Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC -- Anyone been there? On DVC points?

[TexasAggie]

We are hoping to visit the Smokies week of March 10 and are thinking of staying at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville for several days. Looking at their website and also at tourist info re the Asheville area, it's obviously a first class place. Have any of you stayed there? Anyone stayed there on points? How far in advance did you reserve your room? Did you get a good room location, or the least expensive room in the hotel? We will need two rooms and hope that since it'll be off season we'll get a good view of the mountains. But we're wondering if paying with points gets us the cheapest room, with a view of the highway.... Thanks! We know we can count on y'all for information!

 

[TnRobin]

I know Doc stayed there on points last year and was very impressed with the resort.

 

[Mdtigger99]

We just stayed there on our way back from HH a few weeks ago. We only stayed one night so we booked a room that would use the least points. The resort was first rate and the views of the smokies were breathtaking. We went to town for dinner so I can't tell you about the restraints at the resort but I would think the quality would be high. The resort is pretty self contained with pools, tennis, golf and a new 40,000 sq. ft. spa. However, if you want to "go out on the town" you wont find much going on other than taking in the Biltmore Estate. Unfortunately, we did not have the time (six hours is suggested) to take the tour.

Hope this help a little, let me know if I can tell you anything more.

 

[DVC1996]

I just wanted to add that in December several years ago we went to Asheville and toured the Grove Park Inn. The decorations were magnificient. We also went to the Biltmore Estate and saw it by candlelight. A really nice holiday trip!

 

[NCRedding]

We stayed at Grove Park for a seminar in April. Our room was in the historic part overlooking the front valet parking area, but it was still beautiful, because of the mountains. We were on the 5th floor (the haunted floor); the only elevator was a tiny old fashioned one with an elevator operator. The resort is gorgeous, the spa is beautiful, but extremely pricey!! The hotel is so far off the main road, you definitely would never have a highway view. The Biltmore does not take 6 hours to see, although you could spend that long there.

 

[new_yawka]

We spent 4 nights at the Grove Park Inn last April. It was absolutely beautiful!

We stayed in the "Pink Lady" Room (there's a rumor that the room is haunted - I can tell you more, if interested). The room was in the original building - very historic - we loved it. The main lounge, with two of the most impressive stone fireplaces you'll ever see (floor to ceiling - about 25' tall and a child can stand inside the opening its so large), is inviting and majestic (the only elevator in this building is actually built into the side of one of the fireplaces and uses an elevator operator - very cool). There are two newer wings built in the mid and late 80's. The rooms in those are likely a bit larger but don't offer the same historic flair. The spa is truly something special and my DW loved her massage. The golf course (I believe a Robert Trent Jones course) was perfectly manicured and offered great views of the resort and Asheville.

Dinner on the Sunset Terrace was one of the most beautiful and romantic dinners my DW and I have ever had. As the sun was setting, putting a glow on the blue ridge mountains in the background, it was simply breathtaking.

For the kids (our DS was three at the time) my DW took him to the childrens museum (a hands on experience) and we went to a local zoo (my DS was entranced by the wolves - being a big fan of Peter and the Wolf). The food there was always very good and the natural beauty spectacular (Drive the blue ridge parkway if you get a chance). There were lots of things we never got a chance to enjoy (Biltmore estate, Chimney Rock), but with the things we mentioned and a day trip to the Indian reservation and Great Smoky Mountain Nat'l Park, it was a great vacation.

In addition to the facilities being top rate, the employees were friendly all around...they really made us feel welcomed.

This was a week long vacation...we left NJ and drove down through Shenendoah Nat'l Park. We went with friends and got two rooms for 4 nights on DVC points (I believe it was about 198 points). I believe we booked about 3-4 months in advance.

As you may have guessed, I would highly recommend Grove Park Inn. In fact, I often use it as an example of how wonderful DVC is. I would have never visited Asheville (bing from NJ and somewhat stuck on the I-95 corridor). The fact that Grove PArk was in the Concierge collection....we just figured we'd give it a shot. Well, because of that fabulous experience, I am now that much more confident that anywhere we can trade will offer a great vacation experience!

 

[GoVols]

We live about an hour from Asheville, and we stayed at the Grove Park Inn on our wedding night before we drove to Disney World for our honeymoon.

The resort is absolutely fabulous. As others have said, I love the original part of the inn -- it's like something from another time. The Sunday brunch is incredible -- the nicest of any we've been to by far.

I highly recommend the Grove Park Inn. It is truly a world-class resort, and Asheville is an eclectic, fun town.

Amy

 

[RweTHEREyet]

We spent 3 nights there in June, not on points. Our room wsa huge with a microwave and a small fridge, and I was told that all rooms have these. The setting for the resort is gorgeous, and the spa is heavenly. I don't normally get my nails done at hime, but I can tell you that spending a day at the Spa was worth every penny I spent, and I spent a ton of them. The facial was thg highlight ofall my treatments. I would highly recomend the Grove Park Inn.

 

[RobDoc]

We did stay there on points over a weekend last November and had a great time.

Our room was a corner suite overlooking the spa area and Blue Ridge Mtns.

The restaurants are top notch, with an attentive wait staff.

Grove Park offers an opportunity to pamper yourself.

Enjoy!

 

[SEC]

My husband and I stayed at Grove Park Inn for three nights on points in June. We started in Asheville and then went to the Smoky Mountains for three nights. We were very disappointed in the room and will not stay there again on points. We had a view of the golf course but we were in one of the new wings which are the more expensive rooms. We probably would have been happier with a historic room. The newer room did not have much character and the arts and crafts decor on the walls was cheaply done. We were a little suprised at the blue tikki torch set-up in one of the fireplaces in the lobby. It was completely out of place as were the two new wings. The original part of the hotel is very nice overall and we enjoyed wandering through it.

The Grovewood Cafe and Grovewood Gallery which were a very short walk from the Grove Park Inn are not to be missed!

Overall, we were much happier with our stay in Gatlinburg at the Bearskin Lodge which reminded us of Wilderness Lodge, though not nearly as nice. It was about $100 a night and that included breakfast.

 

[Aurora3]

I was really glad to see this thread because the 2004 National Barbie Convention is being held there (the 2003 Convention is at WDW at CS!) but the room rate was more than I wanted to pay for this particular destination. if I can swing it on points it may be well worth doing.