National Exchange Hotel

This is a charming and atmospheric hotel. Our Suite was large, bright, clean, and quiet. Even when a neighbor across the courtyard opened the window and played loud music, we barely heard it. The curtains blocked the light perfectly — the room stayed dark even during the day! Our second room, a Double Room, was much smaller — it would fit two people, but just barely. Still, it was cozy and had a comfortable bed. One small suggestion: the light from the radio is quite bright at night and makes it difficult to sleep. Additionally, there was no refrigerator in the room. Neither room had a TV, which seems to be part of the hotel’s atmosphere — more a charming detail than a drawback. We informed the hotel in advance about our arrival time and asked for rooms close to each other, but we were placed on different floors, and one of the rooms wasn’t ready for about 25 minutes. However, when I mentioned this at the front desk, they kindly offered us two complimentary drink tokens as an apology. In the Suite, the shower drain wasn’t working, so my husband couldn’t take a shower. When I mentioned this during checkout, the front desk reacted as if I had pointed out a bit of dust on the windowsill — not exactly the level of concern I expected.

The Harvest Gold trip with Trisha Cole (trusttrisha.com) was one of the best mini-vacations we have ever had. We were attracted to stays at two historic hotels which have been refurbished with superb attention to detail. The National Exchange Hotel in Nevada City and The Holbrooke Hotel in Grass Valley are unique boutique properties in the beautiful foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The chefs at both hotels made the dining experience at each hotel a night to remember with some of the best food we have had anywhere. Our group was small, compatible, and totally engaged in every aspect of our experience. The tour included an historic tour led by the engaging expert, Anthony, a special vermouth tasting, our lovely meals, a Trisha-led hike on the Deer Creek Tribute Trail, a behind the scenes tour of the National Theatre and a trip to the Empire Mine. Just walking the streets of these beautiful historic towns was a joy in itself. It could not have been a more perfect experience.

Awesome hotel! Nothing beats having a drink or takeout on the balcony. Loved that we could bring our dog too. Upstairs guests were loud but maybe it was ghosts walking around- who knows 😉 Would be nice if they provide dog food and water bowls and a fridge in each room.

The National Exchange Hotel is beautiful. We had brunches and dinners in the restaurant, all excellent, plus drinks in the gorgeous historic bar. The service was friendly and efficient throughout. We had a Queen Suite on the third floor; it had a lovely separate sitting room with big windows. The steep stairs could be a problem for some; we accepted help getting our bags upstairs (we're not young). Our only complaint was the shower; there is no shelf in it. Shampoo etc. are in wall-mounted containers, but we use our own products. There was no place to put our stuff, except on the floor, which required stooping on a wet surface. The bed was comfortable, with plenty of good pillows. Our room faced the back of the building and was totally quiet. The hotel location is excellent for walking around historic Nevada City.

We chose NEH because of reviews here and elsewhere and because the pictures look great. I would only return reluctantly. The property is beautifully renovated, but they do not run a tight ship. Nothing was terribly wrong, but the sum total of annoyances was unacceptable. Our pricey for mid-week King Studio 317 was on a ventilation shaft with almost no natural light. The room is lit only with an overhead fixture with a 4000 watt bulb and two tiny bedside lamps with 25 watt bulbs. With the overhead on it was like a high school gym lit for a basketball game. With the overhead off, the sitting area was useless. Housekeeping and room prep was haphazard, not absent. Hotel beds are usually tight and crisp. This one looked like it had been made by a kid. The sofa had been shoved into a corner. The designer did not intend for the room to look that way. There was no housekeeping during our stay. The bathroom was poorly lit too. Again, an overly bright ceiling lamp and dim sconces. The shower leaked under the glass and is a disaster waiting to happen. It would have been nice to have Kleenex in the dispenser. The in-house restaurant for dinner is a 10 out of 10. The architects and designers did a great job here. Too bad management doesn't run a tight ship. Buy a damn lamp for the sitting area. The fix is NOT stadium lighting from the ceiling.

The desk clerk who registered us on 10/8 was stellar! She was courteous, friendly and professional - and then she went beyond: Guiding us to our Room 302, she realized my wife was struggling with the stairs, so we moved us down to Room 402 in the Annex. AND, since it was our anniversary, she prepared a special little flower arrangement and card, and even gave us each a commemorative key chain with the National's iconic "N" logo (great for my wife Norma!). We've stayed at the National about four times now, and probably a dozen times at the Holbrooke in Grass Valley (we're usually in town to see some music at the Center for the Arts). I prefer the National - now more than ever!

Absolutely loved staying here!!!

Our stay was wonderful. The National Exchange Hotel is an historical treasure; it is updated without compromising its historical ambiance. Our room was clean, mattress was firm, water pressure was good, decor was a mix of antique and new. The garden-like back courtyard area is a wonderful place to enjoy morning muffins and coffee. We will stay there again.

Historic luxury and comfort.