Wine Country Hotels/B&Bs
 

We are looking for a B&B or hotel in wine country for 2-3 nights, last week of October, midweek. (Sonoma/Napa/etc) <BR> <BR>Requirements are: <BR>- reasonable cost (under $70/night pref.) <BR>- w/in walking distance to public transport <BR>- if not w/in walking distance, then local transport (taxi etc) reasonable cost, as we do not expect to have a car <BR> <BR>Direct email responses are appreciated but posting here is good too :) <BR> <BR>Thank you! <BR>

Lots of luck. Those are pretty tough requirements for a popular area like the Napa Valley. October is not really off season.

Napa is not the area to be without a car. Distances are great and I don't know of any local transportation. Just getting from SF to the wine country alone requires a car or a bus "tour". As far as a place to stay, I've stayed at a motel called Napa Valley Lodge, about 1 hr. from SF. Very nice, clean, walk to restaurants and a very small shopping town, but cannot walk to anything else. You can always try the Chamber of Commerce there for info. I am going out there in september, and the fall is really the high season so rates may be high. good luck. <BR>

Just came back from there--stayed at the Calistoga Village Inn and Spa (different from the Calistoga Inn!!). Rooms are ~$80/nite depending on what you want. It is right off the Silverado Trail. Calistoga is great and there are bike rentals. Also bus stops in town. But really, I wouldn't go w/o a car rental! <BR> <BR>Good luck.

I would second the Calistoga recommendation--that has to be my favorite area in Napa Valley. The Napa Valley Lodge is actually quite far from most of the wineries and restaurants. I would look on the web for places in St. Helena, Rutherford and Calistoga if you really want to be in the heart of wine country. The Roman Spa is a normal motel place in Calistoga that might have reasonable rates. They also have three mineral water swimming pools (warm, hot and very hot) that are very relaxing! <BR> <BR>You will really, really need a car. Everything is extremely spread out there--each winery is surrounded by its vineyards, so you can't feasibly walk from one to the other. And with the exception of downtown St. Helena and Calistoga, you aren't going to be able to get to restaurants on foot either.

You really need to have a car, and you really need to make a reservation quickly as one of the above people pointed out that October is not off season in the wine country. The least expensive place I can think of is the "El Bonita Motel"---actually quite good value in St. Helena. Also the St. Helena Hotel, if you are sound sleepers. Both are on Rt. 29 and the trucks start about 5 am. But, the car is important, otherwise you will not be able to visit the wineries. Consider flying into Oakland (if that's a possibility from where you are) and rent a car and drive up to Napa or Sonoma. In Sonoma, the Sonoma Hotel on the main square would probably fit your $$. Good luck. It's very expensive, think you need to rethink the costs. <BR>

Just got back. Try "Hotel ElDorado" in Sonoma Plaza. It was $99 during peak season weekend rate, so I think you can get something cheaper in midweek Oct. It's very modern looking, with quite a lot of space. Great resaurant on site, and around. It's right across from the park, but not tourisy. <BR>ada <BR>