After completing my first triathlon, I wanted to treat myself. And my favorite reward? Travel!
I didn’t want to spend a lot of money, but I like staying in nice places. David had airline miles, and we were looking for a change of scenery for a few days, so we decided on Asheville, NC. We hadn’t been to Asheville in almost ten years, and we were looking forward to spending time there and catching up with friends in the area.
After doing some research, I booked a few nights stay for us at the Princess Anne Hotel in Asheville, NC. It was rated #1 on TripAdvisor at the time, and seemed to be exactly what I was looking for: a high-end bed and breakfast with all the amenities of a hotel, for a reasonable price. Our room, at around $200 per night (we actually paid less because we got an off-season discount), was one of the more expensive ones, as it was a suite and included a kitchenette and soaking tub. All rooms come with a gourmet breakfast and afternoon cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.
Cleanliness, Comfort, and Caring
When traveling, I want to stay in a clean, comfortable environment where I feel cared for. The Princess Anne checked all the boxes.
Clean
I didn’t do a white glove test, but our room was spotless. I always check toilets, tubs, and sheets. All were white with not a speck of anything in them or on them.
Comfortable
From the website: “The three-story, shingle style Princess Anne Hotel first opened its doors in 1924 during Asheville’s economic boom. Built by registered nurse Anne O’Connell and financed by Doctor Karl von Ruck, the hotel promised ‘Comfort First.’” The hotel is listed on the US Department of the Interior’s National Register of Historic Places.
I would agree with the “comfort first” designation. The hotel and the rooms themselves are cozy and comfortable. The rooms are updated, but you’ll still find furnaces and traditional furniture in them.
As someone who is not a good travel sleeper, I was delighted to find that for the first time EVER in a hotel/bed and breakfast, I slept well. David and I thought the bed was super comfortable and I even loved the pillow.
Caring
The staff at the Princess Anne was very caring. They provided terrific recommendations, answers to our questions, and allayed any concerns.
Great Food
I love great food, but it’s not a requirement for me to have amazing food at a lodging. It’s a bonus, though, and we thoroughly enjoyed it here.
We arrived on a Saturday afternoon, right before the cocktail hour.
After putting everything in our room, we came downstairs and saw a beautiful table of hors d’oeuvres and wine. No chips and dip or Two Buck Chuck here!
After enjoying a couple of glasses of the excellent Pinot Noir (above), we munched on endives filled with vegetables and picked some items from a nice charcuterie plate.
After digesting, we moseyed over to the dining room, where (on Friday and Saturday nights) we had dinner reservations (hotel guests get 15% off the dinner, and it’s open to the public).
We had yummy meals, including a grilled artichoke salad and duck:
The morning breakfasts were on par with the weekend dinners. Each day we had four options for breakfast — three cooked and one homemade granola and yogurt (which was delicious).
Here is a typical breakfast:
More Good Stuff
A few other perks of staying here:
- Non-smoking hotel
- Free parking in the back of the hotel
- Walk to downtown
- Free loyalty rewards program, which includes the sister hotel in Key West (Eden House)
- Discounts on local attractions
If you’re looking for a pampering, relaxing getaway, at a great price, I highly recommend a stay at the Princess Anne Hotel!
