The Hyatt St. Jose looks nothing like a Hyatt; as Chuck and I drove up from the airport, I thought I was somewhere on the island of Capri or in Sicily. No mega structure with tons of glass and 2400 rooms or so. There was a balcony which gently curved around the corner, with plants making their way between the cracks. It was 2 maybe 3 stories high, tops! Over the balcony, canopies were fully extended to protect the visitor from the rain, in the case of today. Much of the time, however, it serves as a shield from the sun as you enjoy a meal or a drink al fresco.
There is nothing immediately around the grounds of the hotel, but if you’re staying here, you may not need anything else. The gardens alone are enchanting! There are pathways which divide the lush foliage and make you really stop and smell the flowers! The gurgle of "piazza" fountains is never very far; an occasional statue will spring from the greenery to catch your attention. Once you get to the rear section where the parking lot is situated, you can see the building, and it is quite unattractive. However, the ambiance positively makes up for the poor exterior esthetics. And to complement the rustic setting, dine at Amalfi’s, the in house Italian restaurant, named after a wonderful hilly region in Italy which includes Sorrento and Naples.
So the room: remember you are in Silicon Valley now, so even in a standard room, you will have what they call the "smart desk" which is a high speed IT connection for your laptop, as well as email and web access. All beds are feather beds, with TV and cable movie channels. Complimentary coffee is available in the room, as well as iron w/board, hairdryer. If you are in a "business plan" room, you get additional goodies: in room fax/printer/copier, internet access with Microsoft IE, tea and water, (you get the feeling that tea drinkers are special, heh?), and you get your room cleaned twice a day!
I’d stay here just for being able to enjoy the charming setting which is so unusual for a hotel chain. And the rates were wonderful, as business has diminished considerably.