Every year we plan a vacation during the holidays. We love to look at holiday decorations. This year, we decided to take a road trip to Asheville, North Carolina and visit the Biltmore Estate. Visiting America’s largest estate and mansion was a treat from the top floor down to the basement. Karen had her trusty camera ready to shoot many wonderful photographic memories of our visit.

Throughout the estate, there were 100+ decorated trees with 25,000+ ornaments, 1.5 miles of fresh garlands, 500 wreaths and sprays, 2,000 poinsettias and other favorite holiday plants and 100 kissing balls! Definitely lots to look at in addition to the wonderful room displays we visited. As we walked through the estate our first night for the Candlelight tour, the fireplaces were ablaze with roaring, warming fires. So warm, in fact, that there were windows open! Various areas had instrumentalists playing holiday songs for our enjoyment. There is a room for everything in the estate, from a tapestry room to a gun room, from a breakfast room to a music room. Bedrooms with identifying names greeted guests on the upper floors. Bachelors had their own wing. There were living halls, lounges, sitting rooms and a winter garden. The guests of George Vanderbilt wanted for nothing during their stay.

We stayed on property at the Village Hotel. Not exactly what we expected for the price we paid. When we arrived, we were told there were no daily housekeeping services provided and that if we needed anything we could call the front desk or stop by and pick it up. We were also locked out of our room as the front desk agent neglected to combine our reservations on one key, even after bringing it to his attention. We had asked for a quiet area and were hoping the long walk to get to our room would be worth it, But no. They placed a family with young hellions in the room next to us. The parents allowed the children to race up and down the hallway and bang theit room door open and shut for extended periods of time. Definitely not the quiet area we had hoped for. To add to our disappointment, the front desk agent failed to provide us with our complimentary ornament upon check-in. And, we were billed upon check-out for 2 bottles of Biltmore wine that were complimentary, Just not at all what we expect when we travel to elite hotels.

There were some nice things about the hotel, however. One being a walk-in shower and the other that there was a Keurig coffee maker in the room for Karen’s first sips. We wish we had known about the coffee maker as we would have brought our own coffee and hot chocolate. We had to request clean coffee mugs and additional k-cups.

The estate shuttle was not in operation (another disappointment) but we walked through Antler Hill Village and enjoyed a few meals close by at Cedric’s Tavern and the Bistro as well as breakfast in the hotel’s upstairs restaurant. There was also a small coffee shop in the lobby selling pastries and sandwiches. Our first meal was in The Stable Cafe. Yes, originally it was a very nicely appointed stable for the estate’s horses and carriages. We actually had a table in a stall. Our expensive meal was one-note and not very appetizing. Our server noticed our disappointment and sent a manager over. The manager apologized and did the right thing.

The shops on the estate were very busy and admittance was controlled at the door. There was also a gift shop at the main gate to the estate. We purchased a cute snowman ornament with a Biltmore scene to add to our travel ornament collection.

Besides touring the house, one of our highlights was checking out the outdoor model train display near the farm and barn as well as speaking with the informational docent. It is very well done and laid out with miniature train station replicas from cities in the U.S.

One day, we spent wandering around Biltmore Village. We had some delicious bar food in an old railroad depot, the Village Wayside, shopped the shops, listened to costumed Dicken’s characters play instruments and sing throughout the village.

There was a shuttle bus from the estate parking lot to the house. We had a great driver the first day. He helped me on and off the shuttle. He also saw me exiting the house and held the bus for me. I greatly appreciate that type of customer service.

Karen participated in a wine tasting. Biltmore Estates has vineyards in California so many of the wines are produced there. She came home with a few bottles of her favorites. The Winery is located in what used to be the cattle barn. We walked the underground tunnel to get out of the rain and visited the Wine Shop.

The Biltmore Estate is not really handicap accessible on all levels. There is an original operating elevator (one of two) that took us to the second floor but no further up or down to the basement. A side viewing room is available for those who cannot navigate the stairs to the third floor. There is a continuous loop video showing what you would see if you were able to walk up the steps. It also showed pictures and information about the basement level. I was able to descend to the basement and tour that level. Karen carried my rollator walker down the stairs for me! People were very patient with me as I descended and ascended the stairs at the beginning and end. I’m glad I went down to see the kitchens, floral area, gym, pool, bowling alley, laundry and other rooms. It almost reminded me of Downton Abbey. I toured the property and village using my rollator walker. A bit tricky in Biltmore Village due to the disrepair of the sidewalks, but I managed with Karen’s help.

Enjoy this small photo gallery representation of Karen’s photography, showcasing decorations in various rooms and the exterior trees and estate.

All of the trees were beautifully decorated for the holiday season and guests.

I know that Karen and I are critical of our travels. We write reviews and bring issues to the attention of the front desk and management when necessary. If a company does not understand what they are doing to displease a guest and correct the issue, then they learn nothing and the issue continues to be present. Both Karen’s and my customer service employment history in the hospitality industry is why we expect the best from our vacation experiences. No two people will have the same expectations or experiences. We know what we like and expect based on location or venue.