elizabeth

How to Become a Willow Winder and Receive Special Discounts on Cabin Rentals

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Mar
16

by Sandy McLeod

It’s spring in Asheville, and the daffodils are already blooming. The rest of the flowers, bushes, trees and plant life here at Asheville Cabins of Willow Winds are about to come alive too! I’m an amateur photographer and I love to take pictures of Asheville Cabins of Willow Winds to share online with others who come to visit or are curious about the well-preserved natural, wooded environment here.  Feel free to peruse the photos to get an idea about what it’s like to stay here.

 

Stay in a Woodland Garden in a Secluded Cabin Under the Trees

My husband and I began developing this luxury cabin resort in the mid 1990’s and we both felt it was important to preserve and enhance the natural features of the land.  We’re very close to the Blue Ridge Parkway and the property offers easy access to the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. The cabins are nestled within a woodland garden.  Those who’ve stayed with us before appreciate the surprises nature has to offer every single day -  no  matter what the season.  The cabins offer a sense of seclusion within the Asheville City limits. Each cabin has a hot tub, wood-burning fireplace, finely appointed rooms and porches so guests can observe the scenery, and enjoy some tranquility.

 

Read Asheville Cabins of Willow Winds Online Reviews from Guests

Many of our guests are repeat visitors.  Find out what they have to say about a stay at Asheville Cabins by visiting our Facebook, Google Places or TripAdvisor pages.  On-site management means our customer service is superior to other cabins in Asheville, where maintenance crews and management are often offsite.

 

Become a Willow Winder

Of course we want our visitors to leave feeling happy and relaxed and to look forward to their return. Willow Winds is an owner-operated property and we feel it is important to reward our regular guests in some way. So, I have developed a members only program to reward repeat guests with a special discount.  We call this select and growing group the ‘Willow Winders.’ In order to become a Willow Winder, you simply have to stay at the resort three times. After your third visit, we automatically make you a ‘Willow Winder.’ These guests receive a 10% discount on all future stays at Asheville Cabins of Willow Winds.

 

Hurry! It’s Still Not Too Late for Winter Discounts on Cabin Rentals           

During the first three months of 2012, we have extended an even better discount to Willow Winders. Book a reservation and stay in a cabin through March 31, 2012, and we will take 20% off your stay here.  If you are not yet a Willow Winder, a 15% discount applies to the aforementioned cabin rentals. Or, those new to this resort can stay two or more nights and receive one night free. These winter specials are a great savings for many individuals, couples and families, and many have taken advantage of them this year, during a mild winter season.

 

Become a Willow Winder and receive your benefits. Stay at our luxury cabin resort — with all of the amenities you’ve come to expect. Extending this discount to you is our way of saying thank you for making Willow Winds your first choice when you stay in a cabin in Asheville.

 

 

 

elizabeth

Large Cabin Rentals in the NC Mountains: Advantages & Disadvantages for Vacationers

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Mar
7

by Sandy McLeod

There are many different accommodations in Asheville, NC to choose from, including bed and breakfasts, hotels and motels, cabin rentals, private homes, apartments, condominiums and more.  For families, couples and individuals visiting the Asheville area, the choices seem endless.

If you are searching for an appropriate family vacation rental, or are a couple that cherishes privacy while traveling, then a hotel in Asheville might not be the best choice. One alternative to a hotel would be a large cabin rental in Asheville or somewhere in the Norh Carolina Mountains.

For many, a cabin rental might not be appealing at first. It might seem more like camping or roughing it. This may be true in some cases. Before booking, carefully consider location, access to the cabin rental, and amenities included.

Access to a Cabin Rental
A cabin rental in the North Carolina Mountains may be pretty basic or it can include luxury amenities.  Check the amenities included and also look closely at the type of road or access available to a cabin rental.  Is it a dirt or gravel road?  Will hard rain, fog, or snow make it dangerous or difficult to access it?  If you have a four-wheel drive vehicle or a truck, these factors may not deter you.  If these factors are unappealing, you may want to keep looking for a vacation rental closer to town or within the city limits with paved road access.

