89 Best Hotels in Napa and Sonoma, California

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The fanciest accommodations are concentrated in the Napa Valley towns of Yountville, Rutherford, St. Helena, and Calistoga; Sonoma County's poshest lodgings are in Healdsburg. The spas, amenities, and exclusivity of high-end properties attract travelers with the means and desire for luxury living. The cities of Napa and Santa Rosa are the best bets for budget hotels and inns.

Rancho Caymus Inn

$$$ | 1140 Rutherford Rd., Rutherford, CA, 94573, USA Fodor's Choice

A romantic hacienda-away-from-home that off-season may be the Napa Valley's best value in its price range, this upscale-contemporary boutique hotel near Inglenook and the Rutherford Grill contains rooms whose decor and artworks evoke the area's Mexican heritage. The large guest rooms—most split-level, all with patios, and some with vaulted exposed-beam ceilings—have textured-plaster walls, brown leather furniture, and contemporary variations on stovepipe fireplaces. Hanging plants, ceramic-tile friezes, a mass of wrought iron, and a series of graceful arches contribute to the movie-set glamour of the brick-lined courtyard that contains the rectangular wading pool and adjacent hot tub. The pool isn't huge, but it'll cool you off on a hot summer day, and the courtyard is a peaceful retreat.

Pros

  • Courtyard pool area
  • Smallest rooms are 400 square feet, with several 600 or more
  • Well-trained staff

Cons

  • All rooms have only showers (albeit nice ones)
  • King beds in all rooms (no sofa beds, though a few rollaways available)
  • No spa or fitness center
1140 Rutherford Rd., Rutherford, CA, 94573, USA
707-963–1777
Hotel Details
26 rooms
Free Breakfast

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The Ruse

$$$ | 891 Grove St., Healdsburg, CA, 95448, USA Fodor's Choice

An 1883 Italianate Victorian anchors this luxury inn on 3 lush acres in a residential setting a mile from Healdsburg Plaza. The main house and an adjacent structure contain three guest rooms each, two duplexes hold four more, and there's a standalone ADA suite near the well-stocked koi pond. The furnishings tilt modern, with hardwood floors, contemporary carpets, king or queen beds depending on room size, and outdoor sitting areas, all but one private. Some rooms have fireplaces and tubs. Toward the property's rear, guests work on their putting at an 18-hole green and have access to bocce and pickleball courts. Closer to the mansion, an oak strung with lanterns looms over the pool and hot tub. A former restaurant chef prepares healthful full breakfasts in a stone-and-glass pavilion whose floor-to-ceiling windows can be opened to create a connecting open-air space.

Pros

  • Full breakfast with hot entrée
  • Near town but away from Healdsburg’s bustle
  • Pool, hot tub, 18-hole putting green, and bocce and pickleball courts

Cons

  • Light hum of traffic in street-side rooms
  • Steep stairs to mansion rooms
  • Unappealing lighting in guest-room sleeping area
891 Grove St., Healdsburg, CA, 95448, USA
707-569–2800
Hotel Details
11 rooms
Free Breakfast

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SingleThread Farm Inn

$$$$ | 131 North St., Healdsburg, CA, 95448, USA Fodor's Choice

A remarkable Relais & Châteaux property a block north of Healdsburg Plaza, SingleThread is the creation of husband-and-wife team Kyle and Katina Connaughton, who operate the ground-floor destination restaurant and the four guest rooms and a suite above it. Influencing the couple's approach at both is the Japanese concept of omotenashi, often translated as "selfless hospitality." All the accommodations have gas fireplaces, 14-foot exposed redwood-beamed ceilings, and wet bars with European coffeemakers and tea kettles. Heated tile floors, roomy rain showers, marble-trimmed deep soaking tubs (except in one room), and automated Japanese toilets (heated seat, of course) count among the luxurious touches in the spacious bathrooms, done mostly in calming whites and off-whites. Room rates include a thoughtfully conceived multicourse breakfast.

