Hello,
I posted earlier & received some helpful info. Have more questions. Has anyone stayed in the following places in Asheville:
Blake House Inn, Green River Vineyard & B&B (Green Creek) & Corner Oak Manor? What did you think of them?

I have some reasonable rates on some motels in Outer Banks but would appreciate it if people could recommend inns or B & B's in the $100 - $150 price range. We are flexible as to where we stay.

We are going to Chapel Hill first to help our daughter move in to her apartment for grad school. We haven't made hotel reservations yet because our dates are still indefinite. Will it be difficult to get reservations mid August due to college students arriving? We would probably be arriving anywhere from Aug 12-14.
Thanks for all your help.

Hotels will likely be quite full in Chapel Hill, and depending on Duke's schedule, likely also in Durham. I'd definitely book as soon as you can. Shouldn't be quite the no-vacancy problem that graduation weekend is, but still pretty packed.

In Chapel Hill itself there's the Siena (very nice, I believe) and the Carolina Inn on campus. Chains include a Best Western on Highway 54 and a Holiday Inn on 15-501. They're building a Marriott but I don't think it's finished yet. There's also a Red Roof Inn further up 15-501 - technically in Durham but almost in north Chapel Hill.

Thank you very much, jent 103. I will look into those hotels today. I think I will book for extra nights & if we don't need them, will cancel 1 or 2 nights. My daughter is in China right now & she hasn't decided yet how early she wants to arrive in Chapel Hill.

CH has more hotels than before, but still not enough rooms for busy times like this. There the new Franklin Hotel on Franklin St. It's upscale along with the Carolina Inn near campus.

Away from campus, but probably closer to apartments along 15-501 are the Siena, Days Inn, Holiday Inn, Residence Inn (newest of the bunch), Hampton Inn, Sheraton, and Red Roof (technically Durham, but the towns border).

Along highway 54 is the Best Western, but that's going to close soon and get redeveloped if it hasn't close already, the hotel at the Friday Center which I can't think of the name and a Hampton Inn at I-40.

There's a new Four Points Sheraton at I-40 and highway 751. Yes, that's Durham, but you are close to a Target and a mall.

We stayed in Ocracoke (loved it!) at Blackbeard's Lodge (kinda funky, but loads of character). Should be right in your price range. We really enjoyed Ocracoke.

http://www.blackbeardslodge.com