My wife and I are going to do a one-night getaway to Napa Valley during our seven-night San Francisco stay next month, and we've narrowed lodgings down to Maison Fleurie in Yountvile and Napa River Inn. Maison Fleurie looks more enchanting from the pics on the Four Sisters Inn website; however the NRI location on the river also sounds nice, along with access to gondola rides. Any preferences between the two? Which would be more "romantic"? I'd also like to know if a gondola ride is worth taking there (no matter where we end up staying), and would you go for the 30-minute ride for $55 or the 55-minute ride for $100?

Have you checked availability at Maison Fleurie? We tried to stay there for two week nights in August and they were booked. We reserved the Grape Leaf Inn in Healdsburg. I have stayed in Four Sisters Inns and they are great, though.

Actually, I went ahead and was able to book a night at Maison Fleurie. That had three rooms open, and I chose a queen bed room in the carriage house with a "vineyard view" for $200. A little more than we wanted to pay for a one-night Napa accomodation, but from what I've read about the place and about the Four Sisters Inns, I have a feeling it'll be worth it.

I'm still interested in opinions on the gondola rides from Gondola Servizio, though.

There are no romantic views at the Napa River Inn. It once was a mill building and although the insides are nice, the "view" is either of a parking lot or the Napa River, which is industrial on the opposite bank and looks like it runs in a constructed channel without natural river banks. You made the right choice.

By gondola do you mean balloon?

For your one night getaway I'd go with Yountville. You can walk to dinner at a variety of places. Reserve now. Check out Bouchon if you can. I prefer it for Summer meals over Bistro Jeanty. I've stayed at several four sisters properties..they're good.

AJPeabody,

No, I meant gondola. There's a service called Gondola Servizio that offers Venitian-style gondola rides in Napa (at or near the Napa River Inn, which was the main reason I was considering it for a place to stay) and Oakland on Lake Merritt. I was wondering how "romantic" and scenic it was, and whether to go for the 30 or 60 minute ride. Balloon rides are just too expensive for us, at least for this trip there.

Thanks for the Bouchon tip, PamSF!

I don't think the Napa River is all that nice. Saw it from Napa River Inn and from Copia Center in Napa, and it is nothing like a wild or scenic river. I was told it was once a polluted industrial river and it clearly has undergone a cleanup, but I wouldn't spend money to ride on it. Just my opinion. For my other opinions, of which there are many, click my name and see my trip report post.

Have a great time on your trip!

Double bad news: the Gondola rides on the Napa river are not good; the river just goes through industrial and downtrodden areas. And there are no vineyard views from Maison Fleurie as it is in the center of the town of Yountville. I actually liked my stay in the Napa River Inn, upscale but small rooms, but the Celedon restaurant is outstanding (best crab cakes I've ever had) and the winetasting (free with a stay in the inn) in the gourmet grocery store at the Inn was charming. Besides, it is within walking distance of oldtown Napa. There are more charming hotels on Highway 29 (but don't choose one in the town of Napa; too commercial and buiilt up), but choose one closer to Yountville or St. Helena or better yet, Rutherford or Oakville.

You will get good advice on hotels by checking the reviews on tripadvisor.com by searching on the hotel name, and by looking under the "Hotel" tab up on the top of Fodors.com .

If you have already taken your trip, please report back to your thread.

humanone,

Are you sure about Maison Flurie not having vineyard views? I was told when we made our reservations there that it sat overlooking a private vineyard, and that our room had a vineyard view. Its website shows a porch overlooking a vineyard. If this is a total falsehood, I need to know, and fast: today is the last day we can cancel without being charged for the room, as our stay is a week from today (Wednesday the 14th).

Actually, that should be a patio overlooking a vineyard, not a "porch".

Here's a link to the inn. Click on the Photo Album tab and you'll se the picture I'm talking about, which really sold us on staying there:

http://www.foursisters.com/inns/maisonfleurie/