tifany8

I am planning the final two days of a trip down the Pacific Coast. We want to end in wine country, but I am having a hard time deciding on accomodations. I am willing to pay as much as $500 a night, but prefer under $400. I love the Milliken Creek Inn website but I have wondered if it is in a good location. Is it walking distance to restaurants? The other place that I liked the looks of is the Napa River Inn. It doesn't look nearly as picturesque as the Milliken Creek Inn, but I like the idea that there are restaurants in the Inn. I have looked at Sonoma Mission Inn, Meadowood and Auberge, but they are too expensive for the type of room that I am looking for. Does anyone have any advice or other suggestions? I do not want a bed and breakfast as we will be staying in B&B's for most of the rest of the trip and I would like an inn or resort. Thanks!

cindymal

i just returned from Napa.We stayed in yountville at the villagio.The rooms were nice but make sure you are in the inside courtyard.I would have stayed at auberge but i agree it is expensive.
i would not stay in the town of Napa.It is not as nice as yountville,st>helena,Calistoga,Rutherford,Check out the Harvest inn and the wine country inn.the meadowood may be less money now.
In Napa valley you will need a car.Yountville is near all the great resturants,French Laundry,Domain Chandon/elegant with great food,Brix,Tre Vigne,Martini house/great outdoor dinning,La Toque,Bouchon.Our best meal was at auberge/sit outside or near the window,the food was great and it was very romantic.Check out Napavalley.com

tifany8

I have looked at the villagio website and the one thing that I didn't like is that they don't show the view and they only show one picture of one room. Why do you suggest the inside courtyard?

cindymal

the outside rooms face the highway and you will see the parking lot.It is also noisy.We stayed upstairs & inside and it was very quiet.The views are ok from most rooms.we were able to see the mountains but this is not the hotel if you are looking for views although it has a charming villa decor.For the money i expected more,we stayed in a king suite for 430 per night but this was a nice place to stay,Its quiet,they have a great spa,nice pool,great breakfast and the service was nice.I think you will be able to get a much better rate now.Yountville is a great location close to all the resturants.I gave you a great list of resturants which are accessible by taxi but definitely rent a car and have fun.We loved the wine country

jmv

The Vintage Inn is also in Yountville and has lovely accommodations--working fireplaces, quality linens, some jacuzzis, etc. Grounds are likewise lovely and some of the rooms are in little individual cottages. It, too is near lots of good restaurants. For sure you'll want a car, not just to get to the restaurants, but to take in several of the wineries. Besides the restaurants already listed, check out Bistro Jeanty and Domaine Chandon.

mrt

We stayed at the Yountville Inn which is on the north end of Yountville. It is a motel with a nice pool area. The rooms were very nice and it was cheaper than other places. it was a web site. It is 2 minutes from the restaurents in Yountville.

JoeG

We have stayed at the Rancho Caymus Inn in Rutherford which has a very convenient central location. It is hacienda style with a central courtyard. Most of the rooms have fireplaces, wet bars etc. with a lot of artistic flavor. Have you tried the Silverado Resort?
JoeG

tifany8

Thanks everyone. We have decided to stay at the Yountville Inn. I am hoping they can get me reservations at the French Laundry and I would like to try the Bistro Jeanty too.

SuzieQ

Start calling 3 months ahead to the day you want the French Laundry. The line will probably be busy but just keep hitting redial. Good Luck.

ramona

tifany8: We recently spent two nights at the Yountville Inn and if you are looking for someplace abit upscale this is not it. It is a nice motel with nice grounds but nothing special. We found it convenient for walking to the restaurants but the walls are thin and noise travels. I actually liked the town of St. Helena better which is a few minutes north and seemed to have more to it. I did not see the rooms but the Inn at Southbridge looked nice although right along the main road. Perhaps someone who has stayed there can give some input. Hope this helps.

tifany8

Ramona - thanks for your input. I am a little concerned now about the noise factor at the Yountville. I had finally come to the conclusion that in order to get great atmosphere, rooms and service, we needed to pay $800 and stay at Meadowood or L-Auberge. But that is extremely high and I figure paying half of that, I should expect to get half the service, rooms etc. We are staying in a Superior room on the creek. Hopefully, we won't have any trouble. We are only there for two nights and I doubt we spend much time in our room anyway.

cindymal

the yountville in is pleasant but the villagio is much nicer and the price is just a little higher.Try the harvest inn.I think they have a nicer location.Also note,Yountville is a very quiet town and not very noisy.It is maybe two blocks long.Both hotels are near the highway so you can hear the cars sometimes but I would not worry about it.You are right the only place for ambiance is Auberge or meadowood.Try wine country Inn.I heard that was nice.Enjoy,Yountville is a great location to see everything.Check out my post above.

LilMsFoodie

Just FYI, French Laundry will be closed for several months after January 1st since Keller will be consulting on another restaurant in NYC or something .

I wonder how he will retain his staff after such a long layoff and I also wonder if he will actually return. LMF

madwen

I read a newpapaer article here in Napa that said most of the staff was going to New York to get the new restaurant up and running. Also they will be doing a major remodeling at FL while it is closed. He's coming back.

wondering

try to eat at pairs also

Leburta

We just returned from Napa and stayed in a wonderful B&B called Hennessey House (www.hennessey house.com). I thought Milliken Creek looked great on the website, but reservations were tough to get.

I couldn't get reservations at the French Laundry, but did get into Bouchon, Tom Keller's other restaurant in Yountville. My husband was surprised at how well the place replicated a French Bistro. Great food!

Our favorite restaurant, although were not there to try or even see as many of the great restaurants as we would have liked, was Domaine Chandon.

kimamom

We have stayed at the Yountville Inn twice and enjoyed both stays. In St. Helena we enjoyed the Harvest Inn very much. The property is just gorgeous with the ponds, bridges,etc. The wine country breakfast is very good served in their breakfast room overlooking the vineyards. Bistro Jeanty is a favorite lunch place while Terra and Tra Vigne are excellent choices for dinners.
Our lunch at Auberge du Soleil was just amazing with sweeping views out on the terrace. I also agree with Domaine Chandon for a nice place to dine. The grounds here are very beautiful. We ate out on the outside patio for lunch.
Last Spring we stayed at the Sonoma Mission Inn and it was truly amazing. I could not put my camera down here. We were treated like royalty by the entire staff here. Indian Springs Resort is my favorite place in Calistoga. www.indianspringscalistoga.com You can read about my stay there on their website. Have a great time!! ***kim***

applejacks

I always think it is strange that the Milliken Creek is just past Raleys and Longs then take a right. I have never stayed there, and it sounds wonderful, but it just does not seem as spectacularly placed as staying upvalley.