Pros

  • Multicourse breakfast
  • Spacious bathrooms with luxurious touches
  • Rooftop garden

Cons

  • Expensive year-round
  • No pool or fitness center
  • No spa
131 North St., Healdsburg, CA, 95448, USA
707-723–4646
Hotel Details
5 rooms
Free Breakfast

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Sonoma Creek Inn

$ | 239 Boyes Blvd., Sonoma, CA, 95476, USA Fodor's Choice

The exterior of this property between Sonoma and Glen Ellen says "motel," but the design sensibility and customer service are more quaint country inn, with the rates splitting the difference. Many patrons return year after year, so book well ahead in summer and early fall, especially on weekends. A few blocks west of Highway 12 in a residential neighborhood, the inn is popular with pro bicyclists and serious amateurs. The small but cheerful rooms, a handful pet-friendly and most with patios or balconies, are individually decorated with painted wooden armoires and brightly colored contemporary artwork. All rooms have air-conditioning, Keurig coffeemakers, small refrigerators, and 32-inch flat-screen TVs with cable. Free rollaway beds are available for kids.

Pros

  • Clean, well-lighted bathrooms
  • Solid choice for travelers on a budget
  • Popular with bicyclists

Cons

  • Office not staffed 24 hours
  • 10-minute drive from Sonoma Plaza
  • A few rooms cramped
239 Boyes Blvd., Sonoma, CA, 95476, USA
707-939–9463
Hotel Details
16 rooms
No Meals

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The Stavrand Russian River Valley

$$$ | 13555 Hwy. 116, Guerneville, CA, 95446, USA Fodor's Choice

Redwoods tower over this secluded, romantic boutique resort convenient to Guerneville restaurants, Sonoma Coast and Russian River wineries, and Armstrong Woods and other outdoorsy attractions. General manager and co-owner Emily Glick, whose previous experience in the luxury hotel realm includes a long stint with the Kimpton chain, revitalized the Mission Revival–style complex, whose oldest, architecturally significant section dates to the early 1920s. Exemplary service, attention to detail in the rooms and public spaces, a pool and a hot tub, and a slew of upscale amenities (full breakfast with hot entrée, an evening apéritif, a small spa, bicycles, kayaks, s'mores kits, lawn games, and a lending library with board games) make this the right choice for travelers seeking customized hospitality in a rustic setting.

Pros

  • Pool and hot tub under the redwoods
  • Full hot breakfast, evening apéritif, and other upscale amenities
  • Hotel is independent, but Hilton Honors members can redeem or earn points

Cons

  • Car necessary for most outings
  • Solar-heated pool not always that warm
  • Smallest rooms can feel cramped
13555 Hwy. 116, Guerneville, CA, 95446, USA
707-869–9093
Hotel Details
21 rooms
Free Breakfast

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Vinarosa Resort & Spa

$$$$ | 4350 Barnes Rd., Santa Rosa, CA, 95403, USA Fodor's Choice

With a countryside location, a reserved sense of style, and spacious rooms with comfortable beds, the Vinarosa Resort & Spa (which got a makeover and new name mid-2025) further seduces with a slew of amenities and a scenic vineyard landscape. Guests appreciate the multiple on-site dining options and the personalized service and winery, entertainment, and restaurant suggestions staffers eagerly supply. The well-appointed accommodations—some with views, either of vineyards or landscaped gardens, and others nearly within reach of the grapevines—occupy a series of two-story buildings, each with several units per floor. The rooms have a patio or balcony, and many have a fireplace.

Pros

  • 92-acre estate with vineyard jogging and walking path
  • Some rooms and suites edge the vineyard
  • Spa and wellness activities

Cons

  • Occasional noise from adjacent events center
  • Trips to Healdsburg or downtown Santa Rosa require a car
  • Pricey on summer and fall weekends
4350 Barnes Rd., Santa Rosa, CA, 95403, USA
707-575–7350
Hotel Details
78 rooms
No Meals

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Wydown Hotel

$$$ | 1424 Main St., St. Helena, CA, 94574, USA Fodor's Choice

This smart boutique hotel near downtown shopping and dining delivers comfort with a heavy dose of style: the storefront lobby's high ceiling and earth tones, punctuated by rich-hued splashes of color, hint at the relaxed grandeur owner-hotelier Mark Hoffmeister and his design team achieved in the rooms upstairs. In an older building retrofitted to suit 21st-century tastes, the hotel has rooms furnished with plush king beds and contemporary art; bathrooms, stocked with deluxe bath products, have tile floors and marble counters. Other perks include Nespresso coffeemakers, complimentary sodas, flat-screen TVs, and quality sound systems in guest rooms, plus free on-site parking and passes to the gym at a local spa. The three largest rooms occupy corners; those facing Main Street pick up some street noise, so if that's an issue, ask for an atrium room—they're smaller, but quieter and almost cocoonlike.

