sunbum1944

try Hotwire website for cars and see if prices better.
When I was in Sonoma in Nov, my family members flew into SFO, took a shuttle to Santa Rosa airport and rented car there- not sure how that pencils out - but you could check it out

Melnq8

Good ideas, sunbum, I'll take a look.

sf7307

Try a search - someone posted recently that renting at the Avis office in San Bruno (the town that is at the northern edge of the airport) was much cheaper than renting at the airport, and getting there by taxi wouldn't be expensive.

On your return, there are several Marriotts near SFO - I'm sure you won't have any trouble finding one for points.If you're there at dinner time, have dinner in downtown Burlingame - an exceptionally pleasant suburban town where the airport Marriott is actually located (drive into town before you return the car, or take the "Burlingame Trolley" from the hotel).

zorepm

In 2009 we stayed at the Metro Hotel in Petaluma: odd (Paris-obsessed) but nice, and relatively inexpensive, with a terrific Thai restaurant next door. It's in Sonoma County, a little farther west than the wine areas, but gives you good access to the coast (Point Reyes, Bodega Bay, etc.), Muir Woods and the Golden Gate Bridge, if you want to take some time off from wine tasting.

lukehead

WE had a lovely vacation in California wine are in October.

Highly recommend Camellia Inn in Healdsburg. Outstanding location - EASY walk to very good restaurants, a number of in-town tasting rooms, shopping, small theatre.

Several type rooms in charming turn-of-the century, lovingly carded for house. All rooms en suite except the one we had which still had private bath, just across the hall. Owned and managed by same family for over thirty years (now second generation handling the operation but "Dad" still shows up and manages the gardens). Excellent breakfasts, very helpful with local info and tasting passes. Cheese and wine served each evening (by the pool if weather suitable). Easy off-street, free parking. AND well within your budget. Lucy and Archie are wonderful hosts.

easytraveler

Rastaguytoday: There are a lot of great restaurants there, without the pretentiousness of the French Laundry. "This is Thomas' interpretation of a beet salad" while serving me one slice of beet about the size of a u.s. quarter.



Agree with Rastaguytoday that the FL is really not worth it. If you're staying in Healdsburg, there are several good restaurants there and the town of Santa Rosa not too far away has any number of wonderful places to eat that are pretty much not well known outside of the locals. But, to each his/her own.

Michelle has given you an excellent website for Sonoma County: wineroad.com.

travelgourmet

Agree with Rastaguytoday that the FL is really not worth it.

As long as both of you acknowledge that pretty much every single chef or critic of any standing strongly disagrees with you, then you are certainly entitled to your opinion.

sf7307

I'm a third, regardless of what "every single chef or critic of any standing" thinks. I'm the customer, I've been there twice, and if I were paying for it myself, I'd gag. It just isn't "all that" to me and husband.

Kal

'7307....I guess it's all a matter of taste.
BTW, we had another great pizza at The Brick Oven. lol

easytraveler

I did write my own personal take on dining in those very fine restaurants, deleted it thinking it might offend some sensibilities, but will attempt to restate it.

"I'm really not much into expensive, foofoo restaurants where a plate comes out with a slash of multicolored foam (Ooooh! how beautiful!) and another slash of sauce that took someone hours to put together (Ooooh! How unique!) with one strawberry sliced in half, three blueberries (when out-of--season, of course. "Ohh! I wonder how he was able to get such fresh tasting blueberries this time of year!"), one raspberry also cut in half and a huge sprig of indigestible mint to cover the rest of the plate - color coordination is very important - which plate is elegantly rectangular/triangular/round/boat-shaped and probably made in some exclusive china factory in Europe. All this bounty served with a fork/spoon that is not called a fork/spoon but by an antiquated and obscure French term but heck! it was invented by Marie Antoinette herself!"



Before the year ended we went to SF Opera, so had a chance to stop by and have dinner at Jardiniere where I had their fish dish du jour (believe it was sea bass) and Rataguytoday, you'll be pleased to know, it came all of the size of two quarters! A couple of days later we went to a year-end Chinese banquet where an entire fish was one of the dishes. Cost of the entire fish was about 3/4 that of my sea bass. It's not the cost so much, I can remember the exquisite taste of that banquet fish but can't remember a thing about the sea bass.

Anyhow, to each his/her own.

NewbE

In Healdsburg, we absolutely loved Scopa. Dry Creek Kitchen was also excellent, and here's a tip: no corkage fee on Sonoma County wines, which is the deal of the century. If you get tired of a wine-centric menu, Mateo's is Mexican with real flair and technique, and they make a host of unusual and tasty margaritas.

In Santa Rosa, we loved Zazu. In Geyserville we loved Diavola (pasta to die for).

I would happily return to any of these

Melnq8

With all these helpful ideas, I hesitate to mention that we've had a change of plans. Sonoma may not be in the cards this time around afterall.

easytraveler

You're going to Disneyland? Wonderful!

Melnq8

Switzerland