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Napa Valley - Where to Stay
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Napa Valley Home
Schmap Napa Valley guide and map

Of the millions of tourists traveling through Napa Valley every year, there are some who naturally want to stay for a day or two. The valley's lodgings stand ready, as graceful, pleasant, and varied as its wines.

Options

The first question one needs to ask oneself is whether to stay in a hotel or a bed and breakfast. Bed and breakfasts aren't for everyone: for better or worse, you are staying in a home. There may be chocolates and milk at bedtime, but the floorboards can squeak. There are, however, more B&Bs than hotels and motels, especially when you get outside the city of Napa and go up-valley.

If you have decided on a hotel, then you have to decide which kind. Something simple and modern? Something historical with character? A resort hotel, perhaps? And do you require a winery on the premises? There's a hotel and a bed and breakfast for every taste, and most pocketbooks.

Basic Information

A note on prices, by the way: budget hotels are $70 or less, and the most expensive resorts can easily run $200 or $300 a night. The average room in the area is in the $100-$150 range. Rates at bed and breakfasts are similar, slightly more pricey at the bottom of the scale, but with a considerably lower top end. (There simply isn't that much you can do with a bed and breakfast or an old inn to make it worth more than $180.)

One other bit of advice: many Napa hotels and bed and breakfasts have a two-night minimum stay. Ask about this in advance-it may save you some driving.

Chain Hotels

For some, the very reliability of a national chain is the key to a good night's sleep. And Napa Valley has name brand hotels for every budget, from the high-toned Embassy Suites down to the Travelodge. In between, there are the Marriott, the Best Western, and the Comfort Inn. All are in Napa, except for the Comfort Inn, which, because it's in Calistoga, has a mineral water swimming pool and whirlpool tub.

Character and History

Others may want their hotel to reflect a bit of the place's character and history. Napa's Old World Inn is a good example: built in 1906, its color scheme is a hyper-Victorian pink, violet, blue and mint green.

Other vintage hostelries that tend towards the quirky are the rustic, bare bones Triple-S-Ranch, just outside of Calistoga; the creaky-floored Calistoga Inn, straight out of the Old West and perched atop a microbrewery; and the Napa Valley Railway Inn, in Yountville, a complex of nine restored railway cars arranged around a central platform and station house.

Luxury

A few miles and 180 degrees away are the valley's luxe hotels and resort.

Yountville's Napa Valley Lodge lays out complimentary champagne breakfasts. Rancho Caymus (in Rutherford) is carefully fashioned after a Spanish colonial hacienda; its rooms are chock-full of impressive antiques and native crafts from the former Spanish Empire. In St. Helena, rooms at the winery-styled Inn at Southbridge are equipped with ports for modems, and the Hotel St. Helena is a recently refurbished jewel of Victoriana.

Bed-and-Breakfasts

The many bed and breakfasts of the wine country roughly divided into two groups: the small-and-cozy, and those that blur the line between a bed and breakfast and an inn. Prices run the gamut in both categories.

Of the larger bed and breakfasts, Maison Flure, with 13 rooms, La Residence Country Inn (16), Blue Violet Mansion (17), and Christopher's Inn (22) are some the more popular. Micro-B&Bs under five rooms dot the valley in profusion and are almost unfailingly quaint. Trubody Ranch, the Cinnamon Bear Bed & Breakfast, and the Foothill House are some of the most precious (in the best sense of the word) of the bunch.

Rates Vary

Mind that the rates are not correlated the size of the place: the four guest rooms of the Foothill House are $250 and up-each. Amenities at the more costly B&Bs are impressive, though, and might include two-person jacuzzis in the bathroom, Laura Ashley prints on the beds, CD stereos, private verandas and patios, and breakfasts on the order of baked pears in cognac sauce, baked herbed eggs, and fresh muffins.

Something Unique

If part of your attraction to bed and breakfasts is to escape the suffocating, corporate sameness of hotel chains-i.e. if you're looking for a unique experience-you would do well to try the Ambrose Bierce House. Bierce, author of the Devil's Dictionary, was famed for writing ghost stories, for being a misanthrope, and for disappearing mysteriously and permanently in Mexico. And this is indeed his house. There's nothing at all spooky about the lovely St. Helena three-room B&B, however, and the hosts aren't the least bit misanthropic.

