The hotel was about .25 miles to the heart of downtown's shopping and restaurants. The property was clean and parking was easy, listed online at $17 daily but was actually $25.
I was in Asheville a few weeks ago and had trouble getting a spot at a rooftop at sunset, so this time I opted to stay downtown at a hotel with a rooftop bar for a sunset view.
When I checked in, I asked if I would need a reservation (on a Saturday night), and was told no. About 4:15 pm, I went to the rooftop restaurant and asked if I would need to reserve a spot for sunset, just in case, and was told no by the host, with what appeared to also be a manager standing there. I was told no. So I went downtown and as the sun was coming down, walked back to the hotel and up to the rooftop bar. I was asked if I had a reservation by the same host, and I reminded them that they told me I would not need one. The host said it was the timing, and I reminded them that I specifically asked about sunset. They then validated, that yes, they did say this. I was told that there wouldn't be seats until after dark, and that I could go to the neighboring hotel, which I would assume would be full as well. I didn't want to walk back downtown at that time, although I would have stayed down there later if I knew the rooftop wasn't an option. I ended up just going back to my room.
I think that the host and/or manager should have made a reservation just in case. What would that have hurt? It would have been for 2 people.
