Alila Napa Valley

Beautiful property in a perfect location. Staff were friendly and professional. This is our quick getaway from our busy life at home and Alila Napa Valley had delivered it. My 3-day time off feels like a weeklong. It is a perfect getaway. Food, wine, good night sleep and beautiful property.

While the property itself is beautiful and the staff was mostly courteous, my recent experience fell far below the standards expected at this price point. All my wife wanted was to enjoy a morning coffee with a view of the vineyard from our balcony. Unfortunately, the Nespresso machine in our room produced a coffee that looked normal but tasted foul. Upon investigation, we discovered that the water in the tank was moldy and emitted a putrid smell. While we acknowledge we should have checked the machine, this is not something I would expect from a hotel of this caliber. When I attempted to refill the tank, we found the tap water to be brown and unpalatable (see photos). Since we already drank both bottles of water and the tap water wasn't fit for human consumption, my wife reluctantly ordered a $15 coffee to the room. After waiting 25 minutes without the coffee arriving, we decided to head downstairs, only to find the restaurant completely out of coffee at 8:30 AM. I typically refrain from lodging complaints, but this situation left me furious. When I approached the front desk to address the issues, including the brown tap water, the staff simply stated, "Oh, that's normal for California water." This response was both dismissive and unacceptable. I expected far better service from a hotel charging premium rates. I am disappointed that my concerns were not taken seriously and that my wife was subjected to such a poor experience while we were trying to celebrate a special occasion. It's been over two weeks since we checked out, and while posting my concerns on Tripadvisor wasn't my preferred option, the hotel never reached out to inquire about my stay. Given that, I believe it's only fair to share my experience publicly.

When I asked a staff member at check-in what one should do at the hotel in this heat, the answer was, “Survive.” That is true, but is that the bare minimum the hotel is aiming for? I thought this was a joke, but as I would come to see my requests ignored and promises not kept, I realized that was indeed the level of service this hotel delivered. The Alila Napa Valley started its life as the Las Alcobas, as part of Marriott. Though eight years old, the hotel still feels modern and has been maintained in excellent condition. The rooms are spacious and modern, with luxurious bathrooms and modern amenities. Select rooms with a vineyard view open up to a beautiful vista of vines through floor-to-ceiling glass sliders. On the deck (depending on your room) is a fire pit with plush seating that makes for an amazing evening on cold nights in Napa Valley. If you want a modern place to stay in Saint Helena with beautiful views, a nice spa, and a pool, this remains a great option. However, positioned as a five-star hotel with a cash rate of $1931/night during our stay, a nice room isn’t enough. (There are far better point redemptions for World of Hyatt members) In fact, the Alila promises a “guided by our Alila Leisure Concierge team, experts who will help you enjoy Napa as the locals do, with activities and adventures tailored to your interests across five distinct themes.” This isn’t merely a hotel; it’s a lifestyle experience. However, in our stay, service was virtually non-existent. The only pre-arrival communication offered by the hotel was an upsell from two queens to a single king in the exact same room. This tone continued at check-in. Check-in is in a tiny room that doubles as an employee hang-out. I felt like I was interrupting the staff’s private break room. The staff was pleasant and never rude, but they could not have seemed less interested in my stay. Check-in offered another upsell and then pointed us to the room with no help or further information. We literally knew nothing about the hotel at that point. Here are a few things no one bothered to mention: - The hotel has complimentary bikes for guests. - There is a gym fully stocked with towels and Peloton machines, but it is hard to find as it is on the lower level of one of the buildings. A map might be helpful. - There are daily activities (which seem to be basically a yoga class), but it is only posted on an 8½ by 11 at the spa. Go find it yourself. - The kitchen closes at 9 pm, so if you want to be fed, it’s important to get your order in at the restaurant before then. - It’s possible to walk over to a local winery, but there is no signage, so you just have to know. All of this information would have enhanced our experience, but we were given nothing. It was just "go find your room and don’t bother us" vibes. While the food and service at the restaurant, Violetto, was quite good, the general lack of service extends to the pool and the valet. At the pool, I had to clean wasps out

Beautiful stay at the Alila! The staff was friendly and helpful, esp the valet guys. Courteous and even charged my Tesla without me asking. My fave was the room! Very luxe! We had the deluxe room with outdoor tub on the balcony overlooking a babbling brook and the Beringer estate grounds (ok it’s their parking lot technically, but there’s a lot of tree coverage and feels quite private). The marble bathrooms with the electric toilet/bidet is awesome. You don’t have to use it, but it’s nice and cleans your tush if you do. Loved the spa! Very cozy and felt very zen. Massage was great! Steam room nice! It’s small, but there wasn’t anyone but my spouse and I so it felt very private. We also had breakfast at the one onsite restaurant, Violetta. Quality good food. French press coffee mmm! Special touches that made it memorable were wine bottle upon arrival for anniversary, room upgrade, turndown service and free valet (there’s no parking). No kids. Adults only resort. Tips: Beringer Estate is next door. They have beautiful grounds you can stroll through. Downtown St Helena is 15 min or 1/2 mile walk from the hotel. Coffee shops open but nothing else til 10 am. Con: small pool. Stayed mid-week in June.

Modern, spacious and comfy accomodations. The firepit on the deck was a highlight and kept us warm enough to enjoy a glass of wine outside while the temps were in the low 50s. Great spaces around the property to enjoy views and the afternoon sun after a day of winetasting. Location could not be better next to Beringer and walking distance from main street St Helena. The restaurant is a treat with inventive italian influenced cuisine. Don’t miss the amazing Margarita’s with lime salt foam at the outdoor bar.

Beautiful boutique type hotel a shot distance from downtown St Helena. Rooms are fresh and have all the amenities. All modern. My only complaint is the beds need to be a little plusher. My bed was the same hardness as the Hyatt Centric in Dublin Ireland. Restaurant was excellent. Even breakfast was better than your normal hotel breakfast. Spa though small has excellent services.