. Luggage storage was great! I can't complain. They have a gift shop and souvenir shop. They even have a convenience store near the rooms.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax: From Pool to… Well, Mostly Pool
Here's the thing: Cherokee is all about the outdoors and… the casino. So, the "things to do" within the hotel are limited. But, they do have an outdoor swimming pool. I saw it! Looked lovely, though I didn't have time to test it out, it wasn't "pool with view". No sauna or steamroom, unfortunately. (I could have used one after my hike, but such isn't in the cards).
For the Kids: Family-Friendly Vibes (or, "Where's the Playground?")
Family/child friendly, which is great! The kids facilities are not there, but they have babysitting service. It's a good start!
Overall Impression: Worth the Deal? Definitely.
Would I stay at the Microtel Inn & Suites in Cherokee again? Yes. Absolutely. It's clean, safe, relatively convenient, and the price? Unbeatable. It’s not fancy. But it's comfortable. And sometimes, that's all you need.
SEO & Metadata - Because Apparently, I Know Stuff Now:
- Keywords: Cherokee NC, Microtel Inn & Suites, Hotel Review, Cherokee Hotels, Accessible Hotels, Clean Hotels, Budget Hotels, Free Wi-Fi, Swimming Pool, North Carolina, Smoky Mountains.
- Meta Description: My honest, messy, and hilarious review of Microtel Inn & Suites in Cherokee, NC. Find out if the "Unbeatable Deals" are real, discover the accessibility, and uncover the room secrets!
- Title: Cherokee NC Getaway: Microtel Inn & Suites Review - My Unfiltered Take!
- Focus Keywords: Microtel Cherokee NC, Cherokee Hotels, Affordable Hotels Cherokee, Accessible Hotel Cherokee
- Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible, facilities for disabled guests.
- Safety: Cleanliness and safety, anti-viral cleaning products, sanitized rooms.
- Internet: Free Wi-Fi in all rooms.
- Amenities: Outdoor swimming pool, free parking, breakfast provided.
- Overall rating: [4/5 Stars]
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this ain't your grandma's itinerary. This is the Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Cherokee, NC edition, and trust me, it’s gonna be a ride. Prepare for feels, flaws, and probably a whole lotta coffee.
Day 1: Cher-o-kee, Here We Come (Maybe)
- 1:00 PM – Arrival, Check-in, and Existential Dismay (aka the Room): Okay, so officially, we're supposed to be arriving around this time. Unofficially? Traffic was murder getting out of Asheville. Ugh. Finally pull into the Microtel parking lot and… yep, looks like a Microtel. Not fancy, not terrible, just… Microtel. The lobby smells faintly of chlorine and… ambition? Hard to say. Receptionist is blessedly efficient. Room's… clean enough. The view from room 217? A parking lot. My soul is already doing a tiny tap-dance of despair. But hey, it's a bed. And a relatively clean one at that. Bonus: the AC is blasting!
- 1:45 PM – Lunch and a Deep Dive into "Local" Cuisine: Found a "local" diner down the road, "The Mountain View Diner." The name lied. No mountain view. But hey, at least it had burgers. Ordered one. The fries were… fries. The burger? Let’s just say it had character. And by character, I mean a vaguely unsettling combination of flavors I'm not sure I'll ever identify. But the sweet tea? Magnificent. Worth the entire trip, possibly.
- 3:00 PM – Cherokee Indian Reservation Orientation (attempted): We tried to find the Museum of the Cherokee Indian but got horribly lost. Like, "turns out GPS doesn't exist inside the vortex of a rental minivan" lost. Ended up driving past a really impressive waterfall (that I should have gotten out and photographed… but, ya know). Finally gave up and just parked it near the Oconaluftee Indian Village and took in the beautiful Smoky Mountains. Just breathing in the fresh air was amazing.
- 5:00 PM – The Great TV Remote Hunt & The Wi-Fi Gamble: This is a critical event in most travel adventures. Where IS that darn remote?! Found it! Under the comforter. Success! Spent the next hour wrestling with the hotel Wi-Fi. We were definitely going to get some writing done and catch up on some important movies. It was more painful than childbirth. Then there's the internal debate: "Do I really need to check those emails? Or do I embrace the digital detox and just… be?" (Spoiler alert: I checked the emails).
- 7:00 PM – Dinner and the "Restaurant Roulette" of Cherokee: Decided to try the local "chop house" which was located right next to the Microtel, “Lobo's Grill." We could see the front door from our window! The menu read perfectly, but the food… well, it wasn't good. The service was friendly, though. It's all I had there, so I finished my meal… in shame.
