Wine Country Travel Tip: Where to Stay in Napa

Napa Valley Hotel Options from Downtown to Calistoga and up Spring Mountain

Deciding on where to stay in Napa can be just as daunting as choosing a wine to pair with dinner. From full-service resorts to mountaintop bed and breakfasts, there are accommodations for nearly every taste and budget. Before starting your search, it’s important to weigh your priorities as there are nearly 30 miles of options to consider. We like to stay in a variety of places because each can offer such a unique experience. These are some of the spots we’ve enjoyed, listed in geographical order from south (city of Napa) to north (Calistoga). Rates are approximate based on Jan./Feb. reservations.

Napa Valley Hotel Reviews

River Terrace Inn – Downtown Napa (from $169.00)

Within the past few years, downtown Napa has become increasingly popular for tourists thanks to its many fantastic restaurants and shops. (I’m a huge fan of the Bounty Hunter and Celadon.) We stumbled upon the River Terrace Inn while searching online for a hotel for a last-minute trip and were intrigued by the amenities it offered for one of the most affordable rates in the area. What appealed to us most was access to a free daily breakfast buffet, which had an assortment of hot and continental items. (Recently, breakfast has become a paid add-on at $14/day.) There is not a full-service restaurant on-site, but they are affiliated with Cuvee restaurant nearby. Access to a fitness facility is another of my priorities and they do have a small gym with at least one treadmill, elliptical and bike. They also have an outdoor pool, but no hot tub. Some rooms will have balconies and a view of a vineyard; those in front will view the parking lot. If you’re open to staying downtown, this is a good pick. We were able to walk to a movie theater across the street, as well as the aforementioned restaurants and it was about a 10-minute drive into the valley via the Silverado Trail.

Napa Valley Marriott – Napa/just south of the Valley (from $189.00)

Situated just south of the Oak Knoll wineries, the recently renovated Napa Valley Marriott is another affordably priced hotel with access to a full scope of luxuries. The rooms are quiet, modern and true to the website. Adjacent to the property is a spa and fitness center where one could easily spend a few hours! (I liked the Wine Escape treatment so much I booked two of the 25-minute facial and massage services for later in the trip – with the help of a Marriott gift card I earned from my credit card company.) The free gym has a mix of eight+ treadmills, ellipticals and bicycles, which is nice for the morning rush of fitness buffs, as well as weights. Other niceties include an onsite restaurant/bar (where we ate breakfast), an outdoor pool and hot tub and nightly wine tastings in the lobby. If you select one of the Concierge-level rooms, you will gain access to free breakfast, snacks and beverages throughout the day. The property is about a seven-to-ten minute drive from the Yountville restaurants, if you wish to dine offsite. Since the hotel is located on the edge of the city of Napa, some room and property views are of the surrounding streets and buildings; however it has very easy access to Highway 29. Others face the interior courtyard or pool.

The next two properties are located in Yountville, which is my personal favorite area to stay, primarily due to its abundance of restaurants, bars, tasting rooms and shops within walking distance. This makes for a convenient home base, especially after returning from a day out in the Valley, or if you are looking for things to do after 6:00 p.m. Prices are a bit higher due to the stellar location. It’s approximately 20 minutes south of Calistoga with easy access to either Highway 29 or the Silverado Trail.

Villagio Inn and Spa – Yountville (from $305.00)

We shifted to the Villagio Inn after the Yountville Inn relaunched as (the pricier) Hotel Yountville. Its Tuscan décor really makes me feel like we’re on vacation. Aside from the great location, it offers all of the amenities we tend to look for. One of the highlights of the Villagio is their incredible complimentary breakfast buffet, which includes a huge spread and private tables both inside and out on the poolside patio. They also have a large spa and Pilates center. As usual, I tested a massage and was very pleased. While they don’t have an onsite gym, they do provide free access to the Yountville Fitness & Health Club, which is about a three-minute walk from the property. The equipment and facility there is a bit dated, but it gets the job done! When staying in Yountville, we also tend to jog along the nearby crossroad to take advantage of the vineyard scenery.