Pros

  • Well run
  • Eclectic decor
  • Downtown location

Cons

  • Lacks the amenities of larger properties
  • Corner rooms pick up some street noise
  • Minimum stay requirement on weekends
1424 Main St., St. Helena, CA, 94574, USA
707-963–5100
Hotel Details
12 rooms
Free Breakfast

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H2Hotel

$$$ | 219 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, CA, 95448, USA
h2hotel, Healdsburg
Courtesy of h2hotel

Eco-friendly touches abound at this hotel, from the plant-covered "green roof" to wooden decks made from salvaged lumber. A block from Healdsburg Plaza, the H2Hotel is within walking distance of many restaurants, shops, and tasting rooms, and many wineries are just a short drive away. Earthy items like striped tiger-bamboo floors, wool-felt area rugs, and side tables made from blocks of elm lend warmth to the guest rooms, whose white walls and bedding inspire serenity. Rooms come in three categories (from smallest to largest): eco-king, eco-studio, and eco-suite. Each room has a patio or small balcony, and the thoughtful touches include ample luggage storage and king beds that can be converted into two twins.

Pros

  • Stylish modern design
  • Free bikes for use around town
  • Relaxing pool and public areas

Cons

  • Least expensive rooms lack bathtubs
  • Lacks on-site fitness center
  • Can get pricey in high season
219 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, CA, 95448, USA
707-922–5251
Hotel Details
36 rooms
Free Breakfast

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Meadowood Napa Valley

$$$$ | 900 Meadowood La., St. Helena, CA, 94574, USA
Meadowood Napa Valley, St. Helena
Courtesy of Meadowood Napa Valley

This elite 250-acre resort's celebrated restaurant and more than half its accommodations were destroyed in the 2020 Glass Fire, but the spa, pools, tennis courts, fitness center, and a fair number of cottages in one part survived, with continuing reconstruction in other areas not expected to affect the guest experience. The scrupulously maintained rooms have vaulted, white, open-beam ceilings, designer furniture in shades of brown, and gas or wood fireplaces. The supremely comfortable king beds, all with down bedding, are situated to take advantage of most rooms' close-up views of the property's oaks, firs, redwoods, and other trees. Under chef Christopher Kostow, The Restaurant at Meadowood won high praise from critics and patrons and three Michelin stars. Until the restaurant returns in a few years, Forum provides meal service in a temporary (if semi-fancy) structure between the pool and the tennis courts.

Pros

  • Scrupulously maintained rooms
  • All-organic spa
  • Gracious service

Cons

  • Fire’s effects still noticeable in some areas
  • Far from downtown St. Helena
  • Weekend minimum-stay requirement
900 Meadowood La., St. Helena, CA, 94574, USA
707-531–4788
Hotel Details
36 rooms
No Meals

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Andaz Napa

$$$ | 1450 1st St., Napa, CA, 94559, USA

Part of the Hyatt family, this boutique hotel with an urban-hip vibe has spacious guest rooms with white-marble bathrooms stocked with high-quality products. Rooms come in several categories, from standard kings to loftlike rooms, some of which have a private balcony and face an interior terrace. Dual-sided glass-enclosed fireplaces facing both the sitting and sleeping areas are a nice touch in junior-suite rooms. The lobby is a cross between living room and lounge. There's no front desk. Instead, hosts appear with iPads for speedy check-in, immediately offering a beverage to make guests feel in good care.

Pros

  • More than half the rooms are suites
  • Proximity to downtown restaurants, theaters, and tasting rooms
  • Cheery attentive service

Cons

  • Unremarkable views from some rooms
  • Expensive on weekends in high season
  • Lobby can feel cramped and uninviting
1450 1st St., Napa, CA, 94559, USA
707-687–1234
Hotel Details
141 rooms
No Meals

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Auberge Sonoma

$$$ | 151 E. Napa St., Sonoma, CA, 95476, USA

Groups or those who simply prefer lodgings that feel more like home should consider these two-bedroom suites just off Sonoma Plaza. All have fully stocked kitchens (cookware, dishes, utensils)—although with several of Sonoma's best restaurants nearby, you may not do much cooking. Each suite comes with air-conditioning, a gas fireplace, a patio or balcony, Wi-Fi access, and washer/dryer, and all the bedrooms have California-king beds.

