Help!...we have reservations for our honeymoon in Napa but after reading some not so good reviews of where we're suppose to stay, I'm having second thoughts. Any suggestions? Do any of you know anything of the Cottages in Napa?
A honeymoon in Napa will be AMAZING. My FH went in March (where he popped the question) and am already itching to go back! We stayed at the Marriott in Napa Valley. Great place to stay but if you want a true wine country experience I would recommend staying up in one of the smaller towns like St. Helena. Decide what kind of trip you want...all the wineries you can get in, a culinary focus, or what...and let that dictate where you stay.
Some reassurance though...even the random motels we drove past looked perfectly acceptable! Also, we took a tour through a company called Platypus...best thing we did the entire trip. They take you to some of the lesser known wineries that you would NEVER think to visit...but shouldn't miss!
Happy to offer any other advice...let me know if you have any more questions.
We go to Napa every year and LOVE it so forgive this long post:
1) We always stay at the Rancho Caymus Inn in Rutherford. It's lovely, great fireplaces and balconies and super centrally located. Trust me, you'll appreciate being a block away from BV, Rubicon, and Beringer- no one wants to be driving around tipsy.
2) When you're ready for a big and totally worth it splurge, eat at La Toque, which happens to be at the hotel. We've always had insanely great dinners there. Get the wine pairing. The sommlier even drew us a map to the vineyard when we mentioned we liked a wine he served!
3) French Laundry is amazing food, but make reservations early. Bouchon is a good alternative but frankly I like La Toque better.
4) Call Stags' Leap Winery www.stagsleap.com and see if you can get in for a tasting (not to be confused with the more famous Stag's leap Vineyard). They can only take like 30 visitors a month and it books up months in advance, but is a great tour and tasting. Buy some of the Ne Cede Malis wine- its amazing and you will never find it in a store.
Feel free to PM me if you need any more advice or have questions! Have a BLAST!!!
I LOVE Napa...FI surprised me with a trip here after we got engaged. We stayed at Meadowood and it was simply amazing. Perfect cottages, quiet, impeccable service, and simply gorgeous. He had originally wanted to stay at Auberge, which is gorgeous too (we had lunch there one day)...we still might try to book this for our 1-year anniversary.
I also agree that you MUST eat at La Toque. The best meal I have ever had in my life. We went to lots of wineries but Frogs Leap stands out...super fun and LOTS of wine.
Oh Side note about Napa- always pay extra for the premium tasting at any winery. At most places you can either pay the $5-10 for a regular tasting and you get shuttled along with the masses- OR you can ask for the reserve tasting/premium tasting (usually around $20) and you'll be in a more private room with better attention, much better wine, and an all round more pleasant experience. Well worth it.
Tell them you're honeymooning and they'll likely pour a little heavy handed with the good stuff :) ENJOY!!
Help!...we have reservations for our honeymoon in Napa but after reading some not so good reviews of where we're suppose to stay, I'm having second thoughts. Any suggestions? Do any of you know anything of the Cottages in Napa?
posted by litsecretary 3 months agoA honeymoon in Napa will be AMAZING. My FH went in March (where he popped the question) and am already itching to go back! We stayed at the Marriott in Napa Valley. Great place to stay but if you want a true wine country experience I would recommend staying up in one of the smaller towns like St. Helena. Decide what kind of trip you want...all the wineries you can get in, a culinary focus, or what...and let that dictate where you stay.
Some reassurance though...even the random motels we drove past looked perfectly acceptable! Also, we took a tour through a company called Platypus...best thing we did the entire trip. They take you to some of the lesser known wineries that you would NEVER think to visit...but shouldn't miss!
Happy to offer any other advice...let me know if you have any more questions.
posted by JayhawkBride 3 months agoThank you!..I'm going to look them (Platypus) up!
posted by litsecretary 3 months agothe Wine Country Inn
posted by caribqueen 3 months agoWe go to Napa every year and LOVE it so forgive this long post:
1) We always stay at the Rancho Caymus Inn in Rutherford. It's lovely, great fireplaces and balconies and super centrally located. Trust me, you'll appreciate being a block away from BV, Rubicon, and Beringer- no one wants to be driving around tipsy.
2) When you're ready for a big and totally worth it splurge, eat at La Toque, which happens to be at the hotel. We've always had insanely great dinners there. Get the wine pairing. The sommlier even drew us a map to the vineyard when we mentioned we liked a wine he served!
3) French Laundry is amazing food, but make reservations early. Bouchon is a good alternative but frankly I like La Toque better.
4) Call Stags' Leap Winery www.stagsleap.com and see if you can get in for a tasting (not to be confused with the more famous Stag's leap Vineyard). They can only take like 30 visitors a month and it books up months in advance, but is a great tour and tasting. Buy some of the Ne Cede Malis wine- its amazing and you will never find it in a store.
Feel free to PM me if you need any more advice or have questions! Have a BLAST!!!
posted by Robyn171 3 months agoI LOVE Napa...FI surprised me with a trip here after we got engaged. We stayed at Meadowood and it was simply amazing. Perfect cottages, quiet, impeccable service, and simply gorgeous. He had originally wanted to stay at Auberge, which is gorgeous too (we had lunch there one day)...we still might try to book this for our 1-year anniversary.
I also agree that you MUST eat at La Toque. The best meal I have ever had in my life. We went to lots of wineries but Frogs Leap stands out...super fun and LOTS of wine.
posted by drprepper 3 months agoI'm so happy you asked this question. We are honeymooning in napa as well and have NO IDEA where to stay
posted by TallBride 3 months agoOh Side note about Napa- always pay extra for the premium tasting at any winery. At most places you can either pay the $5-10 for a regular tasting and you get shuttled along with the masses- OR you can ask for the reserve tasting/premium tasting (usually around $20) and you'll be in a more private room with better attention, much better wine, and an all round more pleasant experience. Well worth it.
Tell them you're honeymooning and they'll likely pour a little heavy handed with the good stuff :) ENJOY!!
posted by Robyn171 3 months ago