Asheville's BEST Downtown Hotel? Cambria Hotel Review!
Asheville's Best Downtown Hotel? Hold on to Your Hats, It's the Cambria! (My Honest, Rambling Review)
Okay, fine, let's do this. Asheville. Majestic mountains, the intoxicating scent of breweries, and a whole lotta art. Finding a decent downtown hotel that's both accessible and stylish feels like finding a unicorn wearing a monocle, but I'm here to tell you, the Cambria Asheville might just be the real deal. I've stayed there… well, let's just say it was a research trip. And I'm ready to spill the tea.
First Impressions & Accessibility (The Good Stuff, Mostly)
Walking into the Cambria is pretty darn slick. Think modern art meets industrial chic, and you're halfway there. Checking in was a breeze – contactless check-in/out, a lifesaver in these times, especially when you're juggling luggage and a sudden craving for a local IPA. The lobby is spacious, and they've clearly thought about accessibility. Wheelchair accessible throughout, from the entrance to the elevators. Elevator access is a must for a downtown hotel, and they've got it. Plus, they have facilities for disabled guests, which I didn't personally require, but it's great to know it's available and that the hotel caters to a diverse guest population. My sister uses a wheelchair and has a hard time finding good hotel options and that's why I specifically looked into this.
Rooms: A Sanctuary (Mostly… But Perfection's Overrated)
Okay, the rooms. Yes, they're good. Really good. Mine had a killer view (thanks to being on a high floor) of the Asheville skyline. Clean, comfortable bed with blackout curtains, essential for those Asheville mornings when the sun feels like it's personally targeting your eyelids. Loved the complimentary tea and coffee maker – necessary before tackling a day of exploring. I did struggle with the internet access – wireless, with occasional dropouts. But the free wifi in the rooms was mostly solid, and hey, who needs perfect internet when there's an entire city of craft breweries awaiting? It did take a little while to connect to the Internet [LAN], but eventually it worked.
I was obsessed with the separate shower/bathtub situation. The bathrobes were plush enough to make me want to wear them all day (tempting, but I figured that wasn't entirely socially acceptable). The room also had a mini bar which, although I didn't raid, because I was broke, I appreciated, and there was a refrigerator to keep my water cold and a hair dryer to get rid of my unkempt hair. The safe/security feature was a nice touch, but to be honest, I mostly used it to hide my stash of gummy bears.
The Dining Debacle – And a Silver Lining
Alright, time for a confession. I'm a foodie. A serious foodie. I live and breathe delicious food and, frankly, I was praying for a great hotel restaurant. And the Cambria's in-house restaurant… was okay. Fine. Good for a quick bite, but nothing that'll make you write home to Mom about. But there's room service [24-hour]! And, let's be honest, sometimes all you need is a club sandwich at 2 AM while watching bad TV. The coffee shop, however, served a fabulous coffee that tasted fresh and made with love.
Cleanliness & Safety (Peace of Mind for the Anxious Traveler)
Let's be real: the pandemic has made us all a little… germophobic. The Cambria gets it. They're all about hygiene certification and super thorough cleaning. I saw teams use anti-viral cleaning products, and I even noticed professional-grade sanitizing services. They have staff trained in safety protocol, and I feel much more comfortable knowing that there's a doctor/nurse on call -- you never know what could happen! They even had sterilizing equipment. I personally appreciated the hand sanitizer stations everywhere.
I'm a sucker for Daily disinfection in common areas and rooms sanitized between stays. Plus, they have individually-wrapped food options; I grabbed the Sanitized kitchen and tableware items whenever I planned on ordering food. They have staff trained in safety protocol, and I feel much more comfortable knowing that there's a doctor/nurse on call -- you never know what could happen!
Amenities: The Good, the Great, and the… Missing
- Pool with view, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor] – I'm a sucker for a good hotel pool. The Cambria's outdoor pool is chef's kiss. The view is incredible, especially at sunset. I spent, ahem, a significant amount of time lounging there. Sadly, there weren't any of the other amenities.
- Fitness center, Gym/fitness – Okay, I barely touched the gym, because, let's be honest, Asheville is all about hiking and beer. But it looked well-equipped.
- Things to do, ways to relax – Asheville is packed with things to do. The Cambria's location is perfect for exploring downtown. They have a gift/souvenir shop and a convenience store – great for last-minute essentials (or more gummy bears).
Services & Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter
This is where the Cambria shines. Daily housekeeping was impeccable. The concierge was super helpful with recommendations. Laundry service and dry cleaning were available, which is a lifesaver for any traveler. They even had car park [free of charge] – a rarity in downtown Asheville! The facility for disabled guests was an amazing offering--making the hotel inclusive.
The Biggest Surprise? The Staff (Human and Helpful!)
