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Gaia Napa Valley Hotel & Spa
Rating Details »
3600 Broadway St.
American Canyon, CA 94503
(707) 674-2100
American Canyon, CA 94503
(707) 674-2100
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- By Appointment Only:
- No
62 reviews for Gaia Napa Valley Hotel & Spa
I stayed here in August, 2009. This is definitely not your Napa Valley boutique hotel. First of all, is not in Napa, and second it pretty much is a big chain hotel. It looks kind of weird sitting there on the highway, and is located next to a really sketchy casino.
But, the rooms are clean and relatively conveniently located to the wineries in the area. Sure, everything is a drive away. But pretty much everything will be anyway. The hotel staff is not particularly helpful, and the wifi sucks. Ask for a cable.
I'd agree with most of what everyone said- small pool/hot tub, very chain hotel feeling halls, on the main highway (tho we did not hear it at all), the staff is not super helpful (but they were not rude). the rooms are big, bed was comfy, lobby was nice, love the swans. was not bothered by the soap/lotion dispenser (seriously, how hard is it to move a coffee maker?!?!?!) had a couples massage @ the spa which was DIVINE- definitely use the 7-headed shower (!!!) if you go. did not try the restaurant.
stayed here on a Summer Fri night for $139.
I actually like Amercian Canyon (location, not the environs...) b/c you can get to Sonoma or Napa wineries very easily & it's super quick trip if you live in the East Bay (which we do)
we would (will?) stay again- support eco-businesses!!!
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)certified hotel south of Napa.
Visited: Summer weekend
Rate: $129 weekend night
Negatives: noise is easily heard through the walls as noted by other reviews; the rooms and hallways feel like a nice motel, not a nice hotel; it's located on Hwy 29 and the rear faces a housing development (read: nothing scenic about the entrance or local surroundings).
Positives: spacious rooms; comfortable beds and pillows; easy access to Wine Country at an affordable rate; it's green, so soak up the feel-goodness; there's a pond with swans and an adjacent observing bench; there's a pool and hottub, though both are tiny; on-site spa and restaurant offerings, which we didn't use but might have tried if we'd stayed longer.
Experience: You get what you pay for here. The staff is friendly but not particularly informative or helpful. For example, when I called ahead of our visit to request restaurant recommendations the two front desk workers had little to offer. Overall, the hotel does what it's supposed to do, it's near Napa and affordable, and it's a unique eco-friendly hotel.
Price reasonable, but that's about it. Cons: deceptive advertising (come on, pic of vineyards on their marketing material?), hate the beds w/ square corners that protrude out (that wife and I kept painfully running into w/ knees/shins), and they didn't even have cotton blankets (allergic to down) when requesting. Will definitely pay a bit more to stay at an alternate location next time.
I was looking for an affordable hotel near Napa and Gaia worked out great! The location is really good...right on Hwy 29 and just 15 min. south of Napa. The staff was really friendly and helpful. I stayed in a King room with a view overlooking the lagoon. Very pretty and I loved the swans! There were even baby swans!
I had seen some complaints on Yelp about hearing other guests through the walls, but can report that I didn't hear a thing from the other rooms. The room was spacious and bed was very comfortable. I liked that the hotel focus is on being "green" and appreciated the soap and shampoo dispensers in the bathroom.
I'd recommend this affordable and convenient hotel if you're spending some time in the Napa Wine Country!
Comment from Chris M. of
Gaia Napa Valley Hotel & Spa
7/12/2009
Greg, thank you so much for your kind words. I am glad,…
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My husband and I stayed at this hotel for part of our honeymoon. The resort itself is quite lovely with very nice amenities including the spa, an outdoor pool and hot tub as well as just wonderful grounds. However, as others have stated in their review, the walls are paper thin. We could hear the people in the room next to us -- mostly the screaming children -- even with the TV on.
Here's the basics: Clean hotel but not exactly "spa or resort" title worthy. Pool and Jacuzzi are small and barely worthy the trip unless its really hot. Then the small factors in because you are sharing a wading pool with the rest of the hotel.
If you want a clean place to stay and if you get a good "non spa/resort" room rate this place is worth it.
Biggest con: We rented 2 rooms and 3 out of 4 people woke up with sore necks. Bring your own pillow the eco friendly ones just dont cut it.
Interesting: The emmision gauges behind the checkout/in desk.
