JdV by Hyatt is a cool collection of independent hotels that sit in the middle of luxury and affordability. This collection under Hyatt recently added a new property in the Calistoga Motor Lodge and Spa, so Jen and I decided to take a short road trip to check out this new property. While the property is still under some notable renovation probably due to Hyatt injecting some money to expand and update the property, our stay was pleasant. Here’s my full review!
Location
The Calistoga Motor Lodge is located about 25 minutes away from Napa and roughly 10-15 minutes away from the Alila Napa Valley (one of my favorite hotels). The property is situated on the Northern Edge of Calistoga, a small city with a population of just over 5,000. The city is well known for their natural hot springs and is surrounded by beautiful lush wineries.
From San Francisco, the drive takes about an hour and a half.
The Property
Jen and I were booked into a King Suite Room, which was basically just a standard king room. This property does not have actual suites built out, but they could be under construction as there were several blocks of rooms under construction. There are several types of rooms with most of them consisting of lodge like rooms or the standard hotel style accommodations. From the outside, the property looks cute, lodge rooms look rather dated but the hotel style accommodations are tucked away and feel relatively modern.
The room itself is a nice surprise. Each room is modern with a nice wooden accents and a wooden floor . Furniture builds upon the atmosphere and the room’s use of wooden tables and furniture helps exude a feel of modern design. Rather than an old Keurig, there is a small pour over coffee set which includes a goose neck kettle and a guide on how to use the device. This was a nice change as Keurigs typically brew below average coffee.
The bathrooms were a bit peculiar as they seemed more fitting for a beach house than lodge but still large and spacious. There is both a rainfall shower and a detachable hose since our room was also ADA fitted.
Food
If you’ve read my past hotel reviews, you’ll quickly come to know that Hyatt is both my brand of choice and loyalty. With top tier Hyatt Elite Status in Hyatt Globalist, I was able to get both 4pm late checkout and complimentary breakfast at the property.
Breakfast is served at the Fleetwood restaurant which Jen and I ironically tried out for dinner a few years back when visiting the Alila Napa Valley. Breakfast/Brunch has the same menu and had a pretty standard selection. One our first breakfast, Jen and I both went with the two eggs combo. The second day, we were more advenurous and went with an Avocado Toast and a Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict. We also had the green smoothie which felt cleansing and refreshing.
Meal service can be a bit slow as Fleetwood looked a bit understaffed in the mornings. There was only one chef on Monday serving about 30 customers so you’ll have to be patient.
Amenities
While the hotel wasn’t large, there is a couple of heated outdoor swimming pools. The property also has an onsite Spa which you don’t often see for a smaller property. The pool was always occupied, with kids during the day and adults in the evening. Even with temperatures in the low 50s and uppers 40s, I was amazed to see the pool constantly filled with ocupants.
There wasn’t a full fitness center available, but with Hyatt working on this property, it may be on the way.
Final Thoughts
The Calistoga Motor Lodge and Spa was recently added to Hyatt’s portfolio via JDV by Hyatt. The property might seem dated at first glance, but the rooms and the interior is modern and offers visitors a nice cozy room. Each room offers a pour over coffee set which adds to the boutique feel of the property. All in all I think this was a solid property and if the price is right, definitely worth visiting if you’re planning to stay in the Napa area on a tight budget.
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