This is probably our 4th stay at the Hotel Roanoke. The room we were given was fine. A little on the small side, compared to the king bedded Hampton Inn we stayed in the previous night on our journey. The carpet in the hallway was in need of vacuuming. The room was outfitted with nice furniture. We were disappointed that there was a daily fee of around $10.00 for WIFI. Many chain hotels, like Hampton Inn, offer it for free. Also the charge for parking is not appreciated. I can see where they would charge for other people using the lot - but unnecessary, I feel, for overnight guests. We mainly stay here when visiting my brother, and since my mother usually also joins us, she really is particular about hotels, so that is why we stay here. While the breakfast is lovely, it still adds up. I'm OK with the free breakfasts at the chains, where I end up eating all I SHOULD eat and not all I do eat when paying a lot for a buffet at the Hotel Roanoke.
Anyway, our stay was fine. The front desk was excellent, and the common areas are great when you are visiting with family and don't want to be stuck in your room. This was the first time, however, that I must have been on the side of the hotel overlooking the train tracks. Being a light sleeper, this was not good. I woke up 4 times during the night, when the train went by. No wistles or anything, but the rumbling of the train was all it took. That was the only BAD part of the visit. I really needed my sleep on this short visit - which required a long ride home the next day. Will we stay again? I'm sure - when my mom is also visiting. But, likely when it's just the two of us, will likely look aroudnd for a newer chain, with free parking, free WIFI and free continental breakfast, and still clean accommodations.

This hotel was remarkable and grand, plus the location in the middle of town was great. The passageway to the downtown market area right in front and the train station was next to that, literally steps away. The lobby area and function rooms looked beautiful, plus the festive Christmas tree and decorations made it nice and cozy. The warm cookies at check-in are a great idea too. Unfortunately the service was the only thing lacking. After having to promise we wouldn't be smoking in our NON-smoking room, and signing a form saying so, we walk into a smoke stenched room! So we complained and got a new room that was actually renovated with new furniture and decor which was very fancy and plush- why didn't we get that in the first place?? Plus, they have a huge parking lot but we still had to pay a parking fee for the night $14- as if this is some metropolitan city or something- there's empty land and mountains alll around this one horse town!

I recently stayed at Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center, a Doubletree Hotel, for several days while attending the Virginia Dept of Technology 2007 Educational Technology Leadership Conference. The conference center itself, is very nice. The meals are typical conference fare...nothing particularly exciting. The conference rooms are nice and there are plenty of them....in varying size...in fact, approximately 63,000 square feet of conference space. The hotel's business facilities include 35 meeting rooms, a fixed-seat lecture hall, two boardrooms, conference center lounge and an elegant hotel ballroom which can accommodate up to 1,400 guests.

The historic Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center is located alongside downtown Roanoke in the heart of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains, 10 minutes from Roanoke Regional Airport.

Built in 1882, the beautifully restored Tudor-style Hotel Roanoke is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Some of the guest rooms are newly renovated, but most are in sore need of a face-lift.

When I first arrived amidst the throng of conference goers, I was assigned to a room with two double beds even though I had reserved a king. When I called down to the front desk to request a room change, fortunately they had just received a cancellation and were able to move me. The king size bed guest room had a very small bathroom, no counter space at all. The sink was an old pedestal style, small bathtub, and small wall shelf above the toilet. The room had a small closet, a business desk with a broken CAT5 cable, and barely existent wireless access ($12.95 per 24 hours). The problem with the wireless network persisted throughout the entire TECHNOLOGY conference! It was the worst reception I've ever received at a conference. It constantly dropped out if you could ever pick it up in the first place.

Downstairs is the most elegant part of the hotel. A fine dining restaurant known as The Regency Dining Room (Old South flavor), The Pine Room Pub (quaint little bar and pool table with a few TVs situated around the room with a late night menu), player piano, large sitting area known as The Palm Court and small souvenir shop.

What to expect: Limited cable channels, within walking distance of downtown Roanoke (which hosts a great selection of restaurants), and a beautiful view of the city.

The best part of this hotel is the Conference Center (sans wireless network). The downside...the outdated guest rooms in sore need of renovation. Nice and accommodating staff.

Suggestions: Renovate all of the guest rooms as well as the wireless network. Never schedule conference sessions in the Garden Rooms during the winter! We had to suffer through temperatures in the low 50s, horrible fumes from a tiny kerosene heater and poor acoustics. These rooms should not be included as part of the conference center. Most of us left halfway through the session because we were overcome by the kerosene fumes and chilled to the bone (we didn't dress for outside conditions).

Hotel Roanoke use to be a regal old lady....now she's just old and worn-out as far as the guest rooms are concerned. I hate to see such a beautiful place fall into such disrepair and neglect. I encourage Doubletree, Inc. to bring back her original beauty!

I am a native of Salem, VA (next to Roanoke) and stay at the Hotel Roanoke a couple of times a year for business and leisure to visit friends and family. This is the best hotel in Roanoke, period. It has
the location and amenities that no other hotel in town can match - it
is a product of a bygone era. It is not perfect every time (no hotel or restaurant is as you know if you travel much) but it's close and the staff does a great job overall and 99% of the time. If you are visiting the area, and your budget allows, do yourself a favor and stay here. You won't regret it and will stay there on subsequent trips if they are not booked up. If they are booked, try the new Courtyard Marriott. Not unique, but clean and spacious. Avoid the Patrick Henry - it is a dump (almost literally - I think they are out of business now finally). For the charm of a grand hotel with modern amenities of Doubletree/Hilton and conference facilities by Virginia Tech (21st century), your best bet in town by far is the Hotel Roanoke.