California - 2 nights in Napa area, where?

Doing a MR to SFO, flying from the east coast for 2 nights late august and we need a hotel recommendation in the Napa or Sonoma area. We're planning on visiting a few wineries, generally admiring outdoors. Prefer a hilton on marriott property.

Doing a MR to SFO, flying from the east coast for 2 nights late august and we need a hotel recommendation in the Napa or Sonoma area. We're planning on visiting a few wineries, generally admiring outdoors. Prefer a hilton on marriott property.

I prefer Sonoma to Napa for wine touring - and I would recommend either the Doubletree or the Hilton in the Santa Rosa area, or the Renaissance in the town of Sonoma among your preferred brands. There is also a good Hyatt in Santa Rosa as well.

Those are the big chains - but there are a slew of quite nice upscale B&Bs or boutique hotels in the area as well: My favorite of these would be the Farmhouse Inn in Forestville (outskirts of Santa Rosa), with my 2nd choice being the Vintner's Inn also in the outskirts of Santa Rosa.

I don't know what days of the week you'll be doing this, but weekend rates are MUCH higher than weekday rates in wine country, and during the week, you can probably score a place like the Doubletree, Hilton or Hyatt, for under $70 a night on Priceline or Hotwire, whereas during weekends, you're going to be looking at rates in the $250-300 a night range.

BTW, be sure to check out the threads on wine touring in Napa/Sonoma that are listed in the San Francisco sub-forum.

We have stayed at the Embassy Suites in Napa several times when we could not get a room at the Westin. I would rate it somewhat nicer than your average ES with a large lobby and very attractive courtyard and pool area. It is also very convenient, less than 1 block off the 29 freeway. If you stay there, ask for a room that does not face the freeway.

You're not kidding about the prices on weekends! Sheesh. We're there Fri-Sun. Right now I just booked a room in Sebastopol. Thanks for the tip on Santa Rosa.

I've stayed at all of them and the one I like the best (three stays this year alone) is the Napa Valley Marriott.