Location - Rita's house is located in Montfort, one of the most affluent and historic residential areas of Asheville. Walk around the immediate neighborhood and be enthralled with the gorgeous, varied architecture of the homes, especially arts and crafts style, and meticulously cared-for yards. Even better, Montfort is adjacent to downtown and Rita's home is a very pleasant walk of several blocks, which will find you as the recipient of "hellos," smiles, and waves from neighbors, to all of the activity.
Accommodation - Rita's house offers a wonderful front porch on which you can relax after a long day of walking and/or hiking as well as a sitting area immediately inside the door. My room, the blue room, was immediately past the sitting area and exquisitely furnished with beautiful and comfortable furnishings. The completely modern and bright en suite bathroom was spotlessly clean (as was the bedroom) and a mini fridge which contained bottled water and freshly baked muffins was a very thoughtful and appreciated touch.
Host - The majority of airbnb hosts, including myself, use the platform primarily to rent out extra bedrooms to make some additional money. Rita is a different breed - she's truly an innkeeper. Although she is musician and has her own career in that arena, she takes her hosting duties and her business very seriously and clearly takes great pride in her home, her town, and the welcoming atmosphere she provides. She is charming, engaging, and beyond friendly. She's also very accommodating, allowing me to drop off my bag after my very early morning arrival as well as keep my bag after checkout to accommodate my early evening flight.