I've stayed in hotels where the staff seem like they'd rather be anywhere else. Not here. Everyone was genuinely friendly and helpful, from the front desk to housekeeping. They made me feel welcome. It's a small thing, but it makes a huge difference.
The Bottom Line: Should You Book It?
Look, no hotel is perfect. But the Cambria Asheville gets a lot right. It's accessible, clean, centrally located, and has some killer views. If you're looking for a stylish, comfortable, and conveniently located base for exploring Asheville, this is a solid choice. The food might not be Michelin-star worthy, but the overall experience is excellent.
But… Are you looking for more? Here is a limited time offer to book the Cambria hotel downtown!
Exclusive Offer: Escape to Asheville's Heart & Soul!
Book your stay at the Cambria Hotel Asheville Downtown within the next two weeks and receive:
- 20% OFF your room rate!
- A complimentary welcome drink at the bar!
- A curated list of insider Asheville recommendations from our concierge, guaranteed to help you discover the best of the city!
- Early check-in (based on availability), so you can start exploring sooner!
- Free Parking
Don't miss this opportunity to experience the best of Asheville! Book your stay at the Cambria Hotel Asheville Downtown now!
San Antonio's BEST Downtown Hotel Deal: Econo Lodge Inn & Suites!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we’re diving headfirst into my Asheville adventure at the Cambria Hotel Downtown. This isn’t one of those perfectly polished itineraries you see in glossy magazines. This is real life travel, folks. Get ready for the beautiful mess.
Day 1: Arrival & "Oh My God, This View!"
1:00 PM - Arrival & Check-in (the Hunger Games of the Front Desk): Alright, so, after a delayed flight (thanks, Southwest!) and a white-knuckle Uber ride with a driver who clearly saw the Appalachian mountains as a personal racetrack, I finally land at the Cambria. The lobby is… nice. Standard hotel lobby nice. Check-in? Ugh. It felt like a trial by fire. Turns out, everyone else in the world also decided to visit Asheville today. The line snaked, the air crackled with the tension of weary travelers, and I swear I saw a woman legitimately weep because the continental breakfast wasn't ready. The poor front desk person, bless her heart, looked like she’d aged a decade in the past hour. But hey, eventually, I get my key. "Room with a view," I requested. Let's pray.
1:45 PM - Room Revelation & "Oh My God, This View!" (Seriously.): The elevator ride felt like an eternity. But then, the door in my room swung open, and… BAM. Mountains. Glorious, sprawling, breathtaking mountains. The kind that make you want to throw your arms in the air and shout, "I'M FREE!" (Which, honestly, I almost did). Seriously, the view from my room at the Cambria is worth the price of admission alone. I just stood there, mouth agape, for like, fifteen minutes. Totally justified.
2:00 PM - Unpack (or, Attempt To): Okay, so I'm a total mess. My suitcase exploded on the floor, clothes everywhere. Forget it. The view! The view! But first, the bathroom. Gotta freshen up after that travel ordeal.
2:30 PM - Reconnaissance Mission & Coffee Craving: Time to explore! I grab a quick coffee from the hotel's little cafe. It's… serviceable. Okay, it's lukewarm. But the caffeine is doing its job. I wander around the hotel, scope out the gym (nope), and the rooftop bar (promising).
3:00 PM - Downtown Asheville - First Impressions & "Lost in the Sea of Cool": I venture out. Downtown Asheville hits me like a tidal wave of art galleries, breweries, and people who definitely have better fashion sense than I do. I feel like a tourist, which, well, duh, I am a tourist, but still… I get a little lost. Okay, a lot lost. The streets are alive, filled with buskers, and the aroma of… well, everything good.
4:00 PM - Finding the Heart of Asheville (and Possibly Getting Slightly Hangry): I stumble upon Pritchard Park, which is hopping with energy. Street performers, families on picnics, dogs of every shape and size… It's utterly charming. The hangry monster is starting to awaken, though. Time for a snack.
4:30 PM - Biscuit Bliss at Biscuit Head (and a Mild Existential Crisis): Okay, this place. Biscuit Head. Do you even live in Asheville if you haven’t eaten here? I waited in line for, like, an hour. But, sweet mercy… those biscuits. Flaky, buttery, fluffy clouds of heaven. I ordered the “Mimosa Fried Chicken Biscuit." I might have wept a little from pure joy. I also had a weird moment of self-reflection while devouring it. Here I was, a woman alone in a new city, stuffing my face with fried chicken and biscuits. Is this adulthood? Is this what it’s all about? (Answer: Yes.)