Pros

  • Good value for couples traveling together
  • Close to Sonoma Plaza shops, restaurants, and tasting rooms
  • Owners (Sonoma Valley Escapes) operate similar nearby lodgings if these are full

Cons

  • Two-night minimum (three on summer weekends)
  • Lacks pool and other amenities
  • More or less self-serve
151 E. Napa St., Sonoma, CA, 95476, USA
707-939–5670-voice mail
Hotel Details
3 suites
No Meals

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AutoCamp Russian River

$$$ | 14120 Old Cazadero Rd., Guerneville, CA, 95446, USA

Guests at this spot along the Russian River camp (well, sort of) in luxury under the redwoods in cute-as-a-button Airstream trailers decked out with top-notch beds, linens, and bath products, with smaller "Happier Camper" and tent options (not year-round) only for two. The cleverly modified Airstreams have all the mod cons and remarkably roomy bathrooms with walk-in showers. Ten luxury tents, a relative bargain, are set up during the summer. They don't have showers, but guests use the facilities in the mid-century modern–inspired clubhouse.

Pros

  • Some Airstreams have private hot tubs outside
  • Comfortable down beds
  • Campfire and barbecue pit for each Airstream

Cons

  • Lacks room service and other hotel amenities
  • Fee for housekeeping
  • Tents late spring–mid-fall only, with two-guest maximum including children
14120 Old Cazadero Rd., Guerneville, CA, 95446, USA
888-405–7553
Hotel Details
34 rooms
No Meals

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Beltane Ranch

$$$ | 11775 Sonoma Hwy./Hwy. 12, Glen Ellen, CA, 95442, USA

On a slope of the Mayacamas range with gorgeous Sonoma Valley views, this working ranch, vineyard, winery, and lodging feels totally off the grid despite its location 2½ miles north of downtown Glen Ellen. From the decor and setting to the relaxed hospitality, nothing at the 105-acre property seems calculated or overly manicured. A stay at this spot owned by the same family for six generations provides a rare chance to experience the Wine Country lifestyle that predates the era of luxury inns and haute cuisine.

Pros

  • Bountiful breakfasts
  • Relaxed hospitality
  • Ranch setting

Cons

  • Downstairs rooms get some noise from upstairs rooms
  • Rates rise in summer and early fall
  • Working-ranch aspect may not work for luxury-oriented guests
11775 Sonoma Hwy./Hwy. 12, Glen Ellen, CA, 95442, USA
707-833–4233
Hotel Details
5 rooms
Free Breakfast

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Boon Hotel + Spa

$$ | 14711 Armstrong Woods Rd., Guerneville, CA, 95446, USA

Redwoods, Douglas firs, and palms supply shade and seclusion at this lushly landscaped resort ¾ mile north of downtown Guerneville. The pool and hot tub, both saline, and the on-site spa facilitate decompressing, but Main Street's bustle and dining options—including Boon Eat + Drink, under the same management—are easily accessible. The hotel provides complimentary orange bikes for rides into town, out to Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, or over to wineries and river beaches. Most guest rooms surround the pool, but a few quieter ones lie toward the property's rear. Beyond them, and more peaceful still, are a vintage camper and, available in summer only, three tasteful tent rooms sitting atop wooden platforms.

Pros

  • Breakfast delivered to rooms
  • Saline pool and hot tub
  • Additional rooms at co-owned, LGBTQ+ friendly The Highlands nearby

Cons

  • Lacks amenities of larger properties
  • Pool rooms too close to the action for some guests
  • Per website “a 21+ adult property"
14711 Armstrong Woods Rd., Guerneville, CA, 95446, USA
707-869–2721
Hotel Details
15 rooms
Free Breakfast

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Brannan Lofts

$$ | 1440 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga, CA, 94515, USA

On the second floor of a refurbished 1920s building, these light-filled lofts that debuted in 2024 position guests in the middle of downtown Calistoga’s retail, dining, and wine-tasting action. As with the affiliated Brannan Cottage Inn two blocks away (the properties are run jointly as the Brannan Hotels), upscale comfort is the goal, achieved here via custom contemporary furnishings, up-to-the-moment electronics, flat-screen smart TVs, espresso machines, and bathrooms with rain showers and heated floors and toilets. Four lofts have kitchenettes with induction cooktops. With contactless check-in, keyless rooms, and no front desk, the experience resembles an Airbnb more than a boutique hotel, though the GM and other staffers are nearby at the inn, whose café provides a complimentary breakfast for patrons booking directly through the website or by phone.