Ok, first of all... don't beleive the pictures. They are very misleading... it is in a weird location and from the outside looks a little shady when you pull up. For example, it is located next to a 24 hour "casino" and not far from a Walmart... so when we found a good deal on a couples weekend we jumped on it. Now that I have been there I know why it was so affordable!
BUT, other than the shady location this place isn't too bad. We did a "romance package" and the spa was lovely. If I could rate the spa and the hotel seperately I would give the spa 4 stars and the hotel 3. So, if you are looking for a cheap getaway near wine country this is it... but don't be expecting superior luxury... you get what you pay for!
I almost gave it 1 star but their eco friendliness earned them the 2.
The grounds are clean, you immediately get the feeling it's not the NICEST place but decent. The image of their swimming pool on their website is super misleading, let's just say me and maybe 4 other people can fit in it.
Our room was an ok size, the TV was miniscule, I hadn't seen a tube television in a while so that was interesting. The bathroom smelled like wet rags, probably because the curtain was moldy, that was fun. Because it's an eco friendly pad, the shampoos and soaps come in those plastic dispensers you see in public bathrooms. I still don't know how I feel about that. We ordered late night room service, and maybe the chef was off duty, but it looked like it was microwaved.
Good luck trying to sleep because you won't, lots of things go bump in the night at Gaia, especially the refrigerator. If it weren't for the food we had I would have unplugged the damn thing, but other noises like the neighboring vending machines and crying baby next door, you're lucky to get a wink of snooze.
But the best part was the fire alarm going off at 9pm and then again at 2am. Yea, it wasn't the hotels fault since the drunk man decided to be funny, but not answering the front desk phone at 2am, come on Gaia! Needless to say I won't ever be coming back here. It was cheap and located close enough to wine country but still felt short for me.
Ok, stayed here as part of a wedding party. When I called to reserve the room the block price was $129, but online it was $119. I told them at the time of booking, and they said they would make that change for me. When I get there to check in they have me for the $129. The guy at the desk hardly apologized and just stuck to this is their price and basically too bad for me. It is only $10 a night, but to me it was THE POINT! What jerks. In addition to the lousy service, the walls are paper thin and you could hear people having casual conversation AND EVERYTHING ELSE! Don't do it.
i like the concept of this hotel a lot!
and it's much more affordable than other places closer to napa.
we stayed in a double bed room - spacious and clean. the grounds were well kept. you can hear noise through walls but i slept fine.
My husband and I recently stayed here while we were vacationing in Napa Valley. I was so excited to stay in a LEED certified hotel and was really intrigued by the information on their website.
When we checked in, the lobby lived up to my expectations. However, when we went to our room, I decided this was more of a glamorized, "green" Best Western than a "Hotel & Spa." Kudos to them for going green and driving awareness around climate change but they really tout themselves as more than they are.
The hotel is right off a highway and the photographs they have on their website don't really give that impression. I don't think that being eco-friendly requires crappy taste but it appears that's the route they went. There's so much that could be done eco-friendly while still providing a nice aesthetic. Instead, I felt like they cut corners in the overall design. Our bathroom floor seemed kind of dirty (or maybe it was just mildew stains?), the lighting was really terrible (yes, I know CFLs and LEDs still have a way to go but I've seen applications of both that provided far better lighting than what they had). I also feel like they're in a great position to educate people on what they've done to be eco-friendly and why.
The price point is a good one (which is maybe why the aesthetic is what it is) and huge kudos for being LEED certified...just don't expect anything special.
Convenient, yes.
Priced right, yes (Manager's Special of $75 a night if staying Monday through Thursday)
Beds, comfy and clean
But...the noise in the room all night was quite annoying. I don't think it was the HVAC because I turned that OFF. I think it may have been the refrigerator. Who cares...it was freakin' noisy!
Room layout was a bit challenged: a king size bed and poised precariously next to it was a wicker chair and ottoman. If I hadn't moved the ottoman surely I would have gotten up in the middle of the night and tripped over it!
Patio room was nice, facing west and the lagoon...but the duck poop on the patio was annoying...
Pillows - I have a thing about wanting A LOT of pillows. And yes, they are down pillows and I called and requested more...never got them.
