Don't get me wrong--please! I LOVED this hotel, really. And I am going to tell you exactly why. But I'm going to tell you that at the end of this review because that's the part I want you to remember most. What I'll tell you first, which you'll also remember but maybe not as vividly, are what those two steps were that kept the experience from being, as my title indicates, a home run.
There are several tiny things about the hotel that could be improved--but they are tiny, indeed. For instance, I noticed that some of the screws on the shower door could use "freshening up" and that some of the paint around the shower could be a little more perfect. And, in a perfect world, I would have liked to see the hallway carpet updated to better match the color scheme of the rooms. But you and I both know that you only notice those sorts of things when everything else is pretty much perfect, spot on, nirvana.
And that was the story here . . . except for two things.
First, and this is also pretty small in the scheme of things, I was surprised to learn that the second floor didn't have its own ice machine and/or vending machines. This, as I said, really is a small thing--unless it is late, you are thirsty, you wander out in your pajamas for ice and a soda, you make trips up and down the hall trying to find what you are certain you have missed, and other guests have to pretend not to notice that you are wearing Tweety Bird pajamas with a bright yellow top that reads, "Happiness is yellow." Thankfully, I was rescued from a walk that might have, in my tired state, kept me going for quite a while longer, by a guest who had already discovered that I wouldn't find what I was looking for on the second floor. She even told me that I would find my bliss more quickly if I took the elevator to the third floor. So I did.
As I said, this really is a small issue, but I think, in light of the second issue I'm about to raise, the hotel should make it a practice to tell second-floor guests that they can find ice, soda, and snacks on floors one and three. How easy would that be?
The second issue is a bit more serious to me--although I recognize that it is industry-standard stuff. I stayed on Friday and Saturday nights. On Friday night, the cost of my room was about $90 and fees, which I felt was very reasonable--and for all the things I am going to say later, even a deal. On Saturday night, however, the same room with the same view, the same linen, the same TV and channels, the same microwave and small fridge, the same tired screws on the shower door jumped to about $150 and fees. I'm an erstwhile English teacher, so you can do the math (I really can't). Whatever the percentage increase was, I know for sure that my enjoyment of the amenities and service did not increase by that percentage.
Yes, it was a weekend night. Yes, it is peak season. Yes, everyone does it. I get it. I don't have to like it, though. It just doesn't feel right.
Now that I have shared my thoughts about those two issues, let me tell you about the rest of my experience and why it was so nearly a home run. To begin with, making a reservation by phone could not be a more pleasant experience. The staff is polite, professional, eager to please, and accommodating. While it may be true that their questions and answers are things they have memorized over the course of their time at the hotel, their delivery is genuine. They work for a place that values customer service, and it shows.
In terms of choosing a room, the staff will try to help you and accommodate your needs and preferences as well as they possibly can. Knowing a few things might help you help yourself. As I note below, most people ask for a mountainside view, which is fine. Many prefer the second floor because they would rather avoid the possibility of smelling smoke (think allergies, etc.) on the third floor or the sound of people milling about in the morning on the first floor (where breakfast is set up, serve-yourself style, every morning). The second floor was very quiet, and the only fault I found was its lack of ice and vending machines (and the fact that I didn't know I wouldn't find them on that floor). If a bathtub is on your list of must-haves, ask the clerk about their handicapped-accessible rooms. They are the only rooms in the hotel with tubs, but they also only have one king-size bed. If they haven't been reserved by guests who need the accessibility they offer, the staff will gladly put you in one of them for your stay. Finally, I would recommend, as I indicate below, staying at the end of the hall if you don't mind the walk. It really is so quiet the further you get from the elevator or center of the floor. And it isn't noisy anywhere--not even when the dining area is full of chomping and chatting guests.
Now the rooms themselves . . . well, you'll have a fridge, a microwave, some sort of coffee set up (sorry, I don't drink it), a standalone wardrobe for your hanging things, an ironing board and iron (tucked into said wardrobe), and a fine-sized TV that I only turned on once in two days, so it was a bit lost on me. You'll find a hair dryer in the vanity section of the room, which is separate from the actual bathroom where toilet and shower are the only features (except for the ample supply of towels). There's also a little desk area between the console that holds the fridge, coffee, microwave, and TV and the standalone wardrobe. And there's no straight-back chair for you to suffer in if you need to work. The desk chair is quite comfortable. Of course, there is wireless service in each room. You'll find additional plug-ins for all your devices in the base of the bedside lamps. Beyond these features, the decor of the room was much to my liking--sage green walls with black and white photos framed in black frames, sage green coverlets with black and white decorative rectangular covers lain at the foot of each bed, and four white pillows on each bed. The rooms really do look like the pictures. And there are even a few more things to admire about them. If you want complete darkness, the curtains will afford you that luxury. If you need to sleep in a very cool or warm room, the in-room temperature control unit will enable you to set the temperature for your comfort.
Last, but not even close to least, is the service you'll get from the staff there. As I mentioned earlier, making a reservation by phone connects you to a well-trained, committed hospitality worker. Arriving to the hotel puts you face to face with these folks and their willingness (and ability) to answer pretty much any question you have. Justin was the person who checked me in; and although a wave of guests arrived at the same time, each of us was treated to his best service, his complete service. And he did it with an unflappable calmness that made it really nothing to wait our turn. After all, if Justin (the rock star) is going to check you in, he is worth waiting for. But he isn't alone in helpfulness. Call down to the desk and ask for recommendations for this food or that, and you won't get silence on the line. These people know the area; they seem to know what visitors want and are looking for; and they don't mind sharing in the most polite, professional, genuinely pleasant way you can imagine.
Perhaps I should re-title this review. I was troubled by the two issues I raised earlier, even though I can explain them away or account for them. And I did love the room--despite the car lot under my window. But I think more than anything else, what this hotel has going for it is more important--especially in a place like Asheville where there are so many hotels to choose from. Yes, the rooms are mostly reasonably priced. Yes, the rooms are nice. But the staff--from the front desk clerks to the housekeeping staff--make this a place I will return to over the years. For sure.
Does my "very good" rating tell the whole story? I'm not certain; but if I could figure out a way to give this hotel four and a half stars, that's what you would see accompanying this review. It's a pleasant hotel, with an even more pleasant staff, and I appreciated all the things that were truly well done.
So enough already. Stop reading, and call to book your room now. I have a feeling Sleep Inn West will be filling up pretty quickly for the summer months. With all the things to see and do in Asheville, the last thing you want to worry about is where to stay. You'll have no worries here--except where the pool is. The hotel doesn't have one, but I don't go to the mountains to swim in hotel pools, so the absence of one truly was a non-issue for me. If it is for you, give the folks at Sleep Inn West a call. They're ready to be at your service, and I pretty much guarantee you'll be pleased.
Happy trails.