Calistoga Motor Lodge Spa, A Jdv by Hyatt Hotel

I was surprisingly disappointed here, especially given the steep price. A few issues I encountered during a short stay: * The hotel restaurant was closed for a private event - not unusual, but there was no advance notice or email letting us know that we wouldn't be able to eat at the hotel. * The 'tabletop' bed was broken and creaky. There were also no spare sheets to set it up. * There was a frog in the shower, which made me a little skeptical about the attention to detail paid to cleaning the rest of the room. The pool was warm though. All in all, wouldn't recommend it - budget experience at a premium price.

Very fun place to stay. Staff very friendly. What kept me from rating a 5 was they have to clean up the long grass and junk between the buildings. Not a very inviting look out the back window.

This place was a perfect quick family get away from our urban home. Affordable, a quick walk to town, adorable hotel. We all loved the pool area. Hotel cutely decorated with a retro vibe. Nice touches like fire pits with smores supplies available for sale. I wish the restaurant opened earlier than 8 am. Hotel provides free bikes for guests, and it's an easy cruise into town. Hiking trailhead is a two minute walk from the hotel-- views and wildflowers. Olive oil tasting is a quick walk away. Wineries are a convenient drive. The hot tub was not functioning, which was disapointing.

Looks can be deceiving. ... the photos on the website really sold this property as a chic boutique hotel. In reality, the room felt like a Best Western with a lick of paint and some fun decor. It even smells like an old motel. It's a great location, and the restaurant/bar seemed nice (we ate off property), but I had high hopes and was really disappointed.

My wife and I were really disappointed with our stay. We only booked one night, which is good, as I wouldn’t have wanted to stay longer. We booked one of the older motor lodge rooms, which - from the pictures and website description - we assumed were remodeled, clean, and well appointed. But while the room may have looked good from far, it was far from good. First, and the worst, was the bathroom. It wasn’t clean. The walls next to the sink were speckled with something… organic? It wasn’t a lot, but with something that gross even a little bit is too much. The grout in the floor was a dark brownish grey. At some point it had been white, and apparently someone gave up trying to clean it 5 or 10 years ago. There were broken and missing tiles in the shower floor, and the holes looked unhygienic. The toilet seat was straight out of the 1990s, and was so well used the finish was completely worn off in places. It wasn’t even a soft close seat. Toilet seats are like $20. There’s no excuse for a toilet seat to be in such poor condition. Then there was the hair dryer, with filters SO clogged with hair and lint it belched a noxious odor of burned hair and funk when it was turned on. Again, it’s like $20 to replace these things, and easy enough to clean. There’s no excuse for it to be in such poor condition. Not in a “4 star” hotel, and not for $500 a night. The mattress and bedding were - at best - 3 star quality. As I lay on an abnormally fat pillow, I could count the individual springs in the mattress below me, and I tossed and turned all night. To top it off, the linoleum floor inside the front door was ever so slightly sticky in places. Just enough to make us uncomfortable walking barefoot anywhere. We also visited the Moonacre spa, and I have mixed feelings. Staff were amazing, but both the hot tub and steam room were out of order. The bathrooms & communal relaxation areas were small for the number of treatment rooms. So we had a great mineral soak in clawfoot tubs & awesome massages, but it would have been better with a steam and comfy seating to relax for a bit. Hotel was quiet, and we had no problems with parking. “Snacks and drinks in the room are complimentary,” but in our room that was 2 bottles of water and single small bag of chips. In-room coffee was sub-par, and only included 1 serving of caffeinated coffee. 2/5, would not recommend. Seriously disappointed in this JDV property.

This is a great hotel. Gorgeous property, super comfortable rooms, and the best burger in Calistoga. Yet what makes this hotel one to seek out is the staff. They are all super attentive and made sure my stay was perfect. I am a lifer at a different hotel chain and this hotel has changed my allegiance to Hyatt. I will go out of my way to stay here the next time in town.

The negatives: I’m not sure if it’s because it was winter during our stay, but the onsite restaurant was only open for dinner and the spa was closed one day during our stay. Also, the website lists 3 pools but in reality it’s 2 pools and a jacuzzi. In the camper suite, the table that converts to a bed requires a worker to come and convert it. That was a big downer for us. Positives: the staff was always very helpful, the restaurant was really good ( get the mushroom pizza!) and the entire place is very kid friendly. And the pools are lovely.

We stayed in the nicest rooms, which seemed virtually brand new. However, they are right next to construction, which starts at 8am. This is the opposite of why you come to the spa. We received treatments at the spa. The front desk attendant was so lovely. Seems like a great fit for the role. However, we requested two female attendants. There was only one. This made my partners spa experience very uncomfortable, and we found out on the same day. It was too late to book an appointment at another spa. The steam room in the spa also didn’t work, so it made the whole experience just about the treatment without any other amenities. Finally, the pools. They are a disappointment, which is the whole purpose of coming to a hotel like this. They were unkept. The grounds are not kept up during the day. The water in the pools was dirty, full of leaves and people’s hair floating. The whirlpool was shut down. Even the bathrooms were in a building that needed a coat of paint. The whole experience felt very motel and not what’s someone pays $400 a night for. Swimming in the pool gave me a small rash. No one comes out to see if you need a drink, so I guess it’s byob? I suggest people from the restaurant coming out to this area to serve guests. At dinner, the pastas were good. Our friend had to wait longer than everyone else for his pizza, and when it arrived it was completely soggy in the middle. All in all, this felt like a big let down of a stay.

So a 5 star review, but your expectations have to also be understood, this is an elevated motor lodge, not a 5 star luxe resort. Some background, wife and I are nomads and live in hotels-300 nights a year, so a pretty strong history and diversity of stays all around this blue ball we live on. CML is unique. A classic motor lodge, elevated. We stayed in a newer section in the deluxe rooms w patio. Not really a view, but outside space is critical. Overall the grounds are nice, though not luxe. Pool area is nice, pools were heated warm to warm hot due to being March, which was great. Rooms, were well appointed. There are no suites. Overall nice with high quality soaps etc. This is not a luxury resort, though it is a category 6, due I’m sure to a great central location to all over Napa and summertime rates are high. As everywhere in Napa. Great cash rates off season. Fleetwood restaurant is solid. There is so much great food around with easy walking distance into town. Some highlights. Teresa, hotel manager is awesome. Welcoming. Accommodating. Took care of us as globalists well as well as family in connecting room. Also arranged a good number of tastings for us. The hotel itself has some unadvertised (at least I didn’t see it prior) great partnerships with many great wineries which is a huge standout. Many free tastings, and or 2 for 1 type tastings at a long list of wineries or other type discounts. This was of very high value when many tastings are 60$ a person. This truly added up to huge $ value with the 4 of us. Take this perk into the value equation, it was huge. We stayed here just prior to their season so ask about restaurant being open in regards to globalist breakfast. Also many other restaurants throughout Napa can have odd hours or weekly schedule on off season. So overall liked it. Would go back. It’s ”quaint” . Not your typical Hyatt. Great way to get yet another brand checked off on Hyatt’s every 5 brands get a free night promotion. Would go to other JDV’s in that each one will be unique and if this is a strong example sure we will like other JDV’s as well. So overall thumbs up, a solid stay at great value, nice perks, good food, clean and comfortable with great management that demonstrated they value their guests happiness and care about loyalists. Thank you to all the staff. You were all great.