The Fairmont San Jose

What's cool? One table with four guests, each with a laptop computer and a cocktail placed next to the mouse pad. This is the new after-hours scene at The Fairmont. You can't visit Silicon Valley (land of high technology) without stopping in for a Wireless: a potent cocktail containing vodka, melon liqueur, orange juice and a few secret ingredients.

What's the vibe? Vivacious and buzzing. The lobby lounge is a vibrant socialising den, where people from all around the world gather to discuss the latest trends in technology while tapping away at their keyboards. Of course, the hotel's public areas are equipped with super high-speed wireless connectivity and filled with patrons who just can't live without gadgetry.

Where is it? The hotel is located on the site occupied by the Chinese who settled San Jose in the 1880s. It's in the heart of San Jose's modern-day city centre, on Plaza de Cesar Chavez, California's oldest public square (dating back to 1797).

What is there to do? Stroll to the San Jose Museum of Art or the San Jose Convention Centre. Farther afield, Silicon Valley has a number of museums and huge shopping malls. For an in-house workout, sign up for the ballroom dancing lessons with professional instructors held in the hotel every Friday. Classes start at 8.30pm and the band plays on until midnight.

Big or boutique? It's definitely a large hotel. A recently completed US$67 million tower has added 264 rooms, taking the total to 805, and 20,000 sq ft of meeting space.

What are the rooms like? Comfortable and well-appointed. The one-bedroom suites are extremely spacious, with a separate bedroom and parlour area leading into a marble bathroom.