For Quaint European Charm & Style, Try Calistoga's Hotel D'Amici • We Blog The World

The Pestoni Family is behind two experiences I had in Calistoga and Napa on a recent trip: Hotel d’Amici and Rutherford Grove Winery. What’s lovely about the hotel is that it feels more like a traditional classic European pension than an American hotel, boutique, B&B or anything in between. There’s no reception upon arrival, but before you arrive, you receive a keycode combination via email to get into the hotel from the main drag in Calistoga – Lincoln Avenue, which is also home to other hotels, spas, shops, boutiques and restaurants.

I stayed in one of their four elegantly designed suites that almost feels like a mashup of Italian and modern Californian designs. Each suite is uniquely decorated with large comfortable sofas, roomy queen size beds, cable television, in-room coffee service, bottled waters and a complimentary bottle of the family’s Rutherford Grove wine. All suites have private bathrooms and are furnished with an oversized deep claw tub, which I took advantage of upon immediate arrival. My suite had an outside balcony where I sat in the morning to sip my coffee and eat a coissant before heading off for a day of wine tasting in nearby Napa Valley. The balcony faces Lincoln Avenue and provides a sweet view of Mt. St. Helena beyond the town.

Another very Euro part of the experience was their complimentary breakfast of freshly baked pastries, juice and fruit, which they delivered to my door in a basket with the morning paper. Note that the coffee is local from neighboring Calistoga Roastery, which I’d recommend stopping by as well. The ambiance is well worth the visit alone and it’s literally right next to the hotel along Lincoln Avenue.

Below is a shot of my suite, the living room area facing Lincoln, meaning that the bedroom is protected from the street noise.

Shots of some of their other rooms and suites.

If you’re into more quaint experiences, hate chains and want to experience local charm, Hotel D’Amici is a great option. Since you can come and go as you please with your own key code, you don’t need to worry about the late night curfews you often get with B&Bs nor do you need to deal with a front desk manager – in that way, it’s like having your own apartment, but in an ideally central location. In one word: charming or two words: tres charmant!

Note: Although I was hosted by Hotel D’Amici for my stay, my opinions expressed here are entirely my own. For more on spas and retreats, check out our Spas Section. You can also view Spas by region of the world including the major cities. For more on Lodging and Hotels in California, visit our California Hotels and Lodging section. (Top California hotels)

Renee Blodgett

Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored over 90, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity. She is also the founder of the Magdalene Collection, a jewelry line dedicated to women’s unsung voices and stories, and the award-winning author of the bestselling book Magdalene’s Journey

She is founder of Blue Soul Media and co-founder of Blue Soul Earth as well as the producer and host of the award-winning Blue Soul CHATS podcast, that bridges science, technology and spirituality. Renee also founded Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.

Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.

Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.