ARRIVE Wilmington

Marianne and I met as park rangers in Zion in 1992, baby adults in uniforms with big dreams. Now she’s in Vermont, I’m in Colorado, and every year, no matter what, we pick a place and meet there. Sometimes domestic, sometimes international, always with a lot of wandering and a lot of laughing our butts off. These trips matter. This year it’s Wilmington, and we’re staying at ARRIVE, which feels like the perfect backdrop for a best-friend-since-1992 reunion. Historic charm, tall wainscoting, dreamy sliding doors that open to our little garden balcony with rocking chairs. Morning coffee overlooking the courtyard fireplace while we solve the world’s problems? Yes please. The bathroom is straight out of my design dreams. Retro blush pink tile everywhere, a big window in the shower, graphic black and white hex floors, warm brass fixtures. I keep saying, “Wait, come look at this,” like I personally renovated it. The courtyard has massive outdoor fireplaces and glowing fire bowls tucked into little conversational corners. There’s even the coolest gazebo bar. It’s off season so it wasn’t open, but you can just tell in the summer it’s hopping. And it’s right by the riverwalk, so we’ve been able to walk everywhere. And the staff? Truly special. Ashley and Olivia welcomed us like old friends, got us oriented, gave us great dining advice, and had us laughing within minutes. Maria helped us switch rooms when we decided to stay another night and move upstairs, so down to earth, patient, and just genuinely cool about it. At one point we were completely defeated by the door lock situation, and Ashley very gracefully gave us a tutorial without making us feel ridiculous. Every person we encountered wasn’t just professional, they were fun. They made us feel like friends, not guests. There is something really sacred about having a person who has known you since you were basically a kid and still wants to travel the world with you.

We had a wonderful experience at ARRIVE. We were visiting the area to attend a funeral and it was so nice to be able to enjoy your courtyard, restaurant and the convenience to the area to take a walk. We particularly were impressed with Leo (valet) as he made sure our car was available on our time schedule and the courteous front desk help.

We were very impressed with this hotel. The location was great for attractions and dining and night life in Wilmington. The rooms were great and the staff was friendly. If you can find a parking spot in the street, taker. Otherwise you can pay 30.00 per day for valet parking. We paid and had no problem getting our car within a few minutes after our request. I would recommend this hotel to anyone!

Arrive is in the perfect downtown location! It was so easy for us to walk around with our toddler and the accommodations were perfect. We were happy to have a separate bedroom and living area. We also loved the outdoor area! This hotel is fantastic! Ashley was so accommodating with every request and was so nice to us the entire stay. We would absolutely recommend this hotel to anyone who is looking to stay in downtown Wilmington.

This is a great little boutique hotel in downtown Wilmington. Lovely courtyard with plenty of outdoor seating and fireplace/fir pits to enjoy. The veranda bar is a great place to have a craft cocktail. John the bartender does a great Jon mixing fun drinks. We didn’t eat at their restaurant but heard it was good.

My husband & I love traveling to Wilmington and staying at Arrive! It’s a great location with chic rooms which are very clean. The valet staff is also incredible - shout out to Leo!

First, the hotel itself is very cute and full of historic character. However, I wasn’t expecting to walk up two full flights of stairs as there’s no elevator due to the building’s age. It’s a beautiful old structure, but something to keep in mind if mobility or convenience is important to you. Our unit had a few issues—most notably, the lights went out for about 30 minutes, which was frustrating. Also, our room was located right next to the building’s vents or HVAC system, which made it incredibly loud throughout the night. Unfortunately, that meant very little sleep. Now for the highlight: John, the bartender at the outdoor bar. He was absolutely incredible and truly the saving grace of our stay. He doesn’t just pour drinks—he crafts them based on your personal tastes. After asking a few thoughtful questions, he whipped up one-of-a-kind cocktails that were perfectly tailored to us. It’s no wonder locals come by just to see him and enjoy his creations. These weren’t drinks out of a menu—he was making them up on the spot, and they were some of the best I’ve ever had. All in all, while the accommodations had a few drawbacks, John’s hospitality and talent made the experience memorable. If ARRIVE is smart, they’ll do everything they can to keep him around—he’s a true asset to the place!

I travel to Wilmington for work every month, and the Arrive Hotel has become my go-to place to stay. The accommodations are always beautiful, and the staff is truly amazing—friendly, professional, and consistently helpful. They are amazing at accommodating my dog as well with pet treats and a dog bed to make her stay comfortable as well!