6:00 PM - Brewery Hopping & (Attempted) Sophistication: Asheville is a craft beer mecca. I hit up a couple of breweries: Highland Brewing Company (good vibes) and Wicked Weed (crowded but cool). My beer palate, however, is still in the "light, refreshing ale" stage. I mostly just people-watched, admired the brewing equipment, and tried to sound like I knew what I was talking about while ordering. Failed miserably.
8:00 PM - Dinner at Zambra (Tapas & Trying to Be Cultured): I’d booked Zambra for dinner, which, according to every blog ever, is the place to go for tapas. The ambiance is beautiful, all dim lighting and cozy nooks. I order a selection of small plates and pretend to understand the nuances of each one. (I mostly didn't. But the food was delicious!) I feel grown-up; fancy. I might have accidentally ordered a glass of wine that was way out of my price range. Oops.
9:30 PM - Rooftop Bar at the Hotel (Almost Didn't Make It, But Did!): Back to the Cambria! The rooftop bar beckoned. I wanted to see what it was like. The after-dinner chill and the cocktail! The view! The people! It was all worth it.
10:30 PM - Collapse: Back in my room, I stare out at the mountains, a contented, slightly tipsy mess. Goodnight, Asheville. You're already winning.
Day 2: A Deep Dive Into Art & the Great Outdoors (and a Minor Breakdown)
8:00 AM - Wake-Up & Mountain Majesty: The view. Always that amazing view. It makes the groggy-morning feeling immediately better.
9:00 AM - Breakfast at the Cambria (Free, But…). The continental breakfast at the hotel? It's… free. Which is good. It's also… nothing to write home about. Standard hotel fare: lukewarm coffee, a bagel, and some sad fruit. I eat it anyway. Hunger doesn't care about quality.
10:00 AM - The Biltmore Estate: Tourist Trap, or Must-See Wonder?: I'm a bit of a Biltmore-Estate-sceptic. It seems like a tourist magnet, and I mostly avoid those. But everyone raves about it. So… I go. And, you know what? It's actually pretty incredible. The sheer scale of the place! The opulence! I wander through the rooms, gawking at the art, the tapestries, and the sheer audacity of it all. It’s fascinating, even if it does feel a bit like stepping into Barbie's Dream House, only for the uber-rich. I spend way too long in the library, dreaming of owning a home library like that.
1:00 PM - Lunch at the Biltmore Village (Overpriced But Necessary): The restaurants at the Biltmore Village are expensive. But it's convenient. I have a salad and ponder whether I should have sprung for the audio guide. Mostly I just people-watch and wonder about the lives of the people who actually live in mansions like the Biltmore.
2:00 PM - Art Aftermath: The River Arts District (RAINBOWS & EMOTIONS!) After leaving the Biltmore, I was off, and the very real need to cleanse my palate from the grand estate. I head to the River Arts District. I am stunned. Seriously. The color! The creativity! The joy! Every building is a canvas, every studio a treasure trove. I wander in and out of galleries, my credit card practically sweating in my pocket. I fall in love with a painting. I start to cry. (I'm very emotional on this trip, okay?)
4:00 PM - The Blue Ridge Parkway (and a near-panic attack): Ah, the Blue Ridge Parkway. Everyone said it was a must-do. So, I bravely (and somewhat nervously) navigated the winding roads. The scenery is, undeniably, stunning. But I’m also not a huge fan of heights, and the roads are… precarious. There’s this point where I pull over, and I just have to close my eyes and breathe because the drop on the side of the road is just… too much. I was fine. Eventually. The mountains are something else.
5:30 PM - Back to Earth (and Beer): To recover from the mountain experience, I hit up another brewery. I deserve a beer after that drive, right?
7:00 PM - Dinner Dilemma & A Solo Stroll: I am so exhausted. I think about ordering room service but decide I'm going to be a "cultured traveler" and go out again. I wander. I crave pizza, but I end up settling for a little Italian place I find. The food is okay, but I remember the food in the River Arts District.
9:00 PM - Final View & Reflection: Back at the Cambria. The mountains are lit by the stars. I sit by the window, sip a glass of wine, and think about how utterly ridiculous, lovely, chaotic, and perfect this trip has been.
**Day
Escape to Tuscany: Unforgettable Luxury at Villa Cheli, Lucca
Okay, Spill the Beans: Is the Cambria Hotel Asheville's *Actually* Best Downtown Hotel? Or Just Another Hotel Hype Machine?
Alright, alright, let's cut the crap. "Best" is always subjective, right? Depends what you're after. *My* opinion? The Cambria has a HUGE leg-up on a lot of the competition. But, yeah, it has its quirks. Think of it like a really charming golden retriever puppy... with a slightly mischievous streak. Here's the breakdown, because, you know, I'm invested now.
The Location, Location, Location - Should I Actually *Walk* to Things from the Cambria?
