I not too long ago had an opportunity to expertise the Trailborn Highlands lodge in Highlands, North Carolina. It’s a city within the southern Blue Ridge Mountains that makes a wonderful residence base to discover the rainforest and plenty of waterfalls within the space. You possibly can drive there in about an hour and a half from Asheville Regional Airport or about three hours from Atlanta. Whereas Marriott paid for my three-night keep, the opinions on this story are my very own.
The property itself is rustic, however comfy (and pet-friendly!). It gives no scarcity of facilities, together with a unbelievable on-site restaurant (the Highlands Supper Membership), an out of doors Nordic spa and a lounge space with a firepit. Visitors can even e-book excursions resembling guided hikes, fly fishing, kayaking and mountain climbing.
Room charges at this property begin round $128 and balloon to over $500 throughout the fall leaf-peeping season. These dearer durations may very well be an ideal time to make use of Marriott factors or Marriott Free Evening Awards on your journey.
Reserving with Marriott Bonvoy factors
Marriott makes use of dynamic pricing, so the variety of factors required for an award keep fluctuates based mostly on demand and the money price.
Nonetheless, throughout peak season within the fall, charges improve to $530 or 70,000 factors per evening. In that case, you’d get 0.8 cent per level, making it a greater choice to pay with Marriott factors. Should you’re quick on factors, Marriott additionally enables you to mix money and factors for a keep, which may help stretch your factors steadiness throughout extra stays.
The simplest method to earn a fast slug of Marriott factors is thru a welcome provide on a Marriott bank card.
Marriott playing cards with free evening advantages
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit score Card
on Chase’s web site
Charges & Charges
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card
Marriott Bonvoy Good® American Categorical® Card
on American Categorical’ web site
Charges & Charges
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Categorical® Card
on American Categorical’ web site
Charges & Charges
Marriott Bonvoy Enterprise® American Categorical® Card
on American Categorical’ web site
Charges & Charges
- 4 Free Evening Awards
factors
- 85,000
factors
- 150,000 Factors + $250 Assertion Credit score
factors
- 125,000 Factors + $150 Assertion Credit score
factors
- As much as 125,000 Factors
Annual free evening profit
• Free Evening Award (valued as much as 35,000 factors) yearly after account anniversary.
• Free Evening Award (valued as much as 50,000 factors) after spending $15,000 in a calendar yr.
• Free Evening Award (valued as much as 85,000 factors) yearly after your account renewal month.
• Free Evening Award (valued as much as 50,000 factors) after spending $15,000 in a calendar yr.
• Free Evening Award (valued as much as 35,000 factors) yearly after account anniversary, and a second evening after spending $60,000.
The Trailborn Highlands location is located one block from Predominant Avenue on this upscale mountain city, making it a fantastic location for each strolling round city and accessing the outside. The foyer and public areas are brilliant and ethereal, with large home windows, a hearth and board video games.
The Trailborn Highlands property has 63 guestrooms, and each gives some outside area. The bottom-floor rooms have a backyard patio whereas second-story rooms have a balcony.
I stayed in a balcony room with a king mattress. The room was fundamental however spacious, with checkered carpet and wooden accents that match into the native mountain surroundings.
Every guestroom has a piece station, which offers a snug area to get work achieved. The analog radio is a pleasant contact.
After I was in my room, I spent most of my time enjoyable on the balcony, listening to the birds chirp and having fun with how inexperienced my environment have been.
In distinction, the toilet was fairly drab. Whereas the colour theme matched the muted pure tones all through the property, the poor lighting and brown and inexperienced tile created a darkish and uninspiring surroundings to arrange for the day.
The Highlands Supper Membership
The Highlands Supper Membership is the property’s sit-down eating possibility. The restaurant is housed in a historic log cabin perched atop a hill overlooking the lodge and surrounded by a fantastic rhododendron backyard. The menu includes a up to date tackle Southern consolation meals, with craft cocktails and an intensive wine checklist.
I’ll eat southern meals any probability I get, and The Highlands Supper Membership didn’t disappoint. I liked the do-it-yourself biscuits and deviled eggs with blue crab and bacon, however my absolute favourite have been the oysters on the half shell. The blueberry cobbler a la mode was additionally a decadent method to finish the night, although I virtually needed to roll myself out of the restaurant after consuming all of it.
The Nordic Spa is positioned in an enclosed outside patio and consists of a dry sauna, a chilly spritz bathe and a lounge space with a fireplace pit. The spa is open day by day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and prices $100 per 50 minute session for as much as 4 company.
I’m a sauna fanatic, and whereas the setting of the spa is clear and trendy, the sauna itself wasn’t scorching sufficient to get a full sweat going, even after about 20 minutes. It was nonetheless enjoyable, and the transition from the nice and cozy sauna to the chilly bathe was invigorating.
Simply bear in mind that the spa is semi-private, because the second-story balcony rooms can see into the fenced-off space. The spa space wants a pergola overhead for added privateness.
Waterfalls, s’mores and different actions
Trailborn Highlands leans into the experiential lodging development and works with native guides and companies to assist company expertise the tradition and actions that make the southern Appalachian Mountains distinctive. That features trout fishing, kayaking, canoeing, river tubing, guided hikes and waterfalls excursions.
Out there actions are posted on a bulletin board subsequent to the entrance desk, making it simple to know what’s taking place throughout your keep. Moreover, complimentary bicycles can be found to all company, making it simple to experience across the city of Highlands.
Numerous hikes, waterfalls and scenic overlooks are accessible inside a 20-minute drive from the lodge. My private favourite was Dry Falls, the place you possibly can take a path behind the waterfall. Moreover, The French Broad River (one of many oldest rivers on this planet) is about an hour away and offers quick access to scenic trout fishing and kayaking.
Trailborn lights a fireplace within the patio space every night and encourages company to place the gadgets away and be social with different company. It seems that’s fairly simple when your arms are coated with melted marshmallows from the s’mores session that the lodge gives every night.
Trailborn Highlands: Is it price it?
I actually loved the calmness of Trailborn Highlands, and I appreciated that it leans into experiences and group. The location makes entry to nature simple, along with being centrally positioned close to the outlets and cafes on Predominant Avenue in Highlands.
The worth of a money keep could be an absolute cut price midweek, and Marriott free evening awards can provide good worth if you wish to journey throughout peak season. The keep additionally made me excited to take a look at the opposite Trailborn properties across the U.S.
