California - Napa Valley , on a Budget

Just burning some USAirway DM , and doing a last minute trip from Virginia to Northern California. Want to spend 3 or 4 nights in or near Napa Valley. Carneros Inn is lovely , but not in the budget this trip. Although we may stop by for lunch at the Boon Fly Cafe. Did a similar trip last September, but 12 months of " Early Retirement " and a declining stock market has me looking for bargins this time.
I'm looking for room in the $120 range. (head hung in shame). Can't find anything in Calistoga, even at $240. okay , I might spend $240 for Calistoga or St. Helena, but not to stay on the Interstate , the other side of Napa.

I'm open to trying a Priceline search , looks like a lot in Sonoma, and some in Fairfield. ahh, fear of the unknown. Which would get me on the Silverado trail sooner?

And am I misjudging Sonoma. I've never really been there. My impression is it has more concrete and buildings between the Vinyards and wine tasting. Napa valley seems to be one uninterupted flow of vines and villages.

If you’re on a budget, get out of Napa. Sonoma or Mendocino counties can offer some great wines and a more real view of the industry. Napa has the “romance” but you pay for it.

Try Cloverdale in Sonoma County as a good base, central to some good easy drives to many wineries. A more upscale choice would be Healdsburg or even Santa Rosa

If you have never been there, take a ride to Anderson Valley in Mendocino County. Some of the best Pinots in the world IMHO (Navarro and Golden Eye are my two fav’s^^) and a bonus of a spectacular drive through the redwoods if you continue out to the coast.

Enjoy your trip!

Thanks for the Cloverdale suggestion. Can you name one hotel in Cloverdale. If you haven't stayed there don't worry. I'll read some trip advisor reviews.

How about Fairfield, California, just outside Napa? Looks to be only 30 minutes to St. Helena. Homewood Suites $120/night. Breakfast included.

I'm leaving for Napa next week. Got the Marriott Napa Valley bidding on Priceline for $120. Best deal yet that I've been able to find.

How about Fairfield, California, just outside Napa? Looks to be only 30 minutes to St. Helena.

Aside from the drive, Fairfield would work fine. There's a big mall there along I80, and a lot of franchise restaurants that you likely also have at home. You could even stop by Jelly Belly and do the tour there. Fairfield is home to Travis AFB. If you drive 15 mins up I80 there's a huge complex of factory stores in Vacaville (over 100).

I do think you're a little optimistic, though, to think you're going to make it from there to St Helena in 30 minutes. Maybe Yountville in 30 minutes, but think I'd make it 45 for St. Helena. A lot varies depending on the traffic, and you have all sorts of places along the way where it can bog down depending on time of day and day of week.

Another option is the new Fairfield Inn in American Canyon, though I checked and a number of dates are sold out, and it may be more expensive than what you have in Fairfield. Also look at Gaia Napa Valley which is a new environmentally friendly hotel that has won some awards, also on Highway 29 in American Canyon. I did a quick check for September and found one night for $89.
http://www.gaianapavalleyhotel.com/

Only downside with American Canyon is there isn't much there in terms of restaurants or amenities. There's a Super Walmart and some shops and restaurants (pizza, fast food), but you're quite a ways from anything else (either Napa or Vallejo). If you're just looking for a place to sleep at the end of the day, though, these would work. I drive by them frequently and their parking lots are packed. My sister and dad both live in American Canyon.

Gaia Napa Valley, very interesting place. not available on my dates now. the price is right. thanks for the suggestion

I'm leaving for Napa next week. Got the Marriott Napa Valley bidding on Priceline for $120. Best deal yet that I've been able to find.

Venice, I'd take that deal. I can't find it tonight on Priceline. I'll look again tomorrow. I'll probably pass you next week on the Silverado Trail.

Is that a 3* on Priceline?

I work in Fairfield, and I wouldn't recommend making it a base for a trip to Napa, Sonoma. Gaia would be a much better place. If you want more info on Fairfield, let me know, I work there, unfortunately.

eeeee, If you work in Fairfield, you should know. Fairfield is off my short list. I'm trying to find a room in the town of Napa. I'll try Priceline again tomorrow. If I have to move beyond Napa, what is the closest suggestion?

You could come down to Vallejo, but I'd be careful about which properties you stay at (read the reviews on Trip Advisor). The old Holiday Inn across from Marine World is now a Courtyard by Marriott, and across the freeway there is a Comfort Inn and Ramada Inn that have a fair selection of restaurants and shops nearby, as well as a Costco. There are some areas of Vallejo you don't want to wander into, mostly residential areas known for drug activity, but as long as you stay on the main roads with traffic you should be fine.

Venice, I'd take that deal. I can't find it tonight on Priceline. I'll look again tomorrow. I'll probably pass you next week on the Silverado Trail.

Is that a 3* on Priceline?

Yes, it was a 3*. I just did a look-see and the only 3* that are now showing up on Priceline are the Embassy Suites and the River Terrace Inn. Both going for over $200. Maybe I got lucky.

