Review: Las Alcobas Napa Valley

Had a great one night stay there last June ! Nice jr suite overlooking the vineyard . Def would like to return .

Lucky how did you end up using both the Amex credits? Did they let you split the payment for each night?

@ JG -- When you check out of a hotel you can split your payment however you'd like across multiple cards.

Go to Le Meridien Emei Mountain resort, about the same, suite upgrades without using suite vouchers, secure ambassador suite with a suite voucher comes with a small pool and the hotel offering free transfer from Emei train station for platinum and above, best of all, the hotel is under 100 USD

Interesting, my wife and I stayed here for an anniversary and were not as impressed. We did have a vineyard view, which was nice, although we could see some buildings to the left where people could presumably see us and all the guests in the patio area. We found the decor minimalist to the point of sterile, all grey and little color, and hard surfaces. The fire pit is wonderful, agreed. Service was hit or miss on our stay, some confusion on check in and several staff seemed indifferent. There is no jacuzzi/hot tub on site. Breakfast was good, and St. Helena is a fun little town, although walkable a car is more convenient. Overall we'd probably look for a nice B&B in the area if going back at the rates Las Alcobas charges.

They do play games with the standard award room availability. Glad you enjoyed the property with a good avg rate per night, Lucky, but I am not too excited to visit due management engaging in such practice.

Hi Lucky,

As a San Francisco native and wine enthusiast, I'm glad to hear you and Ford had a great time. St. Helena is a great part of Napa Valley. I've driven by Las Alcobas countless times and have always considered it for a Napa weekend. Can you share some of the wineries you visited? I'm just super curious. For your next wine visit, I highly recommend going across the ridge and visiting Sonoma Valley.

And yet NOTHING about this property’s Marriott elite status recognition or benefits.

The food generally at acacia house is terrible and overpriced. That salad in particular looks as exciting and fresh as a wet pair of socks. To be fair any restaurant of Chef Chris Constentinos tends to be fairly overhyped and just plain shitty.

Disgruntled former employee alert!

Living on East Coast, I love to visit Sonoma, Alexander Valley, Napa at least once a year. Over last few years we have stopped going to St. Helena because it got too touristy. Las Alcobas does not look anything special from rooms to amenities to food options. With so many great restaurants and bed and breakfast in the area, why waste time and money at this establishment? After 103 nights with Bonvoy this year I do understand the loyalty game but with no measurable Bonvoy benefits or a lucrative promotion why one should stay there?

Lucky - As a local to the Bay Area, I'd encourage you to try Sonoma wine country, specifically around Healdsburg. IMO, overall better wines (I'm a big Pinot Noir fan) and somewhat more affordable, in terms of both hotels and wineries. Similar experience too, but slightly less touristy.

Don't get me wrong, I love St. Helena (Archetype is a great brunch spot) but I think there are better places to stay, since the rates you got are not typical in my experience.

@ SFO Flyer -- Thanks, will check it out next time! Any hotel recommendations there?

@ Nick -- It's not true that there was "NOTHING" about elite benefits. I talked about how I used a suite night award, which last I checked *is* an elite benefit. And I'm not sure what else to say? Elites earn extra points and get late check-out at resorts subject to availability (which I didn't need). I selected points as the welcome amenity at check-in. That's about it.

@ Matt -- We went to Castello di Amorosa, Domaine Carneros, and Alpha Omega.

@Lucky - Hotel Healdsburg is nice as its right downtown, walking distance to great restaurants

@ Al -- I had brought this to Marriott's attention and they suggested it was due to a system error and that it would be fixed soon. Looks like it's time for me to follow up...

@ Leo -- Hope to check it out sometime, though I am failing to see how a Le Meridien in Leshan, China, is "about the same" as a hotel in wine country in California? :p

@aaron. Ha. No I’m not. Just a person who has dined at his restaurants a few times over the last 10 years. They always open to such fanfare and always disappoint. He has what is called a “stoner” palate. Too much salt and too much fat lending the food to boring flavor profiles and heavy handedness. It’s like being bludgeoned to death with a bag of salt and drowned in a pool of rendered pork fat.

Try Calistoga Ranch next time. It's not a points hotel though. The setting is quite lovely and have several onsite hiking trails. The spa is beautiful and food is tasty. It's a bit more north thus downtown (Calistoga) feels less touristy. The area is known for hot springs so you can do that besides strolling at St Helena downtown and wine tasting. The other two luxury hotels in Napa Valley area is Auburge du soleil which has a fantastic outdoor cafe area perch high above Napa Valley with Instagram worthy views. Meadowoods is another luxury resort that has a waspy country club feel down to if you want to play crocket on their pristine lawn, you have to wear white from head to toe. There is a three Michelin Star restaurant onsite that I prefer over the more famous French Laundry in Yountville. If you are big on staying at the "greenest" resort possible, then Bardessono in Yountville is your best bet. It has LEED Platinum status. Comes with towels that, shall we say, less than plush. But that's green resort for you.

That toilet is a TOTO Washlet! You’ve never mentioned that, and it is rare in the US (I remembered you’ve said there is one in Park Hyatt New York suites)

I’m confused how this hotel relates to the one in Mexico City. Is this some Marriott mini brand within a brand? Kind of like Parker Meridien or SLS?

I'll add to the local comments. Napa is great, but Sonoma is much less crowded, touristy and expensive. Also, the wines are far more interesting. My wine cooler is full of Sonoma wines.

Amazing review and the hotel looks gorgeous. I’ve been debating it - I live in SF - and will add it to my list after reading this. Glad you had a great time in California!

Very Japanese style bathroom (separate toilet, toto washlet, bath and shower combo wetrooom) I guess I can tell where they do their marketing. Looks very nice.

For example, what would a normal Marriott Platinum+ receive without STARS program for breakfast (Restaurant? continental?) would be helpful for readers.

Very good review 🙂 Thank you for this tip. Will put it on the short list for our next SF area visit. STAR program also good tip. (will keep Ford in mind 😉 )

I can see you did the Domaine Carneros sparkling taster... for a bit of trivia, Le Rêve is meant to based on / inspired by Comtes de Champagne. Terrific drop!

"maybe some decent restaurants" - wait what ? Napa Valley is known for having some of the best fine dining in the entire world...

@Lucky - seconding the earlier recommendation to come spend some time in Healdsburg! As a long-time reader and winery owner here, we'd love to host you for a tasting. Just don't let the cat out of the bag about our awesome STS airport!

Lucky, you were right across the street from Beringer. You should have done a tasting there. That's one of the oldest wineries in Napa valley.

Hey Brian, are you willing to tell us which winery you own. I try to make it across the bridge at least a couple times a year!

@AD - Bruliam Wines - www.bruliamwines.com. Happy to sip wine and talk miles/points. It's really my wife's gig.

@Brian Got it. Next time I'm up that way I'll make an appointment and come see you.

This property is leaving Marriott on Sept 15th.