St. Regis New York

January 4, 2024City Hotels, Hotels, New York, St. Regis

Living the Legacy on Fifth Avenue for a Night

Introduction

Dreaming of a luxurious escape steeped in history and holiday magic? Look no further than the iconic St. Regis New York. This Beaux-Arts masterpiece played host to literary giants, daring explorers, and Hollywood royalty, and its timeless elegance continues to captivate guests a century later. Our recent one-night stay right before Christmas was nothing short of enchanting, offering a glimpse into the old world New York experience.

Property

The St. Regis exudes a palpable sense of grandeur and place. Stepping into the opulent marble lobby is like entering a bygone era, with its soaring ceilings, polished brass, and attentive staff. Since we were there just before Christmas, the holiday decorations throughout the lobby added to the magic, with a Christmas tree display above the iconic check in desk, and garland throughout the first floor.

You can take in some of the property’s history in the lower lobby, including artifacts from the property, highlights of well known guests, and historical photographs. We really enjoyed reading old menus, seeing the photos of Dali in the hotel, and seeing little things like toiletries from the 1920s. Be sure to stroll around to see the King Cole bar and its famous mural as well, it’s easier to enjoy when the bar is closed since it’s unobstructed and viewable through the large glass doors to the bar.

Rate

Rates at the St. Regis vary heavily depending on the season, room type, and any ongoing promotions. While it’s certainly a splurge, the experience and unique location can justify the price tag for a special occasion. We were able to utilize our 85,000 point free night award from the Marriott Bonvoy Amex card, with a 15,000 point top up, to stay a night for 100,000 points just a few days before Christmas. The rates can exceed 110,000 points a night at times, so be sure to keep an eye out for deals and packages, especially around holidays, to make the most of your stay.

Room

We were lucky enough to snag a surprise upgrade to a suite, with a large living room, sizable bedroom, and with a view up 5th ave to Central Park. Considering we’re in New York City, and some people’s apartments are half the size of our suite, we were more than happy. The room itself was spacious and held all of its original old world charm, with plush furnishings, marble bathrooms, and all of the original design, much of which we recognized from Dali’s photos downstairs. At the same time the property kept up to date where it helped, with high-tech amenities like Dyson hair dryers and smart lights. Old-world charm met modern convenience quite seamlessly and effortlessly, though it could certainly stand for a refresh without giving up any of the charm.

The bathroom in our suite was fairly luxurious, with amenities we don’t normally find even in a St. Regis property, like a scrub brush, a full toiletry set, and very strong water pressure in the shower. They even had one of what we’ve come to believe is a marker of a truly well-run St. Regis property: a stationary kit.

We were also provided with a $75 laundry and dry cleaning credit, but given that we were staying one night and weren’t aware of the credit, we weren’t able to use it. We were able to enjoy tea and pastries in our room thanks to what the St. Regis New York calls a Daily Pastry, which we were provided as Marriott Ambassador members. This service includes complementary tea or coffee and a pastry, tea cookie, or scone. Every other St. Regis property we’ve been to that offers this calls it Tea Service, so we were interested to find what other quirks were unique to this property during our stay.

The unexpected offer of 25,000 Marriott points for a 12pm checkout was a delightful surprise as well, since our wonderful check-in agent Trang added a 4pm late checkout as a courtesy without us needing to ask, and we were happy to vacate the room by 12pm. These little touches of generosity truly set the St. Regis apart.

Dining

No St. Regis stay is complete without indulging in afternoon tea at the Astor Court. We truly enjoy tea, and in the past we’ve had somewhat mixed experiences with the Astor Court’s tea compared to other tea services in the city. Not this time though. We really enjoyed our tea, everything was fresh and tasty, the portions were so large we needed a to-go box, and the service was excellent. We’ll be returning for tea without a reservation soon. We were also able to utilize a $75 food and beverage credit that we were provided as a Marriott Ambassador member on our tea service to bring the bill down a bit.

In the morning, the Astor Court transforms into a breakfast haven, offering delicious a la carte options. We were warned that they may be full, but we were able to work with the staff to secure a table in the morning. If you can make a reservation for breakfast that will avoid any issues, since they allow outside bookings for breakfast as well.

The iconic King Cole Bar is another must-visit, where the original Bloody Mary was famously concocted. There’s often a line waiting for a table, but a good trick to know is that if you’re in a rush or don’t care to sit, you can walk right up to the bar for standing service. The cocktails are fantastic here, and they even feature Bloody Mary recipes from St. Regis properties around the world.

