AbrahamT

Hey guys, I'm getting married in July and I'm planning on going to USA for our honeymoon. What I have planned so far is San Francisco for two nights, drive to Napa Valley for one night, then Drive to Lake Tahoe for another night, and back to S.F. for the final night. Then flying to New Orleans for 3 more nights.

Thoughts, Ideas, Comments? I'd also like to know if you think Napa Valley and Tahoe together is too much and if I should only choose one of the two for two nights.

Please give me as many recommendations as you possibly can, including hotels, restaurants and attractions in all places.

Thanks in advance!

janisj

You will be driving more than seeing/doing anything. Is New Orleans a must? It is a great city but you really don't have time for what you want to do. If NO is a must drop either Napa Valley (BTW Sonoma Valley is better) or Lake Tahoe. If NO isn't a must then you can do SF/Napa (Sonoma) / Lake Tahoe in the time you have.

When in July? Around the 4th is a HUGE holiday in the States - and everywhere is crowded, especially Tahoe. And the rest of the month is prime vacation time for most Americans.

NO will be VERY hot humid if that matters.

I assume you are flying in long haul - Right? If so there may be some jet lag. And one night somewhere doesn't net one day -- more like half a day.

AbrahamT

Thanks janisj, we would be arriving the week after the 4th. New Orleans is not a must, just a "Would Like" since neither of us have been there before. My soon to be wife has been to SF but she hasn't seen Napa or Lake Tahoe.

Basically what I'm looking for is how to make the most out of 9 nights, the best food available (For the budget, I'm calculating a budget of US$60 per lunch and US$ 100.00 per dinner for both since we are not heavy drinkers) and romantic hotspots where we can walk, talk and enjoy pleasant views.

If I needed to stay in CA for the whole 9 nights that's fine, I would just like to make the most out of it.

nytraveler

For hotels you need to provide a budget.

Based on dining you are looking at modest and will want to reserve far in advance to have the best chance of options.

MichelleY

Use the 9 nights for SF/Napa/Tahoe/SF. That would be a wonderful honeymoon.

tomfuller

If you could get a reservation in Yosemite NP, I think that you would enjoy it more than Lake Tahoe. If the Tioga Pass is open over to US 395, travel from Yosemite through Reno to get to Lake Tahoe.
You'll get to New Orleans someday but not on your honeymoon.

AbrahamT

Thanks guys!

nytraveler, The math on my budget is not necessarily a cap, I was just basing it on prior experiences; but if you think there's "Must Sees" that will bump the tab up a bit that's fine. I can probably afford $100 lunches and $200-$250 dinners if I stretch a bit, but since we Rarely order alcoholic beverages I didn't think it would come up to that much.

On the hotel side, my budget is from 200-350/night, someone also recommended B & B's in Napa and Tahoe, I've never been in one so I have no idea how that works and if it's worth it.

thoughts?

MichelleY

For Tahoe, if you want to splurge, this is where I would stay:

http://www.westshorecafe.com/

Other Small inns:

http://www.sunnysidetahoe.com/
http://www.thecottageinn.com/home
http://www.shorehouselaketahoe.com/

At the North Shore, Incline Village is the Hyatt. Very nice, on a great beach, low key. Love it!

http://www.laketahoe.hyatt.com/

Brian_in_Charlotte

I love New Orleans, but for this trip, and given we're talking July (too hot), I'd stick with California. Spend the money saved on the plane tickets on food and wine.

Brian_in_Charlotte

Make sure you know what you're getting into with B&Bs. Some love them, some (like me) don't. If you're OK with communal breakfasts and feeling like you're staying in someone's house, then great. Not all B&Bs are like this, but some are.

sf7307

I would also choose to stay in California for all the reasons mentioned (money, weather, distance).

Between Yosemite and Lake Tahoe, six of one, half dozen of the other. Personally, I'm a huge fan of North Lake Tahoe. We just love the "vibe". If you like to hike, the hiking is great. There's a wonderful bike path starting on the north shore and heading down the west side. While I'm not a fan of South Lake Tahoe, the drive up the west side from the south shore to the north shore is fabulous (the whole drive around the lake - 71 miles - is great). The Hyatt at Incline Village is beautiful.

