Hotel Review: Shenandoah Crossing, Gordonsville, VA

a sign in front of a road

I recently attended a wedding near Charlottesville, VA that unfortunately happened to fall on the same date as a UVA home game. They’d managed to negotiate some relatively great deals for the block rate, but at the point that the Courtyard Marriott is going for $239 and the Red Roof Inn for $149, you know you’re in trouble.

So I started looking a little further afield to see if there were any decent options that could keep me close to the wedding festivities but be more reasonably priced. I started on Hotwire  and found a property going for $90 — did some research and determined it was Shenandoah Crossing, a vacation rental property. It was also coming up fully cancellable as low as $109 on Expedia, so I decided the extra $20 was worth having flexibility.

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I was very tempted by the 2 bedroom cabins ($199) and two bedroom yurts ($249) because I love having more space and had been about to spend $239 at the Courtyard Marriott (I hate how I fall into that trap of wanting to upgrade rather than save $$). But since it was just for one night and I wasn’t sure if I’d be sharing with anyone, I opted for the one queen for $109.

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Jeanne wound up joining me for the trip, but I forgot to change my reservation in advance to two queens for an extra $10. However, we figured it was only for a couple of hours one night. When we checked in and went to our room though, it was more like a double than a queen :(. We didn’t have much time before the wedding, so decided to suck it up rather than go back to the front desk to try to change rooms.

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The room itself was decent. The furniture actually looked like bedroom furniture and not hotel-chain. The bed was made up in a modern fashion, avoiding the “comforter over the pillows” look depicted in the website photo above. The bathroom was very basic, but clean, with a heat lamp that is probably much appreciated in the winter. The bath amenities were actually Bath & Body works.

The room also featured a large flat screen TV and a microwave and mini fridge with complimentary popcorn and hot chocolate in addition to coffee. The closet, however, was a tiny bar placed next to the fridge.

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What we didn’t expect though, was the infestation of asian ladybugs. There were several dozen all over the ceiling, and while they never actually flew down on us, it was a little off-putting.

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Our room was in the front, facing the parking lot (which was still had a nice view of fall foliage) but it looked like the rooms facing the mountains would have an amazing view. If staying at this hotel, I recommend spending the extra $10 for a King bed or two Queens in order to get the larger rooms that face the view. However, for one night and very few hours actually in the hotel room, the double was a much better deal and much nicer than downtown Charlottesville.

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We left early the next morning without seeing anything, but resort has a lot to offer — indoor/outdoor pool and fitness center. Horseback riding and even mini-golf. It looked like a great place for families or couples who want an affordable place to all hang out together or do outdoor activities. And the scenery is definitely breathtaking!

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So was it close enough for the wedding? Surprisingly so! Google maps had claimed the site was 55-75 min away, but we arrived in only 35 minutes without much speeding. Same thing on the drive back. It’s not terribly close to Charlottesville, but it’s proximity to I-64 makes it pretty convenient.

The resort is also fairly close to several vineyards, the closest of which is Keswick Vineyards which I actually preferred to Horton and Barboursville which were also nearby. They do a savory rose and Touriga, a varietal I’d only tasted once before out at Kenneth Volk in Santa Barbara.

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Heels First is the travels and tribulations of two twenty-something frequent fliers jumping into the world of travel. Join Keri and Jeanne as they tackle mileage runs, elite status, and of course–the perfect travel accessories.

 

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