Napa & Sonoma
 

Does it pay to split time between hotels in Napa & Sonoma or just use one as a base?

It would not be reasonable, nor your best use of time, to try & visit both wine areas from the same location. I would suggest two bases.

I would respectfully disagree with the other poster. You can easily visit wineries in both valleys from one location. The distances aren't that great and who wants to go through the bother of moving. We generally stay in Yountville where there are nice places to stay and several great restaurants in easy walking distance.

I agree with Jack. There's no need to inconveience oneself by moving about in separate hotels just so split time between Napa and Sonoma.

Although, I would stay in St. Helena or Oakville in Napa just so I have a slightly quicker access to get to Alexander/Dry Creek/Russian River valleys in Sonoma. From St. Helena, for example, it would take less than 30 minutes to get to Alexander Valley and about another 15 minutes to Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma. Plus the drive is scenic, in terms of pretty vineyards, and there's always a winery to stop at for a tasting or 5.

The only issue is if the OP wants to dine in one valley while staying in the other. The roads between the 2 valleys are winding and dark at night - they would need a designated driver.

If the OP is going during the summer it would have to be mighty late to be dark. In June and July the sun sets around 8:30 and twilight lingers long past 9:00 pm.

I agree that it really doesn't make sense to move.

I personally wouldn't stay in either Napa or Sonoma. But of the two I'd choose Sonoma. I just like the town better and the central square.

I'd look for a place in Yountville, Oakville, St Helena or maybe even Glen Ellen. Only tiny downside is the Oakville to Glen Ellen rd that connects Hwys 12 and 29 is VERY winding.

I am not aware of any lodging in Oakville. There's a nice hotel in Rutherford - the Rancho Caymus Inn which is just a mile north of Mondavi.

If you only have a couple of days, just stay in one valley and save the other for another visit. If you have several days, then by all means spend it in a couple of locations.

But, I would avoid the towns of Sonoma and Napa. Stay instead in the smaller towns of Yountville, Rutherford, Calistoga, Glen Ellen, Healdsburg, etc. All of these places have nice country inns and B&Bs.

If $$$$$ are not a problem, stay a couple of nights at Auberge du Soleil and the Sonoma Mission Inn. It doesn't get much better than that.

Otis

Add me to the list of those who say to stay in one place. As others have said, the drive from one valley to the other is not that great. From Yountville to Sonoma is 45 minutes max.

The Sonoma Valley is more rural and the Napa Valley is more commercial. Both have great restaurants and wineries, although the selection of restaurants is far greater in the Napa Valley. You might also want to decide based on which wineries you want to visit.

We usually stay in Yountville as it is fairly centrally located and there are several great restaurants there, Bouchon, Bistro Jeaunty, Domaine Chandon, and, of course, the famous French Laundry. On special occasions, we stay at Meadowood, which I can highly recommend, but it is quite expensive.

Whichever valley you choose, you can't go wrong.

>>"although the selection of restaurants is far greater in the Napa Valley"<<

Take it from this Sonoma local that this is absoulutely untrue ! We have many wonderful places to dine here.

I would be a fan of 2 bases. Simply because you do not want to be driving
say between Yountville & Healdsburg,
or Yountville & Sonoma town after drinks with dinner, dark or not.

R5

Personally after wandering about Sonoma I would loathe the thought of having to drive back to Napa. Which, depending on where you end up, could actually be 2+ hours away. Doesn't make sense to me. Of course, I'd just visit Sonoma & stay on the Coast.

My husband and I are planning a trip to Healdsburg (two nights) and Yountville (three nights) in late August. I think its fun to explore and I am happy to have two hotels to see (and stay in) different towns as well as make it that much easier/quicker to get to wineries in the respective areas. Eventhough I can't say what's better since I've never been (can't wait to go though!), IMO, I would try two hotels.

As mentioned you really can't go wrong in Yountville and if you want to split up the days, go fo it....esp in light of the CHP crackdowns going on throughout Calif. on any given weekend.((D))

the r5s could barely make it across the street in Y'ville let alone drive home. They musta had too much to drink because they were looking really blurry to me.:-d

>:o

Kal, you are a little >:-)

R5

Kal, what, all 4 of them were blurry? :-"

topping for BT

It does pay to split time! As one poster indicated, one does not want to be driving back to the hotel in Sonoma after a day of wine tasting or dinner and drinks in Sonoma! Also, as a long time resident of San Francisco and frequent visitor to Sonoma, Healdsburg, and Napa (and lesser extent to St. Helena, Calistoga, and Glen Ellen) I have to take issue with some of the statements from people saying "don't stay in Napa or Sonoma." To that I would say "WHAT!" There are some fantastic places to stay in both Napa and Sonoma towns - in Sonoma, "The Lodge at Sonoma" is great; "The Sonoma Mission Inn" is wonderful; in Glen Ellen, "The Glen Ellen Inn" is charming; in Napa "The Napa River Inn" is a wonderful place. All of these places are, from my perspective, much nicer than some of the frilly, Victorian B&B's one gets in Healdsburg and St. Helena... So, definitely split your time, hotels/B&B's and enjoy!