The Basic NC Cabin Rental
Some cabin rentals in North Carolina come with just the basics:  beds, living room and dining furniture, a heating system (or wood burning stove), kitchen appliances, dishes and utensils.  A covered or screened in porch is also a main feature of this type of rental -so guests can take in the view.  Air conditioning may not be included, but ceiling fans or other types of fans should be in the cabin. Many of these basic rentals do not even include cable or satellite television.  The reason for this is their target market may simply want to ‘get away from it all.’  Do not expect wireless Internet service, either.  Even if guests come equipped with cell phones and wireless cards for computers, access to these services may be unreliable or non-existent, depending upon location.

Luxury Cabin Rentals
This type of cabin rental will be outfitted with many of the features guests expect from a luxury hotel in Asheville. A luxury cabin will include: high quality bedding and linens, flat screen televisions with cable, updated appliances and fully appointed kitchens, reliable heating and cooling systems, gas or wood burning fireplaces for ambience, covered or screened in porches or balconies with outdoor furniture, paved road access or well maintained gravel roads, cabins with hot tubs or access to hot tubs or pools on site, and common areas for outdoor and indoor relaxation such as game rooms or gardens and walkways.

Unexpected Maintenance Issues & Repair
A luxury cabin rental will assign a maintenance person who is available for emergencies around the clock and minor or major repairs during business hours.  For example, if a dishwasher is flooding the kitchen floor or a water line has burst, this would be an emergency repair and a maintenance person should be available as soon as possible. A luxury cabin rental may have staff will be on site, which is definitely an advantage. If a guest is not comfortable or dissatisfied for legitimate reasons, a luxury cabin rental owner will make sure he or she is relocated to other accommodations, if available, or reimbursed for their inconvenience.  Because of their outlying location, basic cabin rentals may not include such responsiveness to maintenance issues, and guests may simply have to endure inconveniences or leave.

Wild Animals
In Asheville and surrounding areas, wildlife is an everyday reality. It is not unusual to see turkeys, fox, bear, deer or other animals within and outside the city limits.   Visitors to the Asheville area often delight in such encounters.  However, if guest(s) who stayed in the cabin rental prior to you have been leaving food on the porch either intentionally or inadvertently, wild animals may be annoying or even threatening.  Most luxury cabin rental resorts warn guests not to feed wild animals or leave food out for them.  Since this type of cabin rental is usually contained within a defined proximity, with other nearby cabins, guests are more inclined to feel safe from the danger they might pose. Cabin rentals in the North Carolina Mountains may not feel so safe to urban visitors who are not used to dealing with wildlife in this way.  If a wild animal has received food from a location, chances are good it will return for more. For this reason, animals should not be fed. If you choose to stay in a cabin in a remote location, there are no guarantees that wild animals will not annoy vacationers or even pose a threat, especially if they are hungry and previous or current guests are careless with food.

Heating and/or Cooling Systems in a Cabin Rental
Some of the cabins available for vacation rentals in the North Carolina Mountains were designed as country cottages for use during spring, summer and fall.  Many of the cabins were used by outdoorsmen such as hunters and fishermen.  Standard heating and cooling systems fueled by electric, oil or gas may be non-existent in this type of rental.  Guests may be expected to use a wood burning stove or fireplace for heat, or small electric heaters as a supplement. Air conditioners are not as common as one may think in many cabin rentals, because the evenings are cool, and temperatures are cooler in the high country, even during the day. For some, a lack of central heating and air conditioning systems may be all right. Other vacationers have standards or health conditions that require reliable, safe and contemporary heating and cooling systems.   Check with the cabin owner or management to make certain heating and air conditioning are included in the cabin rental, if this is a matter of importance.

Access to Grocery Stores, Dining and Entertainment
City and suburban dwellers that visit Asheville are used to shopping, dining and entertainment choices nearby.  Many cabin rentals in Asheville are a short drive from main shopping districts.  Those who want to stay in counties and areas outside of town may have to drive ½ hour to one hour to access a grocery store.  In these types of areas, restaurants may be few and far between and those that do exist tend to close earlier than city establishments. Entertainment options may be sparse or non-existent.  If access to shopping, dining and fun things to do is important to a quality vacation, steer away from rentals outside of town and investigate options in Asheville or close enough so it is not an inconvenience.