Pros

  • Four lofts have kitchenettes with induction cooktops
  • Spacious, upscale accommodations
  • Contactless check-in, keyless rooms (think Airbnb
  • There’s no front desk)

Cons

  • No elevator (and stairs are somewhat steep)
  • Must walk two blocks for breakfast, not included for bookings through third-party sites
  • Early- to mid-evening noise (sometimes live music) from nearby restaurants and bars
1440 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga, CA, 94515, USA
707-942–4200
Hotel Details
5 rooms
Free Breakfast

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The Bungalows at Calistoga

$$$ | 207 Wappo Ave., Calistoga, CA, 94515, USA

These spacious (584–889-square-foot) contemporary bungalows provide guests with an upscale, up-to-date home away from home, with fireplaces, outdoor patios and dining areas, wireless and streaming-service connectivity, fully equipped kitchens, and washers and dryers. With all the accommodations sleeping up to four, the bungalows work well for families or couples traveling together.

Pros

  • Contemporary style
  • Five-minute walk to downtown Calistoga
  • Rates include up to four guests

Cons

  • Lacks room service and other hotel amenities
  • No pool or fitness center
  • More vacation rental than hosted lodging
207 Wappo Ave., Calistoga, CA, 94515, USA
707-517–0617
Hotel Details
3 bungalows
No Meals

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Calistoga Motor Lodge and Spa

$ | 1880 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga, CA, 94515, USA

About half the rooms here, decorated in mid-century modern style, date to this property's 1947 origins as a roadside motel, with the newer remaining ones edging this Hyatt–JdV Collection quasi-resort into budget-boutique territory. With the MoonAcre Spa, Fleetwood Calistoga restaurant, and multiple geothermal pools (one adults-only), the hotel provides decent value with its lower-end accommodations and a touch of class at the upper end. Amenities include comfortable beds, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen HDTVs.

Pros

  • 10-minute walk to downtown shops and restaurants
  • Complimentary cruiser bikes for guest use
  • Above-average restaurant and spa

Cons

  • Some street-side rooms pick up traffic noise (ask for a room in back)
  • Not worth it when prices rise on busy weekends
  • Small bathrooms in older section
1880 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga, CA, 94515, USA
707-737–0000
Hotel Details
102 rooms
No Meals

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Carneros Resort and Spa

$$$$ | 4048 Sonoma Hwy./Hwy. 121, Napa, CA, 94559, USA

A winning combination of glamour, service, and pastoral seclusion makes this resort with freestanding board-and-batten cottages the perfect getaway for active lovebirds or families and groups seeking to unwind. The several bars, a tasting room (wine and spirits flights, plus beer and nonalcoholic beverages), and restaurants on property and the Town Square's lawn games area and Pavilion open-air lounge provide numerous opportunities for socializing, but when it's time to power down, the cottages and suites deliver the utmost in privacy. Natural light floods the cottages, whose French doors lead to private gardens, some with firepits and outdoor soaking tubs. Fireplaces, ethereal beds topped with plush linens, and spacious bathrooms with heated slate floors and large indoor-outdoor showers may make it difficult to summon the will to head to the hilltop infinity swimming pool and hot tub, where the vineyard views never fail to astound. The Hilltop dining room is open to guests only, but Farm and the Boon Fly Café, both public restaurants, are popular with visitors throughout the Wine Country.