As for eating, the very highest end restaurants (excluding the French Laundry, which will run much more) will cost you at least a couple of hundred dollars, but you can eat very very nicely in San Francisco and environs for on the order of $125 for two, especially if you don't drink.

sf7307

Y'know, it occurred to me that just because we like the "vibe" in North Lake Tahoe you might be looking for something completely different. North Lake Tahoe is very low key. Everyone is outside during the day, at the beach or the pool, walking, biking, hiking, playing in the sand. At night, people are barbecuing, or hanging out on the deck of a restaurant (high to low end) on the lake. There is nothing fancy about it. Even the Hyatt, which is the nicest resort there is, and is pretty fancy, is not "elegant" in the sense of furs and diamonds.

travelgourmet

but if you think there's "Must Sees" that will bump the tab up a bit that's fine.

That depends upon what you consider "Must Sees". French Laundry is $270 per person. The Restaurant at Meadowood is (IIRC) $225. The top restaurants in SF will run $100 or more per person.

BTW Sonoma Valley is better

I would not say that at all. They are both quite nice.

On the hotel side, my budget is from 200-350/night, someone also recommended B & B's in Napa and Tahoe, I've never been in one so I have no idea how that works and if it's worth it.

I would think SF will run between $250 and $300 for something decent. You might be able to get a deal at one of the corporate type places (Marriott, Westin, etc.), especially if there over the weekend.

Personally, I do not like B&Bs. Just not my style. I prefer a professional hotel.

For Napa, how much you spend comes down to where you stay. St. Helena and Yountville are more expensive than Napa (the city) in my experience. Napa isn't the world's most beautiful city, but the dining there has improved and it is still pretty accessible to the wineries. Sonoma is all over the map, with a lot more motel-type places at the low-end and fewer places at the high-end.

ChristieP

I will agree to skip NO in July. It's just too hot to be anything but miserable, especially since you're not used to the heat!

Napa is better known for red wines, and Sonoma is better for white wines. Just a word to the wise when deciding which vineyar to visit.

AbrahamT

I cannot believe how helpful this has resulted to be. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!

So here is my summary:

Definitely scratching New Orleans off the list.

I have 10 days to spend (Including the arrival and departure, and yes, Flying in from Dominican Republic is a long haul)

So the suggested budget is 200-275 per person for dinners, and around 300 for hotels.

Agenda is: SF-Tahoe(North)-Napa/Sonoma-SF

3 questions:

1. In google maps driving between NapaV-SonomaV is about 25 mins so, since im renting a car, why not visit both?

2. Based on all this; how many nights do you think I should spend in each place (How would you personally distribute it)?

3. Choosing Lake Tahoe North cause it sounds more cozy, romantic and likely to offer great views, quality long walks, etc. Is this about right?

Thanks again!!

sf7307

Napa to Sonoma totally depends on where you're starting and where you're ending. For example, Oakville (in Napa)to Healdsburg (in Sonoma) is about an hour. But yes, you can easily base yourself in one or the other and visit both, just don't taste too much wine!

Personally, I'd spend 3 full days in San Francisco at the beginning (so 4 nights including day of arrival), 2 days in Napa-Sonoma (but although I like the topography and the little towns, I'm not a wine-taster), and 2 days in North Lake Tahoe.

$200-275 per person for dinners? There's really only one restaurant where you'd spend that much, and that's French Laundry (which IMHO is way overpriced and overrated, but that's just me ). You can eat at any other restaurant in San Francisco for that much for two of you, and at most restaurants for half that.

Yes in answer to your last question.

AbrahamT

Thanks sf7307!!! Thanks you all for the help and support!!

I think I'm Ready!!!!! I'll come back and share my experience with all. Again, Thank you sooooooo much.

travelgourmet

$200-275 per person for dinners? There's really only one restaurant where you'd spend that much, and that's French Laundry

The Restaurant at Meadowood is also in that range - a dinner for two with wine pairing and tip will be about $1000. And the tasting menu at Benu runs $180 per, without wine or tip. Granted, these are all the absolute cream of the crop, but $200+ is about what one pays for restaurants of that caliber.

Now, I would agree that $200-$275 is too high for an average, but you could do it if you wanted. More importantly, I think you should do it at least once, at least if you love food and dining. A place like the Fench Laundry or Meadowood or Benu are at the top of the pyramid and, especially for a honeymoon, it will be a memorable experience if you let it be one.

sf7307

The tasting menu with wine pairings at Ame in the St. Regis would run you $200 a person with tip and tax. I don't do wine pairings, so it would be much less for me, and eating off the a la carte menu would only run about $200 for 2 (plus alcohol). The food and ambiance are fabulous.

travelgourmet

The food and ambiance are fabulous.

Well, everything is relative. Ame is certainly a good restaurant, but there is no way it is remotely in the class of Meadowood, French Laundry, and Benu.