- 8:30 PM - Nightcap (and deep thoughts on the meaning of it all) and "The Great Bed Test": Stumbled back to the room (which looked suspiciously like it had been re-cleaned since we left) and spent an eternity weighing the pros and cons of a pre-bedtime snack. Chips? Cookies? The existential dread of the mini-fridge. Eventually gave in to the chips. Crashed into bed. The bed? Surprisingly comfy. And that, my friends, is a win.
Day 2: Deep Dive into Cherokee Culture (and My Own Insecurities)
- 9:00 AM – Breakfast… And the Breakfast Conundrum: Microtel breakfast? The stuff of legends (and lukewarm scrambled eggs). The options were limited. Waffles. Cereal. Toast. Fruit (if you squinted). I opted for the waffle, which, to my shock, was edible, and even somewhat enjoyable. The coffee, however, was an abomination. I started to think about the good coffee shop coffee I left behind. Seriously considering sneaking in an actual coffee maker.
- 10:00 AM – Oconaluftee Indian Village, Act I: The History, The Hands, The Heartache: Finally, the place to be! We decided to re-find it. It was amazing. Seeing the Cherokee people living and demonstrating the ancient ways of their ancestors was a powerful experience. We even managed to get the perfect "tourist" picture by the river! I learned so much about Cherokee history and culture; it was absolutely fascinating. I was humbled, I was inspired, and also… slightly sunburned.
- 1:00 PM - Lunch and the Re-Evaluation of My Life Choices: We ended up downtown and found the best little restaurant with a ton of charm. I could have stayed there all day! Great food, super nice service.
- 3:00 PM – Harrah’s Cherokee Casino - Tourist Triumph (a little bit of luck?!) Okay, I'm not a gambler. At all. But, hey, when in Cherokee… Spent a whopping ten bucks, which was the worst part of the entire trip! I started thinking… how did I get this far in life? I'm horrible. I need to change my trajectory. Then I won $20 on a slot machine! My brain started doing loops; I went to cash out and then decided to play another 5 bucks. I lost. Got real. Finished and gave up.
- 6:00 PM – Farewell Dinner, The Great Steak Debate (and the Search for Meaning): Went back to Lobo's Grill because it was convenient. This time a steak. The steak was… well, it was a steak. But it felt… lonely. A meaty void. Ended up talking to the waitress for an hour.
- 8:00 PM – Room Ramblings & Packing (or, Rather, the Art of Procrastination): The actual packing? Delayed. Why pack when you can stare out the window and contemplate the meaning of life, the slightly-too-firm mattress, and the sheer improbability of the mini-shampoo bottles? Answer: I unpacked. Then re-packed. Then unpacked again. I am clearly incapable of functioning.
- 9:00 PM – Bedtime… And the Sweet Symphony of Silence (and Exhaustion): Sleep, glorious sleep. The AC is still blasting, the bed is still comfy, and tomorrow… well, tomorrow is a whole other adventure. Here's hoping it involves slightly better coffee and significantly fewer existential crises.
Day 3: Departure! (And the lingering question of… the waffle).
- 8:00 AM – Breakfast Encore (and the Waffle's Redemption): Back to the Microtel breakfast buffet! Another shot at the waffle. This time, I added the syrup. It was… good. The coffee still an abomination, but the waffle? A solid B+. Perhaps there is hope for humanity.
- 9:00 AM – Check-out and the bittersweet goodbye: Said goodbye to the lovely front desk lady and hit the road.
- 10:00 AM – Goodbye, Cherokee! (Until we find the perfect coffee shop.) The drive back was much better.
This itinerary, my friends, is a work in progress. It's messy, imperfect, and probably filled with details you don't care about. But it's mine. And that, at the end of the day, is what makes any travel experience worth it. Now, where's the coffee…
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Cherokee NC Getaway: Unbeatable Microtel Inn & Suites Deals! (Or, My Semi-Glorious Tale of Mountain Misadventures)
Okay, spill it. Why *Microtel* in Cherokee? Isn't that…basic?
Alright, alright, you got me. Microtel isn't exactly the Ritz. But let me tell you, after a week of wrestling with a broken washing machine and a toddler's penchant for painting with food…basic sounded *divine*. Cherokee, NC, is stunning, you see? Mountains, history, culture…and expensive hotels. Microtel? It's the budget champion. Plus, I had a *deal*. Think, like, "steal of the century" deal. Which, in my life, usually means I'll have a small mishap. We'll get to that.
