The Village Inn

At $300 a night, this was an awful stay, and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone coming to Blowing Rock. We booked at the last minute after a water leak caused another hotel reservation in Blowing Rock to be cancelled. We’d stayed at the Village Inn about 10 years ago and thought it would work well, but the experience was disappointing. The ownership must have changed. The room smelled so strongly of mildew as soon as we walked in that it overwhelmed us. Both the sink and bathtub were cracked, and the TV remote didn’t work. The front desk had no spare batteries, so they gave us a remote from another room. By morning our belongings all smelled of mildew. Once home, we had to wash everything in our suitcases, even the clothes we hadn’t worn. They used to provide a complimentary continental breakfast, but apparently the new owners are cutting costs. Unlike most discount hotels in the area, this one no longer serves breakfast.

The location is still lovely and makes for a nice day in blowing rock, but the property needs attention. This used to be our favorite place to stay, but no more. When we arrived, the grounds were unmaintained, the room floor was dirty, and leaves covered the back porch and backyard. We had our pet and wanted somewhere to sit outside in the sun, so I borrowed a broom from the hotel to clear the porch. The main community area no longer has amenities like continental breakfast. The TV is all streaming now, and the Internet kept cutting out. It finally became consistent after day two. I’ve never left a negative review before.

The one thing going for it is the location, which is well placed for walking downtown. I wish I’d checked reviews before booking. The website photos don’t accurately show what you’ll get. The “suite” was dusty and neglected, and far too expensive. I didn’t even want to sit on the couch without covering it with a sheet. Towels and Keurig supplies weren’t refreshed, and the ice machine needs a thorough cleaning. It all felt dated and dirty, and wasn’t worth almost $300 a night. I won’t be back.

I’m very disappointed in this property. A couple of hours after the cancellation deadline for my Booking.com reservation, I came down with a stomach virus. I called directly, explained I couldn’t make it, and asked if they could give me credit for another night. We’re retired and could come any time, especially when vacancy might be low. The person I spoke with was haughty and dismissive, and wouldn’t work with me at all. Booking.com also contacted them to ask if they could be flexible, but they said no. I love blowing rock, but we’ll avoid any of the places these people own. Poor customer service and no empathy for an ill senior citizen.