Pros

  • Cottages have lots of privacy
  • Views from hilltop pool and hot tub
  • Heaters on private patios

Cons

  • Long drive to upvalley destinations
  • Least expensive accommodations pick up highway noise
  • Pricey pretty much year-round
4048 Sonoma Hwy./Hwy. 121, Napa, CA, 94559, USA
707-299–4900
Hotel Details
100 rooms
Free Breakfast

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Cottage Grove Inn

$$$ | 1711 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga, CA, 94515, USA

A long driveway lined with freestanding, elm-shaded cottages with rocking chairs on their porches looks like Main Street USA, but inside each skylighted building you'll find all the perks necessary for a romantic weekend getaway. Each cottage has its own variation on the comfy-rustic look, with overstuffed chairs in front of the fireplaces and wicker furniture on the front porches the constant. Bright whites, high-quality bedding and linens, and colorful throws and pillows add a touch of style. In-room amenities include flat-screen TVs, safes, coffee machines, and picnic backpacks for winery lunches. Spas and restaurants are within walking distance.

Pros

  • Spacious cottages
  • Hideaway feel
  • Huge bathtubs

Cons

  • No pool
  • Some rooms pick up street noise
  • Weekend minimum-stay requirement
1711 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga, CA, 94515, USA
707-942–8400
Hotel Details
16 cottages
No Meals

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Cottage Inn & Spa

$$$ | 310 1st St. E, Sonoma, CA, 95476, USA

Delivering romance and relaxation is the raison d'être of this courtyard complex 1½ blocks north of Sonoma Plaza. Near restaurants, shops, and tasting rooms but quiet and seemingly off the beaten path, the Cottage Inn pleases sensitive travelers with serene style and graceful touches. Mexican-tile floors, leather furniture, and, in some rooms, brown wooden doors recall Sonoma’s 19th-century origins, but with the white walls and mostly pastel shades a mildly New Age sensibility prevails. Room types range from a spacious suite with a full kitchen to a small but not cramped courtyard room that's a bargain in high season.

Pros

  • Convenient to restaurants, shops, and tasting rooms
  • Quiet location
  • Four suites with double Jacuzzi tubs

Cons

  • Books up far ahead for summer weekends
  • Some bathrooms only have a shower
  • Lacks amenities such as room service, restaurant, pool, or gym
310 1st St. E, Sonoma, CA, 95476, USA
707-996–0719
Hotel Details
9 rooms
Free Breakfast

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Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs

$$ | 1507 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga, CA, 94515, USA

A slightly kitschy spa, relaxing heated mineral pools, and the health-oriented House of Better restaurant are among the pluses of this playfully retro mid-century-style resort. Natural wood and soft browns and whites predominate in the guest rooms, whose bright-orange and aqua-blue accents supply vintage verve. Accommodations range from smallish standard rooms to suites, a bungalow, a cottage, and a Victorian residence. On-site hot springs warm the resort's mud baths, part of a regimen that can also include a steam bath, a mineral-water soak, and a massage.

Pros

  • Easy walk to shops, restaurants, and tasting rooms
  • Twin bunks in family rooms
  • Heated mineral pools

Cons

  • Some rooms pick up street noise
  • No room service
  • Kitschy aesthetic may not work for some guests
1507 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga, CA, 94515, USA
707-942–4102
Hotel Details
49 rooms
No Meals

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El Bonita Motel

$$ | 195 Main St./Hwy. 29, St. Helena, CA, 94574, USA

A classic 1950s-style neon sign marks the driveway to this roadside motel whose off-season rates appeal to budget-minded travelers. In high season, you'll pay a premium for the convenient location along Highway 29 a mile south of Main Street’s prime restaurants and shops, but the rooms are tidy, and the landscaped grounds and picnic tables elevate the property over similar accommodations. Family-friendly pluses include rollaway beds and cribs for a modest charge. To avoid highway noise, ask for a room farthest from the road.

Pros

  • Cheerful rooms
  • Family-friendly
  • Microwaves and mini-refrigerators

Cons

  • Noise issues in roadside and ground-floor rooms
  • Expensive in high season
  • Lacks amenities of fancier properties
195 Main St./Hwy. 29, St. Helena, CA, 94574, USA
707-963–3216
Hotel Details
52 rooms
Free Breakfast

Quick Facts

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El Dorado Hotel

$$ | 405 1st St. W, Sonoma, CA, 95476, USA

Guest rooms in this remodeled 1843 building skew contemporary with their furnishings, but the expressive wallpaper hints at days past. Each room has a small balcony or patio either street-side or facing a courtyard where guests lounge around the pool or sip cocktails. All rooms are equipped with refrigerators, safes, 42-inch flat-screen TVs, espresso makers, electric kettles, and handheld clothes steamers. Although many patrons consider the Sonoma Plaza location above a bustling restaurant and bar a boon, earplugs are advised for all but the heaviest sleepers—or book one of the four ground-floor patio rooms in back.

