When Ann and I decided to go to Asheville for our BFF vacation I was in charge of finding our lodging. Chris and I have usually had pretty good luck finding places to rent on VRBO, HomeAway and Airbnb. Oh there was that one episode in Chicago that turned out less than stellar but for the most part we have had great experiences. Our son, Aaron, actually has “our room” listed on Airbnb and has had a great time meeting folks who come to spend a night or two at his townhouse. It is a fun way to get away from the hotels and experience a sometimes more intimate and personal stay.
I found a great place in Asheville on Airbnb and Fay and Marc were our hosts for the stay in their perfect mountain view location. We had great views, a comfy bed, plenty of space to stretch out into and a fabulous hot tub which was available for our use. They also offered a breakfast but since we were going with no schedule we opted to not go upstairs for that but I am positive it was a great spread from the looks of it.
Chris and I will most likely eventually have a rental place that will be listed on one of these rental sites and I have often thought about all of the places that we have stayed and what attracts me to them. I have to admit that the ones that have plush linens and a few little extras are the ones that I would like to return to. There is nothing like having nice thick towels and high thread count bedding to make me feel like I am in the lap of luxury. Several of the places we have stayed recently have also come with “welcome gifts” of wine and chocolates. That is exactly what I would do if I had a rental. I would want those who were staying to feel like they were at home and part of the family.
When we arrived at Marc and Fay’s home we were welcomed and Fay showed us our digs for the stay and went over a few rules. But what was the best part? The box of Truffle Nature chocolates that they gifted us that were made by Marc. 
The day that we checked out I had a little bit of time to chat with Marc and was so blessed to hear his story. He is an amazingly talented man and his chocolates are ones that are not to be snarfed down but savored. His story spans two decades as he was trained in Montreal in the Culinary Arts. His passion in creating amazing pastry and chocolate selections is what drives him to continue to perfect and hone his craft. His business, although new, is growing as he finds the perfect places to showcase his chocolate. The most recent place that is featuring his decadent chocolates is High Five Coffee Bar located at 190 Broadway Street in Asheville. They have the distinct privilege of being the only place that the chocolates can be bought individually. With flavors like Hazelnut Crunch, Honey Salted Caramel or Earl Grey they are the perfect accompaniment to a perfectly brewed cup of coffee.
Just look at some of the descriptions of the chocolates that Marc creates.
Marc has been featured in several publications and you can read more about him here in an article in the Mountain Xpress.
Our 4 nights in Asheville were so wonderful and a good part of that was due to our hosts for that time. Fay gifted us a sweet gift when we left from another business that they have (www.faycullen.com) which ended our stay on an even sweeter note.
Our recent stay got me to thinking about how my perfect vacation getaway spot may be different than others. I would love to hear your stories about your favorite vacation place. Is it someplace like this where hosts go above and beyond? Do you love to camp and maybe have a more rustic experience? Are you like me in loving having good food and yes–chocolate—as part of the stay? Let me know in the comments what your ideal vacation spot is. Don’t forget that all comments this month on It’s Just Life go to support our Comments for a Cause for the month–Mercy Foundation Birth Center.