Seriously though, are the deals *really* good? What kind of magic do they weave?
Look, deals are relative. My definition of “good deal” involves surviving my kids' demands and escaping the daily grind (washing machine, I’m looking at you!). But yes, the Microtel *did* have some pretty slick offers. We’re talking free breakfast (key!), sometimes a discount for AAA members (score!), and the occasional package deal that included attractions. I swear, I saw one that included a free… *thing*. I forget. Point is: check around! Websites, travel apps, call the hotel directly. Sometimes, you can snag a rate you wouldn't believe. Just…beware. The "free" things often come with a catch. (See: my toddler's sticky fingers.)
What's the vibe like at the Microtel? Is it, like, *clean* at least?
Okay, deep breath. Cleanliness is a spectrum, right? Let's just say, it *was* clean enough for my standards. I’m not one of those people who inspects the headboard with a forensic light. (My life is the forensic light right now, inspecting for crayon and mystery stains). The rooms are…functional. Think beige. Think slightly dated décor. But the bed? Solid. The shower? Hot water. And when you've spent the day hiking, wrestling bears (well, pretending to, with my kids), and avoiding poison ivy, all that matters is a comfortable place to collapse. Oh, and the vibe? Family-friendly. Expect kids in the halls, maybe a crying baby or two, the general hum of a vacationing populace. Embrace it. It's part of the charm…sort of.
Any tips for making the most of a Microtel stay? What about the breakfast?
Oh, the breakfast. The *free* breakfast! Okay, listen closely. This is crucial. Get there early. Like, before the ravenous horde descends. The waffle maker is your friend (though, be warned, sometimes the batter is…well, let's just say it's a gamble). Stock up on the pre-packaged pastries. They're surprisingly effective at quieting a hangry toddler. And coffee. Drink *lots* of coffee. You'll need it. Otherwise? Bring your own snacks. Always. And strategically position yourself near the juice dispenser. Trust me.
**Pro-tip**: *If* they show a movie, avoid whatever is on that night. It is always something you *will not* want to watch after a day hiking. Trust me, I'm still trying to scrub the imagery from my mind.
Okay, Cherokee. What's *actually* worth doing? Because I'm assuming your trip wasn't *all* Wi-Fi and questionable pastries.
Oh, Cherokee! That's the *good* part. The mountains. The history of the Cherokee people. The Museum of the Cherokee Indian (go! It's fantastic, even if your kids are bouncing off the walls). The Oconaluftee Indian Village (a living history experience, definitely worth it). The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is basically *right there*. Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway – it's breathtaking. Go for a hike (but pack extra water, seriously). We even tried (and failed spectacularly) to pan for gold. Let's just say, my kids were more interested in chucking the dirt at each other than finding nuggets. But hey, the memories! (And the dirt is mostly washed away.)
Tell me about those *minor mishaps* you hinted at. Spill the tea!
*Sigh*. Fine. The mishaps. Okay, so there was the time my toddler decided the lobby carpet was a perfect canvas for his art project (with a permanent marker, naturally). There was the incident involving the swimming pool (too cold, too crowded, and my own awkward attempt to do the backstroke). But the biggest one? The *bear*. Okay, not a real bear. But we were warned. Bears are common in the Smokies. We dutifully locked our food in the car (as we were told). We came back to a car... that *had* been locked (apparently). A bear had been *very* interested in our car. The doors were scratched. The windows were smeared with… something. And the interior? Let’s just say, a bear had *explored* the interior of our van with considerable… enthusiasm. We needed to get a lot of baking soda. The worst part was not the car damage, the *smell*... It got *everywhere.* And let me tell you, you can't get bear smell out of a Microtel room. It's just *impossible*. And the car? Still smells, three months later. Moral of the story? Bears are serious business. And maybe get a different hotel.
Would you go back to a Microtel in Cherokee? Real talk.
You know what? Despite the bear-y encounter (and the marker incident, and the questionable pastries…), yeah. I probably would. Cherokee is beautiful. The Microtel, while not luxurious, did the job. And the deal? Well, it saved us a ton of money. Maybe next time, I'll splurge on a slightly nicer room, and invest in a bear-proof car. And definitely, *definitely* bring more hand sanitizer. And earplugs. Seriously, those kids are loud.
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