Napa/Sonoma: Help me choose lodging
 

Hi,

We are planning a two day first time trip to the Napa/Sonoma area.

The following places have availability:
applewoodinn.com
vintnersinn
napavalleylodging

We are leaning towards vintners. Help us choose,

Thanks,
S

my third stay at the vintners is in 7 days! i will only stay at this place when i'm in the area, it's amazing.

applewood is way, way out in the country. beautiful country (closer to redwoods and coast and river.) very small-- started as a b&b and they added several rooms and such. really nice, intimate dining room.

vintnersinn is not exactly in the country-- only barely. i guess it is in the country but, because it's so close to the freeway and wells fargo center, i don't think of it that way. however, it is a good spot for tasting along river road-- and getting up to healdsburg/anderson valley. it is a larger-scale hotel.

another option, not to complicate, is the farmhouse. really expensive, but they have specials from time-to-time that include dinner at their well-known restaurant. (actually, all of these options have good restaurants.)

so-- applewood is what we call "west county" (funky charming) and the others are less so. i have a fondness for west county. -kawh

Haven't tried Applewood, but like Vintners and The Farmhouse (near Forestville).

Did you mean Napa Valley Lodge? If so, it is in Yountville in Napa Valley and very conveniently located. You can walk to some marvelous restaurants and it is near the entrance to Hwy 29 which goes up the valley. Friends have always liked it. I can't comment on Vinters or Farmhouse, but Applewood is pretty far way from things if your desire is to see Sonoma and Napa Valleys/

I have placed a request on luxurylink for farmhouseinn. If i don't get it shoild i take vintners inn or ( a new contender) auberge on vineyard?

i hadn't heard of that auberge-- so looked it up. it's in cloverdale. no offense to cloverdale-- which could be a fine town (we usually just drive through) -- but reputation-wise, it's kind of the opposite of healdsburg or napa. (i'm just talking about tourist snob-appeal... neither high-end nor funky-cool.) still-- it looks very pretty in the pictures. it's pretty far north--- and cloverdale is known for being quite hot in summer... so depends on when you go.

Of your choices, I have only stayed at the Vintners Inn. (about 5 times). The rooms are beautiful, the restaurant, John Ash is very good and you are close to Healdsburg and the Dry Creek Valley (my favorite) for wine tasting.

You might also consider checking www.vrbo.com which is vacation rentals by owner. Unless you require 24 hr. room service , staying in a vacation rental is much nicer than a hotel or B&B. You can chose the area you want, Russian River, Healdsburg etc to narrow your choices.