Pucker Up

You might cluck over Scarlett's Country Inn in Calistoga. It used to be a chicken-processing building. Dogs and chickens still have the run of the grounds, in fact. This may or may not be one of the Best Places to Kiss in Northern California (so dubbed by the book of the same name), but the nearby Pink Mansion, apparently, is: it rated a mention in that publication (as it did in Wine Spectator magazine).

A note on children: some bed and breakfasts don't take children, many more "do not encourage" them. Ask in advance about this, and get a clear answer!

Copyright 1999-2005 Wcities, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Contact Wcities

Ambrose Bierce House

Cozy B&B for misanthropes

1515 Main St
Napa Valley, CA 94574
United States
+1 707 963 3003
http://www.ambrosebiercehouse.com
ambrose@napanet.net

Ambrose Bierce, author of The Devil's Dictionary, was famed for writing ghost stories, for being a misanthrope and for disappearing mysteriously and permanently in Mexico. This 1872 Victorian is his house, packed with Bierce memorabilia. There's nothing at all spooky about this lovely Saint Helena bed and breakfast. Nor could the proprietors be less misanthropic. The appointments are in the best Victorian taste. There are four guest room: the Ambrose Bierce suite, The Lillie Langtry Room, The Eadweard Muybridge Room and The Mollie Day Room.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: wcities

Blue Violet Mansion

Award winning B&B 443 Brown St
Napa Valley, CA 94559
United States
+1 707 253 2583 / +1 800 959 2583
http://www.bluevioletmansion.com/
bviolet@napanet.net In 1996, The Official Hotel Guide named this 1886 Victorian mansion the Best Bed and Breakfast in North America. This romantic spot can serve a gourmet candlelight dinner in your room, if you wish. With names like the Empress Parlor and Lady Guenivere's Suite, couples can bask in the sheer elegance of Old World England. Gas fireplaces, dual bathtubs, hand-carved beds, stained glass, patios, painted canopies, it's all here for a luxurious romantic getaway. Many special requests can be made for bottles of wine, roses and several romantic excursions. It's a world-class bed and breakfast with world-class service.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Calistoga

Napa Valley
United States
Calistoga is famous for its. . .mud. Mud baths, along with mineral baths, saunas, hot steam treatments, whirlpools, and herbal body wraps, have all been an attraction of the area ever since San Francisco entrepreneur Sam Brannan first promoted the benefits of the area's hot springs in the mid-19th century. To get a feeling for the thermal springs without getting in one catch Old Faithful geyser. It spouts boiling water 60 feet into the air every half-hour or so.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: nmlind
Photo: chicagomike90
Photo: Anita Hart
Photo: Ryan DiFrancesco

La Residence Country Inn

Charming Napa B&B 4066 Howard Lane
Napa Valley, CA 94558
United States
+1 707 253 0337 / +1 800 253 9203
http://www.laresidence.com
reservations@laresidence.com This charming Napa Valley bed and breakfast looks like something out of Architectural Digest. Residing on two acres of land, the inn dates back to 1870 and consists of two buildings, one a Victorian structure, the other a French-style barn. Located in the Carnerous region, famous for its world-class wines, the inn is a lovely sight to see with grounds filled with Italian stone fountains, thick with California trees, a heated pool and spa, and a gazebo. Inside it's tastefully decorated with French doors, antique furnishings, Spanish tiles, majestic fireplaces, and a chef's kitchen.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Napa Valley Lodge

Elegant vacation resort 2230 Madison St
Napa Valley, CA 94599
United States
+1 707 944 2468
http://www.napavalleylodge.com
reservations@napavalleylodge.com After a multi-million dollar renovation, this lodge and conference facility is a top-of-the-line, luxurious accommodation in the heart of the Wine Country. Plush interiors, fireplaces, Victorian antique furniture, private terraces, huge baths, Spanish-style tile: it's all here. An incredible variety of packages are available and the lodge has spectacular service and hospitality, bringing in tourists and locals alike. This lodge is a great place for any type of event or getaway.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Napa Valley Railway Inn