YES. ABSOLUTELY YES. That's the money shot. Seriously, you stumble out the front door and BAM! You're practically *in* the action. Biltmore Avenue with its shops and restaurants is literally steps away. Pack Square Park? A quick stroll. You can even handle the (admittedly slightly steep) walk to the Grove Arcade and the arts district, all without needing a taxi or Uber. This is HUGE, because parking downtown Asheville is a NIGHTMARE. I once circled the block for 45 minutes before giving up and just *abandoning* my car. (Okay, I didn't *abandon* it... I just eventually paid a ridiculous parking garage fee. Lesson learned.)
The Rooms: Are They Actually Instagrammable, or Just Bland Hotel Rooms?
Okay, the rooms are...pretty good. They're not "jaw-droppingly" amazing, no. But they're clean, modern, and stylish *enough*. Definitely Instagrammable. (I took a picture of the coffee and the view – classic.) They have good beds - SUPER important! - and decent sized bathrooms. The views... depend. Ask for a room with a view, if you can, because you will be very pleased. One tiny pet peeve? The lighting in the bathroom could be better for makeup application. But, hey. Nobody's perfect. I even had a room with a balcony and I spent *hours* out there. Glorious.
Breakfast: Feast or Famine? And Seriously, Is It Free?
Breakfast is... complicated. It's *not* free, which is a small bummer but it's definitely worth it. The Cambria offers a pretty darn good breakfast. They have a full service breakfast, with a restaurant there, I ordered a "Big Breakfast," which was delicious, then had pancakes the next day. The coffee is good, the staff are friendly... but. On one occasion, they were extremely busy. I waited a good 40 minutes for my food. This is a downside. My advice? Go early, go late, or just be VERY patient. Or, you know, grab something quick from the snack shop.
The Pool and Amenities: Spa Day or Just a Dip?
The pool situation is... decent. It's outdoor, which is great on a sunny day. Pool is not overly large, not overly exciting, but definitely worth it. The gym - I went! It's small, but good enough for a quick workout. No spa facilities! Which is a bit of a shame, but I probably wouldn't have used it anyway. So. There you go.
The Staff: Are They Actually Nice, or Just Putting on a Smile?
Honestly? The staff are really, really awesome. They're genuinely friendly and helpful. I had a minor issue with my room key (classic!) and they fixed it immediately, with a smile. They were even good with local information. This makes a HUGE difference. It can make or break a hotel experience. They really *seem* to care about making your stay a good one. Plus, they're all from Asheville, so they know what's what. (Which is way better than a corporate hotel where the staff are just going through the motions.)
The Vibe: Is it Loud, Party-Central, or Actually Relaxing? (Please!)
It depends. During the week, it's pretty chill, especially in the rooms. But on weekends, especially during peak season, *expect* some noise. Downtown Asheville is a vibrant place, and the Cambria (being so centrally located) picks up on that energy. I wouldn't say it’s “party-central,” but you're not exactly going to be sipping chamomile tea in utter silence. Earplugs are your friend, potentially. Maybe ask for a room away from the street if you're a light sleeper (guilty!).
Value for Money: Worth the Price Tag? (Or Should I Just Book a Yurt?)
Ah, the big question. Asheville hotels are definitely… not cheap. The Cambria is *generally* in line with other decent hotels in downtown. Is it a steal? No. Is it overpriced? Not necessarily. You're paying for the location, the convenience, and the generally good experience. Think of it like this: you're not paying *just* for a bed. You're paying for the freedom to explore, the ease of access, and the relief from the parking hellscape that is downtown Asheville. If you value those things *and* you're willing to pay a bit, then yes. It's worth it. But a yurt could also be awesome. I mean, think of the *stories*!
Parking: The Bane of My Existence - What's the Deal?
Okay, prepare yourself. This is where things get a little less dreamy. The Cambria *does* have parking, BUT, and it's a BIG but, it's valet parking. Which means *more* expense. Valet is the norm for downtown hotels. Plan on adding that to your budget. Honestly, though, given the situation, the valet service is actually pretty good. They're quick, efficient, and they don't judge your questionable driving skills. (Or, maybe they do, but they're polite about it!) If you have *major* parking anxiety, the valet is probably worth it. Otherwise, you can attempt to find street parking or a nearby garage but be prepared for a challenge. I'm still traumatized from the time I spent 45 minutes circling around searching for a spot. Never again.
The Overall Verdict: Should I Book the Cambria?
Okay, here's the TL;DR: Yes, you probably should. If you want to be in the *heart* of Asheville and want a solid, comfortable, and generally pleasant hotel experience, the Cambria is a great choice. But go in with your eyes open!Backpacker Hotel Find
Post a Comment for "Asheville's BEST Downtown Hotel? Cambria Hotel Review!"