Any suggestions for accomodations in the Ashevill, NC area?
 

We are traveling up to the Blue Ridge Parkway and Asheville area in Nov. I have looked at some websites and accomodations, but it seems that the best hotels are quite pricey and the others are lower-end with no views right in town. Looking for something middle of the road. Since we are taking our two teenage daughters, we can't really stay at a BnB. Any recommendations in and around Asheville? Thanks.

hi there -- are you driving or flying?

I would stay at the Haywood Park Hotel downtown. It is sort of pricey, like $150 to $175, but you might want to try a search on the web & see if you can find a deal. I know that Orbitz has some good hotel deals usually and some sort of low fare guarantee. Also check out www.asheville.com for good tips on that area....

I like Haywood Park too, but there are not mountain views from there. What do you consider mid-range as far as $$$ go?

Renaissance might be considered mid-range. Do you want to be in downtown? That really limits your choices. There are hotels around the Biltmore area like Holiday Inn Express, etc.

Did you check Grove Park for their 30 day in advance "i-deals"?

You might want to look at Bent Creek Lodge, and the Sourwood Inn. Both are less like B&Bs and more like rustic mountain inns with good views, but also with great easy access into Asheville. Bent Creek is located just off the parkway on the south side of the city, and Sourwood is located not far off the parkway on the north side. I think they both take teenagers, and are relatively reasonable in price.

well no, barely any hotels downtown have views, but I recommended the Haywood Park because it's a good location. Sourwood Inn is a great suggestion, and my parents, who have retired there, said that you can call Grove Park for some last minute deals too. Also there is a place up on the parkway that's only about a 20 minute drive from Asheville -- I like that place a lot and they surely take kids. Good luck and watch out -- they recently got some bad flooding....

I would second the recommendation for the Renaissance. The upper floors would have the better views of course. The location is good for walking around the downtown. As for the flooding, I know for a fact that the Biltmore Village shopping area (near the entrance to the Biltmore Estate) was pretty much wiped out as my wife had ordered something from Bellagio. They say they will be out of business for about 6 months.

Yes, we did get some bad flooding. Very bad, especially in Biltmore Village and the industrial areas that lie along the Swannanoa River, and in the River District along the French Broad. Also, the city's water was knocked out when a landslide swept away the transmission lines from the North Fork Reservoir. Cleanup is underway.

Downtown, thankfully, was not badly affected by the flood, as it sits atop a high hill up from the rivers. For views and a good location, at a moderate price, the Renaissance is the best bet.

Please bear in mind that segments of the Blue Ridge Parkway were destroyed by the flooding and landslides, and will not be restored by November.

I just returned from a drive on Blue Ridge Parkway south from Asheville. The parkway all the way to Pisgah Inn is in a great condition. Once you pass the Pisgah Inn, the parkway is closed at the intersection with Route 276. It is possible to take this route to Brevard or to Waynesville. We noticed some washout on route 276 between Parkway and Brevard.
We had a wonderful drive, the weather was great today and only a few cars on the road. Our a lunch at Pisgah Inn was just OK.

Mishottie, are you all set on staying in Asheville? Would you consider staying in Pisgah Inn? Views are magnificent.
I am new to this area but I would like to recommend visiting Arboretum, again views here are amazing. I don't know how this area looks in November but today it was stunning.

Wildflower, isn't the Pisgah Inn closed by November?

I could be wrong but I thought they wer only open through October.

GoTravel, I really have no idea whether Pisgah Inn is closed or open in November. It just occured to me, as were were having our lunch today, this would be a wonderful place to stay any time of the year. Views were magnificent today.
Thanks for pointing this out, I should check all details before I recommend this place to friends of ours who will be arriving here in the end of October.

Wildflower, I just checked and it is only open March 29-November 1st!

Reason I thought this is because my husband and I have been trying to get there to stay and they are never open when we can go!

I stayed at The Renaissance this past June and found the downtown location to be terrific in Asheville - right next door to the Thomas Wolfe House. They were working on a new hotel swimming pool during my stay, so I was unable to use that part of the facility. Your two teenage daughters will love the low-key nightlife in the area too (coffeeshops, bookstores, etc.). It might even be a Priceline Hotel - check www.BiddingForTravel to see if it is often chosen through Priceline to get the very best deal.

The last-minute suggestion from Bali Girl of trying for the Grove Park Inn last-minute special seems like a good one. It is normally quite expensive. You should at least go there for breakfast one morning and tour their grounds. Be sure to check out the artisan shops that sit just behind the hotel. Very worthwhile - for you and the 'hip' teenagers.

Happy Trails - and enjoy "dem heils!"

Wildflower: while Pisgah Inn has the best views around, and EVERY room is a view room (unlike Grove Park), and it's very reasonably priced....you must have a pretty high tolerance for "rustic" to stay there. The rooms are very, very, basic. No TV, no phone, very small.

Paul: good call on breakfast at the Biltmore, it's not bad (lunch and dinner are a different story) and it's a great chance to tour the hotel w/out coughing up $300.

Haunted: I don't want to appear to be a vulture (or a carpetbagger), but I'm sorely curious about possible water-damage sales. My very favorite dress shop was in the path of destruction. Have you heard anything along those lines?

I'm sitting here in my 15th floor office in Greenville, SC watching dozens of city vehicles queue up in a big, blocked-off parking lot. Looks like they are getting ready to do some serious debris removal after Ivan comes through. I can imagine Asheville/Hendersonville is holding its collective breath. Good luck!

Litespeed, I tend to read the Asheville Citizen-Times online, but yesterday I was reading the real thing and saw some ads for a furniture store that was holding a flood sale to clear out its damaged merchandise. I can only surmise other stores would be doing the same.

Maybe you could find out for certain by visiting the store's website, or calling. I dunno... I've tried to stay out of Biltmore Village since the flood.

You've already heard about flood damage to parts of the BR Pkwy and Biltmore Village.... I stayed at the Renaissance before I moved to Asheville and did get a good rate - may have been through Priceline. I have teen stepdaughters and they really enjoy walking around downtown Asheville. There are a lot of interesting shops - particularly on Lexington Ave. As others have mentioned there are several independent coffee shops (Gold Hill) and bookstores (Malaprops)and of course all of the art galleries. THe whole town is great for people watching. Let me know if you want any restaurant recommendations.