I did some checking - Yountville Inn has rooms available the weekend of Nov. 4 for $195. Check it out:

http://www.yountvilleinn.com/

The rooms were large, and very nice. Right in Yountville - epicenter of Wine Country especially if you enjoy cabs.

Just for fun, look at this one; now it is the best:
http://www.bardessono.com/
I saw some good rates in July, around $259, but nnnooottt now. It is kind of a strange place to me. Not your usual wine country type of place - very modern. I understand the Chef at the restaurant came from the 5th Floor in San Francisco.

That should be November 14

We've stayed at the Milot Winery that has accommodations right in the middle of their vineyard & is located just south of St. Helena. http://www.milat.com/home.php

If Napa Valley is "industrialized", the the airport area is "over-the-top-industrialized".

Easytraveler and I disagree about a lot of things, and this is just another one. Of course, the airport itself is "industrialized", as is the area immediately NORTH of the airport, but most of the airport hotels (Hyatt, Marriott, Westin, Sheraton, etc.) are SOUTH of the airport. It's not beautiful or charming on the street side (just hotels, some chain restaurants, and office/commercial), but its not "industrial" at all, and as I said there is that beautiful walking path on the bay side.

Ronda; I checked your link for Yountville Inn, date November 14th and got "no rooms available". How did you find a rate? The Bardessono just isn't our style. Way too modern - not a lot of charm. I'm goobsmacked by the pricing in Napa. We like upscale if it is a good value -- but I'm not one to pay over the moon pricing for something (charm) that's available elsewhere for a lot less. For instance, I would never dine at The French Laundry -- no matter how good they are rated, or who the chef is, or that it very well may be the absolute best restaurant in the whole U.S. -- I would never ever pay $240 pp + wine + tips for any meal, anywhere. At the end of the day, its just food. I rather feel that way about hotels too. Just can't understand what would be offered to make any place worth $400 and up per night -- anywhere. (O.K. the Sanctuary at Machu Picchu - yes.) We stayed in so many amazing places in Provence, ate heavenly meals, drank copius amounts of spectacular French wines and probably didn't spend in a week what some places in Napa want for one night and dinner. There must be a compromise.

>>Just can't understand what would be offered to make any place worth $400 and up per night -- anywhere. (O.K. the Sanctuary at Machu Picchu - yes.) We stayed in so many amazing places in Provence, ate heavenly meals, drank copius amounts of spectacular French wines and probably didn't spend in a week what some places in Napa want for one night and dinner. There must be a compromise.<<

Yep - that's the difference between France & popular areas in Calif. We spend 2 months in France most years. We've stayed in several Gites (houses) in Provence. Our current favorite there is 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, DR, LR, large yard with a private pool, walking distance to a cute town with a weekly market - price is around 700E per week in June & Sept, lower in shoulder months & higher in July & Aug. Many B&Bs available in the 100-150E range. Try to find that in the Napa Valley.

I think there are some less expensive places in Healdsburg - more "motel" than 'resort" places.

Stu Dudley

I booked The Cottages of Napa Valley for our anniversary weekend next month: http://www.napacottages.com/new_index.html. I've not stayed there before, but it looks like something that might appeal to you. Paying rates that are in your "goobsmacked" range, but maybe they're lower in the fall?

October is harvest season, isn't it, so that would be peak rates, it wouldn't be the same as November. The OP said mid-November, so I don't think rates in October matter. Hotel Healdsburg has rooms for around $500 in November, but you can book one night, even on weekends. Of course it isn't worth it, in terms of a hotel, anyway. You are paying for the location and the whole wine valley touring thing. Which I'll admit, I don't get. I was just passing through on a road trip from NW Calif coast, flyinig out of Oakland, and it was a midway point. But I don't understand why people like to drive around and visit wineries, I truly don't. I like to drink wine, also -- in restaurants or at home, but I don't have any interest in driving around tasting wines in the middle of the day.