Of course, it started out badly when I arrived to check in, having made the reservation in person a few days before only to learn that the helpful person at the desk that first visit booked me for the wrong week. Oh well...not to worry...they weren't sold out.
For an overnight escape, not a bad place to stay -- and the price is right. Will I do it again...maybe...but probably not...would rather try out some of the other new places in the neighborhood to see if they can meet my standards!
This place was just ok. Price was very reasonable. I wasn't into it so much for the green factor. Room was large but slightly dingy. Every single room was named after some sort of living creature (our cousins stayed in the room entitled "pipits.") This was entertaining at first, but started to get annoying. We were in the area for a wedding in Yountville/St. Helena. We spent a lot of time in the car driving back and forth and back and forth. The restaurant serves a decent breakfast. In-room organic coffee and tea was a nice touch. Staff was very friendly and even checked us in for our flights. Conveniently located by some shops, coffee places, Wal-mart. If you don't mind the drive to and fro, this is a reasonably priced place to stay. However, there are 2 brand new options within 5 minutes of this place that seem to be similarly priced (and obviously brand new. These options weren't open yet when we booked.)
I have additional reasons to love the Gaia Hotel. My mom and I came back to Gaia this last weekend, it was the perfect getaway that was much needed. Update was neccesary....
1.) The pillows, sheets and beds are freaking fantastic. We tried to find out where the pillows come from and if we could buy them and they dont sell them. The front desk said they asked the Manufacturer, but they wont make anymore for resale. WHY? I need one badly...
1.1) The beds are so comfy - we stayed in bed the whole time! We even asked if they has another room with 3 beds - so my sister wouldn't be left out on our trips up to the Gaia.
1.2) The sheets, yummy organic cotton clean soft sheets - so nice!
2.) Breakfast in Bed, Room Service wasn't available the last time we stayed there because the Restaurant was under construction. We ordered the Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon, fruit, yogurt, toast and had organic coffee and tea. The food was really good.
3.) The price, we paid $79.00 for a sunday night stay. So afffordable for the comfort and quality of this hotel. You would be out of your mind to stay anywhere else. It's so close to Napa, you could definately save some serious cash.
Next time we go up, we are hitting up the Spa. I can't wait!!!!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/12/2008
I like this hotel, it was a nice place to stay on my last trip up to the wine country. My mom and I… Read more »
Hotel was pretty nice! Clean rooms and eco friendly. Got a pretty nice deal on Expedia. The only thing I can complain about is the down pillows. I can't sleep on them without waking up with neckpain. No matter how much down they have, it's not enough to give me enough support.
On a funny note, they name all of their rooms after flowers, insects, animals, etc. So I noticed that people were rubbing letters off the room names, like Grasshopper is missing it's 'gr' and therefore named ' asshopper'! LOL!
I like this place. The staff are great. I actually called in my reservation because they have their own special rate sometimes. And the room rate is very reasonable. I'd rather stay here then a chain. And it is pretty close to Napa and Yountville, I'd rather stay here then have to pay extra to stay up there.
The place is cute, it has a lagoon that almost all the room faces. Yesterday, I looked down from my room and one of their swan (yes a real swan. they live on the property) was eating right underneath our window. How many other hotels are going to have that!??
We stayed here back in November during Holiday in Carneros weekend.
Really nice place, and pretty cheap all things considered. The rooms are named after all sorts of stuff (oyster, dolphin, quail, you get the idea)
Very nice staff.
It's a hotel bed, so not the best, but not bad. Pillows were AMAZING.
It's right down the street from Sonic Drive In and a Supercenter Walmart.
Awesome weekend.
Major disappointment. The place wasn't up to my standards at all. First impression for me was online. Their website was impressive. Price was right. Second impression: the building looks good outside as well. So cool right? Not so fast.
The rooms were very motel-like. Bathroom was very disappointing. They don't even provide you with a washcloth! No robe. The floor was this really rough sticky weird one. I know they're being "Green" about their surroundings still I don't know what to say...
In short I was expecting to see a serene setting with a really nice room and surroundings-and ended up with a very cheap version of my expectations. The location was not great either. It's right next to Hwy 29 and it's a busy road. The walls were so thin that it's impossible not to hear everything.
The lack of ability to see the rooms on their website was the tip that I ignored.
One thing that was a little okay was that my room was facing the lagoon. When you step out of the sliding door-you end up right next to the lagoon and can sit on a couple of chairs,relax and watch the lone geese swim..that was by far the closest to being a spa this place came to.
