Frommer's San Francisco 2012 - Matthew Poole [224]
1152 Lodi Lane, St. Helena, CA 94574. www.winecountryinn.com. 888/465-4608 or 707/963-7077. Fax 707/963-9018. 29 units, 12 with shower only. $215–$405 double; $535–$660 for cottages. Rates include breakfast and appetizers. MC, V. Amenities: Concierge; Jacuzzi; heated outdoor pool; spa services; free Wi-Fi. In room: A/C, hair dryer.
Inexpensive
El Bonita Motel ★ This 1940s Art Deco motel is a bit too close to Hwy. 29 for comfort, but the awesome price and 21⁄2 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens behind the building (away from the road) help even the score. The rooms, while small and nothing fancy (think motel basic), are spotlessly clean and decorated with newer furnishings and kitchenettes; some have whirlpool bathtubs. It ain’t heaven, but it is cheap for St. Helena.
195 Main St. (at El Bonita Ave.), St. Helena, CA 94574. www.elbonita.com. 800/541-3284 or 707/963-3216. Fax 707/963-8838. 41 units. $100–$280 double. Rates include continental breakfast. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Amenities: Free high-speed Internet access in lobby; Jacuzzi; heated outdoor pool; sauna. In room: A/C, TV, fridge, hair dryer, free Wi-Fi.
CALISTOGA
Four blocks of shops and restaurants, about a dozen low-key spas—most of which offer access to natural hot springs—and a profusion of reasonably priced hotels make Calistoga a popular choice.
Best For: Visitors interested in mud baths, hot springs, relaxed surroundings, and budget-friendly rooms.
Drawbacks: At the opposite end of the valley, a trip to Napa is a 40-minute drive. This area is also the hottest during summer, with temperatures regularly cresting 100°F (38°C).
Very Expensive
Calistoga Ranch ★★★ Tucked into the eastern mountainside on 157 pristine hidden-canyon acres, the 46 rural-chic free-standing luxury cottages may cost more than a month’s rent, but if you’ve got the cash, it’s one of the most spectacular temporary homes in the state. Auberge’s sister property boasts stunning grounds and rooms packed with every conceivable amenity (including fireplaces, patios along a wooded area, and cushy outdoor furnishings). Reasons not to leave include a giant swimming pool, a reasonably large gym, an incredibly designed indoor-outdoor spa with a natural thermal pool, and individual pavilions with private-garden soaking tubs, as well as a breathtakingly beautiful restaurant with stunning views of the property’s Lake Lommel. Need more enticement? They offer free activities like watercolor painting, yoga, biking, and hiking. Add the startlingly good food (which can be experienced only by guests) to the resort architecture that intentionally tries to blend with the natural surroundings, and you’ve got a romantically rustic slice of Wine Country heaven.
580 Lommel Rd., Calistoga, CA 94515. www.calistogaranch.com. 707/254-2800. Fax 707/254-2888. 46 cottages. $550–$4,000 double. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant; concierge; gym; Jacuzzi; large heated outdoor pool; room service; spa; free Wi-Fi throughout. In room: A/C, TV/DVD w/DVDs, fax upon request, fridge, hair dryer, full kitchen in 1 lodge, minibar.
Expensive
Cottage Grove Inn ★ Standing in two parallel rows at the end of the main strip in Calistoga are adorable cottages that, though on a residential street (with a paved road running btw. two rows of accommodations), seem removed from the action once you’ve stepped across the threshold. Each compact guesthouse has a wood-burning fireplace, homey furnishings, a king-size bed with down comforter, and an enormous bathroom with a skylight and a deep, two-person Jacuzzi tub. Guests enjoy such niceties as gourmet coffee, a flatscreen TV, a stereo with CD player, a DVD (the inn has a complimentary DVD library), and a wet bar. Several local spas are within walking distance. This is a top pick if you want to do the Calistoga spa scene in comfort and style. Bicycles are provided for cruises around town,