Napa Valley Lodge – Yountville (from $202.00)

The Napa Valley Lodge is right up the street from the Villagio, with spacious and comfortable rooms. The property is built around a lovely courtyard and pool/hot tub area that also houses a fitness center and spa treatment room. (I had a nice massage there.) The Lodge provides free breakfast for guests, which included a variety of delicious hot and cold dishes. You may need to sit with others at their large 8-10 person round tables if it’s particularly busy.

Mille Vigne – St. Helena, on Spring Mountain (from $395.00 not including 30% winter discount)

(Pictured above.) While tasting at a Diamond Mountain winery, we overheard a fellow guest mention Mille Vigne to the wine educator. Our ears perked up because we love Spring Mountain wineries and thought staying there would be an incredible experience. Mille Vigne offers a standalone villa, in addition to a two-bedroom home. We chose the villa, which is spacious and perfect for a couple. It has a small kitchen area with a microwave, refrigerator and coffee maker, which we used to make breakfast. It also has an enormous terrace with vineyard views. In addition to a huge tile shower, they have an in-room hot tub. The innkeeper, Rebecca, was extremely sweet and really takes pride in making sure her guests are comfortable. She has many connections in Napa and is happy to book tastings or dinner reservations based on your preferences.

To get to Mille Vigne and Spring Mountain wineries, you will need to trek up a long and winding mountain road. It’s about 20-minutes to this spot, which is located in the same driveway as Behrens Family, Sherwin, Barnett and Smith-Madrone wineries. It’s also a short distance from Guilliams, Pride Mountain and Schweiger. Before heading up, we filled a cooler with sandwiches and beverages, which we brought along for our tastings the next day. On our first stay, we did choose to hire a car to drive us down for dinner in St. Helena and back. This ran about $50. We did drive down the next day for tastings after getting the hang of it. We stayed at Mille Vigne a second trip and have grown more comfortable going up and down on our own.

Solage Calistoga – Calistoga (from $360.00)

When we are willing to splurge for a special occasion or shorter visit, the Solage Calistoga is my personal heaven on earth. It’s beautifully-designed, quiet and serene. I could stare out over their larger pool area for hours! Guests stay in studio cottages that are so cool, I’d move in to one if I could. Ours was nice and spacious. They have outdoor sitting areas and two bikes you can take for rides in the area, if desired. We also liked how the bathroom was laid out, which made it easy for both of us to get ready at the same time. In addition to the scenic pool area, they also have an amazing spa. I did their signature Mudslide, a spin on a traditional Calistoga mudbath. Most importantly, the Solage is home to my favorite restaurant in Napa – Solbar. Even if you’re not staying at Solage, I still suggest dining here at least once. I recommend sharing The Lucky Pig, a slow-roasted pork dish. I’ve also enjoyed their fried chicken night and many of their other seafood dishes. The wine list is excellent and they also have many creative cocktails. Above all, the service here is bar none. The Solage is within walking, or biking, distance to great Calistoga wineries. It’s “Main Street,” Lincoln Street, is also home to restaurants and shops.

Next up, we want to give some of the St. Helena area properties a try, including the Harvest Inn and El Bonita Motel.

A few tips before you start making reservations:

• If you’re a member of a wine club; call the winery to ask if they have an affiliation with any area hotels. Some offer up to $50/off room night rates.
• Similarly, hotels may have relationships with wineries and provide vouchers for free or discounted tastings. Check with the front desk.
• Some hotels offer AAA discounts; don’t forget to indicate your membership.
• Many hotels offer a free fourth night if you stay three, especially during the winter season; check the specials/packages page of the website.
• Some of the very small bed and breakfast owners may be willing to negotiate a deal if you stay longer (i.e. a third or fourth night might cost less than the first two)
• If you’re considering renting a home but don’t want to stay a full week, try to connect directly with the lister to discuss options for fewer nights.
• Weekdays are usually less expensive than weekends; is your timing flexible?