I had great expectations to stay at the Feng-Shui-ed, LEED-certified hotel but the Gaia did not live up to its website descriptions. On the contrary. It is somewhat conveniently located if you want to tour the wine country yet it is not in Napa but in American Canyon, right on Hwy 29, just 20 minutes south of Napa. It has the look and feel of a freeway motel too. The staff at the front desk was very apathetic, completely unengaged to the point of being rude and unfriendly. My dad began mocking me for my passion for all things green but he liked the affordability. (We paid $99 including breakfast). Considering that it is a fairly new hotel, it is already very RUN DOWN. The bathroom walls were dented and smeared, mold between the grout in the bathtub and a moldy curtain are not exactly what is green in my book. The soap and shampoo dispensers were. I was hoping for a relaxing swim after a long drive from LA BUT the pool was MINUSCULE and the water FREEZING. Brrrrr.
OK, here is some good or shall we say better news.
An unexpected copy of Al Gore's AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH = 5 stars!
Our room on the first floor had a PATIO, overlooking the pond. I like the fact that every room was named after a natural phenomenon or animal.
Breakfast buffet offers ORGANIC tea bags - but I would not touch anything else...
The bed was very comfortable and the design and aesthetic of the rooms was a bit more upscale than its freeway motel feel.
We appreciated the tiny fitness room with one elliptical machine, some weights and a treadmill. The swan lake/lagoon is very pretty.
We got a tour of the VERY BEAUTIFUL, SERENE spa that offers, LOCAL, ORGANIC skin and body care products but we did not have the time for a treatment unfortunately...
GAIA'S GREEN FEATURES - YOU DON'T NECESSARILY SEE THEM BUT THEY MAKE FOR A HEALTHIER STAY FOR YOU AND THE EARTH - AND THEY ARE THE REASON WHY I WOULD CONSIDER COMING BACK.
Wood Based Materials: All lumber used for the hotel is FSC-certified (FSC=Forest Stewardship Council).
Coatings, Adhesives and Sealants: Low VOC (VOC=volatile organic compound) sealants and adhesives were used throughout the hotel for carpets, construction, and paint. All carpets contain post consumer recycled material in the backing, fiber, and pad.
Stone: All restrooms use recycled tiles and granite.
Water: The hotel's water usage is reduced 40% by low-flush appliances. All guestrooms are equipped with low-flow shower heads.
Environmental Quality: Appropriately sized, efficient HVAC units throughout property are quieter and more efficient than standard HVAC systems using a more environmentally friendly refrigerant. Aluminum exterior grates in all entrances of the property minimize dust and particulates entering the building, significantly improving air quality.
Energy: All windows used are efficient, low energy transmittable and reduce glare. Electricity-saving solatube tubular skylights are used throughout the hotel including conference rooms, lobby and the hallways. Solar panels provide 10% of the Gaia's electricity.
Recycling: There are recycling bins and recycled paper products in and around property. Bulk soap and shower dispensers are used in all guest rooms.
Landscaping: All of the fertilizers are natural and chemical free. Native and climate-adaptive plants are used so water use for irrigating is very limited.
Cleaning: Environmentally friendly cleaning products are used to clean the property.
Education: Promoting awareness of sustainability: GreenTouchscreen® kiosks document water and electricity savings as well as CO2 emissions.
The verdict: If you are wining and dining Napa on a budget and are bitten by the green bug, this is the place to stay (because most other places are not that great either). I had the cleaning crew come in five-star hotels before (e.g., Biltmore, Coral Gables). I prefer this to a conventional chain hotel for its eco-features but will ask for a cleaner room or to re-send the cleaning crew.
The Single Speed World Championships were being held in Napa this year and Hubster, Drewbert and I had plans for a year to attend. The event attracts loads of riders and spectators from all over the world.
Made it tough to find an available hotel.
Happened upon this place and was intrigued by the whole green thing (and the fact they were just a tad over $100/night, available and close to the race) so went ahead and booked a night for 3 people online. I found it funny that their website touted how romantic a place it was and we were going with a friend of ours, romance wasn't really on the agenda.
Really nice, clean, spacious rooms and Drewbert pointed out the copy of the Inconvenient Truth on the table. Yeah, the neighborhood is a little weird but it really isn't that far from anything that you could possibly need.
