Napa Tourist Guide

1. VILLAGIO

Excellent location, French Country styled villas, killer free breakfast! WALLY SAYS "Perfect for that romantic getaway, my Top Pick for your Napa stay! "

There are a lot of places you can stay when you visit Napa, but Villagio gets Wally's Top Pick award for the best overall Napa resort. It starts with a location that can't be beat. With vineyards on one side, shopping at quaint V Marketplace 1870 on the other, and some of Napa's best restaurants across the street, you'll love just being in the area. And trust me, after a long, hard day of winetasting, not having to get back in your car to go to dinner is a huge bonus and having restaurant options like Bistro Jeanty and Bouchon makes this even sweeter. The French Laundry? Right down the street.

The hotel is made up of villas, surrounded by lush landscaping, water features, and neighboring vineyards. You'll feel swept away as you walk the beautiful grounds, craning your head this way and that to take it all in. There's the pool with the view of the rolling hillsides, the bright happy flowers planted in the beds, the rushing water along the walkways, everything is done well and done right.

Each room has a fireplace, but clearly the focal point is the bathroom with the oversized whirlpool tub big enough for two - heck maybe big enough for three if you are adventurous (though Wally suggests you check with spouse first). And the rooms were just upgraded and remodeled in 2008, done up in an elegant and contemporary style that feels warm and inviting. High threadcount sheets, soft beds with romantic lighting, a complimentary bottle of wine, you know this is going to be a great stay. There's lots of nice touches, like the in-room wine bar with a description book that "pairs" the wines with local restaurants - go ahead, grab a bottle from the room and bring it with you when you dine, knowing it's a good wine that works well with their food - and knowing you got the bottle for a fair price. That's a great idea - thank you Villagio!

Villas done French style

Luxurious Bedrooms

Waterways along Walkways

The best rooms are on the second floor in the interior courtyard. Rooms in the back face Highway 29 and can get a little noisy during the day - not bad, but just be aware and ask for an interior room when you check in. Upstairs room have the cool vaulted ceilings and are quieter.

In the morning you're greeted by a complimentary breakfast. Oh sure, you're thinking, you've been fooled before by the free breakfast that was little more than Hostess Ho-Ho's and Folgers coffee. But all your cynicism will be washed away when you see the spread of cheeses, fresh fruit, breads, eggs, potatoes, juices, and yes, champagne to wash it all down. But wait - is that guy on the sunny patio making fresh omlettes? Man, that just makes Wally happy. It's first class all the way.

One of the key attractions to Villagio is the spa, and as of 2008 there's a brand new spa building offering just about every amenity you can imagine, all the way to private spa suites for couples (I know what you are thinking). Outdoor soaking tubs, exclusive treatments like a "shea butter and coconut scrub followed by immersion in a warm and decadent milky bath", which I know sounds like a drink you had on your last trip to Maui, but it still sounds good to me. Villagio's goal is to make their spa the best in Napa, and they are poised to succeed.

Perhaps the best part about Villagio is that you get all of this Five Star luxury at a Four Star Price. The competiton - Auberge du Soleil, Meadowood - are also fantastic resorts but priced for the Mercedes S Class clientel. Vintage Inn offers nearly the same level of decadent luxury at C class rates. OK, you don't get the valet parking attendant, but that's about all you miss - and besides, do you really want the valet to park your rented Chrysler Sebring? It's not cheap (it can get downright expensive in peak season), but it's where Local Wally stays whenever he can when he visits Napa. It's my NAPA TOP HOTEL PICK, my highest recommendation, and my favorite romantic Napa getaway destination.

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2. VINTAGE INN

This sister hotel to Villagio is so similar it's freaky! WALLY SAYS "It's like twins separated at birth - one raised in France and the other raised in Italy!"

Wait a second - is it just me or does the Vintage Inn, located on the other side of the V Marketplace parking lot, look a lot like Villagio? Same architecture. Same buildings. Heck, even the same water features along the walkways and the same great breakfast? Don't worry, you are not going crazy. Vintage Inn and Villagio are related, and if you can't remember which one is which, well, you're not alone. So let me help you out a bit.

Starting with the architecture facade, The Vintage Inn is French Country and Villagio is Tuscany Italian. OK, I'll admit it - that doesn't help me much as I couldn't tell you what makes one French and the other Italian. So let's face the Vintage 1870 shopping center - Villagio is on the left, The Vintage Inn is on the right, and the shopping center in the middle. OK, getting easier. Villagio has the new stone spa building in front, The Vintage Inn shares their spa but has no spa of its own. Ahhh, starting to click. Villagio is bigger and more upscale with recently remodeled rooms, The Vintage Inn is smaller and has a more "homey" feel in the lobby area with the smaller dining area and warm fireplace. The Vintage Inn was built first, then Villagio added once a few years later. If these were cars, The Vintage Inn would be a fully loaded Toyota and Villagio would be a Lexus. OK, got it?

