Avia Napa Hotel Review

We were guests of the Avia Napa on this trip. I received no other compensation beyond the room, and the hotel did not require that I express a particular point of view.

Families with kids have many hotel choices when they visit the Napa Valley. There are chain hotels, resorts where you can lounge all day by a pool, and bed and breakfasts where you might worry about your child's every noise. What appealed to me about the Avia Napa when I started my search for a hotel on this trip, was the central location in Napa's "downtown." We're out-and-about a lot when we travel, and generally don't use the amenities of a resort (especially during the winter). What's more, I like to be able to walk to breakfast and dinner, and sometimes feel a bit trapped by secluded resorts.

I try not to let a hotel lobby influence me. After all, you don't sleep in the lobby. What's more, we've all had the experience of checking into a hotel with a grand lobby only to find that the guest rooms are dingy. Still, this carving (hiding the hotel's elevators) was especially elegant.

Lobby art at the Avia Napa

The hotel knew we were coming, and we were greeted by the very friendly concierge. She had gone to the trouble of creating a list of kid-friendly ideas in Napa for me (some of which I hadn't located with my own internet searches.) In addition, there was a helpful stack of pre-printed Napa guides, each targeted to a different interest (eg. outdoor activities) at the registration desk where any guest could quickly grab one.

After the drive to Napa, who wouldn't need a refreshing drink? This self-serve Sangria is what every mother of 3 needs after the trek from San Francisco!

Afternoon Sangria at the Avia Napa

After squeezing all five of us into a small, city-center room in San Francisco, the rooms at the Avia felt very generously sized (according to the hotel website, our Double King Guestroom would have been 430 sq ft). We generally co-sleep with the baby when we travel, so we especially appreciated the large king sized beds vs. the full sized beds found in most double rooms.

Double King Guestroom

The kids didn't care about that, though, they started plotting their escapades the moment we entered the room.

D and E plotting their next move

Our little engineers loved the bolster pillows and blankets - they were just perfect for building bridges between the beds

Building a bridge between the beds

The bathrooms are beautiful, but if you need a tub, you must upgrade to a suite.

Marble bathroom at the Avia Napa

The hotel also includes free WiFi with every room - an amenity that I particularly appreciate, since it lets me work long after the kids have fallen asleep.

Continental Breakfast Buffet at the Avia Napa

In the morning we enjoyed (at our own expense) the Continental Breakfast Buffet. At $12.95, it was a reasonably priced alternative to the neighborhood restaurants, and the quality and selection were terrific. Included were items like Lox and Bagels, charcuterie, yogurt parfaits, fresh fruit and more. For $15.95 guests can enjoy a full breakfast buffet that includes hot items.

Filed Under: hotel-review

4 comments | Posted on February 9, 2010 | Save to del.icio.us

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