Fodor's Expert Review Hotel Villagio

A multimillion-dollar renovation will transform this formerly Tuscan-themed hotel into a slick yet inviting luxury haven. Judging by the success of a similar 2017 reboot of sister property Vintage House, the new Hotel Villagio will add a further layer of cool to its stretch of southern Yountville. Both hotels are part of the 22-acre Estate Yountville complex, a "village within a village" whose other sections include the 13,000-square-foot spa the hotels share, along with the shops and restaurants of V Marketplace. A dozen or so tasting rooms and The French Laundry and other high-profile restaurants are also within easy walking distance.

YOU SHOULD KNOW The hotel should reopen by Spring 2018.

room

The design of the new rooms and suites, each of which has a wood-burning fireplace and a balcony or patio, plays off the hotel's Napa Valley roots with hardwood floors and subdued color schemes. High ceilings create a sense of spaciousness throughout. Many rooms have views of a courtyard slated for new landscaping.

For years the hot Villagio tip has been to request an interior second-floor room; some exterior rooms pick up highway or street noise, and second-floor rooms get more light than lower ones (whose advantage in the past was a somewhat lower rate).

bathroom

Marble countertops and wainscoting and stylish lighting fixtures are planned for the tastefully minimalistic bathrooms. Some rooms will have deep soaking tubs, and all will be stocked with some of the same high-end ESPA products used in The Spa at The Estate.

lobby

Until the 2018 makeover, the former Villagio Inn & Spa existed as something of a self-contained universe, but the new owners wanted to integrate the property more fully into Yountville's tourist and locals' scenes. The architects have conceived an inviting lobby that opens itself up to Washington Street; indoors, a lounge and classy-looking billiards tables and other diversions create an active vibe.

pool

The refresh of the pool will bring new cabanas. Upon reopening, lunch and cocktails will be served poolside.

spa

The Spa at The Estate, formerly known as Spa Villagio and now the joint 13,000-square-foot facility of Hotel Villagio and Vintage House, is also receiving a sprucing up. The private spa suites, though, will likely remain popular with couples, who enjoy the separate relaxation areas, indoor and outdoor fireplaces, steam showers, saunas, and extra-large tubs.

Treatments exclusive to the spa involve the use of an O2CHAIR designed to optimize breathing and promote relaxation. The spa's director describes these sessions, which can be combined with other treatments (or not), as ideal for stressed-out businessfolk, travelers experiencing jet-lag, or guests who have "overindulged" at Wine Country tasting rooms.

gym

A short walk away in the Estate Yountville complex, the fitness center, also used by Vintage House patrons, has treadmills, an elliptical, and a few other machines, along with free weights. The floor is padded, and bottled water and towels are provided.

dining

The room rate includes an expanded Continental breakfast, served buffet style, that generally includes egg dishes, fresh fruit, pastries, cheeses, and various hot and cold cereals. For other meals on The Estate, head to chef Michael Chiarello's Bottega, for regional Italian dishes with a California twist, and Ottimo, his combination marketplace and eatery across from Bottega.

drinking

The lobby lounge and its full bar will be open to the public, with the goal being to attract locals as well as hotel guests and other Yountville visitors. In good weather you'll be able to sit outside and take in the Washington Street action.