Hotel Avante: Former Geek Chic Mountain View Hotel
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Silicon Valley is home to tech giants like Apple, Google, and Facebook. It’s no surprise the number of hotels, including boutique hotels like Hotel Avante.
Hotel Avante, a joie de vivre boutique hotel (jdv), became part of the World of Hyatt a few years ago. To celebrate Hyatt gave WOH members 2,000 bonus points for their first stay at each of the new Hyatt brands: Thompson, Destination Hotels, joie de vivre, and Alila.
If you stayed at all four new brands, you earned a free hotel night.
Me + free. That’s a given.
You know I was going to stay at all four new Hyatt brands to earn 8,000 extra points and a free night.
My first stay was at Gild Hall, a Thompson Hotel. One down, three to go.
A quick trip to Northern California meant I could stay at Hotel Avante and at Ventana Big Sur, the only Alila hotel in the United States. Three down, one to go.
It would be a cheap trip thanks to travel hacking.
My flight was free because I used my Southwest Travel Funds from a canceled flight.
Rates at the Hotel Avante were inexpensive so I paid cash instead of using points.
I used a Category 1 to 7 free night certificate at Ventana. Ventana is now a Category 8 hotel. You’ll have to use your Ultimate Free Night Award (UFNA) earned from the revised Milestone Awards.
I’m planning another trip to the Bay Area and staying at the Hotel Avante again. Here’s my review of Hotel Avante from my previous trip.
Hotel Avante offers an affordable option
Hotel Avante: Former Geek Chic Mountain View Hotel
The outside of Hotel Avante during my stay conjured thoughts of Space Invaders
Renovated in 2016 before joining Hyatt, this boutique geek chic Mountain View hotel in Silicon Valley will surprise you. The hotel was renovated again in 2021, replacing all the cool retro decor.
Boutique hotel in Silicon Valley? A few thoughts come to mind, “OMG, it’s going to cost a fortune.” “I need to make 7 figures to afford one night.”
Maybe at other Silicon Valley hotels.
But not at Hotel Avante.
Hotel Avante on El Camino Real offers comfortable value-priced rooms without skimping on luxuries.
With free parking and free breakfast, you’ll feel like your bill should have a few more zeros on it.
But no worries. Because the Hotel Avante’s affordable price tag makes it an insider secret.
An insider secret that you won’t go to jail for.
The hotel is ideal for business travelers and vacationers. It is close to downtown Mountain View, a short drive to the rest of Silicon Valley, and an easy drive to San Francisco.
Several restaurants are nearby and there’s a supermarket down the street.
If you enjoy craft beer, there are several great breweries in the area such as Camino Brewing Co.
Pro-tip: If you need a jacket or another layer, Goodwill is across the street.
Getting to Hotel Avante
Hotel Avante is 15 minutes from the San Jose Airport and 26 minutes from the San Francisco International Airport.
Coming from San Diego, it was almost the same price flying into San Jose or San Francisco. So I flew into San Jose because it was closer.
Because I was driving down to Big Sur to stay at Ventana, I rented a car. The car rental center is across from the terminal in the airport parking structure.
Pro-tip: During my stay, the hotel offered a free shuttle to Silicon Valley tech companies within a 6-mile radius on weekdays from 7 am to 10:30 am and Monday through Thursday from 4:30 pm to 7 pm.
So if you’re coming to Silicon Valley for work or a job interview you could save money by taking an Uber from the airport to the hotel. Then use the hotel’s free shuttle to get to and from your tech job.
You’ll have to call and see if they still have the shuttle. Now that many jobs are work from home, there isn’t as much need for people to go into the office.
Check-In and Lobby
Hotel Avante lobby
You check in at the desk to your right when you enter the lobby.
The renovations included the lobby. I like the new soothing color palate and the seating is more optimal for hanging out.
The lobby during my stay
But I miss the vintage Remington Noiseless typewriter and Victor adding machine.
