Calistoga Spa Hot Springs

The rooms at this motel-style hotel are built around a central courtyard with four different mineral pools. Outdoor areas have attractive walkways lined with native plants and sitting areas under pergolas, but the interiors have a dated, almost clinical decor. The lobby's long front desk is covered in a pink laminate with a mix of rubber flooring and carpet throughout the common areas. And white plastic ceiling fans and foam ceiling tiles add to the corporate feel.

The hotel is located in a semi-residential area, but it's two blocks from Calistoga's main thoroughfare, home to shops, restaurants, and antiques dealers. The town is surrounded by Napa Valley vineyards and the Palisade Mountains at the foot of Mt. St. Helena, and there are numerous wineries within a short drive away. California’s Old Faithful Geyser, the Petrified Forest, and state parks are all nearby. San Francisco is about a two-hour drive to the south.

Renovated in 2015, the 57 rooms have a tasteful modern palette of gray textiles with dashes of orange highlights. Shuttered windows look out into the central courtyard. Streamlined, espresso-colored furniture, framed photos, and ikat-fabric bolster pillows add decorative touches. All rooms have cushioned benches, king or queen beds with reading lights, and small sitting or dining areas with tables and pairs of chairs. Amenities include 40-inch flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, alarm clocks, irons and ironing boards, and free Wi-Fi. The kitchenettes have microwaves, coffeemakers, mini-fridges, and two-burner glass stoves. Updated bathrooms in neutral tiles have sizable, granite-top vanities, toiletries, magnifying mirrors, hairdryers, and large walk-in showers with glass partitions and handheld showerheads. All rooms have outdoor entry with benches by the front door.

The hotel's central outdoor courtyard has four different heated geothermal mineral pools, including a small soaking pool, a multi-lane lap pool, and kids' pool. There's also a gazebo covered whirlpool hot tub and a large sun deck with covered lounge chairs. A patio with parasol-shaded tables and barbecue grills give excellent picnic spots, and the hotel has a snack bar, but there's no full restaurant or breakfast service. The full-service spa has the usual range of massages and treatments, as well as warm mud baths that use locally harvested volcanic ash. The fitness center is huge, but much of it is filled with dated weight training equipment. There's also an attached fitness studio with weekly yoga and Pilates classes.