In 2013, the Biltmore Village Inn's chef, John Marino, won Asheville's hotly contested "Cajun Cook-Off", just the first clue that those who stay here start off the day right. The breakfasts served at the Biltmore Village are, without hyperbole, over-the-top decadent. But that adjective could also be applied to most everything about this charmer, from the fireplace-lit, romantic rooms (filled with fine Victorian antiques, top end linens and such modern niceties as wide-screen HD TV's and jacuzzi tubs) to the evening social hour, which always includes excellent wine, cheeses and finger foods. The hosts are skilled in the art of hospitality and can tell you just about anything you'd want to know about Asheville (they're also able secure restaurant reservations at places that might otherwise tell you they're full). And few spots in Asheville are as relaxing as the covered porch here, with its swell mountain views. Pet owners note: the on-site cottage is welcoming to dogs, big and small (if you don't have a pet though, you'll want to stay in the main house, as it's far more atmospheric). As for the locale: its very close to the Biltmore Estate. In fact the house, which is on the National Register of Historic Homes, was originally owned by the lawyer who sold the land for the Biltmore Estate to Vanderbilt.