Super 8 by Wyndham Cherokee

This modest chain hotel has a cheerful and rustic lobby, with high ceilings, wood paneling, and a huge gas fireplace framed by natural stone. Two Mission-style sofas sit between the fireplace and the front desk, which also is framed by stone. The breakfast area is a sunny and cheerful place, with lots of room including tables under a glass solarium that faces a wooded area. A cluster of white rocking chairs under a covered porch is an inviting place to people watch on warm days. Expect to see guests, mostly tourists, enjoying the scenery on their balconies at this quiet and friendly hotel. 

The Comfort Suites is located in the heart of the small town of Cherokee, surrounded by other hotels as well as lots of shops and restaurants. A Dairy Queen and Paul's Diner are a short walk from the hotel entrance, and other casual restaurants are a short drive away. Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort is an eight-minute drive. The Museum of the Cherokee Indian is two minutes driving or 14 minutes on foot. The entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is only a nine-minute drive, and access to the famed Blue Ridge Parkway is just three minutes by car. Skiing in Maggie Valley can be reached in about 30 minutes. Approximate drive times to Asheville and Knoxville are 70 minutes and two hours, respectively. Gatlinburg can be reached in about one hour by car. 

Overall, the rooms are pleasant but feel a bit dated. These rooms are decorated in bright colors including yellow walls and teal carpet. White bedding is accented by butterscotch bed throws, and framed art has generic nature themes. The matching wood furniture has a light finish and includes headboards and desks with upholstered chairs. Standard Double Queen Rooms and King Rooms offer plenty of space, but the Double Queens have only desk chairs for seating. Larger, studio-style Suites include sleeper sofas and coffee tables in separate sitting areas, and some of them have gas fireplaces and whirlpool tubs in their living areas.  But, some of the mini-fridges and microwaves in the rooms we saw looked well past their prime. Safes also are provided, but using them incurs an extra fee. Bathrooms are average in size, but have budget-quality, white acrylic vanities and shower/tub combo inserts. Amenities include flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, free Wi-Fi, mini-fridges, and microwaves.

The rooms are generally quiet, but those facing the street tend to hear more ambient traffic noise. Rooms with patios or balconies overlooking the street receive more light from their doors than those that have small windows facing a wood area behind the hotel. Reviews from past guests about housekeeping and upkeep are mixed, with many praising their room condition, while others reporting issues including worn and torn carpet, musty smells, and bathrooms with chipped tubs and cracked tiles. 

This limited-service hotel features a few nice extras. There's a free breakfast buffet with eggs, waffles, and other hot dishes that’s served in a sunny, solarium-like area with glass walls and ceiling. The hotel also serves free ice water and coffee all day, and it has vending machines and a convenience store that sells sundries, soft drinks, and frozen treats. The heated outdoor pool has adequate space for a quick dip. It also has an adjacent whirlpool and is surrounded by loungers. Unfortunately, the fitness center is small and has no strength-training equipment. Only a treadmill, elliptical, and stationary bicycle are available. A guest computer and printer in the lobby make up the business center. Wi-Fi is free. The hotel has meeting space for up to 33 people. The guest laundry room has only one coin-operated washer/dryer set. Valet dry cleaning and laundry services are available. Parking is free.