The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center
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Image courtesy of booking.com
From the moment you go up the hill and make your way towards the historic Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center you will be enthralled by its charm. The outside looks like something that belongs in the Swiss Alps and even though it was built in 1882, holds genuine beauty. When you enter the front of the hotel, you are greeted by very nice valets who will offer to park your car or assist you with a luggage cart. There is self-parking (which we opted for) but don’t worry, even though the lot is down the hill from the hotel, there is a shuttle that will take you and your belongings from the lot to the front door.
Entering the double doors of the hotel, you will feel transported back in time in the best way. The hotel has gone through many changes in the last 100 years, including a rebuild and many expansions. After some financial issues in the 80’s, the hotel was bought by Virginia Tech, who still owns it to this day. While the hotel was shut down for some time, in 1992 a “Renew Roanoke” campaign was created, and enough money was raised, to bring The Hotel Roanoke back to life.
The lobby has all of the hotels original historic charm with modern upgrades like a touch screen map of the resort and a prohibition themed lobby bar. The check in area is tucked in the back of the lobby as to not overwhelm the area when the hotel is busy - we loved this aspect. Directly behind the front desk are the elevators that will lead guests up to their rooms, very convenient for families or travelers with lots of luggage.
One of the things we love in a hotel is room to roam. Since we travel with our two young children there is something to be said for a hotel that has places they can roam and run without roaming or running into other guests. Hotel Roanoke had so many spaces that the kids could explore and get some energy out without distracting other guests. Throughout the hotel there are comfortable chairs to sit and relax as well as beautiful, unique artwork. A courtyard garden terrace sits between the hotel and conference center (the perfect backdrop for a garden wedding.) While we didn’t get to enjoy the spa on our visit, there is one on site, as well as a nice gym and pool area. The hotel offers morning yoga at different times throughout the week and hosts a brunch on Sunday’s that ranks as one of the best brunch spots in Roanoke.
On site at the hotel, there is one bar in the lobby and one at the pool, a coffee shop, and two restaurants - see below.
Dining and Drinks:
· 1882 Lobby Bar - boasts a collection of authentic pre-prohibition cocktails
· STEAM Coffee + Eatery - the perfect Starbucks authorized grab and go coffee shop
· The Pine Room Pub (room service available) - entertainment with dinner as the chefs prepare and cook the food in front of you
· The Regency Room - French inspired Southern cuisine
When booking The Hotel Roanoke, guests can choose between Guest Rooms, Suites, and Accessible rooms. The Guest Room choices contain a Wellness option and then the choice of either Queen or King beds. If booking a suite, guests have the choice of a Junior Suite, Executive Suite, or the Governor’s Suite. We learned in our stay, that if you book the Governor’s Suite you get the whole 7th floor to yourself. This part of the hotel can only be accessed by key card.
During our stay, we stayed in a King Guest room. The room had ample space and great views of the Blue Ridge Parkway and downtown Roanoke. The bathroom was completely updated and very nice. There was a decent amount of storage in the room between the chest, closet, and bedside tables, a nice desk to do work or get ready at, and a coffee pot/coffee. The bathroom had a blow dryer, bathroom amenities, and a nice portable make up mirror.
We do recommend, if you’re traveling with kids, to opt for a suite. While the guest rooms are a great size for a couple, friends, or a family with older children, they are a little tight when you account for pack-n-plays and strollers. That being said, we had a phenomenal time and would definitely go back.
You can’t beat the location of The Hotel Roanoke - it’s right outside of downtown with a bridge that puts guests right in front of City Market. Downtown Roanoke has so many great things to seek out - including museums, great restaurants, and some really beautiful sites. Read all about it here!
Thank you so much for reading through our trip to Roanoke, Virginia. Be sure to check out our blog on all the family fun things you can do there! Also check out some of the must-see sights if you make the trip to Roanoke! Make sure you’re following us on Facebook and Instagram - we share cool things to see, experiences to seek out, and unique places to sleep daily! Scroll down below to check out some of our other unique sleeps!
