Gatlinburg Town Square by Exploria Resorts

About The Hotel

Gatlinburg Town Square by Exploria Resorts on Historic Nature Trail is a 3.8-rated (3,943 reviews) timeshare resort in downtown Gatlinburg, with a pool, fitness center, BBQ facilities, and a walkable location near the Parkway shops. A convenient downtown base with on-site amenities, but the 3.8 rating reflects mixed guest feedback on rooms and the timeshare experience, so read recent reviews; the pool is the shared water feature, with jetted-tub rooms a category to confirm at booking. It is a downtown timeshare with suite-style units convenient for families, but quality varies and upkeep concerns are reported.

What Guests Are Saying

“Stayed in a two bedroom, timeshare,not the hotel. We had a really great experience. The negative reviews no longer apply and are unfair. This resort is under new management and owership. They are planning a 50 million dollar renovation as well as an expansion. Our check-in was extremely easy and the ladies behind th desk were friendly and knowledgeable. The resort accepts debit card for refundable deposit regardless of RCI insisting they only accept credit cards. Once we breezed through check-in we were directed to pick up our parking pass at the sales office. We were greeted by Chis, the Sales Manager who was very professional in his soft sell approach. The offer was very lucrative and difficult to resist. We reluctantly declined due to a lack of time and Chris was very understanding and invited us to a free BBQ. The following day, Chris followed up with a phone call and asked us if we needed anything. He even sweetened the offer to attend a presentation. Again, we declined and Chris was understanding and no pressure. Just doing his job and no big deal. The 2 bedroom unit actually has a washer and dryer, which is not mentioned on any websites nor any other reviews. The resort is in a prime location. It is a 10 minute down-hill walk to the Village. The walk back up is tough as it is all up a very brutal hill. On day two, we discovered the free Trolly which picks you up and drops you off just steps from the front door. (Red line stop # 39) Just download the Gatlinburg Trolly app. The two Redline trollys circle Gatlinburg and all the key stops every 30 minutes. Get on get off and get back up the hill by going to stop #36 steps up the hill on Airport Rd near Bubba Gump Shrimp restaurant. We rented a car but found traffic and parking fees to be outrageous. Thankfully, we found the free Trolly. We enjoyed our stay and would come back here again! Thanks front desk for a quiet unit on the top floor corner unit with a great view. Finally, thank you Chris and know that my wife is mad at me for not accepting your amazing presentation offer. Keep up the great work and best of luck in your aggressive renovation and expansion.” — D.Schmidt, 5 stars

“This place is a great location and the condos were so nice, games onsite and nice pool. Great service” — deborakirby, 5 stars

“Excellent experience great price! We will definitely be booking again. We booked through Expedia and I had read reviews saying if you book through a third party you are placed in a location that is not in the main resort. Well, that was not true for us! We were not only placed in the main resort (2nd floor) but we had the river rushing behind our room. The room had everything you need just be sure to pack your favorite spices if you plan to cook. The room was quiet and the directions/signs in the parking structure navigated us to the best parking area. I had also read that because it is a vacation resort there would be pressured sales. Again, we did not have that experience at all. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. The property was lovely and the trees were in bloom. The resort could definitely use some updates but we didn’t pay for the Ritz. The most important part they have covered… the room was very clean, we had everything we needed, we slept well and the staff was super friendly! We have stayed in several places in the area, from high mountain cabins to cheap motels. We definitely liked the location and accommodations of this place, can’t wait to return!” — Renee P., 4 stars

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• A walkable downtown location near the Parkway shops
• A pool, fitness center, and BBQ facilities
• Suite-style units convenient for families
• On-site amenities in the heart of town
• Steps from the Gatlinburg attractions

Cons:

• A 3.8 rating reflects genuinely mixed reviews on rooms and upkeep
• A timeshare resort — expect sales-presentation offers
• A busy downtown setting
• A jetted-tub room is a specific room type — confirm at booking; the pool is the shared amenity

The Location

In downtown Gatlinburg near the Parkway, within walking distance of the shops and attractions. You can find more details or book your stay on TripAdvisor.