12/21/08

It started at check in

by eatingonroad

Went there with a business group for a weekend, got there at 3:15pm, line was at least 150 people deep, was told because of there union they could not check anyone in till 3:00 even if there room was ready, business payed for everything, room, valet parking, tickets to Rockettes, Ice, Hall of trees, etc. At check in I was told I would need to pay for valet parking, I told them it was already taken care of, was told there records did not show that and I would need to pay for valet parking, luckily I was checking in at the same time as the bookkeeper for the business. So I just went to were he was, he was having the same problem but, he had the receipt were he had already paid for valet parking, after about 30 minutes got that fixed. Then Wow what a long way to the room with very poor signage and narrow pathways, got to the room toilet was dirty.

Time to go to the Rockettes, was told could catch a shuttle, NO signage, could not find employee that could speak english, but finally did find someone, he was telling someone how to walk to the Rockettes, 1/2 mile away, he told us that the shuttle was no longer running, that it stops running after the show starts, (although it was 30 minutes before the show started) I said are you sure, so he made a call and ask if the shuttle still ran after the show started, they told him no, so he told us how to walk to the Roackettes 1/2 mile away (which was going to be hard to do with a 8 year old autistic little boy.) As we were walking away I told him once again the show has not started yet. So he call once again, that time they told him the shuttle was still running. So we caught the shuttle, about 100 yards away, we went and got on the shuttle that just past us and the guy that told us it was no longer running.

Next morning time to go to Ice, called ask what time it opened was told 10:00am, no signage, got there at 9:45am was already open, had to put on jackets that others took off, hope they did not have the flu.

• Pros: Valet parking staff was great
• Cons: A lot, worse poor signage

04/21/08

Not worth what you pay

by Sasha415

I've lived in Nashville my whole life and I have to say a lot of things have gone downhill...That being said Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center is one of them. For starters everything is over priced. The staff isn't that friendly. And honestly the Delta Boats are not worth what you pay for them, infact they have raised the price so many times I don't even know what it is any more. Last time I was there it was $9 and honestly for a 15 minute tour that never really lasts 15 minutes it's not worth it. I've seen that line back up so many time with huge families wanting to ride it at Christmas...My advice take that 9 bucks per person and buy another present. By the way don't get me started on OpryMills (not what we were told it was going to be, we were told a Mall of America style Mall...We lost our themepark and we got a shopping mall that isn't even as good as the malls we already had)

• Pros: Has a good size convention center, and if you like the opry it's a short walk and you are there
• Cons: They have really let the once beautiful gardens go down hill

02/18/08

50/50

by casey068

I personally have never stayed the night, BUT, I have shopped, ate, watched, heard, walked and walked and w -a -l -k -e -d and visited Opry Land many, many times. To start, I rated this hotel as a 3 star for many reasons. It has friendly, accomodating staff, MANY shops and eaterys, absolutely gorgeous plants, waterfalls, foliage and decor. From the carpet & trim to the skylight and everything in between!!! Within walking distance, there is a lot of entertainment, a very nice mall, live music and events and so much to see & do. That being said, they only get 3 stars because you must have deep pockets to fully enjoy the emenities that await you. Guests must pay to park, the rooms are very average for the price, the fast food & restaurants are expensive, shops are too, and you are one in a million versus any feelings of personalized service. Be prepared that this is an enormous hotel & resort. Be prepared to do a lot of walking if you want to get the full Opry experience. I would recommend staying at this hotel but only if "on business" or for a special occassion. If on a budget, I would suggest sleeping elsewhere and spending the day/evening enjoying the ambiance & entertainment!

• Pros: Valet, Ambience, Entertainment
• Cons: Parking fee, average rooms, expensive dining

05/05/07

Best Bars

by limey123

The Jack Daniels Bar had a great live band on and the staff were very friendly unlike some bars back in the U.K. I also liked the Irish bar with British beers and satellite or cable sports tv.The Garden Conservatory was magnificent especially the restaurant.

04/08/07

Beautiful hoel, slightly overpriced

by luv2travel1213

The staff was courteous and helpful, the atrium was beautiful, the room was neat, and the food was great! I absolutely loved staying at this hotel! It was slightly expensive, but definitely worth it.

• Pros: Beautiful atrium, great hotels and botiques
• Cons: Expensive

03/13/07

Excellent Service! FLAWLESS!!! A wonderful place with even better staff!!

by ckstreeter

My wife and I were looking for gifts for our wedding party before we got married. We decided to look at a massage package from Relache at Gaylord Opryland. Upon arrival at the hotel we were greeted with smiles and friendly help. A young man took time out of his busy schedule to guide us to the spa and did not just turn us loose once we arrived. He actually waited with us until someone could meet with us to show us around. The General Manager of Relache ended up being the person to show us around. We had never been in a spa before so he took the time to explain what each service is and show all the treatment rooms ( which were amazing!). After the tour he asked us if we had any spare time, luckily we did! He proceeded to ask if we would be interested in a complimentary massage... YES!!! I have to say that I've never felt better in my entire life. He didn't have to do this, he just wanted to give us an incredible experience and I must say that he certainly did! This place is amazing!

01/17/07

Not Very Customer Orientated.

by oprylandsucks

Upon checking in, I gave the hotel my credit card. When I ordered room services, I was told my cc is not on file. What? How can I check in without a credit card?