These recommendations come after years of listening to stories from guests who are relieved to find all of the modern conveniences in my cabin rentals.  If you and your loved ones are unwilling to ‘rough it’ then I advise you to look more closely at the cabin you are interested in renting.  If the information is not readily available on a website, a phone call or email will clarify your question.

Reserve a luxury cabin in Asheville today.

elizabeth

Weekend Getaways in Asheville: Which Trolley or Bus Tour Do I Take?

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Mar
5

Asheville is filled with plenty of history, local color and fun and interesting things to do. Often visitors will take the opportunity to orient themselves by taking a tour.  A walking tour is certainly an option. There are also two trolley tours of Asheville and one humorous bus tour.  Often visitors will use these tours as a way of familiarizing themselves with the main sites. Or, in the case of the Grey Trolley or Historic White Trolley Tours, as a means of transportation from accommodations in Asheville or central locations where parking is available to places like Biltmore Village, the Grove Arcade, the Grove Park Inn and the River Arts District.

Following, I will give an overview of the trolley and bus tours Asheville has to offer, highlighting the advantages of each tour.

Gray Line Trolley Tour

Gray Line Trolleys are easy to spot on the streets of Asheville because they are bright red and fashioned after the trolleys of the early 20th Century, with open-air windows and retro design features that evoke Asheville’s past.  Visitors purchase a two day pass and can get on or off at nine trolley stops including: the Chamber of Commerce, The Grove Park Inn, River Arts District, the Haywood Hotel, Biltmore Village and more.  The narrated tour lasts about an hour and a half and includes an overview of Asheville’s art, architecture, history and stories about local characters, famous authors and artists and other interesting facts about the Appalachian city that make it unique. There is also a special Ghost Tour of Asheville for visitors who want a slightly different slant on local history.  A two-day pass is available with this tour, along with free admission to the Thomas Wolfe Memorial.

 

Historic White Trolley Tours

This trolley tour also offers visitors a two-day pass.  As indicated in the name, the tour emphasizes Asheville’s history.  A professional narrator gives visitors information about points of interest.  The nice thing about this tour is that it stops at many different locations. These sites are convenient to locally known restaurants and shopping districts.  Visitors can hop on or off at any point and cover a wide area in a two-day span.  The trolley goes through Downtown Asheville, Biltmore Village, the Grove Park Inn and the River Arts District.  The White Trolley Line departs on an hourly basis from April through November.

 

LaZoom Sightseeing Bus Tours

LaZoom Bus Tours are for visitors who want entertainment and humor, and a slightly quirky viewpoint of Asheville, when they see the main sites of the town.  Asheville locals and visitors recognize the bus because of the purple color and costumed characters that hover nearby certain street corners, eliciting laughs and remarks from tour participants as well as passers by. Though the perspective of this bus tour is decidedly different from the White Trolley Tours and Gray Line Trolley Tour, the theme is much the same. The narrator of the tour is usually dressed in costume and delivers factual, historical information about Asheville in a funny, upbeat way.  This tour departs several times per day, from Tuesday through Sunday beginning in May, and mostly on weekends in the off season.  LaZoom Bus does not offer transportation through Asheville, like the other two tours.  There are two pick-up and drop off locations, one at the French Broad Food Co-Op at 90 Biltmore Avenue and The Thirsty Monk Pub at 92 Patton Avenue.

First time and repeat visitors to Asheville will learn a great deal about the town’s history, art, architecture, writers and neighborhoods. Taking a tour is a great way to familiarize yourself with points of interest that you may want to explore more thoroughly later in your trip.  A two-day pass on either the White or Gray Line Trolley Tours is a wonderful way to see the highlights of Asheville, without driving and parking, or walking the steep hills in the Downtown area.

Bring a camera along and a loved one to take the tour with you. Most of all – have fun!

Reserve a cabin today.

sandy@willowwinds.com

Spring has arrived at Willow Winds.

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Mar
4

 

Spring Flowers

View of the daffodils from one of our luxury cabins

Spring has arrived at Asheville Cabins of Willow Winds.  The daffodils are in full bloom, the willow trees have put out their mint green leaves, and the forsythias are bursting into full bloom.

With the mild winter that we have had, early March has never looked so good.  We are turning on all of our 17 water fountains and installing some new features which we hope will be a delightful surprise to our repeat guests.