The jacuzzi was tiny, our 3 fat butts nearly took up the whole thing but it felt divine on that cool evening. The pool was a little small but incredibly clean and *warm* Speaking of water amenities, the shower was fine, I've definitely had worse shower pressure and this got the job done and I felt good about using less water (yay environmentalism!)
We got hungry kind of late and the guys went to check out what they could get at the hotel restaurant. I guess nothing on the menu appealed to them but when the cook saw them leaving he asked what they wanted. A little while later he had cranked out a bunch of snacky finger food stuff for us! Fresh bread, fries, chicken strips and mac 'n cheese, he even made sure they got beers while they were waiting, cool!
Best part about the stay was walking out by the pool on Sunday morning and seeing the two huge, gorgeous swans swimming in the little pond alongside the pool. Wow.
Would definitely stay here again!
So I used to travel A LOT for my previous job, and stayed at many a hotel. I'm more impressed with a Courtyard Marriott. ...sorry
The best past is if it truly is a green hotel. Other than that, biggest complaint, THIN WALL!!
Baby crying all night next door...heard every stomp from the people above us...and WORST of all saw 3 spiders in the bathroom, and my bf got a bite on his neck ...
If you're going to Napa for a weekend keep going up, this is not worth it and it's far from everything...
Not bad for a so-called "green" hotel. They don't have their toiletries in containers. Instead, the soap, lotion, shampoo, and conditioner come in dispensers to cut down on waste. The size of the room was, well roomy. It had a high ceiling which I don't normally see in other hotels, and the beds were comfy. But goodness, anything and everything with down in it often makes me want to throw it off to the side because it warms me up so darn quickly. The pool area wasn't too impressive. The hot tub was already full (it fits 4 people) and the pool itself was a bit chilly. The fact that the breeze began to pick up didn't really help much either. I didn't get to see the rest of the hotel because we were too busy getting wined up and munching on the goods we bought from V. Sattui. It's not 4/5 star quality, but it's not a bad pick if you want to save a little dough while you're in wine country.
Very nice decor with helpful staff. Went to the bar people were nice to my banana costume!
The hall to rent was spacious and the food for the event (chicken wings, vegetables, fruit, and pizza) was great!
Really can't complain since I paid $85 a night, which is relatively cheap.
I stayed at both Gaia hotels (there is one in Anderson, CA). So I can actually compare the two. Out of the two, this one is a little worse off.
Pros: fairly thick walls, close enough to Napa without costing a ton. Fridge and microwave in each room. There is a pool and hot tub, but I didn't go in b/c I forgot my swimsuit. Clean sheets.
Cons: no complimentary breakfast (the one in Anderson did have a very decent one). It does feel like a refurbished Best Western. The soap dispensers are kind of crappy, and you have to look behind the coffee maker to find the soap. But I get it, it's part of their green effort. I just wish it was easier to wash my hands. There is absolutely nothing in American Canyon to do or eat, so you have to be willing to drive. Starbucks, Jamba Juice, Wal-Mart - that's basically it.
Interesting: it gets a little loud at night with the frogs. The hotel is wrapped around a pond, and swans, frogs and wildlife mill about. There were swan ducklings which were very cute. The rooms with patios on the first floor are right next to the pond, and the swans will come right up.
The hotel is located about 20 minutes from Napa. If you're doing wine tours and eating out, staying here is a way to save some money.
Nice clean rooms for great price. We only paid $60 for two queen beds! I can't get over that they have real swans swimming around!
I'd recommend this place for those on a budget to Napa.
I stayed here for two nights last weekend. We attended a wedding at the Hiddenbrooke Golf Club and it was conveniently easy to get to and close by.
The Pros: Great value for the price ($125 for Saturday night, and $99 on Sunday night). The bed is comfy and the pillows live up the the rave mentions on the other yelper's posts. The room is spacious and clean. Close to restaurants.
The cons:
The shower water pressure was weak, but got the job done. In favor of water conservation, this con is really a neutral point. I found it odd that the sink was on one side of the bathroom counter and the soap dispenser was on the opposite side (mild annoyance). Although I asked for an early check in, I wasn't given a room until exactly 3 p.m. (This was my biggest beef, as I had to dress and get my make up on for the wedding that afternoon).