So how do you pick one over the other? Both are excellent choices, but pick The Vintage Inn if you are less interested in the spa and more interested in getting a great place at a good price in Yountville. Sure, it's a half step down from Villagio but in some ways I like it better - you can't beat the cozy dining area for breakfast on a cool Fall morning. Same great breakfast, same great bathrooms with whirlpool tubs, same fireplaces. Rooms at Villagio are more contemporary due to the recent update, but Vintage is no slouch. It still gets the job done as a romantic destination. In the end it usually comes down to availability and price. Check them both out, and pick the one that fits your needs. I love them both, and you can't go wrong with either choice.

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3. YOUNTVILLE INN

With pastries from world class bakery Bouchon, it's love at first sight! WALLY SAYS "This is one tasty hotel!"

At first the Yountville Inn looks a bit cold and corporate. It's nice, but lacks some of the charm that the best Napa hotels have. But let's face it - The Yountville Inn has always been a bit of a knock-off of Villagio/Vintage Inn. But this is no Kia pretending to be a Jaguar. There are some compelling reasons why Yountville Inn should be one of your top picks for your Napa stay.

Let's start with location. Located right down the street from The Vintage Inn, you are walking distance to shopping, restaurants and vineyards. Oh sure, it's location on the very south edge of Yountville makes it not quite as primetime, but I like that it's located on the other side of the street, away from Highway 29, making it less prone to car noise. As Martha would say, that's a good thing.

Once on the grounds, you start to see some nice touches like the contemporary sculptures. The walkways to the rooms, or villas, meander in and out and are dotted with shady trees and the rooms are separate smaller buildings covered with wood siding or stone. Inside, the large rooms feature spa-like bathrooms and fireplaces. The pool is good, not "resort" good, but it will get the job done on a hot Napa Summer day. Coming in Fall or Winter? Then you'll want to check out the warm and inviting lobby with the huge fireplace and comfy sofas. Add a glass of port and you'll feel right at home.

The morning breakfast at first might disappoint if you are expecting the lavish spread of Vintage Inn, but that will turn to delight when you realize the pastries are from world famous Bouchon Bakery. Bouchon is one of three Thomas Keller restaurants in Yountville (The French Laundry and Ad Hoc are the other two) and the pastries from their bakery are so beautiful you'll want to take pictures of them to show the folks at home. Hey, as much as I love cooked to order omlettes, you just can't beat these pastries. Besides, not eating like a pig for breakfast means more room for that killer picnic lunch you got planned, right?

I dunno Wally, you sure I really be happy with this pick?

OK, The Yountville Inn is not quite in the same class as Vintage Inn/Villagio, but being across the street from these top resorts is tough competition and may be an unfair comparison. I mean, not may hotels can match up to Villagio/Vintage, but The Yountville Inn comes close and the rates are often significantly less expensive. The Yountville Inn provides a terrific value for those wanting a romantic resort without the big price tag. If you can live without the champagne brunch and resort style swimming pool, save the bucks on your room and put the money into some incredible dinners at some of the restaurants down the street. Now that's responsible money management!

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4. NAPA VALLEY LODGE 1/2

It might not be the fanciest Yountville hotel, but it's the only one set next to the vineyards! WALLY SAYS "Isn't this what you came here for?"

I like the Napa Valley Lodge, but I have to burst a few internet bubbles that describe this as a cool Spanish Hacienda. It's about as authentic Spanish as Taco Bell is real Mexican food. That said, there are plenty of positives as to why this hotel has delighted its guests over the years.

Located on the far north side of Yountville, the hotel is set right next to a large vineyard. I'll admit that it doesn't look like much from the road, but once you step inside it's first class luxury all the way. Monster deluxe baths, plush pillows on the bed, champage breakfast next to the pool, they pamper you with Napa style. As for the location, I don't really mind that it's not in the heart of Yountville. It's pretty cool to walk out your door and to be right in the vineyards. Take a walk down that dusty dirt road early in the morning to see the mist hovering over the vines, smell the fresh air, and check out the clusters of ripe, purple grapes. Go ahead, pick one and taste it when no one is looking.

The pool area is large and inviting, one of the better pool setups in Napa. With views of the nearby mountains, you might find yourself skipping winetasting just to relax in the cool water. Firepits warm the pool area in the evening, a nice place to sit out and relax after a long day of winetasting. And when it's time to sleep, the big comfy beds will be a welcome destination. Nicely appointed rooms with flat screen TVs and a patio or balcony and fireplaces in over half of the rooms. And yes, they supply plush robes as well. Super friendly staff that consistently gets high marks for their hospitality and friendliness. It's location isn't walking distance to the heart of Yountville, but a minute in the car and you're there.

In fact, the only downside to the Napa Valley Lodge is that the building itself lacks the architectual charm and elegance that you'll find in some of the better hotels. The exterior looks a bit like a motorlodge versus a fancy resort. But if you look past this and get inside, you'll be pleasantly surprised and might join the list of folks who pick the Napa Valley Lodge as their favorite Yountville hotel.

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