My husband and I, along with our parents, visited the Crowne Plaza Resort, formerly the Holiday Inn Sunspree, in Asheville, North Carolina on August 21, 2005. I wasn’t sure what to expect based upon the fact that I had learned it was under renovation. However, I was pleasantly surprised. We arrived very late, about an hour after our parents, and were aware that they had gotten lost and had a hard time finding the resort. We mentioned this to the front desk staffperson who remembered them and gave us their room numbers upon request so we would know where they were located without having to awaken them. It turns out we were located beside and across from each other very near the vending machines and elevator. I had booked these rooms on Priceline and was afraid (based on previous experience) that we would be placed somewhere in the nether regions of the hotel because we had purchased our room at discount prices. We were actually very conveniently located.

Our spacious room was recently redecorated in an elegantly understated and traditional décor. To my surprise, we had two double beds that were fine for the evening, but I would have preferred queen beds. Generally, I think guests expect either a king or two queens. The traditional poster beds were outfitted in high end linens, a pillowtop mattress, and a sparkling white comforter topped by 5 sumptuous pillows. I never enjoy hotel pillows. They usually hinder my sleep but these were wonderful. A night table with good lighting and a radio/clock/CD player stood between the two beds. According to hotel literature, there is a Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage package featuring the new beds, Guaranteed Wake-Up Calls, Sleep Amenities and a Sleep CD with Relaxation Tips. There was no sleep CD but my sleep was very restful. Also, I called for an 8 o’clock wakeup call and received it from an actual person, not a recording, at precisely 8 o’clock. If I had not, I would have received my night’s stay free. The room also included a round table and two chairs, a TV with multiple cable channels and a remote in a TV armoire,. There was also a small refrigerator. The traditional wood theme extended to the closet that was covered with stained, raised panel doors. The closet held a small luggage rack and iron and ironing board. A credenza for holding luggage would have been helpful. One extra was a nicely framed full length-dressing mirror. There was no sink or vanity outside the small bath so we took turns using the one sink. The tile bath was sparkling clean and the tub included a retractable clothesline. The shower had great water pressure and plenty of hot water. The usual bath amenities of shampoo, soap, bath cap, lotion and hair dryer were available. There was also a coffee maker with coffee and tea as well as an ice bucket and four glasses. My mother forgot her toothbrush and a quick call resulted in someone delivering two complimentary brushes and toothpaste to her door.

There are 277 rooms and suites with golf course and mountain views. There are also guest “villas” which would be nice for families. According to hotel literature, king executive rooms also have a living area with a sofa bed. There are handicapped accessible rooms with grab bars, a TDD visual alert system, hand-held shower and closed-caption TV. Certain rooms are set aside for pets. I love my pets but I am glad to know that I don’t have to wonder if animals have slept in my room.

We entered on the 3rd floor where the lobby was situated and went down to floor number two. Because of this, we had to pay special attention that we did not absentmindedly go up instead of down.

The main restaurant, the Pro’s Table, had two dining areas, one with a stone fireplace, which would be very cozy in the winter. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served here, but we only had the breakfast buffet, which offered the usual full complement of breakfast foods. I did not go into Mulligan’s Bar and Grille because it was closed while we were there, but I peeked through the beveled glass doors at a stylish leather and dark wood setting.

Other resort amenities include a small fitness room, an 18-hole golf course, a pro golf shop, clay tennis courts, light-filled meeting and banquet rooms, a convenient, free parking lot, complimentary wireless Internet in each room, a full-service business center and a lovely swimming pool. The pool area, which I searched for because of inadequate signage, was situated facing trees and the golf course and was very inviting. A gazebo sheltered tables and chairs for shady reading. The pool had no diving board, as it was 5 feet at its deepest and 3 feet at the shallow end. There was no children’s pool but there was a whirlpool. The pool is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. An indoor pool and a children’s playground are scheduled to open in 2006.

The location of the resort, only one mile from downtown, is very private and feels secluded. Beware, however, that neither it nor its signage is obvious from the interstate, and a confusing entrance requires alert driving. It is less than five miles from the famous Biltmore Estate, and the surrounding Biltmore Village which has many quaint shops, artists’ venues and restaurants. The scenic Blue Ridge Parkway is nearby with opportunities for photos, picnics, hiking and biking. The Great Smoky Mountain National Park is just 35 miles away.

The impressive main stone entrance and foyer has vaulted rooflines and gives an upscale rustic feel befitting a mountain setting. Fireplaces add to the ambiance. A fall visit would be ideal for viewing changing leaves, golfing in nice weather, and visiting the Biltmore House. I would gladly return for the great beds and the convenience.

The room was big, though the bathroom was sort of small. We checked in with only good things to say about the front desk! You need to know that this hotel is in transition. The bedding was very, very nice and comfy. We even had a small fridge in our room. They allow pets; however, there were no animal smells nor animal noises at all. I went to the pool Sunday afternoon and it was totally empty. If we come back I definitely want to stay over a Sunday night just to have the pool to myself. Now to the bad things: We have very bad things to say about the bar. Went in Saturday night after a great dinner in Asheville, loving the whole experience, and then were disgusted by the bar and the lack of service. The bar had something syrupy on it which wouldn't come off even though I tried to wipe if off with a rag. The bartender didn't even attempt to clean it up. Not only that, but we didn't get waited on at all and eventually left without so much as a greeting. This could be such a nice getaway but the bar . . .

This hotel used to be a Holiday Inn Sunspree it is now called Crown Plaza Resort (a member of the Holiday Inn Chain).

I stayed here Aug 11 and 12, 2005. It was a wonderful stay.

The hotel has been renovated and appears to still be under rennovation. The room has been completly remodeled: new carpet, wall paper, furniture, GREAT new mattresses, lots of nice pillows (in my room 4 pillows per bed), a clock radio with a CD player, the bathroom is small and mine had not completely been done over. The shower was a little low on pressure, and a little hard for me to adjust the correct temperature of the water but that would not keep me from staying there in the future.

All rooms have balconies and a mini-refigerator (which is nice to store water or soda pop).

This resort has a golf course but do not know anything about that part.

We had breakfast buffet both mornings which was a fairly nice buffet. I seen an exercise room and a computer room but didnt explore them.

Over all I had a pleasant stay and would stay here again.

We spent 7 days there, paying $61/night (Hotwire). The location was great - 5 minutes from downtown with easy freeway access (once you figure out the goofy on/off ramps for I-240). The place looks a little bit scruffy (not what I expected of a 'resort'), but seems to be in the midst of a rennovation. The room was clean, the bed was very comfy (although only a Double, not a Queen). We had a small refrigerator in the room (which was cold enough to freeze water and didn't appear to have a temperature adjustment). The bathroom was smallish, and the toilet wasn't attached firmly to the floor. Water pressure in the shower was pretty lame and worst of all, we had to call *every* day (most days twice) because we didn't have hot water. We spoke to a manager twice, but it didn't seem to do any good. The wireless internet connection didn't work either.