All in all, it was a nice place to stay. I had to slow my roll and remind myself that this was not the city and the people are more laid back than I am used to. It would go back if I ever had to spend the night in Vallejo or Napa.
I would have given Gaia 4 stars but the service was a little off. I am really into going green, but since this was my first time going to a "green" hotel, I'm not sure how to compare.
So some insight, I'm a young professional (well young at heart haha) who loves to spend money on wine and yummy food, and does not like dirty motel-like hotels, and I am scared of public restrooms...so I typically like things clean.
Now onto Gaia - You pretty much get what you pay for. Nothing fancy. It was clean, comfortable, and not far from Napa valley or Sonoma. Decent room and ok bed. Since it's eco-friendly, think minimal trash and waste so they had dispensers for shampoo, conditioner, and lotion. Water pressure was low, but not ridiclous, and the lighting was..well kinda low? Oh they had recycling bins in the room.
Only gripe is - The front desk staff. Not all the staff just the one person we spoke to. The fire alarm in our room was on low battery and kept making a sound so we called the desk. We are not sure how they normally handle small things like this, but the front desk girl responded, with "can't you take out the battery yourself?" Needless to say we were tired and didn't want to start a commotion so we did. My best friend climbed on some furniture to reach the darn thing (which was pretty high up there) to take the battery out! hahaha
Other than that - don't let Samantha help you at the front desk and you'll be fine! The other staff was great! We didn't try the restaurant or the spa. Would stay there again for a bargain!
Mega-eco-but-just-OK hotel. Nice swans. Comfortable rooms, but not special (except it is LEED certified). Good price point ($100/night) in small town on the way to Napa. Slowest restaurant service in the known universe, but the food (which we had to take to-go after waiting for over an hour for it), was surprisingly tasty. Probably wouldn't return.
As I walked towards the front desk to check out, I was still torn between giving this place 4 stars (above average) or 5 (excellent). The room was absolutely cavernous, easily twice the size of an average hotel room. Everything feels brand new, as if the hotel had just recently opened. The size of the room also muzzled noises from the hallway and other rooms, making our stay quieter than usual.
I liked the eco-friendly measures here, but they weren't deal-breakers. All the lightbulbs are energy-saving. The toiletries are stored in large pumps instead of wasteful individual bottles. There is even a copy of "An Inconvenient Truth" on the table, to remind you that your wine trip is helping to kill Mother Earth.
Then, before I reached the lobby, I saw the swans.
Not ducks, not geese, fucking swans. A pair of majestic snow-white Cygninae, swimming in the pond in the center of the property.
Five stars. Boom. Done.
This is sort of like a cross between a business hotel and European style hotel with an eco-friendly theme and adjacent spa.
I checked the chemicals used to clean in the cart and they're Clorex's new biodegradable environmentally friendly kind. I am happy that at least one company in corporate American is listening. I wish more hotels would use it, or Meyers or some combo thereof.
Yes the design of the rooms is a bit "motel-ish" by American standards but I dare you to travel to a hotel in France or the UK in the same price range and find anything better than this room. The beds were adequate, and lets face it with it being 10 minutes to the nearest winery are you going to be doing anything more than sleeping, showering, and boinking here? The bed is comfortable enough for sleeping, the headboard though not so good for boinking but we managed.
The swans are a nice touch and yes the hot tub is small, but that saves on water which is part of the point of this exercise. The materials themselves are sustainable and they have LEED certification which I really believe all buildings should go for these days.
They can improve by having ceramic cups in the room, that was the only big outpoint I saw. They use proper silverware and ceramic cups now in the dining room now, but I don't know about one year ago. There are still paper cups there but it is implied (like in Europe and Asia) that you take those only if you are taking your beverage to go. The cereal is Kashi which is a major US natural brand. They have fresh fruit but the brand of yogurt isn't the best, and they could buy a bigger container Rather than use single servings. Coffee and teas are organic
I didn't see any RAID when I was there but other than M-Pede (which is expensive) RAID only has one of the nasty environmental unfriendly chemicals versus many other commercial insecticides which typically have 3 or more. Of the mainline brands out there SC Johnson has the best environmental record currently FYI.
It's okay but there are things they could do better in particular the cups and yogurt. For large scale hotel in the US it's a great start. It's also effing cheap for the area, and there is the honey farm and other stuff to see in the area if you search on Yelp. It's only 99-136 a night what do you expect??