For a Michelin-starred fine dining experience, step around the block to Caviar Russe for exquisite caviar and Russian delicacies. We enjoyed their shrimp cocktail, Osetra caviar, delicious cocktails and wine, and live jazz.

Location

The St. Regis’ prime location on Fifth Avenue and 55th Street puts you at the doorstep of world-class Fifth Avenue shopping, Rockefeller Center, and Central Park. During our stay, we enjoyed strolling down the festive Fifth Avenue Open Street, marveling at the Saks light show and window displays. Central Park is just a short walk away, offering a welcome escape from the urban buzz, and the subway is just a few blocks away as well.

Salon

While we didn’t have time to indulge in the salon during our short stay, we were able to take advantage of a $50 credit we were provided as Ambassador members to the Salon, and walked away with a Candle!

Overall

Our stay at the St. Regis New York was a luxurious escape into a world of timeless elegance and impeccable service. From the awe-inspiring Astor Court tea to the historical King Cole Bar and the stunning suite upgrade, every detail resonated with the hotel’s rich legacy. The perfect blend of old-world charm and modern comfort, coupled with its unbeatable location, makes the St. Regis an ideal choice for a truly unforgettable New York experience.

Would I Recommend it?

Absolutely! If you’re seeking an unforgettable New York experience steeped in history and unparalleled luxury, the St. Regis New York should be at the top of your list. It’s the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion, indulge in holiday magic, or simply enjoy the finer things in life. We really enjoyed the one night staycation experience around the holidays, and felt like tourists in our own city, enjoying things we might otherwise ignore. The credits we got also made the stay feel like a great value, including $75 F&B, $75 Laundry, and $50 in the Salon!

St. Regis, Bora Bora

January 4, 2024January 4, 2024French Polynesia, Hotels, St. Regis

The next time that you’re cooped up for 16 months in an apartment in the heart of NYC, the serene screensavers on your television featuring far flung destinations may take on a new importance for your mental health. For us, it provided new inspiration for our travel goals. If you also have an LG television you may also recognize the mountain above (and if you don’t, change your input and await your small world tour).

After some Googling and reverse image searching we discovered that that photo was taken from the beach of the Le Méridien Bora Bora. Bora Bora happened to be one of the locations we had considered for our honeymoon, as well as the alliterative alternative of Bali, with our third choice and the winner, the Maldives, where we stayed at the St. Regis Maldives (review coming soon!). In the cold winter days of 2020 we quickly built a strong snowy pact to get to Bora Bora, which looked like a haven of warmth, warm waters, and open air. We found ourselves right at home in the St. Regis Bora Bora, and we’ve recommended it to several friends. We’re sure you’ll love it too.

Location & Travel

Bora Bora is a stunning island and one of the most popular tourist destinations in in the island archipelago of French Polynesia, alongside Tahiti. Bora Bora is a small, mountainous island measuring 12 square miles with amazing views of the ocean. There are many activities to enjoy in Bora Bora, such as water sports (swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, boating), hiking, and relaxing. There are also several luxury resorts and hotels to stay in on the island, including the St. Regis, Four Seasons, and Conrad. The Le Meridien was also on the island, but was closed for renovations when we visited.

French Polynesia and Bora Bora are located in the Pacific, over 4,200 miles almost directly south of Hawaii. Getting to French Polynesia is similar to getting to Hawaii, but a little trickier.

The best way to get to Bora Bora is by plane from California. There are several airlines that fly to Bora Bora from the United States, including Air Tahiti Nui, United Airlines, and Air France. The flight time from the west coast of the US to Bora Bora is about 13 hours. For us, we need to travel from the east coast to the west coast before going on the Bora Bora, which we used as an opportunity to visit Los Angeles, where we stayed at Le Merigot Santa Monica (review coming soon!), drove up the coast, ate In-N-Out, and checked out Disneyland. You could also fly through San Francisco for a city trip or wine country stop.

From Tahiti you’ll need to take another short flight with Air Tahiti (not to be confused with Air Tahiti Nui!) to Bora Bora airport. These can be direct from Tahiti to Bora Bora, or may stop at other islands along the way, adding 15-20 minutes per stop.

