The National Exchange Hotel - Nevada City, California

Claire H.

I’ve wanted to stay here for years, and I’m so thrilled that I finally did! My first few interactions with the staff at The National Exchange happened via phone when they called to confirm our reservation and then again to check in on us and our ETA due to the winter storm over the Sierras. It was so thoughtful to get the call, and by the time we arrived, the manager had upgraded us to a suite (unknowingly to my favorite room in the hotel too).

Our room was stunning, spacious, comfortable, and had a beautiful bathroom with a large shower. The space was flooded with natural light, very clean, and the king bed was very comfortable.

The only feedback/pointers I have for the room are prepare for not a ton of storage for clothes (if you like to unpack your bags like I do), request for more hangers if you need more than 2 in the wardrobe, and note that since the hotel is a historical building, there are not many power outlets. There are no water fountains for refilling bottles, however, the front desk helped us as needed. Our stay was not majorly impacted much by these things, but if I was staying for more than two nights, I would perhaps want to keep these aspects in mind.

We had an awesome dinner at Lola, drinks at the hotel bar, and perused the adjoining jewelry store.

Parking was easy and complimentary. Incredibly walkable and central.

Thanks so much for a unique and memorable experience from beginning to end — we can’t wait to come back!

Patrick R.

VERY positive experience! ...and they were great with my dogs. :-)||Had that "old world charm" (if you think the late 1850's is "old world," lol) Food was awesome. Bartenders were REALLY good. Everyone was so nice. The room was uber comfortable - even strong water pressure out of the shower on the third floor.

Benjamin J.

Outstanding hotel. We will go back. While it doesn’t mention they catered to kids like Disney hotels, they do a great job. My family loved the decorations and the theme. All together it’s a fantastic building. The hotel was easy to check into and wireless internet was lightening fast all over the property. Bar and restaurant was great. I wish it was open for breakfast every day, but it’s a small town. The daily breakfast muffin/danish they make for guests is great. My daughter and I enjoyed them as a start to our day. This place doesn’t have tvs, but you won’t miss them. I appreciate the nightly quiet hours and it actually helped with spending time with the family. We really enjoyed this hotel. ||||The only critical comment:||They stated daily room cleaning and organizing when you put out a sign. This didn’t happen for three days in a row. After the first day, we asked the front desk. They made the call but no service happened. On second day asking the front desk (third day total) the room trash was emptied and we had new towels. ||||For kids: Nevada City has a scavenger hunt called “fezziwig” you get the map from the chamber of commerce then go look for dog houses. If you find them all you get a discounted ice cream for kids. It’s a lot of fun and takes you on a nice hike. Good way to spend time with kids outside. ||||We did look at their sister hotel, the Holloway. We’re glad we chose the National. It felt more intimate and had a personal touch. ||||||All in all it’s a great hotel. We will be back.

Barbara H.

A lovely hotel in a historic building. You can tell it is authentic because the stairs lean just a little bit -- but that gives it character (and the railing is sturdy and safe). If you can't climb stairs, don't stay here. But if you can, and you love beautiful old places and enjoy exploring, this is a great place to stay! The hotel staff were all very friendly and efficient. The new wallpapers and decor are fabulous, and my bed mattress and pillows were modern and very comfy. The antique sofa, marble table, and old dresser gave the room an authentic feel. Bathroom had a huge walk-in shower and modern toilet with "old-fashioned" looking yet modern sink. The second floor lobby for guests, with its huge wrap-around sofa units, was comfy and nice to sit in the evening I arrived. I also appreciated the muffins and tea/coffee available there in the morning! And not being a smoker or a fan of TV, I appreciated it being a non-smoking property, and no TVs -- they just don't fit the old gold country atmosphere! I like to sketch so I made a few sketches, below.

Kelly W.

Beautiful hotel! The building is historical and very well maintained. The bed was very comfortable, the room is gorgeous. The upstairs lounge was a pleasant surprise and the bar area was dreamy. The whole space is glamorous. I enjoyed every minute of our stay.

Jessica N.

The bed was so comfy and the pillows were incredible! The room was clean and the robes were fantastic. Every person we encountered during our stay was pleasant and helpful. Not to mention the great little snack tray in the room with anything you may be craving during the night! Great experience all around.

Rebecca H.

We had a larger King room with a view of the parking lot. The robes were plush and comfy. HVAC worked well on that cold day. Location is great for wandering around Nevada City. Never got any wash cloths even after asking twice. The loveseat was ready to collapse so it was best not to sit on it. (learned that after sitting on it) The shower drain plug was not working properly so we had to carefully lift it out to get water to drain. A piece of the faucet was also missing although that didn't affect function. We were told breakfast (muffins and coffee) would be available from 7 to 10 a.m. At 9 a.m. there was only coffee with no sign of any muffins. Decor was appropriate for the era. The sitting areas were nice. Deck could be nice in better weather. Enjoyed dinner at Lola's downstairs.

Samuel M.

The hotel is very nice overall but avoid room 210 at all costs. This might sound like the intro to a warning the room is haunted but the issue only involves the living, not the dead. Room 210 is undoubtedly nice however immediately outside this room is a large common space/lounge area where, at least during our stay, people enjoying copious amounts of alcohol have loud and spirited conversations late into the evening. These boisterous conversations are easily overheard in room 210. ||||In addition, people ignored the sign on the balcony advising that certain balcony areas are only for rooms 208, 209, and 210. Our first night people were outside one of our full-length windows smoking cigarettes, evidenced by the butts left on the planter, and continuing their conversations. In fact they even knocked over the sign advising the area was for room 210. Keep in mind the entire downtown area is non-smoking. ||||We spent $1300 for two nights and in response to our concern about noise, staff (who were always very pleasant and personable) offered us a $10 voucher and earplugs for our second night. We were also offered a smaller room further away but we had already established ourselves in 210 and went with the earplugs and a prescription sleep aid. ||||Quiet hours start at 11pm, so if you’ve traveled any distance and are looking forward to uninterrupted rest prior to 11pm, I strongly advise you to NOT book 210.