Quality Inn & Suites Biltmore East

The Quality Inn's lobby has standard, chain-hotel decor, but there are some nice homey touches that make the space inviting. Wooden shelves in a small seating area hold figurines and other kitschy items, and there's sofas, a flat-screen TV, and a fireplace, plus a corner computer workstation. While it's a comfortable spot, guests don't tend to sit here for long, but they do linger for awhile in the breakfast room for the free morning spread, and around the seasonal outdoor pool. The hotel draws a few business travelers, but most guests are couples and families here to see the Biltmore Estate and other area attractions. 

The Quality Inn is just east of the Swannanoa River on U.S. Route 70, right of the I-40 freeway at Exit 55. Several fast food restaurants are a short walk or drive away. The famous Biltmore Estate, with its vast grounds and sprawling 19th-century mansion, is a 10-minute drive from the hotel. The Folk Art Center museum of Appalachian arts and crafts is a three-minute drive away, and the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, Warren Wilson College, and 42-acre Western North Carolina Nature Center zoological park are all within a five-minute drive. Asheville is only 10 minutes by car, with plenty of shopping, dining, galleries, and museums. The North Carolina Arboretum is about a 20-minute drive from the hotel, as is Asheville Regional Airport. 

Guest rooms at the Quality Inn feature wooden furniture have a pleasant, homey look. The contemporary, country-style units are done in warm colors, with yellow bedspreads, loden green curtains, and maroon accents in striped carpeting and upholstered furniture. Rooms are well-maintained and most are quite spacious, and many feature views of the Great Smoky Mountains. Amenities are a plus, as all come with 42-inch flat-screen TVs with cable, microwaves, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, and free Wi-Fi. Some have sofa beds, and suites feature en-suite jetted tubs. Bathrooms are also spacious and have ample counter space, and all have shower/tub combos, hairdryers, and toiletries. 

The Quality Inn has a fairly wide range of property amenities for a hotel in its category. There's a seasonal outdoor pool that's about 10 meters at its longest point surrounded by a patio with tables, plus a small fitness center that has a modern recumbent bike, treadmill, and weight machine. The free breakfast buffet gets decent reviews for its ample spread that includes make-your-own waffles, eggs, sausage, and a number of cold items. No full restaurant is on-site, but several are within walking distance of the hotel. Other amenities include a business center, ATM, coin-op laundry, and a 24-hour front desk. Free parking that can accommodate large vehicles is available, but the lot can get crowded when the hotel is at high occupancy. The two-floor building doesn't have an elevator, so guests with limited mobility may wish to ask for a ground-floor room. Up to four pets per room are welcome, 50 pounds or under per pet, for a per-night, per-room fee.