ldsant
Jul 23, 04, 3:55 pm
I love combining business with pleasure! This week I had a business trip that took me to Asheville NC for a few days. I drove from Raleigh stopping at the Cracker Barrel near Statesville (since we don't have Cracker Barrels in Washington, I am now finding myself quite the devoted lover of this place! Can get breakfast and then pick up Moon Pies and Goo Goo Clusters to give out to my classes) :)
Anyway, the first night I stayed at the Renaissance Asheville where when I checked in I was greeted immediately with "are you parking with us?" "Yes," I said. "Well it's $5 per night." Nice welcome :rolleyes: The room was small (could not close the door to the bathroom and be in there at the same time, but it was functional. I am a silver Marriott member. I was supposed to stay there 3 nights, but checked out after one.
Went to stay at the Grove Park Inn due to their summer special (i-net deal). http://www.groveparkinn.com This resort has been ranked as a top resort by many of the travel magazines. It is a beautiful property. The space is gorgeous. Had drinks on the bottom portion of the terrace first. The drinks can be picked up at the bar and then taken down or once in awhile there was a cocktail waitress who would come out and offer to get drinks. The bartender Kevin was very nice and made excellent drinks! :)
The parking valet staff and restaurant staff were exceptional (if you ever get Christian as a waitstaff person consider yourself lucky - she was AMAZING!). Some of the other staff - namely the front desk were exceptionally rude and did not really fit in with the "feel" of the place or representative of so many of the other staff people (the waitstaff at Chops, the maitre d' person at Chops who was soooo gracious, the bar staff).
I ate at Chops restaurant and enjoyed it quite a bit. The view on the terrace was wonderful (mountains straight ahead, moonlight above). The food was excellent and I am not a meat eater normally. I had the filet with yukon gold mashed potatoes (that have tarragon and dijon in them), and two sauces (couldn't make up my mind, so Christian said that she could do half/half - had the blue cheese and the cognac mushroom sauces). The food was perfectly cooked. Wine selection was very good as well (I had a glass of Pinot Noir from Oregon - excellent). All in all, the restaurant was great. Service was perfect - "there" but not obsequious. I never felt rushed (especially since I was one of the last people to leave as they were closing :) and didn't notice that I had been there so long!).
The room itself was a nice room although it is a "value" room. The view faced out to a partial wall, the waterfall, and some property with a "crane your neck" and you'll see a mountain view. The room was spacious, had a nice CD, refrigerator, and TV in the room along with a sitting area. The bathroom had lovely amenities (wonderful oatmeal soap bar), and was large (especially compared to the Renaissance!). They also had a nice chinelle style blanket on the bed and had extra pillows and a blanket on a shelf in the room. The furniture itself was "Stickley style/Mission". Large desk was also in the room as well as two telephones.
I was unable to use the spa since when I booked my reservation I was told that they were completely booked through the end of September for any services. I would have enjoyed it had my stay been longer. Resort guests can pay a $50 fee PER day to use the facilities at the spa (or free if you get a service). I spoke with a couple who had been there and they said that the small baths were exquisite.
While in Asheville I also went to Black Mountain for lunch. Ate at the Veranda which was really nice as well as very reasonable. Went shopping at the Seven Sisters store where I was able to pick up some unique Southern Pottery at reasonable prices along with some candles.
All in all, quite the fun business trip!
Anyway, the first night I stayed at the Renaissance Asheville where when I checked in I was greeted immediately with "are you parking with us?" "Yes," I said. "Well it's $5 per night." Nice welcome :rolleyes: The room was small (could not close the door to the bathroom and be in there at the same time, but it was functional. I am a silver Marriott member. I was supposed to stay there 3 nights, but checked out after one.
Went to stay at the Grove Park Inn due to their summer special (i-net deal). http://www.groveparkinn.com This resort has been ranked as a top resort by many of the travel magazines. It is a beautiful property. The space is gorgeous. Had drinks on the bottom portion of the terrace first. The drinks can be picked up at the bar and then taken down or once in awhile there was a cocktail waitress who would come out and offer to get drinks. The bartender Kevin was very nice and made excellent drinks! :)
The parking valet staff and restaurant staff were exceptional (if you ever get Christian as a waitstaff person consider yourself lucky - she was AMAZING!). Some of the other staff - namely the front desk were exceptionally rude and did not really fit in with the "feel" of the place or representative of so many of the other staff people (the waitstaff at Chops, the maitre d' person at Chops who was soooo gracious, the bar staff).
I ate at Chops restaurant and enjoyed it quite a bit. The view on the terrace was wonderful (mountains straight ahead, moonlight above). The food was excellent and I am not a meat eater normally. I had the filet with yukon gold mashed potatoes (that have tarragon and dijon in them), and two sauces (couldn't make up my mind, so Christian said that she could do half/half - had the blue cheese and the cognac mushroom sauces). The food was perfectly cooked. Wine selection was very good as well (I had a glass of Pinot Noir from Oregon - excellent). All in all, the restaurant was great. Service was perfect - "there" but not obsequious. I never felt rushed (especially since I was one of the last people to leave as they were closing :) and didn't notice that I had been there so long!).
The room itself was a nice room although it is a "value" room. The view faced out to a partial wall, the waterfall, and some property with a "crane your neck" and you'll see a mountain view. The room was spacious, had a nice CD, refrigerator, and TV in the room along with a sitting area. The bathroom had lovely amenities (wonderful oatmeal soap bar), and was large (especially compared to the Renaissance!). They also had a nice chinelle style blanket on the bed and had extra pillows and a blanket on a shelf in the room. The furniture itself was "Stickley style/Mission". Large desk was also in the room as well as two telephones.
I was unable to use the spa since when I booked my reservation I was told that they were completely booked through the end of September for any services. I would have enjoyed it had my stay been longer. Resort guests can pay a $50 fee PER day to use the facilities at the spa (or free if you get a service). I spoke with a couple who had been there and they said that the small baths were exquisite.
While in Asheville I also went to Black Mountain for lunch. Ate at the Veranda which was really nice as well as very reasonable. Went shopping at the Seven Sisters store where I was able to pick up some unique Southern Pottery at reasonable prices along with some candles.
All in all, quite the fun business trip!