Hopefully, this vintage typewriter found a new home
Check-in was easy. Despite arriving around 9 am on a Saturday, I was able to check-in.
I hadn’t expected my room to be ready that early and planned to drop off my bags and explore so it was a pleasant surprise.
Pro-tip: A complimentary glass of wine is now included upon arrival. This is a new addition since the remodel and wasn’t available during my stay.
Globalist Benefits
I booked a King room. As a Globalist, I get free upgrades to suites when available.
The World of Hyatt (WOH) app showed suites available for that night. So I asked about an upgrade to a suite.
Suite
One of three 1 King Bed Premium Rooms
At the time of my stay, Hotel Avante had three suites: rooms 205, 305, and 405.
These rooms are no longer considered suites and are now called “1 King Bed Premium with sofa bed.”
King Bed Premium rooms are 410 square feet, directly above the lobby, and overlook the front of the hotel with views of the street.
Each room has a king bed, work desk, sofa bed, and a chair.
Former Suite
The new renovations replaced the orange wall and fake wood headboard, with a multi-colored wall and a modern sofa and chair. Colors remind me of the Southwest.
Although, not a Hyatt Grand bed, the bed was very comfortable.
But it looks like they removed the in-room fun games.
Where else by Silicon Valley would a hotel have a mini Etch a Sketch?
Despite facing the busy street, there wasn’t much traffic noise.
The suite bathroom during my stay.
Plush towels and travel-sized toiletries
During the renovation, the bathrooms were updated.
Renovated bathroom
The new paint colors make it brighter and the clutter-free counter is appealing. But the bath towels aren’t as luxuriously thick.
Pool
Heated pool
Hotel Avante has a pool. Perfect for cooling down on hot days. I didn’t have time to swim during my stay.
Or you can relax in the hot tub. It’s a regular hot tub, not a time machine.
Soothing hot tub
Hi-Fi Lounge
You can relax with friends in the lounge
Hotel Avante offers a “big-kid timeout” for all guests.
The redesigned space is more functional and can seat more guests.
This is a nice feature because except for the three King Premium rooms, the other rooms don’t have space to entertain or just handout.
I miss the mid-century furniture from the old Hi-Fi Lounge
The Hi-Fi Lounge is open from 6 am to 10 pm daily and accessible to all guests.
Fitness Center
Hotel Avante has a fitness center has a compact fitness center which I didn’t visit. There’s only so much time in the day….
You’ll find a stationary bike, set of dumbbells, exercise ball, treadmill
The fitness center is open daily from 6 pm to 10 pm.
Business Center
There’s an onsite business center.
Breakfast
As with the rest of the hotel, the breakfast room and breakfast offers have been updated since my stay. They now include locally sourced food.
Breakfast options were similar to what’s available at Hyatt House and Hyatt Place.
Breakfast buffet proteins
Kid-friendly options included premade pancakes and cereal. But no pancake or waffle machine. ?
Children or the big kid in you can enjoy your morning pancake
Fresh fruit and yogurt were available.
Healthy breakfast options
Breakfast hours are from 6 am to 9:30 am Monday through Friday and from 7 am to 10 am on Saturday and Sunday.
How to Stay For Free at Hotel Avante
As a Category 3 World of Hyatt hotel, you can stay for free at Hotel Avante for 9,000 points. Or use a milestone award.
Short on Hyatt points? You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points from cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or any of the other cards that earn Ultimate Rewards points. Points instantly transfer to Hyatt on a one-to-one ratio.
Pro-tip: You can also use your annual free night certificate from the World of Hyatt credit card to stay for free at the Hotel Avante.
Hotel Avante
860 E El Camino Real
Mountain View, CA 94040
650-940-1000
Conclusion
If you’re looking for hotels in Mountain View, CA, Hotel Avante offers a great value.
Rooms are often inexpensive so it’s a great way to earn additional elite qualifying nights towards Globalist status and/or earn more milestone awards.
I enjoyed my stay. It was inexpensive and convenient. Not having to pay for parking was also a plus. I’d stay here again.
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