Remember, Willow Winds is the only place in North Carolina or the world wide web that has its cabins tucked in a 30 acre woodland garden.  Come and enjoy all that our Resort has to offer.  You can enjoy Spring beauty and take advantage of our March Specials.

elizabeth

Read Your Contract Before Booking a Vacation Rental

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Feb
28

by Sandy McLeod

As more and more people become aware of the bargain vacations that are possible by booking a luxury vacation rental, vacation rentals have become increasingly more popular. As a result more and more vacation home owners have decided to add their vacation homes to the rental market.

However, many renters fail to read the contract they are required to sign, and make the mistake of signing a surprisingly one-sided contract that absolves the owner or rental agency of all liability. The renter signs away all rights to recourse if the property is inaccessible, when there is a power failure, or when vital appliances fail to work. Obviously, any one of these calamities could ruin a vacation, and renters should not have to buy expensive trip insurance to protect themselves.

Some rental contracts pressure the renter to buy breakage insurance in case something breaks during their stay. Of course all rental contracts state that the tenant is responsible for damage they have done to the property during their stay. However, we have been in business 16 years and have never had to charge a guest’s credit card for damages. That is because we know that some things such as furniture are prone to break from time to time. However, we always give the guest the benefit of the doubt and would not hold the guest responsible for any damage that was not intentional or malicious.

The guest is put in an extremely vulnerable position if the owner or rental agency cannot deliver on their part of the bargain, because often these contracts require that the full amount of the rental be paid at least 31 days in advance. Thus, owners are put in the unfair position of trying to get their money back after having signed away their rights in the vacation rental agreement.

A more reasonable contract would require 50% of the rental in advance and the rest upon arrival, as well as a willingness to give a full refund if the property is not habitable at the time the guest has reserved. Also, a good owner will be willing to hold that deposit and allow the guest to rebook if there is a family emergency that prevents the guests from arriving at the time they have reserved.

If the agreement is too one-sided, you should look elsewhere in booking a vacation rental.

Below are some important things to look for in reading your vacation rental agreement.

 

  1. The contract pushes you toward purchasing trip insurance. If you are renting from a reputable owner or rental agency, you should not have to pay the added cost of trip insurance that will add 7% or more to your cost.
  2. The contact pushes you toward purchasing yet another insurance, accidental damage insurance, by requiring a large deposit if you don’t buy their insurance, or by holding you strictly accountable for any damage that might not even be your fault. As indicated above, we have never found it necessary to charge a guest’s credit card for damage because we felt that anything that was broken was not intentional. If it were intentional, the insurance policy would not cover it in any event.
  3. The contract absolves the owner or rental agency of responsibility for having the property in habitable and accessible condition with all appliances working. You should avoid at all costs any property if the management refuses to take any responsibility for your not having the vacation that you have paid for.

As a final note, you should remember that the way the vacation rental agreement is written is a good indication of how you will be treated when you arrive at your destination. If you sign a one-sided agreement, you should not expect to be treated fairly if anything goes wrong. It has been our experience that sometimes things do go wrong. What separates good vacation rentals from bad ones is a good maintenance staff and a dedication by mangement to taking care of problems as soon as they happen.

elizabeth

Comment on Your Stay at Google Places

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Feb
22

Here at Asheville Cabins of Willow Winds, we are interested in what our guests have to say about their stay.

Comment on the facilities, staff, service or any other feature of your stay at Asheville Cabins of Willow Winds.

Thank you for your feedback.

— Sandy McLeod

 

elizabeth

Asheville NC has a Thriving Downtown Art Scene

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Feb
22

By Sandy McLeod

Asheville is a premiere destination for artists, art collectors and art lovers.  The city is being promoted and written about as an arts destination.  Visitors interested in the visual arts will find a high level of work being produced, exhibited and collected in Asheville.

Following is just a sampling of Downtown Asheville art venues for the cultured visitor. It is by no means a complete list of art galleries, museums and exhibition spaces in Asheville. I have chosen to focus on these major sites because they have a strong influence on visual art in the Western North Carolina area. Many of these galleries have been in Asheville since the beginning of the cultural revival of Downtown Asheville in the late 1980s and early 1990s.  Several of these galleries have moved to larger renovated spaces and continue to define and express Asheville’s rich art and culture as well as trends in contemporary art.

