Coming to Nashville and want to stay at Opryland Hotel? Beware! You can be confident that just about anything to do with Gaylord Entertainment is below par.

It used to be that Opryland was the country music center of Nashville. They first owned Opryland, but closed the doors, and sold the rides some time ago. It wasn't that Opryland was a bad place, it wasn't; but in typical Gaylord fashion, it was poorly managed, overpriced, and service was horrible. Service was bad partly because of the way they treat their employees.

Then they opened Opry-Mills. This is a mall in the place where Opryland used to be. There is nothing special about this mall. Just like any other mall in America. And now Opryland/Gaylord has sold their interest in it. Yet again, poor managment in my humble opinion.

They still operate the Opryland Hotel. First of all you will need a Sherpa and a degree in map reading for the 2 mile hike to your small/overpriced room. And service, well that hasn't changed, still poor.

They also operate the General Jackson. I riverboat on the Cumberland River. Food, typeical warmed over buffet stuff. Service, well...it'll just tick you off.

Lastly is the Wildhorse Saloon on 2nd Avenue in downtown Nashville. Just an oversized bar with poor service.

Nashville is a great place, especially for music fans, but Opryland/Gaylord may spoil it for you. Stay at the Convention Center, Vanderbuilt Plaza, or the Sheraton. Vist music row, 2nd Avenue, and espeically the country music hall of fame. But stay away from the Gaylord/Opryland centers.

anybody beside me think Eddye Arnold sounds a lot like Eddie of Ohio - saw them both in N'ville at gran olde opryland and loved them!

Loved the Grand Ole Opry show! Now amused at how lost we were at the Opry hotel. My orienteering skills are usually pretty good, but when you can't find the north star to guide you it can get difficult. Found our way out and weren't late for the show.

I hear they give out a map to registered guests (we were just looking around before taking the bus over to the show). If I ever go to the hotel again, I'm bringing a GPS system.

Back then service was excellent. Wonderfully trained waitstaff, restaurant manager stopped by to see if everything was to our satisfaction. Prices seemed on par to similar accomodations.

I just returned from a 2 week trip to Nashville. Stayed the first week at the Opryland Hotel. They do give you a map and once you walk through the hotel's 3 main gardens it's pretty easy to get around. The rooms were small and plain. Due to the large indoor gardens everything smells damp in the rooms. I ate at two restaurants in the hotel and was pleased. Food and service was very good. They do charge for parking--and to use the phone. It's very crowded--lots of retired people, bus trips, etc. We had to wait 20 minutes in the check-in line. If in town I would visit--but there are much nicer hotels for the price. The mall is just another Mills--like Sawgrass, Potomac, etc. The Grand Ole Opry was great and within walking distance of the hotel.

I don't have the visceral dislike that Palm has for the group that owns these properties. But I can understand a few of the gripes about the hotel.

My last visit to Opryland Hotel was two years ago during our company convention. It didn't help that I had a head cold when I got there. I didn't like the music that constantly played throughout the place. One of our group later said it was like staying at Six Flags for five days and I admit it does have a theme park-type atmosphere.

I don't think the hotel is necessarily a bad place but I don't think I'd intentionally stay there again. I might go to look around at Christmas as I have in the past as they do decorate it very nicely. But it's not for me as far as staying there.