Once you land in Bora Bora you’ll walk across the tarmac to the small, open air (yes, literally) Bora Bora Airport you will walk the 20 feet or so to the hotel greeting desks. We weren’t sure about finding these before we arrived, but you cannot miss them in such a small airport. Your hotel will greet you, take your bags, and let you know if you need to wait for others or not. The St. Regis has multiple boats that take this trip, and you may be lucky enough to get a private boat to take you, or you may make friends on the St. Regis’s yacht. Either way, you’ll be quickly whisked across the Lagoon to the St. Regis property.

Booking & Rate

We were lucky enough to book this trip using Marriott points at a rate of 60,000 points per night. We also took advantage of Marriott’s Stay for 5, Pay for 4 promotion. This property seems to be one of the best Marriott point redemptions in the system, alongside other resorts we’ve enjoyed like the St. Regis Maldives, and city properties like the Prince De Galles, Paris (reviews coming soon!). Not only is the property and location fantastic, but the amenities and freebies that are included (use of the Spa facilities, free water sports equipment, etc) are outstanding. At the Member rate, this property would be over $2,000 USD per night.

We also watch the room rates for our trips closely leading up to our trip, and when we’re able to rebook at a lower cost with the same or better room type we jump on the opportunity! That’s exactly what happened this trip. We had a total of 6 nights booked in two bookings, one with 5 nights on points, taking advantage of Marriott’s Stay for 5, Pay for 4 policy, and one additional night on points separately. The points rate for the extra night went down before our stay, which allowed us to rebook that night in a very special overwater villa…

Rooms

Tour of Overwater Premier Otemanu Villa #106

Tour of Beachside Villa #404

Beachside Villa

We were booked into Beachside Villa #404, and had no trouble finding our room across from the Lagoonarium. We were offered an upgrade to an Overwater Deluxe Villa for that time, but turned it down considering it’s advantages over an overwater villa. These included a full private pool, which a Overwater Deluxe Villa lacks, your own stretch of beach access with a hammock strung between palm trees, and more space. As you can see from the video above, the room is spacious and beautiful, with a large bathroom and wonderful views of the lagoon. The private pool is an awesome feature to be able to take a dip morning, noon, or night with a book or glass of wine. There’s nothing quite like enjoying tea service first thing in the morning while strolling your piece of beach.

One thing to watch out for in these rooms is leaving any windows or doors open. We accidentally left the slats on one window shutter open, and our bathroom was swarming with flies by the time we came back to the room. Of course, one call to the housekeeping staff and the flies had vanished by the time we finished dinner.

Overwater Premier Otemanu Villa

For our last night we switched to the Overwater Premier Otemanu Villa #106. Upon arriving to the villa we were surprised to recognize it as the very Villa that Vince Vaughn is given in Couples Retreat, which we had probably seen a few times through, in bits and pieces as it played on loop on a channel in the hotel! We really appreciated the upgrade as it was probably one of the best oriented villas there is to see the mountain.

The villa had a plunge pool, which was notably smaller than our Beachside Villa’s, and smaller than a jacuzzi, but still big enough for my wife and I to sit in together and enjoy the view. Like the Beachside Villa we also had a gazebo with a table and chairs, and two lounge chairs. The living room was large and spacious, with great views out to the Lagoon, and the bathroom and bedroom layout what almost identical to the Beachside Villa, which we liked.

Of course, what the Overwater Villa does offer is the ability to watch fish swimming in the Lagoon, and go swimming. You can watch fish either through the windows in the floor in both the living room (under the beautiful glass coffee table), and in the bathroom, or off your deck. There are lights under the Villa that you can turn on to better see and attract fish. There’s also the ability to jump right into the Lagoon to swim or snorkel. We saw stingrays, small sharks, and all manner of fish while we were there – it’s like you have your own personal aquarium!

Dining

If there is one thing you should take away from this blog, it’s that you absolutely must visit La Villa Mahana for a dinner while you’re in Bora Bora. It’s an 8 table, one seating per night, multi-course culinary experience headed up by the incredible French Chef Damien Rinaldi-Dovio. Reservations go extremely quickly, so you should ask the hotel to make a reservation for you at least 1-2 months in advance. It’s also hosted some extremely prominent guests, and that started to make perfect sense as the night went on. This is literally one of the best meals my wife and I have ever eaten anywhere in the world. Every single thing we ate was incredible. Our meal included fillet minon with gnocchi, seafood risotto, shrimp salad, Foie Gras, and an incredible chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream. Truly an extraordinary meal.

