Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate

Biltmore was beautiful and even better than I expected. The rooms were great, the food was delicious, and the staff were incredible. There was wine at 5 and cookies at night. I parked the car and didn’t use it for the two days we were there. I can’t wait to return, and I’ll stay here again.

We celebrated our first wedding anniversary at Biltmore estates, and it was lovely. Everything was within a short walk, from the winery and shops to the restaurants and Christmas lights, and the animals were nearby too. Our room was gorgeous, especially opening the curtains to the Christmas lights. The beds were cozy, the shower area was big, and we got fresh towels every day. We liked having breakfast and good coffee in the hotel lobby. The people I spoke with by phone helped us plan the trip, including wine and chocolate tasting and a visit to the house. We chose not to have wine, and the hotel staff gave us a pass for ice cream at the creamery instead. It was delicious. We’ll definitely be back soon.

The Inn is on another level. It felt like a four-star hotel, with amazing decor, staff, cleanliness, and an atmosphere that made us want to stay. After the supervisor on duty said our money could be sent there and offered to call ahead so we could see a room before deciding, we went over and chose to stay. The supervisor said this after we went to check out because the Village room problems made the stay feel not worth it. We were even willing to lose the substantial nonrefundable amount we’d paid and drive hours home around midnight. At the Village, check-in went fine, and the front desk staff were very friendly. But when he retrieved our wristbands for lumineer, he gave me someone else’s. I caught the other name on the clear envelope and told him, and he thanked me and handed over ours. The lobby is small and cute, though noisy. Our room was another story. The bathroom tile had little white flecks, apparently from the mop; the coffee maker bar was dirty, with a cup ring and dried liquid spots; and the sheets had what looked like burn marks or dirt. The desk and nightstand wood was so worn it barely shone, and the closet wood was badly damaged. The room was small, which would have been fine since the point of Biltmore is to be out and about, but the condition was disappointing and nearly disgusting. We brought our concerns to the desk and asked the employee to come see for himself. His expression showed shock and embarrassment. We got another room, but it was only fractionally better. I can’t understand how basic room maintenance slipped past everyone. Anyone with real authority would be embarrassed to have the Biltmore name attached to these rooms. If you want a great stay on Biltmore property, choose their other hotel instead of The Village. The extra cost is worth it. The Village Hotel is an older property that desperately needs updating, repairs, and general TLC. It doesn’t represent what I believe Biltmore is trying to convey.

Beautiful hotel, facilities, and service. It seems a shame not to have a few golf courses on all that land, though. If you’re visiting the estate, it’s a very affordable choice, since a hotel in town plus a pass costs more. You can also get onto the grounds outside public hours if you want to bury or look for pirate treasure or dog treats.