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Skip The Continental Breakfast and Order the Good Stuff at The Vintners Inn
There are no shortages of good places to eat in Sonoma and Napa so we're pretty sure that if you find yourself heading there one weekend, you will be well-fed. But since we're always asking what you did over the weekend, we thought we'd fill you in on what we did this weekend.
We headed up to Santa Rosa in Sonoma County for a family wedding and shacked up at the so-so Flamingo Resort which is essentially an old 60s motel that has been renovated for the 21st century. Room rates were $109 a night and the sheets were extraordinarily crisp and clean. Other than that, we have really nothing to rave or rant about.
But on Sunday morning, we found ourselves at the Vintners Inn, a hotel on a proper vineyard.
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'Dive Bar' Wednesdays at The Bardessono Pool
Can’t afford even the low-season $300 a night rate at Yountville’s new eco-resort, Bardessono Hotel? Fear not. The exclusive resort opens up its guests-only rooftop pool to non-guests on Wednesday evenings from 6:00-9:00pm for its punny Dive Bar, so even Napa townies can enjoy the stunning mountain and vineyard views while enjoying a dip and a drink while DJ's spin tunes near the bar.
The secluded pool is usually open only to resort guests, who come to lie in piece and quiet in one of the screened off day-bed cabanas. Come Wednesday evening, though, anyone can stop by the rooftop cement pond, and they're encouraged to come in their bathing suits to take a dip between bar rounds, with drinks going for just $8 each. The resort even throws in complimentary valet parking. That way, everyone can enjoy the privileges of being a hotel guest without having to spend a night.
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Inside Napa's Bardessono Hotel
Last week, we had the good fortune to spend a glorious fall day amongst the sun-warmed vines and valleys of Napa. Between wine-tasting rendezvous, we managed to invoke the tiniest bit of professionalism and took a tour of MTM Luxury Lodging’s new Bardessono Hotel in Yountville, which aims to be the greenest hotel in America. By the looks of it, they’re well on their way, but judge for yourself based on our video tour of one of their rooms.
Besides conventional eco-resort initiatives like LEED certification, controls that turn off the electrical systems when guests leave a room, and an organic garden that provides produce for the restaurant, the resort has also forged ahead with several distinct environmental practices that set it apart from other hotels.
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Hotel Luca Will Open in Yountville Later This Fall
We apologize in advance for any hurt feelings. Living on the Monterey Peninsula (aptly dubbed the land of the newlywed and nearly dead) seemed like a grand idea, but was ultimately a mind-numbingly boring exercise nwhich we ended up enduring for nearly five years in the name of love. (Visiting is a whole different scenario.) We despise golf, dig live music and culture, appreciate diversity and don’t have a trust fund.
We also like to eat out past 9 p.m., which was a difficult feat until restaurateur/hotelier David Fink opened instant restaurant hit, Cantinetta Luca. That single smart business decision played a major part in making our social life on the Monterey Peninsula more tolerable.
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The Gaia Napa Valley Hotel is Green But Not Luxe
Every so often we feature a hotel review from one of our readers that we feel should be shared with the rest of you dear hotel guests. These reviews are highlighted because they are timely, about cool hotels in cool places and are relatively level-headed. Think you can submit one just like this? Send it in.
The other day, a couple very near and dear to us took our recommendation and spent the night at the new-ish, LEED-certified Gaia Napa Valley Hotel and Spa in American Canyon, Calif. While a romantic inn in Yountville was a more desired lodging option, the price was right for our friends at this hotel--$92 a night on Expedia.
So how did this green hotel turn out? Eh. Our friend writes:
It was "green" and won the coveted LEED award, but it really was not too special--somewhere between a Motel Six and a Holiday Inn. We had a good night's sleep but we wouldn't recommend it.
While they also sent us room photos, the snapshots were too blurry to post so we just have some exterior shots to show you. We can tell you that the beds do look comfortable but the rest of the room lacks warmth.
On the plus side, there was a pretty little pond out front and some swans to look at. And our friend assured us the place was clean, unlike most Motel 6s and Holiday Inns. Sigh, at least the price was right.
Some more photos of Gaia Napa Valley Hotel after the jump.
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La Vita e Bella at Vino Bello Resort in Napa
Want to do wine country on the cheap? Expedia.com is offering a special package at the Vino Bello Resort in Napa with air and three nights’ accommodation starting at $674 per person, or just book the hotel room for $236 per night. The deal is advertised for a stay from May 25-29, but you can get room rates as low as $167 for a mid-week stay throughout May.
