Frommer's Review
Much of the charm of this well-groomed and well-managed hotel derives from its refusal to copy the Southern theme that's the norm at many of its competitors. Built in the mid-1980s in a distinguished-looking U-shaped design that evokes a villa in Tuscany, it's the closest thing in North Carolina to the kind of hotel you might have selected for a romantic second honeymoon in the Italian countryside. Inside, a lavish use of russet-colored marble, copies of 19th-century antiques, and reproductions of Italian Renaissance paintings (which line the upstairs hallways) create an ambience that's distinct. The hotel's social centerpiece is a plush-looking bar in the lobby, which prefaces one of the best Italian restaurants in the South, Il Palio . Rooms are large and accented with plush, elegant furnishings that include writing desks and comfortably upholstered armchairs for reading, rich (Italian) brocades, and marble-trimmed bathrooms. Expect a well-mannered staff and a clientele of Duke and UNC parents, business travelers, and local politicians.
Facilities:
Restaurant; bar; complimentary membership at a nearby health club; limited room service; laundry service; dry cleaning; nonsmoking rooms; rooms for those w/limited mobility
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