This place absolutely cannot compete with the hotels in the wine country.
Sounds cool because it's green, but it looks like a crappy rusty motel and it's right on Hwy 29. The mural in front is a total eyesore. There is nothing to do close by. The interior design makes me cringe.
The service is horrible - no valet, no greeting. The lobby person was on her personal cell phone for two minutes before helping us.
WORST OF ALL - my brand new car got hit in the parking lot and management gave us no help.
Shell out the extra cash. Gaia sucks.
My BF is the shit. Not only did he take me to the French Laundry for dinner, but he also got us reservations at the world's first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified hotel. As a former environazi and someone who is cautiously hopeful about the burgeoning environmental "movement", I was thrilled to have the opportunity to experience this hotel.
As we checked in we noticed the meters above the front desk that showed the amount of water that the hotel was saving, how much CO2 it was producing and how much electricity it was using. Very cool! There were also educational kiosks in various places around the hotel that discussed all the green building materials and design elements.
So we walked into our room and much to my surprise and glee, there were rose petals strewn all over the room, a bouquet of red roses on the table and a bottle of (very nice) champagne with two classes sitting next to them. I'm kinda dense so my first question was "Do all the rooms come like this?" He was like "uh... no, Leslie." Turns out he had gotten the "romance package". Poor guy, having to put up with someone as romantically obtuse as me. Regardless, it had the effect he wanted, if you know what I mean.
To be sure, the rooms are not ultra fancy. It's not supposed to be! It's ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY. GET IT?!?! But the bed is very comfortable and the room is nice sized. I loved that the hand soaps and shampoos, etc. were in mounted pumps on the wall and in the shower... less little bottles to waste. Very cool! The sliding glass door opens up onto a little outdoor sitting area overlooking the pond where swans are floating about.
Bottom line: I loved this place and everything that it's trying to do. If I ever have cause to stay in a hotel in the Napa area, I will go out of my way to stay here.
Oh... and did I mention that the romance packaged came with a couples massage....
$120 a night, for a large room spacious enough to sleep four, in a nice, new hotel is a great deal. I didn't find the "green" theme to be overwhelming or even that obvious (besides the Al Gore book on the nightstand), but it was nice to know that they are trying. In general, Gaia was a very comfortable place to stay and save several hundred dollars a night compared to most places in the area.
The downside to staying here is the location. It's not too far away from Napa, Yountville, and most of the wineries but it's not close, so you end up driving back in not entirely safe conditions.
Maybe I should bump this review up to a four due to the room full of attractive Swedish men staying next door (tequila shots with Lars and Sven, anyone?)...
Pretty comfy and clean. The service is OK, but not great. Hot tub is very small so get into it early to reserve a spot.
Showers would have been fine except that the water pressure was so low that I was actually cold during my first shower. The little trickle didn't do the trick. Second night, I just ran the shower till the bathroom was steamy and warm. Then I took my shower. Not very environmental.
We had no trouble with the internet connection. Several possible connections and pretty fast.
Kinda close to stuff in Napa but not really close.
Do have ducks and swans. That's nice. Cheapest place to stay near Napa. Don't forget that there is a 12% occupancy tax on hotels in Napa County.
(I'd give Gaia a 3.5 rating if that were an option.)
Ditto Connie and Raoul: This place is extremely new and not in Napa proper. They're obviously still getting some of the kinks worked out.
We got a good last-minute deal here, and they were cool about letting us bring our bikes into the room. The room was spacious and very clean. The bed was super comfy, and there were plenty of pillows, towels, and extra blankets. The pool area was small and inviting, and the swans in the moat thingy were the perfect blend of pretty decor and not-mean critters.
I'm taking off 1.5 stars for the following:
-- the fridge in the room would let out a loud grumble every 15 minutes or so and would actually wake us up.
-- light from the hallway leaked into the room, making the room lighter than I'd prefer, which woke me up.
--the bed design apparently allowed the headboard in the room next door to bang loudly on our wall when our neighbors had some romantic moments, which woke us up.
--both free-use computers in the Business Center had technical issues.
--all of the scones and muffins at the free breakfast were laden with nuts, making them inedible to me, allergy girl. the only other free food option was yogurt.
I'd go back and give them another try. It's a good value for the price, and it's nice to support their GREEN efforts.