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NYT Finds Too Many Kinks at Napa Valley's Solage Calistoga
Since Solage Calistoga set up shop in Napa Valley more than a year ago, the reviews have been a decidedly mixed bag. Take TA reviews, for starters, where some folks love the relaxing and hip vibe while others still complain of opening kinks that haven't quite worked themselves out yet. This past weekend, the New York Times joined the fray with an official review.
Run by the operators of Napa Valley grande dame Auberge du Soleil, Solage Calistoga is intended for a younger, more design-forward wine-swilling crowd. (NYT points to the Verve Remixed soundtrack in the pool area as proof.) The "New Urbanist's boutique hotel" has simple cottages linked by landscaped paths leading to the mammoth pool, restaurant, spa, and sunken bocce court.
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Unoriginal Name, Unbeatable Wine Country Getaway
The “Ultimate California Wine Country Getaway” from BeautifulPlaces is the ultimate getaway, because after paying for it, you won’t be able to go on any other trips…ever.
BeautifulPlaces, a luxury travel agency that specializes in villa rentals in Napa and Sonoma, has created the Ultimate Culinary Getaway Package for a “once-in-a-lifetime wine country experience.”
You and up to nine of your nearest and dearest will stay for three days/four nights at Villa Carneros, a five-bedroom Sonoma estate surrounded by vineyards, and just minutes from the town of Sonoma itself. And just in case you were wondering, it is not related to the Carneros Inn.
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Spend The Night in Napa in a Train Car
No, we’re not suggesting you become a hobo, riding the rails cross-country, stopping in a Podunk town every now and then to take in the view and scrounge for scraps. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find your bliss by sleeping in a converted train car at the Napa Valley Railway Inn in Napa.
This unusual lodging establishment is located within a couple miles of the Stag’s Leap, Oakville, Oak Knoll and Rutherford districts, in the almost oppressively manicured hamlet of Yountville, ground zero for foodies and oenophiles alike.
The hotel itself is a breath of fresh air with converted railway cars for guest rooms that sit along actual railway ties from the now defunct Napa Valley Railway. That means the accommodations are narrow. Very narrow.
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After Enough Good Wine, You Won't Mind The Puns at The Just Inn
When most people imagine California's wine country, they think Napa and Sonoma. But just three hours south of San Francisco and less than four hours north of Los Angeles in an area called Paso Robles, we've discovered there's competitive wine, Justin Wines, to taste, and a ridiculously charming getaway, The JUST Inn. If you can slip away for a few nights, JUST Inn is spectacular during the low season when you might have the whole place to yourself. Do note: cell phones get no service, but if you must, you can enjoy free WiFi. (C'mon we're not completely technologically suicidal here.)
Of the other 100+ wineries around Paso (that's what locals call it) like Adelaida Cellars, Chateau De Deighton and Midlife Crisis Winery, Justin is viewed as one of the more posh and luxe.
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Hone Your Truffle Skills at The Westin Verasa's Truffle Camps
Truffles, no matter what kind, can usually send foodies into a sort of spasm at first whiff. Truffles have also become status symbols as the rarest kinds can fetch up to $200,000 like one white truffle did last month at an auction.
Thus the cost of truffles means there are no room for mistakes when cooking with them. If you are considering purchasing a truffle, then you might want to also consider Truffle Camp at the Westin Verasa in Napa, Calif.
Executive Chef Ken Frank of the hotel's La Toque restaurant is holding his Ken Frank's Truffle Camps from January 11-14 and from January 18-21.
Truffle Camp will include three days of dinners, wine tastings, luncheons, lodging in Napa’s newest upscale resort and hands on experience preparing truffle dishes.
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See Wine Country the Back Way On a Bike
We know how hard it can be to get exercise while traveling (especially when hotels charge extra for the fitness center!) In fact, the scale tends to tell the truth about vacation dining. Backroads Travel Company has an answer to this problem: Northern California Winery Biking Tour!
That's right. In addition to sipping wine and living the high life, vacationers will get their exercise with 20-30 mile daily rides through Sonoma Country during this weekend tour of Alexander Valley right in the heart of wine country.
At the end of the day, kick back at the Geyserville Inn, a family-run inn with views of mountains and vineyards and a jacuzzi for sore muscles.
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