Blue Spiral 1 Gallery
Founded in 1991, the Blue Spiral Gallery 1 is one of Asheville’s oldest and most respected galleries.  In the past few years, Blue Spiral Gallery moved to a newly renovated 15,000 square foot space at 38 Biltmore Avenue.  In this spacious new setting visitors can view simultaneous exhibitions of Southern artists and object makers. Group shows as well as shows focused on individual artists can be seen at Blue Spiral Gallery.  An open stairway connects the three floors.  Hours of operation are:  10-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday and Sundays from 12- 5 p.m.

Gallery Minerva
Just up the street from Blue Spiral Gallery at 8 Biltmore Avenue, is the Gallery Minerva.  This gallery showcases internationally recognized artists working in the mediums of painting and sculpture.  The audience Gallery Minerva cultivates is: art collectors, interior designers and architects. The casual visitor and appreciator of fine art will find something to love in Gallery Minerva, which displays art that expresses surrealist, mythological and ethereal themes.   Gallery Minerva is open Monday – Thursday  11 – 6 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 11 – 7 p.m. and Sunday Noon- 5 p.m.

Haen Gallery
The Haen Gallery is a superb venue with shows that emphasize the works of artists working and living in the Western North Carolina and Southern Appalachian region.  Haen Gallery is located at 52 Biltmore Avenue and the inviting space easily pulls the interested visitor into the main gallery.  Visitors will find shows where artists are expertly paired according to thematic content or technique, and group exhibitions that showcase the newest work by artists who are represented by Haen.  The Haen Gallery is open Mon., Wed-Fri. from 10 – 6 p.m.; Tues, Sat. from 11-6 p.m. and Sun. from Noon-5 p.m.

Asheville Art Museum
The Asheville Art Museum is located at 2 Pack Square, in the heart of Downtown Asheville.  Visitors will find it well worth a serious look.  The Asheville Art Museum exhibits and collects 20th and 21st Century American art and hosts programs related to this work.  Art that expresses Western North Carolina’s cultural heritage, including studio craft, Black Mountain College and Cherokee artists is featured prominently.   The Museum is open from Tuesday – Saturday, 10 – 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1-5 p.m.  Admission is $8 for adults and $7 for students and seniors.  Children under age 5 are admitted free.

Woolworth Walk
Housed in the historic F.W. Woolworth Building at 25 Haywood Street, this unique gallery exhibits a wide array of artists working in different media.  There are over 160 artists displaying work in fiber, glass, jewelry, painting, photography, pottery, metal, mixed media, wood and digital art.  The soda fountain in the upstairs portion of the gallery is the perfect place to relax in an environment that evokes the past.  Works in this gallery are affordable, practical and in some cases – wearable.  Woolworth Walk is a great place to stop in and purchase an item that helps the visitor to remember the uniqueness of Asheville.  Winter hours are 11- 5 Tues. & Sun. and 11- 6 p.m. the rest of the week.

Any visitor who comes to Asheville can immediately see that art is a main component of the lifestyle of this Southern Appalachian town.   Those who visit Asheville will not want to miss the opportunity to see the unique, high quality visual art available in Downtown Asheville and other areas of town.

Asheville Downtown Gallery Association invites visitors to see the downtown galleries to enjoy the fine art and craft that they have to offer. Asheville was voted the #1 small city in the country by the readers of American Style magazine 2 years running.

Mark your calendars for the 2012 Art Walks:

April 6, June 1, August 3, October 5, December 7

From 5 – 8 pm

The Asheville Downtown Gallery Association has 23 downtown venues for you to visit that are listed on the Downtown Gallery Guide with a map to help you along the way. These can be found at any participating downtown gallery, the Chamber of Commerce, or Pack Place.

elizabeth

Add Some Thrills to a North Carolina Mountain Vacation With Ziplines

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Feb
17

Ziplines in Asheville, NC offer a true wilderness experience.

Ziplines are a relatively new form of outdoor adventure and I thought I would like to add it to my “bucket list”. Though the experience may not be for everyone, ziplines are a popular way to see the outdoors and the rich natural diversity of Asheville’s mountainous landscape. The zipline phenomenon is sweeping the globe, yet it is still a relatively new activity for the Asheville area, with the first ziplines built just a couple of years ago.