$164 (from http://hotels.com) for two nights for a nice spacious room. The room has enough space, VERY COMFORTABLE bed, bathroom is clean, tv is pretty big compare to other hotels, outside pool and heated tub in the middle of a pond with swans and ducks, spa is awesome, service is great and did I mention the comfortable bed they have? The next day after we got home from the hotel, I bought pillows like the ones they have... hehe!
It was a very peaceful stay for us, no wall banging from the other room, the little fridge wasn't making noise, the a/c was quiet too. Everything was just perfect! And yes, the hotel is not in NAPA - its at American Canyon.
We (husband and I ) don't usually care on hotel ammenities, we always think hotels are just a sleeping area. Now our standard on hotels went up, I hope there will be more hotels like this.
2 Stars for: the 'green' thing & a decent restaurant
Otherwise, there is very little positive to report.
On highway 29 so it's noisy & dirty 24x7.
The neighborhood is blah, blah, blah. You're between the deserted WalMart and the brand new, Super WalMart with a shady casino right next door.
The staff is kind of friendly but not particularly helpful or responsive. The rooms are basically Motel 6 quality. No amenities whatsoever so if you need a shower cap, I guess it's good that Super WalMart is an ez drive. Of course Napa, is not. It's at least 20 minutes away and that is if traffic is perfect, so what's 'green' about that?????
It's so noisy outside that you can't keep the windows open. But on a hot summer night the in-room AC barely does the trick. You can't lower temp below 67 (since we're being green, or is it just cheap?) and the AC unit woke us up every time it turned on and off. We held a meeting in one of the meeting rooms. Service was less than attentive and there was paint and wall coverings peeling from the ceilings and upper walls, and this hotel is less than 2 years old?
The exercise room is no bigger than one king-size room with only 4 pieces of equipment. When I checked at the front desk about their discount for a nearby full-service gym (their web-site mentions this amenity), no one knew what I was talking about.
The bed is comfortable! The water pressure is so poor it's laughable. Good thing I didn't wash my hair or I'd still be under the spigot trying to rinse the shampoo out.
Stay in Napa where you'll find really nice locations that are relaxed, soothing and romantic.
Interesting choice for design, guess you gotta give credit to the treehuggers for making something that most people normally would call tacky into something that actually integrates well with their theme. I have never had such good sleep in my life than in this hotel, maybe it has something to do with the bottles of wine that we keep knocking back every night.
Treehuggers rejoice, for this place has what you need, also at the concierge desk there are three displays that show the current water/electricity/? usage that the hotel is currently using. Very cool!
Neighborhood, like some mentioned isn't exactly the best, parents were like O_o when they saw a casino next door lol.
Stay here and go get drunk!
Well, it's not actually IN Napa. It's in American Canyon a few miles outside of Napa.
It's "environmentally" friendly, which means it has monitors hanging in the lobby proclaiming the Co2, electric, and water emissions of guests declared real-time. (And how much emission do those screens produce?)
Instead of mini-bottles of shampoo, etc....they have bulk bins in the restrooms. You can opt out of room service to "save energy."
To be honest, I felt like most of this was just a ploy in saving money, cutting corners, cutting costs. I didn't see any energy-efficient elctronics...same ole vacuums, lights, etc. as I see at any other hotel. Sure, there was a copy of "An Inconvenient Truth" on the table in the room, but that huge pond out back probably pumps a considerable amount of water from the REAL ecosystem. (And that pool....is it chemical-free? The fountain in the restaurant...how much water does that wall-fountain waste, after all? And the huge 8"x11" receipt they give you after your meal? Is that necessary?)
In fact, they are SO enviornmentally friendly, they told us it would be better for us to get back into our car, start it back up, and drive 250 feet around the back to be "closer to the door" for our room. *ahem*
Regardless, it's a nice place....once you just shrug off this whole theme thing they're doing.
The bed was SOOOO comfortable. It was nearly impossible for me to yank my face away from the pillow. The little patio on the back of the room was uber-pleasant...with that "energy-efficient" (note: sarcasm) human-made pond off to the side. The breakfast we paid for was great - they had tofu scramble as an option!
It's a nice, standard hotel....better than an airport dive but not as ritz as the Marriot a few streets down. Don't expect the world, but know that it's clean and proper.
