Originally Posted by
Adelphos
I have a work trip to San Francisco in two weeks and have a 24 hour period (Friday Afternoon to Saturday afternoon) where I wanted to book a nice resort. I was able to book both Alila Napa Valley and Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay for the Friday night on points. Normally Alila would win hands down, but I question whether I will get full value out of just 1 night's stay at the property. I would be leaving out of SFO at 4 PM, so I probably have to leave the property at 1 PM to be safe - not ideal. In contrast, I could leave Half Moon Bay prbably at 2 or even 2:30 PM,for a 4 PM flight. Anyone have thoughts here?
By the time you get up to the Alila, most wineries would be closed. Traffic on friday afternoons heading north is pretty bad. So you'd really be doing drinks and dinner and retiring to your room...albeit potentially a night cap on the balcony with the firepit going...so life could be worse. You'd wake up to very good free breakfast (assuming globalist), get in one wine tasting and a quick lunch, and then have to hit the road (I'd leave before 1 personally, especially if i have to return a rental car).
Normally i'd say not much going on in HMB, but it is worth noting that it is ground zero for bay area pumpkin patches so weekend of 10/23 and 10/30 expect very very bad traffic. Otherwise, same deal... you'd basically have dinner, but not a lot of very good dining options other than the restaurant in the hotel. You can sit outside by the fire pits and if it's open, get some oysters at the oyster bar outside, get dinner and a nightcap at the bar and retire to an equally nice room. Wake up to a not free breakfast, lounge around, maybe get an overpriced massage, and hit the road. Great views of the ocean!
Personally, for 24 hours both seem like more hassle than it's worth. I'd just post up in the St Regis in SF and make sure i have an excellent plan for dinner. But i live here so have pretty regular access to both HMB and napa. Hopefully the above helps with a decision.