I went to the front desk with my CC. The were 2 clerks at the front desk; the Concierge 20 years away. The clerks where helping people with restaurant reservations, I was next in line. I waited 20 minutes, how do I know that? Because I was watching that stupid CAbi commercial 10 times! Yes, I counted. When I finally got to a clerk, I asked her what time the Concierge closes, she said 8PM. I asked why did you not send people over to her? She stated that if a customer comes and asks them something, ie) Dinner Reservations, she has to help them. What took so long was the drunken slobs could not agree on a restaurant.

I asked why would you not send them over to the Concierge? What I got was if they are asked something, they answer.

When finished, I asked to see the manager. What I got was a kid who looked like he was 22. I asked where the video camera goes, he stated security. Next question, why the back would not have accesses to monitor the front area. No answer.

I asked why would you NOT send customers to the Concierge when they have questions? He said that if ?his? front people are asked a question they will help. I asked why have a Concierge; he repeated if ?his? front people are asked a question they will help.

I have been all over the world in hotels; I have never been in a hotel with people waiting in line for a long period for Concierge questions not told to go there for their answers. He could careless.

My next move? I canceled family trip with my family in May. We are going back to Branson. Opryland?s loss? 3 rooms at $354 for 6 nights, plus many meals.

Funny, all the kid had to say was, ?Yes, sir you are right, I will take care of it.? Even if he didn?t fix it, he should have said he would.

I would say if you plan on going, you go at your own risk.

11/29/06

Nice place to visit, DON'T spend the night!

by richlaws

My elderly mother insisted on staying at the "famous" Opryland Hotel when she recently visited me. I knew about the resort's beautiful gardens and Christmas light displays, which are both quite remarkable. I assumed the hotel would be just as lovely. I was wrong.

It's huge, and there are some nice architectural features throughout. But just wait until you check into your $200 or $300 room! Reserve a non-smoking room with a king bed, and you might get a smoking room with a small bed. Common practice, we were told. Standard practice with most hotels nowadays, we were assured. Great. Maybe Opryland can drop their prices to to the more "common" and "standard" $99 rate offered by "most" hotels.

Or maybe they can just clean their rooms before guests arrive. After pleading for a non-smoking room for my elderly mother, the clerk relented and we were given a smaller room. Guess what? The bed was unmade from last night's guest and the bathroom still had wet towels tossed on the floor! We pleaded again for another room and we were provided with a (mostly) clean room in an older part of the property. My mother later confessed that she had found wet cigarettes in the shower, but she picked them out herself. Great. Just great. At least there's a shuttle to a nearby outlet mall (where three people have been shot in the past three years.) Oh, and the gardens. And those Christmas lights. Sigh.

I wanted to treat my mother to a special weekend in Nashville. I feel ashamed that she ended up sleeping in a 1970's-era hotel where we had to plead for the most basic of accomodations.

If you want a nice hotel in Nashville, stay at the Hermitage or at the Loews downtown. Or try a Holiday Inn or some other chain. If you insist on staying at the Opryland, plan on spending an hour arguing for a suitable room and bring some disinfectant wipes for the cleaning you'll probably wind up doing yourself. Don't stick your mom at this place!!!

SORRY MOM!

• Pros: Pretty views
• Cons: Terrible rooms

11/29/06

Disappointing

by pjphnson1

Me and my husband were very excited to stay at this hotel during our visit to Nashville. It had come very reccomended from friends living in the area. Walking into the hotel was admittadly very impressive. The atrium and ponds are impressive. Then got to our room. . . .

When we arrived to our first room, I first noticed that it smelled like smoke - we requested a non-smoking room, but were given a smoking room. Just great. So I call the front desk, and they offered to send up a maid to "deodorize" the room. The maid came up after 20 minutes and sprayed some glade, which didn't really solve the problem. It only made the room smell like potpourri and smoke. I called the front desk again, and after some time they agree to send us to a non-smoking room that they found that had "just opened up".

We arrive to the second room. I thought that we had mistakenly gone into an occupied room at first because the bed wasn't made, i first noticed. So I call the front desk AGAIN and they tell me that there was no mistake, this is our room. The maids just hadn't been in to clean it yet, and we coulden't go to another room because the hotel was OVERSOLD! Who ever heard of a hotel that checked people into dirty rooms!? So we waited an hour and a half for a maid to show up - I coulden't even take a shower after being on a plane all day because there was HAIR on the soap in the bathroom!

When she finally did come and clean it, it really didn't matter at all. The bedspread was stained, and the room didn't look like it had been remodeled since 1985. The chairs were worn, and the whole place was dingy. For our trouble we got a night free and coupons to "Rachel's Buffet" (which was something like a Shoney's buffet, but without the good food. Yuck! Hope you like cold eggs.)

I've stayed in some roadside motels that were nicer than this, for a lot less. Save your money and stay at a holiday inn. This place is an overrated tourist trap. NOT RECOMENDED!

• Pros: Lovely atriums
• Cons: Overpriced. Black and White televisions in rooms.

11/09/06

Beautiful Resort

by starsky213

My wife and I look forward to coming back year after year. We've been lost inside also but what better place to be "lost" Never once ran into anyone that was not friendly or more than willing to help. Delta Lounge and Jack Daniels Lounge are very good. We'll be back in July, 277 days left to wait!!!!!!!!

• Pros: Atrium, waterfalls
• Cons: None