thirdgirl

I felt so lucky to get a great rate at this place and have yet to hear of anyone who's been. Somebody tell me that this is a real (and wonderful) place!?
After reading some previous messages I fully expect that someone like Razzledazzle will respond with " Oh honey, you fell for the ol' great rate at the 'Calistoga Ranch' gag?"
I'm ready, lemme have it!

Grasshopper

thirdgirl, Lots of people don't check in on weekends. If you don't get any help, just top this in the morning.

Sorry, I don't know about the ranch, but if you and your friends think a hot air balloon sounds like fun, who cares if it's cheesy.

Good luck!

JetLag

Hi Thirdgirl,

Okay, I'll bite:

1. Yes, Calistoga is real.

2. Yes, many people enjoy a wonderful time there, but then that all depends on their expectations, no?

As for the rate... if it was a good rate for YOU (e.g. right price at the right time), then relax and enjoy.

thirdgirl

Thank you to Grasshopper and Jetlag for making my first time a gentle one. In researching my upcoming trip I've meandered on to this site a couple of times. I've enjoyed the (the sometimes ruthless) writing styles of some of the travelers but secretly hoped I wouldn't fall victim to one of the more seasoned/less kind "pros".
FYI- we nixed the balloon, not for fear of the cheese factor, but to apply savings to additional pampering at the spa.
thanks again.

JetLag

Hi Thirdgirl,

Well, I'm a newbie, so perhaps I didn't respond to you in proper fodorite form. Next time, I'll be more surly about the time of year you're going and make snide remarks about your choice of venue. "Calistoga? Gawd, that was SO early-nineties!"

Re: the balloon ride - they are always subject to wind/weather conditions, so you could have ended up with lots of hot air reserved and nowhere to blow it. More pampering sounds like a good idea.

thirdgirl

Now that's more like it! Now I feel appropriatly defensive with an overwhelming urge to explain WHY Calistoga and then WHY (yikes) Sacramento the next night...

Suzie

Sacramento Yikes Why?

Hope it's not in the summer, it's already been hot here lately.

OMG the web site for Calistoga Ranch is so beautiful, how could it not be awesome when it is associated with Auberge de Soliel? Come back and tell us all about it. What's a great rate? The web site listed $595 for one night in a deluxe king. Ouch! :0

razzledazzle

Hey 3rdgirl!
I read about this place in the SF Chronicle a few weeks ago (article site follows)-and I kinda found it fascinating. Since it is nearly next to impossible to get a new resort building permit in Napa, these brilliant minds took what was zoned as a trailer park and brought in all the "cottages" on wheels as manufactured housing. You'll probaly never realize it. I'd certainly go for it if I got a great rate ! We LOVE
Calistoga and frequent it fall to spring-yeah I'd vote for more dollars for pampering-do tell us all about it!
But, I'd beware about the timeshare aspect!
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...EG196Q1F11.DTL

R5

thirdgirl

Ok, so why Sacramento?- Brother is the lead singer in a west coast band called Tainted Love. They play 80's covers and since this is an almost 40 birthday celebration, how could I resist the possibility of hearing my very own "8675309" at a fun venue like Harlows in Sacramento?
I liked the look of the Ranch as well- looking forward to checking it out. The deal was an opening special of 415. for a one bedroom jacuzzi suite (usually priced at 825. !!!) leaving plenty of fun money for my Harvest fruit hand and foot massage, dinner at Wappo, a glass (ok, bottles) of Cakebread Chard... Will report upon return.
Thanks to all for the help- what a fun little site this is.

Suzie

Well, Harlows is a great place. We used to have a regular girls night out there and it was always sooo fun. Recently we've gone to its neighbor, Black Pearl Oyster Bar. During the NBA playoffs in walked Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash. No one bood Downtown can be a fun sometimes. Have a good time in Sactown.

My 14 yo son has recently found out about 8675309 and wondered how many people called that number (like it occurred only to him to actually call, kids can be soo funny)

JetLag

Hi Thirdgirl,

Remember, dear, dress for Sacramento as you would for your sister's wedding!

thirdgirl

I'm puzzled about the attire comment, I had to wear fairly hideous bridesmaids dresses to both MY sister's weddings. Surely I don't hae to pull out the taffeta?

JetLag

Oops! Sorry, that was a joke in reference to a thread over in the Europe forum, in which someone urged people to dress for Paris "as if they were attending their sister's wedding". I haven't stopped laughing about it... I now use that phrase in every day conversation. "I'll meet you at your office at noon. And remember, dear, dress for the dentist's office as you would for your sister's wedding!"
(small mind, easily amused)

thirdgirl

I may have to rip you off on that one. I live in such a stuffy little town that lines like that are very much needed to confuse folks at a cocktail party.
I'll have everyone here using that phrase by the end of the summer!

Suzie

LOL, So in Paris sisters don't make you wear really dumb dresses to their weddings? It may be time to move!

Thirdgirl, that taffeta comment slayed me!

thirdgirl

I have returned from the whirlwind california weekend. I feel the need to share-
Calistoga Ranch will be a wonderful retreat when they work outt the kinks.
We knew that we were staying in a special place as soon as we were shown to our suite, however getting there was another story. There is one very small sign that marks the entrance to the resort- what's needed are tasteful markers along the way.
So we arrive, finally, and are met by eager and helpful staff. We appear to be the only guests- which to some may feel like a treat, to us it felt conspicuous and just plain wrong. Accomodations were lovely. Our suite was actually a bedroom/bathroom/outdoor shower AND a little living room AND a nice outdoor patio with comfortable furniture and a fireplace. My only complaint about the space was in their attempt to meld into the surrounding beauty of nature the colors chosen in furnishings, linens etc made me feel as if we'd stepped into a forest of oatmeal and mustard. I think it's ok to say yes to a little color and still be respectful of the natural setting.
Over a glass of welcome wine on our patio- after a lovely outdoor shower, my two travel mates and I agreed that the Ranch would be a perfect retreat for a couple- or a couple couples

thirdgirl

and that when the landscaping matures and the bulldozer stops growling at 6AM the Ranch will be a wonderful property. A nice experiment but when I drove past the El Bonita on the way out of town, I realized that's all that these three women needed on this leg of the journey.
BTW- Excellent spa treatments were had by all!
Now, on to the fun part... The Argonaut in SF! What a great hotel!!! Friendly staff, great rooms, good location for a 36 hour "in the thick of it" kind of stay. I will be returning to this hotel with my two boys when we do our next tourist visit this summer!

thirdgirl

oh yeah- and another thing. Greeeeaaaat lunch at Tra Vigne in St. Helena. Delicious food and you'd never know that the restaurant abutts highway 29.

micheles

I have to say, the Calistoga Ranch made me relax! It was 100 degees plus, it did not matter. gGeat complimentary refreshments at the pool,bottled water everywhere-chilled. Understated class. My husband and I LOVED IT! Food at their exclusive Lakesdide restaurant was great...and their bartender...Steve-awesome and knowledgable. We may purchase because we love it there.
Staff attentive, concierge so friendly. Please go!!!
beds so heavenly!