A zipline canopy tour sends the ‘flyer’ down a secure cable in mid-air above and/or through the treetops safely. The flyer wears a helmet, gloves, and harness and is oriented by an experienced guide. He or she begins and ends on a platform.

The total distance covered while on the zipline can be anywhere from 400 to 1200 feet or more. Flyers have a nice view of the skyline from the treetops and can experience wildlife and natural colors from a bird’s eye viewpoint. The adrenaline rush of flying through the air is enough to inspire some thrill seekers to try a zipline wherever they travel.

An abundance of forests, meadows, rollicking streams and rivers in the Asheville area make the zipline experience especially rich in scenery and natural colors. Though physical health and weight will be a factor in deciding whether to ride a zipline, many zipline tours do not place upper age restrictions on flyers. Weight limitations do apply. In most cases, zipline flyers must weigh 250 pounds or less. All flyers go at their own risk and sign a waiver of liability before engaging in this activity.

Sandy McLeod is co-owner of Asheville Cabins of Willow Winds. She’s suited up to fly on a Zipliine at Navitat’s site in Barnardsville, NC.

Navitat Canopy Adventures, Barnardsville, NC

Michael R. Smith, the founder of ZiplineNirvana.com, cites the Navitat Canopy Adventures as “one of the best in the nation.” It is located just a half hour outside of Asheville, in the town of Barnardsville. I decided to test my nerves and fear of height and booked a tour. It was just amazing. The views are breath-taking. You feel very safe, because of all the safety precautions they take and the abundance of hardwood trees provides a spectacular setting for a zip through a canopy of trees. You start with a short flights of 50 feet so that you will feel comfortable and get the “hang of it”. Then it’s on to the more adventurous 1,100 feet. In addition to zipping through the trees, visitors can take a walk on the suspension bridge or hiking trails on the property. It was just amazing flying above the tops of the trees and looking out at the mountain range.

Nantahala Gorge Canopy Tours

Over an hour south of Asheville, visitors will find the Nantahala Gorge Canopy Tours, in the town of Bryson City, in the heart of the Smoky Mountains. Flyers pass through hemlocks and hardwood trees, over flowering shrubs and gurgling streams. Located on 20 acres, and providing 6 aerial bridges as well as hiking trails, this tour can be combined with other activities, such as whitewater rafting.

Adventure American Zipline Canopy Tours

Owned and managed by the same company as Nantahala Gorge Canopy Tours, Adventure American Zipline Canopy Tours is the closest to Asheville. It’s located just one mile from Downtown Asheville, behind the Crowne Plaza Resort. Though this Zipline does not offer the deep woods/wilderness experience, flyers get to see some magnificent mountain views. A total of 10 ziplines and three sky bridges allow the visitor to take in the Asheville skyline and landscape, while surrounded by 150 year old oak trees. This zipline is the only one in Asheville that is open year round.

Zipline operators do recommend that flyers be in good physical health before taking a tour. Obesity and some medical conditions can be a barrier to participating. People with the aforementioned issues should consult a physician before engaging in this activity.

For those with yearning for adventure, ziplines are an exciting and memorable recreational activity to engage in while visiting the Asheville area. It is a great family adventure!

Reserve a cabin in Asheville.  Book online now.

elizabeth

What Types of Amenities Should a Luxury Vacation Rental Include?

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Feb
16

by Sandy McLeod

People who love to travel often have standards for the accommodations they select. Travelers want impeccably clean housing with finely appointed furniture, kitchen facilities, and perhaps an outdoor place for relaxation, such as a deck or patio. Many travel in order to escape their daily routine. For this reason, a luxury vacation rental should include some pampering of guests as well. The luxury traveler responds positively to on-site concierge services, delivery of extra towels or linens, or even a nice gift basket or bottle of wine in their room upon arrival. Some vacation rentals make it easy for guests to schedule a massage therapy session with a local masseuse. All of these extras make for a stress free travel experience.

