We stayed on the courtyard side, because we had our Boston Terrier with us. Our stay is right after the New Year and there weren't many people about.
Definitely the older part of the hotel. The AC/Heat was so loud we couldn't even hear the television. The hot water was brownish when first turned on and the beds were like The Flintstones beds. Hard as rocks. No dressing area for privacy and what really surprised us was there was a mini fridge and coffee maker,.... but no microwave. Go figure.
The front door looked as it is a left over from the 70's and should really have been replaced. The bathroom was freezing (although had its own fan/heater) and is in a different room from the sink and dressing table.....which is in full view of the rest of the room (no privacy).
Free wi-fi, but extremely slow.
On the upside, it was quiet and our room didn't smell - although it was a smoking room and we are non-smokers. The towels were sufficient and the shower was adequate. The staff was extremely nice and friendly and very helpful when we had a couple of problems with our card keys.
We are thinking the rooms creekside are much better rooms and prove to provide a much better stay. However, pets aren't allowed on that side, understandably.
Overall, it just seemed run down and in need of upgrading.

We have stayed at the Sidney James every spring for the past several years. The motel is older but it provides adequate lodging and is well away from the hectic commercial strip - yet close enough for a healthy walk. The staff and employees are friendly folks, do a fairly good job of maintaining the property, and are always helpful. The room rates are reasonable, all factors considered. The onsite food availability is limited - and if the hotel is very busy the one-person kitchen staff often gets overwhelmed. There are many food options not far from the motel however. The Sidney James is reliable lodging and we hope to return every year!

We were a bit hesitant to stay here due to some of the other reviews, but I am glad we did. The price was right and the room was comfortable. Beds were fine, rooms very clean and no musty smell. We brought our own blankets and candles (for the smell) but didn't need to use them. The shower was a bit old, but I have seen worse. Water pressure was fine and the water heated up quickly. The room is a bit drafty, but the heater is strong and not very loud, so it stayed on. Tv a bit out of date, but worked fine. The indoor pool was nice and they provide towels at the pool. The hot tub was warm. We had a little problem with the room key, but we got it working after some jiggling.

The staff at the front desk were great. Very friendly. We never saw the housekeeping staff but we had fresh towels and a made bed everyday. it is a bit of a walk to downtown. We did it one night but the other nights we drove. We were able to park for free where we ate so it wasn't too bad. If it wasn't cold it would have been an easier walk. Parking was fine, many spaces.

Overall, I would recommend this motel to anyone who doesn't mind missing the frills but is looking for an inexpensive, clean motel with a pool near downtown Gatlinburg.

When we walked into the room, there was a horrible mold smell! My husband and daughter who are both allergic to fleas kept getting bit! We went to go swimming in the pool, we had to leave because there was a large group of about 40 people swimming and standing around and drinking and smoking and the front desk did not do anything about it until at 11 when the pool closed. The beds are hard as a rock. I came home with bags under my eyes and a sore back due to the beds and not being able to sleep. The remote batteries died and the front staff said we would have to wait until the next morning when maintenance was there because he did not have any batteries. There is no microwave and the rooms are very small and outdated! The doors have cracks so cold air comes in. There is no counter space. The rooms are dirty. I had to wash my coffee pot before using due to it not being clean. There was some dog food left in a corner and dust behind the tv. We will never stay here again! It was a waste of money!!