The Biltmore Greensboro Hotel — Hotel in Greensboro

While renovations are discussed on their website, there is certainly no evidence that anything has been updated for a very long time. We did find that the staff was very friendly and helpful. The linens in the rooms were very soft and fresh. The comforter, sheets, and mattress were very comfortable. The towels were fluffy, bright white, and brand new. The chandeliers in the hall were very pretty.||But…there are lots of issues that would keep up from returning. If you are handicapped, forget it. There is no ramp for you to enter the building and luggage must be carried up stairs to get to the lobby. The elevator, while a delightful antique, was actually put in the building in 1920. I cannot possibly be up to code and is very difficult to get into or out of with luggage. The carpet in our room was filthy and so old that there was no pile left in it. The sink faucet had soap drops or toothpaste on it and had not been wiped down. The hot water knob leaked significantly as soon as it was turned on. One of the lights in the bathroom mirror lights was out. The cabinetry in bathroom was old and battered. ||The furniture is not historic, it is just old and tired. The mattress was comfortable, but any movement made large noises and it sinks around the edges. The minimal pillows on the bed were like little rocks and not sufficient for a king size bed. While the AC unit below the window did work, it was very loud and cycled on and off all night making loud noises. The plantation blinds were a nice touch, but one whole section was broken and could not be adjusted with the bar. There was a coffee maker but it was not plugged in and there was not a plug anywhere near it. The TV was the size of my computer monitor. The desk chair was stained and dirty. ||There was not a sprinkler system in the room which was concerning especially in an old building. Our housekeeper did freshen out towels after our first night, but she left us with only one washcloth and no bath mat. ||Breakfast was a surprise in both good and bad ways. The Belgian waffles that we made fresh were very yummy and there were many toppings for them like butter, syrup, sprinkles, blueberry compote, coconut flakes, caramel, chocolate chips, lemon curd, and a few other things. Also out were bacon crumbles, feta cheese, and crumbled hard boiled eggs but we were not sure what to do with those. There were no eggs or anything to put them on. We did love that the buffet had “antique” plates, real silverware, cloth napkins, and actual glasses. ||Our rooms were around $150/night, a good bit cheaper than surrounding hotels, but you get what you pay for. I hate it, but we will...

This old gem needs help! I was so excited to stay at this historic hotel in my hometown while back in town visiting for my niece's graduation. What this hotel is and what this hotel could be are vastly different. As you pull up, you see a beautiful older facade. Enter the building and the lobby is immaculate. Stained wood panel walls, large fireplace, plush historic type seating. That's about where the charm stops. Not because it has to, but because the owners have let it(more on that in a moment). I do want to continue with positive before constructive. The kindness of the staff is unparalleled. Zoe(I hope I spelled that right) was extremely kind. She doesn't seem to like to make eye contact, but very kind and prompt. The only feedback on staff I have is, in a hotel like this, uniforms or more formal clothing would be befitting. The elevator is also one of the oldest in the city. It can seem cumbersome at first, but operates better than most modern and so neat enjoying that experience of pulling the brass grates back and opening the door. Now, the more constructive. The dining room is very closed off and the feeling reminds me of a nursing home dining room. No character, no feeling of warmth. The bedroom, while having a great view of the street and alleyway below, needs major renovation. Busted hollowcore door from bedroom to living, stained, wrinkled carpet, unnecessary furniture clogging pathways, 4 inch 1970s tiles in bath, 20 inch tvs, and maintenance issues from water stains to bad paint.

When I travel, I try to stay at hotels like this with character(both international and domestic). I consider myself a bit of a historic architecture guy, and work in the construction world. It's a shame to see a hotel with the right front desk staff in terms of personality and the bones as well as base to be an upscale historic hotel be allowed to fall into the state of repair it is in. Someday I hope to visit again and see a bit more care this...

I rarely write reviews, but this place deserves one.

This place is not at all like a big chain hotel, so if you want an experience that is exactly like every other hotel you’ve been to, go to one of the big chains. If you want an experience that is a bit different, stay here.

Let’s start with the building itself and work our way out. To call the building “majestic” would be an overstatement; its long history starts as it being an office building in the 1920’s, it was retrofitted into use as a living space in the early 1930’s. There is a lot of retrofitting in a building like this, and the rooms are a bit misshapen as a result. Don’t expect to find 12 outlets and a giant TV; our room was pretty basic (which is exactly what we wanted).

And yet...it has an overall sense of dignity you don’t find in newer buildings. The ceilings are really high, there are mostly plaster walls, the woodwork excellent, the hardware fittings of brass and bronze are wonderful. The lobby is rich with wood panels and a fireplace – it makes you feel like you should sit down and enjoy a nice glass of scotch as you read the evening newspaper. I felt a bit like I was in a Wes Anderson film at times (but with much less symmetry). It is an old place, with old ideas for how building work, but if you come into it knowing that you should not expect a grey rectangle with artwork from Target hanging on the walls, it will be OK.

The people working there are super-helpful in every way, giving good advice about where to eat and so on and generally being engaged in the conversation. We didn’t have time to enjoy any of the meal services, but we did grab some snacks on the way out the door in the morning and the setup in the dining room...