An Honest Review of Glamping Retro Airbnb

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Are you interested in booking Glamping Retro for your next getaway? You’ve come to the right place. I have detailed everything you need to know about this Airbnb.

Location

Glamping Retro is nestled between Erwin, TN, and Flagpond, TN along U.S. 19W. The Airbnb is relatively easy to get to although you will have to drive on rather windy roads for the last couple of miles.

The Airbnb is situated on a large plot of land with only a few neighbors to speak of. It’s a peaceful area without a lot of noise or light pollution.

Overall Experience

My overall experience at Glamping Retro was positive. The unit I stayed in was well cared for, the hosts were super responsive, and I enjoyed nearby hiking.

The feeling I left Glamping Retro with was one of peace and relaxation. I came to spend time in nature and that’s exactly what I did.

Space Description

Before jumping into the individual description of my accommodation at Glamping Retro, let me explain the setup a little bit.

Glamping Retro is comprised of 6 glamping tents, 1 tree house, and 2 airstreams. These can be booked out separately, or they can be booked as a whole for a wedding weekend.

The glamping tents come in different sizes. The first two glamping tents, the ‘Turner‘ and ‘Sorrell‘ sleep two and do not have a kitchen or bathroom. Guests should make use of the luxury bathhouse for their bathroom needs. The bonus to these two units though is that they are dog friendly!

The ‘Jammer‘ is the next level-up glamping tent. This one does have a kitchen and a half bathroom. Additionally, it also allows pets.

The next two glamping tents are the ‘Woody‘ and the ‘Wesley.’ Both of these sleep 4 people. They have a full kitchen and a full bathroom. They are not dog friendly so be mindful of that while you’re booking.

The last glamping tent is the ‘Carlton Lodge.’ This one sleeps 5 guests and has a super cool open-air kitchen that allows you to sit outside and chat with the person in the kitchen. Additionally, there is a full bathroom in this unit and dogs are welcome!

I stayed in the treehouse and it was a treat. The space is open concept with a queen bed, kitchen, and bathroom. Additionally, they built upper and lower decks to enjoy coffee or a cocktail outside. Trust me, you’re going to want to do just that.

The treehouse also includes a grill and outdoor swing chairs, and rumor has it, a hot tub is coming soon!

Overall the space was incredibly clean and tidy when we arrived. The bed was super comfortable and there was enough seating for everyone.

The kitchen is fully stocked and has everything you need to make a meal for two. One of my biggest pet peeves is when the kitchen doesn’t have everything you need and that was not the case. All you need to do is bring the food!

There is no air conditioning, but we didn’t have an issue with this. At the beginning of July it’s typically super hot in this area, but due to the elevation that the property sits at it cooled down quite nicely at night.

I personally prefer it to be cooler at night and I would guess that it was about 65 degrees Fahrenheit. If this is a deal breaker for you, you may want to look elsewhere.

Host Review

Sharen and Tony, the owners of Glamping Retro, are some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. They went above and beyond to be accommodating. They truly want their guests to have the best experience and it shows in everything they do.

Both of them are very approachable. Sharen is very timely at responding to Airbnb messages and clearly wants her guests to have an enjoyable stay. I honestly don’t have a bad thing to say about either of them. They are some of the best Airbnb hosts I’ve interacted with.

General Vicinity Review

I would consider Glamping Retro relatively remote in comparison to some other Airbnb’s I’ve stayed at. The area is beautiful and incredibly picturesque. There is a stream that runs through the property and the Appalachian Trail is only a couple minutes away.

The drive to Erwin, TN is approximately 20 minutes one way. Erwin has a couple of places to eat and shop. If you’re looking for more food options, you’ll need to drive into Johnson City or down into North Carolina towards Asheville.

Johnson City, TN is about a 45-minute drive one way. Personally, I don’t mind that at all, but it’s something to be aware of.

Any type of car can get to this Airbnb. It does not require high clearance, but please drive slowly on the windy roads for everyone’s safety.

Pros/Cons Review

Pros

Cons

The Glamping Retro tents appeared to be wheelchair accessible to an extent. There are 3 steps to go up to get into the unit. The path to get there is pathed up until the split off (you can see this in the Airbnb photos). I would say it can be done, but it’s not necessarily ‘wheelchair accessible.’

Recommendations

During my stay, I visited some awesome spots for hiking, eating, and overall enjoyment.

My absolute favorite thing I did while there was to visit Big Creek Falls. You can get all the information on this waterfall in my Hidden Gem Waterfalls post.

Additionally, we drove up to Beauty Spot. You can drive here or do the hike. The road is a bit bumpy so if you don’t have a high-clearance vehicle I would opt for hiking.

For an evening hike, we did the Nolichucky Ridge Cliff hike. It was stunning at sunset and can be done in about an hour. If I could do it again I would go up earlier and bring a snack to sit and enjoy the sunset a little more. Just make sure to bring a headlamp!

My favorite place for food and caffeine was Steel Rails Coffee. This coffee shop is in Erwin, TN, and is worth the drive from Glamping Retro. The atmosphere is so cute and the lunch sandwiches were delectable.

Additionally, if you’re up for a drive to Johnson City, White Duck Taco and Yee-Haw Brewing are delicious and such a good time. Definitely give yourself a little time to walk around downtown Johnson City as well.

Conclusion: Glamping Retro Airbnb Review

Overall, I would highly recommend a stay at Glamping Retro. The hospitality is phenomenal and if you’re looking for a way to disconnect, this is the place.

Glamping Retro is ‘elevated’ glamping with all the amenities you could need, close enough to multiple activities, and definitely relaxing. If you end up staying here, tell Sharen and Tony I sent you!