Meals at the hotel were excellent as well. Breakfast had a large set of options to choose from, one of the most complete we’ve found outside of Asia proper (nothing can compete with the St. Regis Bali’s breakfasts). They definitely load you up with food if you so desire, and sometimes we decided to skip lunch after a big meal. Note that sometimes things were a bit slow or forgotten, but if you politely remind people they’ll jump on it.

The Lagoon restaurant at the hotel property was absolutely fantastic as well, which is no surprise given that it’s a Jean Georges restaurant. It’s fine dining, but we really enjoyed getting a drink on the Lagoon Terrace, and going for desert even after getting dinner elsewhere. The bar also offers a selection of fine cigars to enjoy with your drink.

We also enjoyed lunch on the beach and drinks at the poolside bar, and you can even order crowd pleasers like pizza right to your chair or cabana on the beach. Now that’s a vacation.

Overall

We really enjoyed our time at the St. Regis Bora Bora, so much so that we convinced a friend of ours to go on a recent anniversary trip (and to bring us back some Vanilla)! Even though it’s a bit of a trip from the east coast of the US, requiring a stop in California, we are ready to go back. We’ve already booked ourselves for another stay, and we can’t wait to enjoy the property, relax, and return to Villa Mohana!

The Lodge at Sonoma, Autograph Collection, Marriott

January 8, 2023January 8, 2023Autograph Collection, California, Hotels, United States

Lobby lounge and central fireplace at the Lodge at Sonoma. Courtesy of Marriott.

The Lodge Hotel at Sonoma is a picturesque hotel located in Sonoma, California, offering a rustic yet modern atmosphere for guests. The property features a main building with a variety of amenities and several cottages for guests to stay in, as well as a range of dining options including Benicia’s Kitchen and Wit & Wisdom, a Michelin starred restaurant by Chef Michael Mina. In addition to the two restaurants, the hotel also offers daily wine tastings in the lobby, showcasing the local wineries in the region. The rooms at The Lodge Hotel at Sonoma are spacious and comfortable, with amenities such as gas fireplaces and patios or terrace seating areas, and have recently undergone renovations. However, the property has some areas for improvement, including service, and breakfast.

Property

Lobby and grounds around the Lodge at Sonoma. Courtesy of Marriott.

The Lodge Hotel at Sonoma is a charming hotel with a rustic, yet modern feel. The property features a main building with a lobby, restaurant, and bar, as well as several cottages that are available for guests to stay in. The property has plenty of space for it’s free self-parking, despite it’s small dropoff area. The main building features the front desk, lobby fireplace and lounge, concierge desk, market, art gallery, fitness center, restaurant, and surrounds the pool. The Wit & Wisdom restaurant is attached to the main building, but has a separate entrance. Nearby is an event venue, and a building with standard rooms. Behind the main building are the cottages, and at the rear of the property is the spa. Parking surrounds the building on three sides, and has exits to Broadway and Leveroni Road. There are hammocks, chair swings, and fireplaces scattered around the property that add plenty of lounging space to enjoy on cool California nights.

Unfortunately, we had several issues with the service at The Lodge Hotel at Sonoma. First, when Wy reached out to the hotel before our arrival and asked about a bottle of wine for Kim, a common benefit of being a Marriott Ambassador member, we were told that we could purchase a bottle to have in the room if we wanted one, which we did. However, when we arrived we also found another complimentary bottle in the room. This was disappointing, as we had purchased a bottle at a premium because we didn’t expect one to be provided as well. In addition, our Marriott preferences specifically mentioned that we prefer white wine over red, but the bottle that was provided complimentary was red. It seemed clear that the staff didn’t take the time to check our preferences or think that we would like to know that they planned to already provide one, and just wanted to make an extra buck.

Another issue we had with the service at the hotel was miscommunication about breakfast vouchers. We had been told that we could exchange our breakfast vouchers for Marriott points, and returned some vouchers and confirmed we would get points without a problem, but when we tried to do this with the rest of our vouchers during checkout, we were told that it was not policy and they would have to make an exception. We also had one of our breakfast charges still on the bill, despite our breakfast voucher, which they had to manually remove after I caught it.

Finally, the housekeeping service at the hotel was also disappointing. Our room was not always cleaned properly, with the carpet not being cleaned despite being dirty, ripped towels, and things like dirty glasses not being replaced at times. Overall, the service at The Lodge Hotel at Sonoma was not up to par, and we were disappointed with the experience.