Ride the rails into dreamland 6503 Washington Street
Napa Valley, CA 94599
United States
+1 707 944 2000 This Yountville inn - nine restored railway cars sitting on original track from the Napa Valley Railroad (now defunct, you don't have to worry about being derailed in the night), sits next to a central platform and station house. Rooms are comfortable, if narrow and long, with air conditioning and a bathroom. There is an additional, more conventionally oriented Station House Room. A good choice for kids, who are welcome here.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Napa Valley Railway Inn photo by wcities
Photo: wcities

Old World Inn

Old World charm 1301 Jefferson St
Napa Valley, CA 94559
United States
+1 707 257 0112 / +1 800 966 6624
http://www.oldworldinn.com/
inkeeper@oldworldinn.com Built in 1906, the Old World Inn is one of Napa's oldest bed and breakfasts. The atmosphere is casual and relaxed, almost like staying with friends. Each room in the main house has a different theme, such as Secret Garden, Bella Tuscany, and Night in Paris. Separate from the main house, Walden Cottage provides privacy and luxury, with a king-sized featherbed and French Country decor, and a whirlpool tub. Guest rooms feature fireplaces, individual private baths, and in-room home theaters. Upon check in, guests are greeted with the smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. And each day at 5:30p, guests meet and share their experiences at the inn's wine and cheese reception. The innkeepers are all "foodies", and love to prepare mouthwatering gourmet breakfasts and devastating chocolate desserts. Fresh fruit, custom blended French Press coffee, and special select teas are available at all hours.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: John MacEnulty
Photo: John MacEnulty

Pink Mansion

Spectacular romantic getaway 1415 Foothill Blvd
Napa Valley, CA 94515
United States
+1 707 942 0558 / +1 800 238 7465
http://www.pinkmansion.com
pink@napanet.net Built in 1875, this Victorian mansion has been mentioned in several publications, including the Wine Spectator and Best Places to Kiss in Northern California. The vibrant inn has been a historical landmark in Calistoga for a long time, and the rooms, each individually decorated, are colorful, intimate, luxurious and very relaxing. Enjoy the garden outside or lounge inside with the ornamental ceilings and wood-burning fireplaces. This is definitely a must for true romantics. The indoor pool is also a must, and do take advantage of the in-room massage service. The hospitality is excellent.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Jenny Qiu
Photo: Hendel
Photo: Mindy Roberts

Rutherford

Napa Valley
United States
Microscopic Rutherford, population 525, is home to Beaulieu (BV) Winery, Rutherford Grove, Rutherford Hill, St. Supery Vineyards & Winery, Mumm Napa Valley (of champagne fame) and Francis Ford Coppola's Niebaum-Coppola Estate Winery, which features memorabilia from his directorial career, including the Tucker automobile from the film of the same name. It's also a fine place to eat: Auberge de Soleil, La Toque, and the Rutherford Grill stand with the best of Yountville's superb French restaurants.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Nicole Hazard
Photo: tobc
Photo: Keira Heu-Jwyn Chang
Photo: Chris McSorley
Photo: Ron Brewer
Photo: Edward Adlers

Triple-S-Ranch

Ranch cabins cheap 4600 Mountain Home Ranch Road
Napa Valley, CA 94515
United States
+1 707 942 6730 Not fancy, bare-bones ranch living. This ranch has six cabins, each one's got a bathroom, and there's a restaurant in the barn. The restaurant, open April through December, is famous for its onion rings. There is a pool and just try to find another hotel in the valley with a bocce ball court. Five minutes out of Calistoga, it is near the Petrified Forest.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Other Schmapplets in this city related to "Napa Valley - Where to Stay"
Napa Valley
Napa Valley - Historical Background
Napa Valley - Neighborhood Guide
Napa Valley - Dining & Drinking
Napa Valley - Art & Entertainment
Other nearby cities:
Berkeley (63 miles)
San Francisco (73 miles)
Sacramento (85 miles)
San Jose and Silicon Valley (122 miles)
Monterey and Carmel (209 miles)
Lake Tahoe (222 miles)
Yosemite (250 miles)
Reno (257 miles)
Los Angeles (623 miles)
Las Vegas (711 miles)

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