If you’re looking for boutique hotel stays near national parks and other outdoor destinations, Trailborn Hotels and Resorts might be for you. This chain of five boutique properties gives you many ways to immerse yourself in nature, from the convenient locations to the design of the public spaces. And the best part? This brand is part of the Outdoor Collection by Marriott Bonvoy, which means you can earn or use Marriott points to stay near some of the country’s most iconic outdoor destinations.
I recently had a chance to experience the Trailborn Highlands hotel in Highlands, North Carolina. It’s a town in the southern Blue Ridge Mountains that makes an excellent home base to explore the rainforest and many waterfalls in the area. You can drive there in about an hour and a half from Asheville Regional Airport or about three hours from Atlanta. While Marriott paid for my three-night stay, the opinions in this story are my own.
The property itself is rustic, but comfortable (and pet-friendly!). It offers no shortage of amenities, including a fantastic on-site restaurant (the Highlands Supper Club), an outdoor Nordic spa and a lounge area with a firepit. Guests can also book excursions such as guided hikes, fly fishing, kayaking and rock climbing.
Room rates at this property start around $128 and balloon to over $500 during the fall leaf-peeping season. Those more expensive periods could be a perfect time to use Marriott points or Marriott Free Night Awards for your adventure.
Booking with Marriott Bonvoy points
Marriott uses dynamic pricing, so the number of points required for an award stay fluctuates based on demand and the cash rate.
NerdWallet values Marriott points at 0.7 cent each. During low-traffic weekdays, room rates at The Trailborn Highlands start around $128 or 32,000 points. At that price, you’d receive a low value of 0.4 cent per point. Instead of using points, it would be better to use the 35,000-point free night award that comes with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card.
However, during peak season in the fall, rates increase to $530 or 70,000 points per night. In that case, you’d get 0.8 cent per point, making it a better option to pay with Marriott points. If you’re short on points, Marriott also lets you combine cash and points for a stay, which can help stretch your points balance across more stays.
The easiest way to earn a quick slug of Marriott points is through a welcome offer on a Marriott credit card.
Marriott cards with free night benefits
Annual fee
$95.
$250.
$650.
$250.
$125.
Intro Offer
- 4 Free Night Awardspoints
- 85,000points
- 150,000 Points + $250 Statement Creditpoints
- 125,000 Points + $150 Statement Creditpoints
- Up to 125,000 Points
Annual free night benefit
• Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
• Free Night Award (valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $15,000 in a calendar year.
• Free Night Award (valued up to 85,000 points) every year after your account renewal month.
• Free Night Award (valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $15,000 in a calendar year.
• Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary, and a second night after spending $60,000.
Location
The Trailborn Highlands location is situated one block from Main Street in this upscale mountain town, making it a great location for both walking around town and accessing the outdoors. The lobby and public areas are bright and airy, with big windows, a fireplace and board games.
Guest rooms
The Trailborn Highlands property has 63 guestrooms, and each one offers some outdoor space. The ground-floor rooms have a garden patio while second-story rooms have a balcony.
I stayed in a balcony room with a king bed. The room was basic but spacious, with checkered carpet and wood accents that fit into the local mountain environment.
Each guestroom has a work station, which provides a comfortable space to get work done. The analog radio is a nice touch.
When I was in my room, I spent most of my time relaxing on the balcony, listening to the birds chirp and enjoying how green my surroundings were.
In contrast, the bathroom was pretty drab. While the color theme matched the muted natural tones throughout the property, the poor lighting and brown and green tile created a dark and uninspiring environment to prepare for the day.
The Highlands Supper Club
The Highlands Supper Club is the property’s sit-down dining option. The restaurant is housed in a historic log cabin perched atop a hill overlooking the hotel and surrounded by a beautiful rhododendron garden. The menu features a contemporary take on Southern comfort food, with craft cocktails and an extensive wine list.
I’ll eat southern food any chance I get, and The Highlands Supper Club did not disappoint. I loved the homemade biscuits and deviled eggs with blue crab and bacon, but my absolute favorite were the oysters on the half shell. The blueberry cobbler a la mode was also a decadent way to end the evening, though I practically had to roll myself out of the restaurant after eating it all.
The Nordic Spa
The Nordic Spa is located in an enclosed outdoor patio and consists of a dry sauna, a cold spritz shower and a lounge area with a fire pit. The spa is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and costs $100 per 50 minute session for up to 4 guests.
I’m a sauna fanatic, and while the setting of the spa is clean and modern, the sauna itself wasn’t hot enough to get a full sweat going, even after about 20 minutes. It was still relaxing, and the transition from the warm sauna to the cold shower was invigorating.
Just be aware that the spa is semi-private, as the second-story balcony rooms can see into the fenced-off area. The spa area needs a pergola overhead for added privacy.
Waterfalls, s’mores and other activities
Trailborn Highlands leans into the experiential accommodation trend and works with local guides and businesses to help guests experience the culture and activities that make the southern Appalachian Mountains unique. That includes trout fishing, kayaking, canoeing, river tubing, guided hikes and waterfalls tours.
Available activities are posted on a bulletin board next to the front desk, making it easy to know what’s happening during your stay. Additionally, complimentary bicycles are available to all guests, making it easy to ride around the town of Highlands.
Countless hikes, waterfalls and scenic overlooks are accessible within a 20-minute drive from the hotel. My personal favorite was Dry Falls, where you can take a path behind the waterfall. Additionally, The French Broad River (one of the oldest rivers in the world) is about an hour away and provides easy access to scenic trout fishing and kayaking.
Trailborn lights a fire in the patio area each evening and encourages guests to put the devices away and be social with other guests. It turns out that’s pretty easy when your hands are covered with melted marshmallows from the s’mores session that the hotel offers each evening.
Trailborn Highlands: Is it worth it?
I really enjoyed the calmness of Trailborn Highlands, and I appreciated that it leans into experiences and community. The location makes access to nature easy, in addition to being centrally located near the shops and cafes on Main Street in Highlands.
The price of a cash stay can be an absolute bargain midweek, and Marriott free night awards can offer good value if you want to travel during peak season. The stay also made me excited to check out the other Trailborn properties around the U.S.
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