Dining

Wit & Wisdom restaurant bar, open kitchen, and wood-fired oven. Courtesy of Marriott.

The Lodge Hotel at Sonoma is home to two restaurants, each offering a unique dining experience.

Benicia’s Kitchen, located in the lobby, serves a variety of dishes, including a mix of Mexican and classic American fare. Unfortunately we felt that Benincia’s was chronically understaffed, which lead to long wait times to be seated, and long waits throughout the process. When we did eat there we were surprised by the inconsistent service, exemplified by Kim and I both asking for tea, but only one of us being offered a choice of tea bag. The food was tasty, especially the breakfast potatoes, but we felt that the breakfast credit was too small for even one person when a cup of coffee was several dollars in the restaurant but free a few steps away in the lobby, a glass of juice was $8, and an omelet was $24 without toast or fruit. Most of the time we decided to turn our breakfast in for points instead (which seemed to make sense to some but not others at the front desk). One of the things I care about most at a hotel outside of the room is breakfast, and this one was a failure.

Wit & Wisdom, located in the front of the hotel, is a Michelin starred restaurant by Chef Michael Mina with an extensive wine list and a crowd pleasing new American menu including pasta, pizza, and a variety of steaks and chops. Our meal at Wit & Wisdom was cooked to perfection, and the cocktails were an excellent change of pace from the wine-focused week.

In addition to the two restaurants, The Lodge Hotel at Sonoma also offers free daily wine tastings, held from 4-5pm in the lobby by a different local winery each day. This was a great opportunity to sample a variety of wines from the region and learn about the different techniques used by the vineyards and styles of wine. The wine tastings are hosted by knowledgeable winery staff members who are happy to answer any questions you have and provide recommendations based on your preferences. You can of course buy any bottles you like right there, and they tend to be fairly generous!

Room

There are several sets of standard rooms in the larger buildings, but these are smaller than the cottage rooms that we stayed in. The cottages are two-floor buildings with five spacious and comfortable rooms per building, each with gas fireplaces, patios or terrace seating areas, and many of the amenities you would expect from a Marriott hotel. The rooms had been renovated within the past several years, and featured TVs with Netflix built in, beside outlets and USB ports, and water conservation features. The layout of the cottage rooms had our room door outside leading to a deck shared with another room. The deck had a small table and chairs for us to enjoy the weather and have some wine. We were up a flight of potentially slick stairs (with moss growing on parts), so if you’re not comfortable with stairs after a few glasses of wine, or have a lot of heavy luggage, consider asking the front desk about what’s available. There are plenty of ground floor rooms.

The bed was comfortable, but the pillows were unfortunately lumpy. The bathroom was large, but the shower’s water pressure wasn’t excellent, which makes sense in the cottage setting. The fireplace was a nice touch, and was used often by us, even first thing in the morning to warm up the room a bit since Wy likes to sleep cold. The furniture like the sofa was unfortunately outdated, uncomfortable, and in need of cleaning and repair, and there were several small issues that could have been easily fixed.

Unfortunately the door was missing weather stripping, which was big enough to let any insects or small rodents that were interested into our room. The layout and orientation of the room meant that we looked into the property, which avoided the view of the parking lot and power substation next door. However, we then heard anyone who was in the common area of the hotel, and we had to keep our blinds closed much of the time to avoid allowing people in the cottages around us from seeing right into our room or bathroom. The room’s patios and terraces are also not as private as one might like, but are still nice to have.

Location & Things to Do Nearby

Fantastic $10/oz Japanese Wagyu at Animo

The location of The Lodge Hotel at Sonoma was one of the highlights of our stay. The hotel is located right in the center of Sonoma, within walking distance of many restaurants, shops, and wineries. It’s also a short drive to some of the region’s best wineries in the Napa and Sonoma valleys, making it a convenient base to explore the surrounding area in your rental car. Here are a few things you can do during your stay:

Visit Thomas Keller’s multiple restaurants in Yountville, including the iconic French Laundry, which are world-renowned for their innovative cuisine and impeccable service. We really enjoyed the fried chicken and steak lunch at Ad Hoc + Addendum, had a wonderful new years eve dinner at Bouchon Bistro, and got pastries and tea for breakfast at Bouchon Bakery.
While you’re in Yountville, check out the V Marketplace located in a former winery, and grab a “jewelry” box of beautiful and delicious chocolates to snack on from Kollar Chocolates while you’re there!
Check out Animo in Sonoma, a great new restaurant from a favorite chef of ours who moved from NYC to Sonoma during COVID, and opened this new open hearth cooking concept restaurant with amazing food. Get the Lobster XO for an amazing and unique dish!
Head to the Sweet Pea Bakery for a delicious breakfast when you’re tired of the slow and understaffed service at the hotel restaurant. The egg sandwiches are top notch, one of the best things we had there.
Run across the street from the hotel to the Broadway Market for a solid sandwich for breakfast or lunch.
Check out the original Williams Sonoma store in Chuck Williams’ former home on Broadway in Sonoma! Today it’s a beautifully restored home that’s both part museum and part Williams Sonoma store, with a teaching kitchen. It’s a must-stop if you like kitchen gadgets and a bit of local history.
Drive up to the Armstrong Redwoods State Park and take in a beautiful and easy walk through a grove of redwoods that are taller than a football field is long, and hundreds of years older than the United States itself.
Get some In n Out in Napa, or on the way from the airport like we did! Or both!

Wineries

Of course if you’re in Napa you’re likely there to enjoy a few wine tastings at some of the country and the world’s best wineries. The Napa and Sonoma valleys offer beautiful views and a wide selection of wines, so you’re in luck. We were lucky enough to try a number of wineries during our stay, both some of the more well-known names (even Hollywood-star level), and some of the more unique ones.

Before we get into where we suggest, let’s talk about how to do tastings. These days tastings can cost anywhere from $25 to $150. If you have friends or family who go to Napa often, ask around to see if anyone is a member of a Wine club at a local winery, and if they have any tastings that they can share. Wine club members often get a few complimentary tastings for themselves or guests per year, and can get you a free tasting (with the hope that you’ll buy some wine)! We tried three wineries in a day that one friend organized for us, which was a great treat.

Otherwise, look into the Priority Wine Pass, or other local or seasonal wine passes which may get you access to a dozen or more wineries for tastings at a reduced price. We got our Priority Wine Pass for $38 (down from $120) from Groupon, and it paid for itself quickly with Two-for-One tastings. Note that one pass covers two people, so don’t buy two passes if you don’t need to! Finally, if you plan to buy wine at the locations you’re tasting at, ask how many bottles you would need to purchase to have the tasting fee waved. At some locations we knew we wanted to buy some wine, but wanted to be able to taste them to decide which ones to choose, and the wineries were happy to let us sample prior to purchase for no cost. We often got the tasting notes and background you would normally get at a tasting as well.

One thing to also note is that Kim prefers white wine, and we were a bit concerned about finding tastings that would let us focus on white wines. In the end many places were happy to offer white-only tastings or more whites than they would normally provide. Some even poured reserve or more expensive bottles for her to try!

Most wineries prefer reservations in advance, but there are many locations which accept walk-ins as well. We recommend making reservations for later in the day as that’s when most people are trying to walk in to do tastings. We were visiting during the low season, so we didn’t have trouble making reservations at any wineries. However, during the summer and high seasons you may need to have reservations booked weeks or months in advance for certain popular wineries.

We recommend Landmark Vineyards, Bouchaine Vineyards, Chateau Montelena (be sure to watch the movie Bottle Shock before visiting!), and Palmaz Vineyards. If it’s your thing, there are also vineyards which are owned by famous families, like Landmark Vineyards which is owned by the great-granddaughter of John Deere, the Francis Ford Copolla Winery, the Lasseter Family Winery, and the Clif Family Winery (owned by the founder of the Clif Bar).

Conclusion

Overall, our experience at The Lodge Hotel at Sonoma was a bit of a mixed bag. The property and location were great, but the quality of the room and the service at the front desk left something to be desired. If you’re looking for a comfortable and convenient place to stay in Sonoma, The Lodge Hotel may be worth considering, but be prepared for some potential disappointments. We’ll be trying the Westin Napa next, or the Four Seasons.

Overall, we would recommend planning to spend 3-4 days in the area. Whether you’re interested in wine tasting, exploring the local restaurants, or just soaking up the beautiful scenery, you’ll find plenty to keep you busy during a long weekend. After more than 5 days you would likely start running out of things to do, but that would be a great time to move over to San Francisco and enjoy the sights there as well!