DoubleTree by Hilton Asheville Downtown

A walkable downtown base with two pools and a rooftop terrace

★★★★★📍 Downtown Asheville$$$

Why choose it: you give up the boutique feel of Asheville's smaller design hotels, but you gain walkability, pools in a city where few hotels have them and a price that is often lower than the best-known downtown names. The hotel also works well for event weekends at the arena, since the walk is short and you can avoid driving afterward.

Room craft: ask for a mountain-view room on a higher floor, and consider the larger two-queen room for family trips. Take a drink on the rooftop terrace in the early evening, and use the indoor pool for a swim after a long day on the Blue Ridge Parkway or at the Biltmore. If you are visiting in fall, book well ahead, since downtown rooms fill when the foliage peaks.

Costs and policies: self-parking is charged per night, so a rideshare may be cheaper if you are not renting a car. Check-in starts at 3 p.m. and checkout is at noon. Cats and dogs are allowed with a one-pet limit of up to 75 pounds and a per-stay fee, and service animals are exempt. Free cancellation is offered on select rates. The hotel is about an 18-minute drive from Asheville Regional Airport. Fit: couples, families, first-time visitors and event-goers who want to walk to restaurants, galleries and the arena.