Thank you all for the helpful input on Lodging. spending a few nights in Calistoga , and a few " just outside of Napa."
How about some food suggestions, up and down the valley. Calistoga , St Helena , on down to and including Napa. No French Laundry. But the trip is coming in below budget, and we we gotta eat.
Only things planned so far are, lunch at Boone Fly Cafe in Napa, dinner at All Seasons in Calistoga, if it's still there.

Maybe a suggestion on a meal with a wine tasting. usually we just drink.

Awesome burgers and sandwiches:
http://www.taylorsrefresher.com/ in St. Helena or in the Oxbow Market in Napa.

Personally, I love all the wineries. I get a map and wander around. You'll be there for a while, go to a ton of them. The Silverado trail has some nice ones. I would recommend not missing one of the wineries that specializes in sparkling wine. Mumm, Domaine Carneros, Domaine Chandon., Shramsberg, Gloria Ferrer.

Also, don't miss Sonoma county. More laid back than Napa.

Awesome burgers and sandwiches:
http://www.taylorsrefresher.com/ in St. Helena or in the Oxbow Market in Napa.

Personally, I love all the wineries. I get a map and wander around. You'll be there for a while, go to a ton of them. The Silverado trail has some nice ones. I would recommend not missing one of the wineries that specializes in sparkling wine. Mumm, Domaine Carneros, Domaine Chandon., Shramsberg, Gloria Ferrer.

Also, don't miss Sonoma county. More laid back than Napa.

+1 on Taylor's Refresher. If you want a break from wine, there's Downtown Joe's (http://www.downtownjoes.com/) in Napa for beer and lunch.

Agree on Sonoma county as well. We prefer the Russian River Valley over Napa is it is a less crowded, with smaller wineries dotted around, and a nice drive through some decent scenery.

eeeee ,

thanks for the suggestions. I just visited their web sites. We may just hit all five . not on the same day.

thanks Groovy, you are right we might need a cold beer and some food after all that wine. I just looked at the menu. Fits the budget too.

Busy week in Napa coming up . Could not get the right room in Napa. we do have two nights in Calistoga. The next two nights , friday and saturday, could only find a room in Sonoma, but that might be good. Renaissance Lodge At Sonoma, priceline rate. Any new dining or wine tasting suggestions in that area?

we still plan to hit Downtown Joe's in Napa , And Taylors Automatic refresher, in St Helena. Might do Mustard's or Bouchon for a special dinner.

Not too familiar with Sonoma dining, as I usually head up the 101 to Healdsburg around dinner time (although, the Sonoma Market has some pretty good deli sandwiches for lunch). As for Sonoma wineries, some of my favorites are Sebastiani, St. Francis, Ravenswood and Valley of the Moon.

Should you happen to have a Visa Signature card, they are running a promotion through the end of the year that offers free tastings and purchase discounts all over Sonoma county. Might help a bit with your budget! Link to the promo. (http://www.sonomawine.com/index.php?option=com_signature&Itemid=142)

Aside from the drive, Fairfield would work fine. Need to help friends with a weekend stay for Napa in July :rolleyes: They told me they found the Embassy Suites for $300/nite! OMG. "I" would be doing Priceline. Period. They are not adventurous. At the very least, I need to find them a reasonable hotel they can reserve in advance. "Maybe" I could coerce them in PL closer to their travel dates.

In my search, I found what seems a great option for HALF the cost of the Embassy Suites......but in Fairfield :p It is the Staybridge Suites and also has suites & breakfast included.

http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/sb/1/en/hotel/FDPSB/welcome?start=1

How far are the Napa wineries? How can I sell them on this option? Or is this option a bad idea?

I would think they could end up at the Marriott w/PL, but need to at least research options that are not opaque.

Thanks :)

(edited to add) They picked Napa because of a birthday party -- not sure where it is being held. It is not just a random wine tasting extravaganza!

Fairfield is the farthest out of the options listed in this thread. It works, but do look at the American Canyon options first before you go that far out. There is a new Holiday Inn that just opened in American Canyon, as well as the Fairfield Inn and Gaia property previously talked about in this thread.

Thanks for the Cloverdale suggestion. Can you name one hotel in Cloverdale. If you haven't stayed there don't worry. I'll read some trip advisor reviews.

If you're going that far north, check out the Geyserville Inn in Geyserville. We stayed there for a couple of nights a few months ago.

www.geyservilleinn.com

Geyserville is little more than a block or two long, but there is a real restaurant find there - Santi. Although billed as Italian, it's a lot more than that.

http://www.tavernasanti.com/

And if you stop in that area, the next town south of Geyserville is Healdsburg with a great town square and a wonderful collection of restaurants, galleries, and shops.

Check out Cottage Inn and Spa in Sonoma.

http://www.cottageinnandspa.com/suites.php

Stayed there a few years back with my wife and loved it. Great location w/n walking distance of town, but feels miles away.
While there, check out Girl and Fig for wonderful food.

Check out Cottage Inn and Spa in Sonoma.

http://www.cottageinnandspa.com/suites.php

Stayed there a few years back with my wife and loved it. Great location w/n walking distance of town, but feels miles away.
While there, check out Girl and Fig for wonderful food.While it looks lovely, I wouldn't really put it in a BUDGET category ;)