What’s better than a cozy little spa nestled in a Mediterranean Garden retreat tucked away into the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains a short drive away from the wired mayhem of San Jose and Silicon Valley? What’s better is if aforementioned cozy spa happens to be one of the spas attached to a JDV hotel, and if the spa (and the hotel) happens to be environment friendly, offering ‘organic rejenuvation’ for mind and body.

We’re talking about the Spa Elia in the Hotel Los Gatos, a certified green hotel in downtown Los Gatos, CA. You can either be a hotel guest and avail of in-room spa services, or you can book in for a treatment at the spa and loiter around the hotel all day long, enjoying  complimentary use of the hotel’s pool, steam showers and dry sauna. Or just wind down for some down time in the garden retreat with some aromotherapy towels.

The spa offers everything from an ‘Intuitive organic facial’ that uses aloe, rose hips oil and cold-pressed macadamia nut oil to a Mediterranean lavender moisture wrap. All the massage, esthetic and nail services are performed using 100% organic and sustainable products and materials.

As for the hotel itself, its a signature JDV hotel, meaning that it has its own unique personality and a central theme which infuses everything you’ll see or use. The Hotel Los Gatos is a Meditteranean getaway resort, themed to make it seem like a private villa with old-world hospitality. And in tune with the tree-hugging, planet saving mentality of eco-friendly Silicon Valley, the hotel is also a green business. 

In addition to the Spa Elia and the Dio Deka restaurant which dishes out Greek cuisine, amenities at the hotel include free wi-fi, outdoor pool and a hot tub with poolside dining and beverage service, fitness and business centers with meeting and conference facilities, same day laundry and valet service, concirge services, free self-parking and valet parking.

The 72 guest rooms are beautifully designed with tasty colors to emit some old-world charm, and the oversize bed with a giant headboard and the Church-like windows, the thick Egyptian linens, the solid wooden furnishings, soft terry robes, in-room coffee, honor bar, the balcony and the artsy lighting casting a soft deep glow on the the walls make it all seem like a Spanish hacienda.

Rates from $229 during weekends and $259 during weekdays. I wouldn’t classify any of the JDV preperties as cheap hotels, but these rates are fair enough for Silicon Valley, especially for a green hotel which offers a complete getaway experience in the Wine Country, spa and pool and sauna and all, instead of just a room.

Info: 210 E. Main Street Los Gatos CA 95030; (408) 335-1700; Website; Photos courtesy & copyrights - Joie de Vivre Hospitality

Posted on September 2nd, 2008 by PLing
Filed under: Spa Vacations