Alila Napa Valley

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.

One of the best hotels we’ve ever stayed at. Gorgeous property, every detail was perfect. We received an upgrade and the suite was unbelievable. The staff was incredibly attentive. The breakfast was delicious. Walking distance to town! We will be staying again!

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.

Alila continues to be one of the best places to stay in St.Helena. it was wonderful to walk down the street to shop and eat on main street. Our favorite wineries were less than 15mins away. Relaxing in our room with a view of the vineyards with the fireplace keeping us warm was magical.

Congratulations on the transition from Acacia House to Violetta. In addition to our daily breakfasts, we had two wonderful dinners here. While Acacia House was good, Violetta is much better. And the Mexico margarita is without parallel!