Pros

  • Stylish for the price (check website for discounts)
  • On-site El Dorado Kitchen restaurant
  • Central location

Cons

  • Rooms are small, though patios and balconies keep them from feeling claustrophobic
  • Street noise audible in some rooms
  • Parking can be problematic
405 1st St. W, Sonoma, CA, 95476, USA
707-996–3030
Hotel Details
27 rooms
No Meals

Quick Facts

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El Pueblo Inn

$ | 896 W. Napa St., Sonoma, CA, 95476, USA

A giant pepper tree and a few palms tower over the garden courtyard of this updated 1959 motel whose landscaping, festive pool area, and thoughtful service make a stay here worth considering. Rooms, which come in three classes—Adobe, Sonoma, and California—are furnished with refrigerators, coffee/tea makers, safes, and flat-screen TVs. Adobe rooms, the least expensive, aren't quite as spiffy, but they face the interior garden courtyard, making them among the quietest. Sonoma rooms include down comforters, recliners or sofa beds, and patios or balconies. Some Sonoma and California rooms have a fireplace; all California rooms have a patio.

Pros

  • Festive pool area
  • Expanded continental breakfast buffet
  • Helpful hosts

Cons

  • Rates can spike in high season
  • Street noise an issue in some rooms
  • Several blocks west of Sonoma Plaza
896 W. Napa St., Sonoma, CA, 95476, USA
707-996–3651
Hotel Details
53 rooms
Free Breakfast

Quick Facts

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Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa

$$$$ | 100 Boyes Blvd./Hwy. 12, Sonoma, CA, 95476, USA

The draw at this mission-style resort is the extensive spa with its array of massages and treatments, some designed for couples. The focus on fitness and rejuvenation extends to an adjacent 7,100-yard golf course winding through trees and vineyards, a changing schedule of fitness classes, and guided hiking excursions on Fridays and weekends. Fairmont and Deluxe guest rooms aren't large (some of the former are less than 300 square feet) but are supremely comfortable; some have patios or balconies. Vineyard (500 square feet) and Mission (550 square feet) suites feel roomier and have fireplaces and Jacuzzi tubs. Most Vineyard Suites have patios or balconies, as do some Mission ones. A few Legacy Collection one-bedroom suites range from 600 to 1,010 square feet. The chefs at the resort's Santé restaurant prepare modern American cuisine.

Pros

  • Full-service hotel
  • Enormous spa and other wellness services
  • Santé restaurant's modern American cuisine

Cons

  • Smallish standard rooms
  • Parking fee (self or valet)
  • Hefty resort fee, albeit with decent perks
100 Boyes Blvd./Hwy. 12, Sonoma, CA, 95476, USA
800-540–4499
Hotel Details
226 rooms
No Meals

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Flamingo Resort

$$ | 2777 4th St., Santa Rosa, CA, 95405, USA

If Don Draper from Mad Men popped into this 1950s motel-hotel hybrid 2¼ miles northeast of downtown Santa Rosa, he'd feel right at home. Guest rooms, all with refrigerators and coffeemakers, retain their high ceilings and that old-school flair. They're spread out in several fieldstone-clad buildings connected by glass-enclosed walkways encircling the Olympic-size outdoor pool. The suites and premium rooms, some with poolside patios, are spacious, and all the rooms have retro decor touches. From certain angles, the Flamingo exudes mid-century style, but although it has a large central pool, a spa, and a fitness center, the place feels more motor lodge than resort. One plus is the poolside Lazeaway Club restaurant and bar, with tropical-themed drinks and a party atmosphere. Sunday poolside brunch is a treat.

