The Fairmont San Jose

A lovely hotel and one of America's top chains. My room had two telephones and two telephone lines (not extensions) a fax machine with its own line, and an ethernet connection for wi-fi.

A continental breakfast was around £30 so it was expensive, but I found a local startbucks, two minutes walk away which, for £1.59 gave me a bucket of coffee! and two "loaves" of croissants - if you get my "quantity" meaning.

This is an ideal hotel if you are in San Jose on business and want to work in your room. And have an expense account of course.

But the comfort was undeniable, and the staff unobtrusive and forever helpful.

The Fairmont San Jose is a classic, American luxury hotel. Big lobby, lots of marble, big chandeliers everywhere, big soft sofas. This is topped off by a great steak house (The Grill on the Alley) in addition to its own restaurant (Fountain, Pagoda) that I didn't go to. The location in terms of San Jose is quite central, i.e. the Tech museum is just on the other side of the road.