Have done a search on "Asheville" and concluded that we can't afford the Grove Park Inn or the inn attached to Biltmore. But we'd like to consider doing Thanksgiving there if we can find a reasonable B&B not too far from Biltmore. Is it too late to book for that holiday? And do you have a couple of nominations for good B&B's that aren't so pricey as Grove Park Inn?

Since I live in Asheville, I don't have many occasions to visit the local B&Bs.

One of my favorite travel tips when I know I want to be near a certain location (like Biltmore in your case) is:

1. Go to maps.yahoo.com and enter my location. In your case, Biltmore, NC is all you will need.
2. Once the map appears, click:
- Nearby Businesses
- Travel and Transportation
- Hotels and Lodging
- Bed and Breakfasts

Yahoo will then list all B&Bs near your desired location.

I normally use this feature when I'm attending a convention and want a better rate on a hotel room near the convention site.

Mike Honeycutt

Mike, that is where I started - there's a Chamber of Commerce website, but there are a LOT of B&B's and no basis for chosing among them. The reason I posted here -- the reason anyone posts here who can also go to Yahoo.com -- was that I hoped to get some personal experience and recommendations.

The Richmond Hill Inn is both a BnB and has an awesome upscale restaurant-
Call them!

They also have a cottage on their property that can hold a family--

LM - sorry, same story as Mike, live too close to Asheville to frequent B&B's, but, perhaps if you suggest some of the ones that appealed to you based on the B&B website info, Mike or I can tell you if we think the location is good.

LM, we stayed in the Grove Park and it is nice but I wasn't swooning with delight. The first time we went to Asheville, we stayed in a little town called Hendersonville.. about 20 minutes away. Try the Waverly Inn.. the owners were cool, the room was typical cutesy B and B ( but on a main drag so a bit noisy) but lots cheaper than Grove Park or Richmond Hill Inn. Do not stay at the Mary Cox Inn ( I thin tha'ts the name... overpriced and SO noisy we couldn't sleep.)

Collette is right about the Waverly Inn being on the main drag -- it's one block away from the intersection where Main, King, and Church streets, and 9th Avenue collide to form Asheville Highway. However, it's next door to another nice inn, the Claddagh (pronounced "Claw-duh"), and the block that seperates these inns from the Intersection of Doom is occupied by Boyd Park.

Mary Mills Coxe House has a wonderful restaurant, so I've heard, and is located on Greenville Highway, but I'm surprised that the noise levels there are disturbing. It never seems that bad to me, but then again, I live here and don't have to bother with it. I just drive Greenville Highway; I never have to sleep next to it.

Other Hendersonville area choices are the Woodfield Inn, an historic inn in Flat Rock, and the Highland Lake Inn, which is an upscale version of a 50's motor camp located on extensive grounds with lots to see and do, also in Flat Rock.

There's also a newer choice in town called the Inn on Church Street, located, ironically enough, on Church Street in downtown Hendersonville. The traffic on Church makes Greenville Highway and the Intersection of Doom look tame, but I've heard nothing but raves about this place.

You can walk to downtown Hendersonville's extensive shopping and dining options, as well as its tame nightlife from the Waverly, Claddagh, and Inn on Church Street, while the Woodfield, Mary Mills Coxe House, and Highland Lake Inn are just a very short drive away, and are all located close to the Flat Rock Playhouse.

There's lots more, including some really spectacular lodging in the Hickory Nut Gorge, 20 miles SE of Asheville, and 15 miles east of Hendersonville if you're interested. Let me know, and I'll be glad to help.

Austin - sounds like you really know your stuff in that area.
I enjoyed your post.
We are thinking of going to Biltmore and I am intrigued now with your mention of the Hickory Nut Gorge area since it seems pretty close to Asheville then it might be a good place to stay.
Can you give me some info. Thanks so much. You can email me at the above address.

The Richmond Hill Inn is MORE expensive than the Grove Park Inn.

Years ago we stayed at the Fleet Street Inn on Fleet street near town. Found it in a paperback titled "Best B & B's of...". Was nice and not too expensive.

I am going to the NC mtns. for Thanksgiving as well. If you are staying for the entire week, it might be more economical to stay in a rented cabin. We are renting one I found on the internet for $400/week. It has all the comforts of home, full kitchen, etc. The ones closer to Ashville are a bit more though, I think.