Hilton HHonors - Knoxville Hilton or Oak Ridge DoubleTree?

Mrs Sanger3494 and I are looking to fly and and out TYS. We have not stay in Knoxville for 10 years. We are traveling out kids this time, so have two nights and wanted to know about Executive Levels of this two properties? Thanks again for any help, as this a quick trip and trying to book now, so YELL at me for doing deep searches. I did quick one, but not much on these two properties.

SCA and Mrs SAnger3494 Thank you all in advance. :)

Mrs Sanger3494 and I are looking to fly and and out TYS. We have not stay in Knoxville for 10 years. We are traveling out kids this time, so have two nights and wanted to know about Executive Levels of this two properties? Thanks again for any help, as this a quick trip and trying to book now, so YELL at me for doing deep searches. I did quick one, but not much on these two properties.

SCA and Mrs SAnger3494 Thank you all in advance. :)

Hey SAnger3494,

It has been quite a few years since I visited the Hilton in Knoxpatch but it was an ok property at the time. Oak Ridge is, if not the boonies, out there. I worked in OR for 6 years. It is a no-where spot and I would not stay there unless it was for business. The Hilton, on the other hand, is downtown. And, while downtown is dead, there is the riverfront, the strip, a few decent restaurants, and the University of Tennessee close by.
While I don't know for sure, I'd expect more from the Hilton than the Doubletree. I'm sure others can be more helpful but I couldn't resist the opportunity to type the University of Tennessee in color. :)

I agree with BamaVol. Hilton in Downtown Knoxville is much closer to any tourist attractions than Oak Ridge. Regarding Knoxville downtown being dead, on thursday nights they have free outdoor music concerts

Also there is a Hilton attached to the Knoxville Airport.

Mrs Sanger3494 and I are looking to fly and and out TYS. We have not stay in Knoxville for 10 years. We are traveling out kids this time, so have two nights and wanted to know about Executive Levels of this two properties? Thanks again for any help, as this a quick trip and trying to book now, so YELL at me for doing deep searches. I did quick one, but not much on these two properties.

SCA and Mrs SAnger3494 Thank you all in advance. :)

I did the Knoxville/Oak Ridge run for about 18 months until 12/03 - it's not that great for Hilton options, but here are a few thoughts -

D'tree Oak Ridge - not recommended unless you need to be in Oak Ridge - you're about 20 minutes from downtown. The hotel was built as a locally-owned hotel (Park Hotel?) and taken over by D'tree a couple of years ago. Some people in Oak Ridge still look at you blankly if you tell them you're staying at the D'tree. No real club facilities except 2 rooms converted into a HHonors lounge. Decor is very 1970's - no sign of renovations as of 12/03, but they did have some color/sample boards up in the lobby so they may be doing something.

Hilton downtown - OK, but it will do in a pinch. Has been renovated in the past couple of years, but sort of on the cheap. Decor a bit like a modern version of art deco. The place seemed a bit musty to me, like the elevator pits had been filled with water for years (don't ask me how I know this smell, but you know it when you run into it). I was in late and out early, so I don't recall any club services. I'm actually not a big fan of downtown Knoxville, but that may be because I break out in a rash when I stay in town too long (War eagle!).

Hilton Airport - connected to the airport by a covered walkway - lots of the aircrews stay there. Again, it's been a while since renovation. Very 70's feel. The bar seems to be hopping some nights, like it's the big hangout on the south side of town (the airport is actually in Maryville, TN). Club lounge is basic, but clean and well-stocked.

Hampton Inn West - pretty typical, but nice staff - no club facilities of course. Partly outside access, partly inside (a newer addition).

Hampton Inn Oak Ridge - newer Hampton Inn - I actually preferred it to the D'tree. All inside access. Actually seemed happy to see a Hilton Diamond come through the door.

Hampton Inn Airport - similar to Oak Ridge - building is about 10 years old, but still in good shape.

Good luck with the trip.

Mrs Sanger3494 and I are looking to fly and and out TYS. We have not stay in Knoxville for 10 years. We are traveling out kids this time, so have two nights and wanted to know about Executive Levels of this two properties? Thanks again for any help, as this a quick trip and trying to book now, so YELL at me for doing deep searches. I did quick one, but not much on these two properties.

SCA and Mrs SAnger3494 Thank you all in advance. :)

Bumping this up, hoping for a report. I just tried to book the downtown Hilton for a game weekend this fall and had to take second choice. Hilton and Doubletree both list "recent renovations". Disappointingly, there were a Homewood and a HGI listed as available but when I selected them they weren't open yet. HGI was scheduled for November I think and Homewood for March 05.

Bumping this up, hoping for a report. I just tried to book the downtown Hilton for a game weekend this fall and had to take second choice. Hilton and Doubletree both list "recent renovations". Disappointingly, there were a Homewood and a HGI listed as available but when I selected them they weren't open yet. HGI was scheduled for November I think and Homewood for March 05.

Guess I'll give the report. :rolleyes:

Dump may be too strong a word but no other word comes to mind. There may have been a remodel in the past couple years (carpets didn't seem too worn), but the decor is weird. Modern art deco is one way to describe it, "Nightmare Before Christmas" is another.

I was forced to take a room on the the (5th) executive floor as that was all that was available 5 weeks in advance of a game weekend (turns out there was a wedding reception there that weekend as well). One elevator requires key insertion to achieve the 5th floor, the other elevator goes there without a key. Either way, the open staircase across from the elevators takes you there. At checkin, I was told that the lounge was closed on weekends and I was given vouchers for breakfast in Burchfields restaurant. Got the cookies at checkin and there was a welcome letter and HH Gold gift on the desk (a $.99 lint brush). The room had a small fridge, chair and ottoman, comfortable beds. There was a wall HVAC unit - its output smelled faintly like stale urine.

The restaurant was nasty; Lipstick on the coffee cups, dried lettuce in my water glass, pancake syrup on the silverware. Boxes of stale cereal. Crunchy old french toast on the buffet.

The bathroom was pretty beat up; dirty looking floor, multiple repairs to tiles, amateur sealant application around the tub, a door that should have been replaced.

Housekeeping was adequate inside the room. Outside, dirty dishes remained outside doors from checkin at 10:00 pm until we left for the game at 1:00 pm the next day. They were gone by the time we returned around midnight.

Walls are thin. I was awakened Sunday morning by the wake-up call in the next room.

Overall, a disappointment. Not that I wasn't warned. Homecoming, next year: Make reservations earlier & shoot for the as-yet unopened HGI or Homewood Suites in West Knoxpatch.

And, oh yeah, Go Vols!