Planning a Napa trip the last week of July. Ive been there in a former life, but my wife has not. I have some idea of what i want to do, places i want to eat, but am open to more suggestions.

I was planning on flying in to SFO on a saturday, probably getting there around noon. I was then going to drive to a still undecided hotel that day, staying there Sat-Thu. Thurs and Friday nights i plan to spend in SFO at one of the Hiltons (to use our points).

Not sure which Hilton is best located. SFO Hilton on O-farrel St., Fisherman Wharf, or Financial District.

I'll probably try and turn in our car when we get to the city, but havent gotten that down logistically. I think most of the rental places have places inside the city to do this, so i wouldnt have to go to the Airport.

Secondly, I was wondering if i should alter my itinerary by staying in another place for a night or two. I recall seeing (on here) a neat hotel on the Sonoma Coast. That might be good for a few nights.
Of course lodging in Napa is a challenge (for me at least), trying to keep the cost within reason. I had settled on Vintage Inn for its convenient location, but those 1st few nights are booked already, thus my thoughts of another location...

Any ideas?

bmp

In SF I probably stay at the Hilton on the Wharf. Unless you like transit time via BART avoid the SFO location.

If you wantto stay in Sonoma consider Ramekins B&B. On the cost I think it is the Inn at the Tides or the Bodega Bay Inn.

well, tonight i booked pretty much everything but the free hilton room in SFO.

We are staying 2 nights at Nicks Cove, then moving to Yountville for 3 nights at Vintage Inn. Then to SFO for 2 nites. I think this will give us a good variety.

Hello TiGuy, just so someone doesn't get confused..SFO is San Francisco Airport. San Francisco is SF.

Personally I would chose the Hilton on O'Farrell. But that is because I like staying at the Union Square area. If you turn your rental car in when you arrive in SF you can take BART to SFO when you are scheduled to fly home.
http://www.bart.gov/index.asp

Have a lovely time, and I am sure your wife will love her first trip to Northern California.

True, i guess i shouldnt use SFO for SF, i just always have...
Im surprised you picked the OFarrel St. location.

I found another similar thread and almost to a person, people said that would be their last choice of Hiltons.

Hilton O'Farrell street is a gigantic faceless, characterless hotel. On one side is Union Square, on the other side is the Tenderloin. It wouldn't be my first choice.

Hilton Financial District is on the edge of Chinatown (also near the financial district and North Beach). I don't know anything about the hotel itself, but it's in a good location for sightseeing (walking distance to the embarcadero, Ferry Building, etc.)

Hilton Fisherman's Wharf is, well, at Fisherman's Wharf. I'm sure it's fine but it's a strictly tourist destination, so it wouldn't be my first choice.

And then there's the Hilton out at SFO!

Location-wise, and only location-wise, O'Farrell would be my 1st choice, Wharf 2nd.

Financial 3rd. Kinda deserted on weekends.

Financial 3rd. Kinda deserted on weekends.

Faina, you're probably referring to the financial district in general? Because the hotel is actually at the edge of Chinatown, not exactly deserted on weekends!

As for the Hilton at SFO, it's long gone -- torn down when the new international terminal was built.

Someone give me a short itinerary for SF. Basically a day. Ive been to SF twice, but never really got to see the city like id like to. I dont think we want to take the time to do Alcatraz.

Yes location wise the Hilton on O'Farrell would be my first choice. Now I am not saying the Hilton would be my first choice for a hotel, not at all, just that out of the three Hilton hotels I chose the location which would work for me as I prefer to stay in the Union Square area. I have stayed several times at the Hilton due to business conferences and a few times we were given a beautiful suite but a few times we had miserable rooms. Luck of the draw.

I am not familar with the FW location as I don't stay at FW. And I haven't stayed at the Financial District Hilton either TiGuy. If you do not get any feed back here regarding that Hilton you might want to check out the reviews on TripAdvisors. Best regards.

Not sure what car rental company you are using ... but Hertz has a drop off place on O'Farrell. My husband and I doing a very similar iternary at the end of May and it just seemed cost/ time effective to pick up the car from the airport and drop it off on O'Farrell.