Roman Spa Hot Springs Resort

The massages were the best part of our visit. My fiancé and I each had a wonderful 45-minute massage, and the mud mask in the jet tubs felt nice too. We also saw an attendant cleaning the mud bath room as we left, which reassured us that it was being cleaned. We came for the Friday couples special, our first mud bath, after a family friend recommended the place, though they hadn't visited in a while. We weren't new to spas, but we wouldn't come back. The outside of the spa looked dated, although the staff were all very kind and explained the mud baths well, including that hot and cold spots were normal. Once inside, we felt unsure about the experience. The couples' mud bath room looked dingy and old; the yellow wall tiles seemed stained, though that may have been from the mud. We were told to go in nude because the mud could stain or ruin swimsuits. Fans in the room made it hard to relax. The showers also felt untidy, with hard-water marks on the showerheads, and there was no light to see the mud while rinsing off. The jacuzzi tubs after the shower looked old and cracked, with deep yellowing. Mine in particular was so stained and worn that I had a hard time relaxing in it. I also wished there were mirrors to make removing the face mask easier. My muscles did feel relaxed after the hot baths, but the dated, dingy surroundings took away from that. For about $500 with tip, I expected better.

The natural spring pool, with fragrant gardens around it, made this a lovely place to spend time outside the room. The rooms are very comfortable and have all the amenities we could ask for. It's also handy for Calistoga's main street, with restaurants and shops for pretty much anything we needed. For a two-hour getaway from the San Francisco Bay Area, this resort had everything we wanted. We plan to come back regularly.

I've been coming to Roman Spa Hot Springs Resort since 2019, and it has stayed one of my favorite happy places. The warm geothermal pools are the best part, so relaxing. Rooms are always clean, the beds are really comfortable, and it's a great base for enjoying Calistoga. The staff make every stay feel welcoming and special. If a peaceful, authentic hot springs visit is what you're after, I love this place.

I was planning a couples mud soak followed by lunch in Calistoga, but had to cancel after learning spa visitors who aren't hotel guests can't use the shower facilities afterward. The hotel guest pool area has bathrooms with showers, shampoo, conditioner, and hair dryers, but spa visitors can't access it. I'm glad I checked ahead. If you're booking a spa appointment without a room, be aware of this limit on the amenities.