Pros

  • Movie star Jayne Mansfield partied here in the 1960s
  • Retro decor
  • Poolside Flamingo Lazeaway Club for Sunday brunch

Cons

  • 30-minute walk to downtown
  • Service lapses
  • Feels more motor lodge than resort
2777 4th St., Santa Rosa, CA, 95405, USA
707-545–8530
Hotel Details
170 rooms
No Meals

Quick Facts

  • $$

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Gaige House

$$$ | 13540 Arnold Dr., Glen Ellen, CA, 95442, USA

There's no other place in Sonoma or Napa quite like the Gaige House, which blends the best elements of a traditional country inn, a boutique hotel, and a secluded hideaway. Black and white predominate in the individually decorated guest rooms, with muted grays and lightish-brown hues softening the effect. The main house, an 1890 Queen Anne, contains more than half the rooms, whose features vary. Two newer structures hold Zen Suites, all of which have private gardens and deep granite soaking tubs. Some Zen suites face Calabazas Creek (these are the most desirable); others have interior courtyard views. Magnolia, oak, and other trees shade the backyard and its swimming pool and hot tub area.

Pros

  • Short walk to Glen Ellen restaurants, shops, and tasting rooms
  • Swimming pool and hot tub area
  • Freshly baked cookies and afternoon wine hour

Cons

  • Sound carries in the main house
  • Least expensive rooms are on the small side
  • Oriented more toward couples than families with children
13540 Arnold Dr., Glen Ellen, CA, 95442, USA
707-935–0237
Hotel Details
23 rooms
Free Breakfast

Quick Facts

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The George

$$$ | 492 Randolph St., Napa, CA, 94559, USA

Tall palms tower over this restored three-story boutique inn, an elaborate 1891 Queen Anne–style structure once dubbed "the handsomest house in town.” The inn is decorated in a palette of soft whites, grays, and occasional browns, and the guest rooms contain custom-made beds with plush headboards outfitted with top-of-the-line mattresses and bedding. Each room enchants in its way. A second-floor corner room, for instance, has a rounded-bay-window sitting area, a marble-clad shower for two, and a generous spaciousness that makes it ideal for extended stays. A smaller third-floor accommodation in the middle of the house, its ceilings at artistically odd angles, is a cozy delight for one or two nights.

Pros

  • Period character with contemporary style
  • In a quiet neighborhood but only a few blocks from downtown
  • High ceilings add to feeling of spaciousness

Cons

  • First come, first served on-site parking (though ample street spaces in vicinity)
  • No elevator (but one ground-floor ADA room)
  • Per website, inn “is best suited for guests over 12"
492 Randolph St., Napa, CA, 94559, USA
707-596–5168
Hotel Details
9 rooms
Free Breakfast

Quick Facts

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Geyserville Inn

$$ | 21714 Geyserville Ave., Geyserville, CA, 95441, USA

Give the Healdsburg hubbub and prices the heave-ho but still have easy access to outstanding Dry Creek and Alexander Valley wineries from this two-story motel-like inn. The best rooms are in the back on the second floor and have decks with vineyard views. All the rooms are done in subtle grays; many have fireplaces, and some have balconies. Should you suddenly crave a little Healdsburg action, the town's plaza is less than 10 miles away.

Pros

  • Outdoor pool
  • Second-floor rooms in back have vineyard views
  • Picnic area

Cons

  • Rooms facing pool or highway can be noisy
  • Minimum-stay requirement on weekends
  • Not worth price on weekends in high season
21714 Geyserville Ave., Geyserville, CA, 95441, USA
707-857–4343
Hotel Details
41 rooms
No Meals

Quick Facts

  • $$

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Hampton Inn Petaluma

$ | 450 Jefferson St., Petaluma, CA, 94952, USA

The former Carlson-Currier Silk Mill, its oldest section dating to 1892, houses this atypical Hampton Inn, some of whose guest rooms have 14-foot ceilings and exposed-brick walls. Historical maps and vintage and recent Petaluma photographs decorate the rooms, done in rich gray tones that complement the red brick. Some standard queen rooms feel small, but the suites are spacious. Business travelers enjoy access to photocopying and a few other amenities. A plentiful buffet is laid out each morning in the mill's former dye room, a contender for the chain's classiest breakfast venue.

Pros

  • Original architectural details in some rooms
  • Classy breakfast area
  • Fitness and business centers

Cons

  • Traffic noise (ask for a historic room away from the road)
  • Some standard rooms are small
  • No pool, nondescript neighborhood
450 Jefferson St., Petaluma, CA, 94952, USA
707-397–0000
Hotel Details
75 rooms
Free Breakfast

Quick Facts

  • $

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