In my opinion, the luxury vacation rental should be attentive to guests’ needs in a way that other accommodations are not.  Following is my checklist for luxury vacation rentals. If you’re paying a premium for a place to stay while traveling, the expectation is higher.

Review the list and see if you agree with my specifications. Though a luxury vacation rental may not include all of the items on this checklist, it should include most.

  • Luxury bedding and linens
  • On-site pool or pond for outdoor relaxation
  • Privacy that cannot be found in condos, duplexes, or even cabins sited close to each other without a natural landscape buffer.
  • It is not necessary to book a vacation cabin miles from civilization to get privacy. There are many luxury vacation rentals close to the shops and restaurants of small towns and cities such as Asheville, NC.
  • A private hot tub in each cabin or vacation rental
  • Fireplaces for the winter months, preferably wood-burning fireplaces
  • Wi-fi Internet at no added cost
  • Flat screen televisions
  • Washer/Dryer in the vacation rental or cabin
  • Fully appointed kitchen with updated appliances
  • DVDs available at no cost for the use of guests
  • Work-out room or gym.
  • Attractive interior design and windows that offer an expansive view of the outdoors
  • Games on premises ( ping pong,  horseshoes, basketball, foosball, etc.)
  • On-site concierge services
  • On-site office and maintenance staff that is trained to provide the best possible service and respond to guest’s needs in a timely fashion

Travel to an unfamiliar location can sometimes be stressful.  Staying in a luxury vacation rental where excellent accommodations and service are provided puts guests at ease and allows them to let go and truly enjoy their time away.

Many  vacation homes, condos, cabin rentals and other types of accommodations claim to be luxury vacation rentals and are really mundane accommodations with very little, if any, service. Most often, these accommodations may have some of the amenities listed above.  However, a staff that is lackadaisical, or unresponsive to guests’ needs can spoil a good vacation. So can dated facilities or worn furniture, appliances or fixtures, bugs or lack of attention to detailed cleaning.

Adding amenities is simply not enough to distinguish a resort, cabin or vacation home as a luxury vacation rental.  The amenities must be high quality and consistent. Perhaps even more important is the fact that many luxury vacation rentals cannot deliver on the promise of superior service. Nothing ruins a good vacation more than experiencing a maintenance problem and being unable to get it fixed.

If you do enjoy a truly luxurious vacation somewhere, you should respond positively to the experience in person, in writing, or even online.  If you and your loved ones have a bad experience while staying at a vacation rental, the same holds true.  This type of critique might encourage owners or stakeholders in vacation rentals to improve upon their facilities or staff.   These days the consumer demands more than ever, especially if he or she is paying a luxury price.

Do not be silent if you are dissatisfied with your luxury accommodations.  Let management or the proprietor know.  If you feel they have not addressed your concerns, then make your opinion known online at sites like TripAdvisor.com. or the Google Places pages.

Before booking a luxury vacation rental, it makes sense to conduct research on customer opinions about the rental online. Look at Google Places pages or TripAdvisor.com to see guest comments about their stay.  For those who use Facebook or Twitter, these are also good sources of information.

Look for places with a history of being in business, but recent comments are more helpful that old comments that may not reflect the property’s current condition.   If the comments are negative, does the owner or management respond to these concerns publicly?  If the answer is yes, you may have a winner. If the answer is no, then the luxury vacation rental you are considering might not be right for you. If a vacation rental has no reviews, look out! It may be one of the many rentals dumped on the market by distressed owners in the current depressed housing market. In most cases these owners have neither the resources or the experience to meet the standards for a luxury vacation rental.

Reserve a cabin at Asheville Cabins of Willow Winds.

elizabeth

A National Magazine Recommends Willow Winds

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Feb
13

by Sandy McLeod

Asheville Cabins of Willow Winds was recently written up in the January, 2012 issue of Better Homes and Gardens, a national magazine.

The brief write-up appeared as “Fresh Ideas for a Quickie Vacation.” The writer says, “[The resort} is bordered by the forest of the Blue Ridge Parkway, yet within the Asheville, NC city limits. These cabins offer comfy amenities, plus tons of activities.”

Visit our Facebook page to see what guests have to say about Asheville Cabins of Willow Winds.  Don’t forget to check our Winter Specials page, too.  Guests who stay with us through March 31 receive a 15% discount on rates.