Yes...that's the problem, Stu. In order to pay a reasonable price for a night or two, one stays in a charmless "motel". The L.A. Times' recent story on Napa even mentioned the folly in this: <i>"El Bonita Motel now charges close to $200 for a room that used to cost $59"</i> While I realize that the top dollar is for location, location, location; I think that the Napa hoteliers take their location a bit to seriously. After all, what is the purpose of enticing a lot of tourists to the area? Isn't it to promote the wineries products? If we've spent the inheritence to sleep, how does one purchase these lovely wines?

<<<I think that the Napa hoteliers take their location a bit to seriously. After all, what is the purpose of enticing a lot of tourists to the area? Isn't it to promote the wineries products? If we've spent the inheritence to sleep, how does one purchase these lovely wines?>>>

Well, no, not for the hoteliers. Their purpose is to promote/sell their hotel, not the wineries they don't own. It's symbiotic, of course. I've been told that the Napa Valley is the most-visited "tourist attraction" in California, even more than Disneyland, so while the prices are ridiculous to the extreme in the abstract, they aren't particularly surprising, especially in harvest season. (And I completely understand, and agree with, your mindset about places like the French Laundry....)

I am sorry that you're disappointed with your options. Maybe you could bag this portion of the trip and just apply the money not spent to your next trip to France.

I've heard good things about the Raford House in Healdsburg. They're in your price range.

Is there a good hostel in the Napa or Sonoma?

Does Rick Steves have a NV/SV guidebook?

Hellllooooo Ronda...
Yes....very good group. I wonder whatever happened to them?
:))
I looked into the Bardonesso a few weeks ago and puckered when I saw the prices.
I'll stay at The Railway, Bordeaux or maybe Petit Logis then eat dinner at Bard's resto.

This whole conversation if just sooooo funny !
<I>"Fodor's guides list <B>all of these wonderful sounding places</B> and I'm feeling in over my head picking one for a special weekend.</I>

The expectation of the Napa/Sonoma experience is fueled
by the absolutely damn grand marketing of the place.
Dineyland for adults as Ronda has noted. If you poke at the dream too much, you'll begin to wonder why it's so outrageously expensive and come here to ponder it all. The bubble will burst at that point, just like looking behind the curtain in the Wizard of OZ.

Folks here have given you some pretty nice options, along with telling you the facts about room prices and now you're
disappointed.

I'm with iamq, please save your money for France or perhaps go to Sausalito, no tourist tackiness there.
Heh-heh.

R5

Hard to tell what the weather will be like in November, especially nowadays when the weather's been a bit erratic. Mostly, the chances will be good that weather will go your way.

However, you may want to develop a backup Plan B, just in case. Might start another thread with a title like: "Where to spend a relaxing vacation weekend in the Bay Area if it rains?"

The whole state of California is one huge bubble of tourist tackiness, however I hear Roseville is rather nice in November.

I cant help but chime in -
The Michelin restaurant in Healdsberg is Cyrus and although expensive, it is a great experience. For 4 people with drinks it cost us about $600.. not too bad for a special occasion.
Mustards is on the main drag in Napa - great food, great price
http://www.mustardsgrill.com/

My 2 favorite vineyards are Hop Kiln in Sonoma and Duckhorn in Napa.

Have fun!

Not with both The Galleria and The Fountains now opened.
Tres gauche!

Helloooo r5er...;;)

Not sure exactly where it is that I said I am "disappointed" (do so hate to be taken to task over a misquote). I find the conversation regarding the value of travel to be very interesting. IMHO, there is worthy spending and then there's just spending. I strive to know the difference, which is why I come to the board members for varied opinions. Thank you all for your thoughts.

There were rooms available at the Yountville Inn starting on the 14th when I checked. When I went back to check just now and looked at the availability calendar, the only dates in November that are now fully booked are the 13th and 14th. The 15th is available though if that helps. Something must be going on on those dates. Sorry about that.

Thanks, Ronda. I'll have a look again.