When I travel with my family, we are often only looking for “a place to sleep” when choosing our accommodations. The older I get, however, the more wisdom I see in choosing a place to stay that suits everyone in my family. What do the kids want? What do the parents want? And sometimes grandparents need to be included in that equation too! After staying in a few places on our most recent adventures, I can honestly say how much I appreciate what a hotel means to my family.
The Chattanoogan Hotel Review
The first thing I do when planning our family trips is determine what destination falls within our budget. Chattanooga is a budget-friendly town because of its proximity to Birmingham. The second part of vacation planning is determining where we want to stay. We often opt for somewhere with the basics, but I can see now why that decision can be faulty. After staying in the luxurious accommodations of The Chattanoogan, I would be hard-pressed to stay anywhere else in Chattanooga.
The Rooms
We’re usually a family of four on our holidays, but this trip had a special inclusion of an extra family member. It was interesting trying to navigate things as a family of five. Hats off to those of you with bigger families! The Chattanoogan was wonderful in handling our additional guest, and they gave us connecting rooms.
One of the rooms had two queen-sized beds, while the other had a king-sized bed. Both rooms had double sinks and a tub/shower combination in the bathroom. Having two bathrooms for everyone to use was a big bonus!
The Amenities
Neil took the kids to the indoor pool, and I had a chance to use the spa. My spa service was exceptional. Special thank you to Nicole for doing such a great job! My only concern with the spa area was that it was connected to the pool and fitness areas.
However, once in my treatment room, I didn’t hear a thing outside the doors. When my experience was over, I was treated to a peach Bellini and allowed to enjoy the sauna or steam room at my leisure.
The Food
My followers on Instagram got to see up-to-the-minute snapshots of what I was doing at The Chattanoogan, so it will be no surprise to them that I mention the Broad Street Grille in my review. I was thoroughly impressed with everything I ate at Broad Street Grille. I highly recommend the Springer Mountain chicken with smashed potatoes, grilled asparagus, and a pancetta relish.
Neil would recommend the 12-ounce New York strip with smoked portobello, spinach Yukon Gold potato puree, and red onion jam. Everyone in our family loved the OMG (Oh My Gooey) dessert. Decadent chocolate cake topped with crispy pralines, creamy vanilla ice cream, caramel drizzle, and whipped cream to boot. Amazing!
Overall Impression
The Chattanoogan is a luxurious hotel in the heart of downtown Chattanooga. Families looking for a place to stay in the city would be hard-pressed to find better accommodations. Beyond the amenities and features of the hotel, it is within walking distance of just about everything families would want to do. The food scene in Chattanooga reminds me a lot of downtown Birmingham. I felt right at home in the city, and I think your family will too.
