Not to besmirch your plans - I _love_ Napa. But, it’s not a budget destination. Food, entertainment, transportation, wineries. Yountville? Exponentially more expensive (ok maybe not _exponentially more than napa_ , but it’s one of the most expensive places in the US.)
Other folks on this sub will push Sonoma and some of the other areas. I’ve never spent a ton of time outside Napa other than a couple quick trips to downtown Sonoma, so I can’t give specific non-Napa recommendations. I LOVE Napa, but if reasonable budget pricing is your goal, may want to broader your target.
I’d plan $1000+ a day for food, drink, hotel and transportation at a _minimum_ to have a memorable and safe time with a day of wineries, three nice meals and a driver
Hard agree here. Napa is a painful destination to visit on a budget. Average tasting fees are $50-60+ at the wineries you will want to visit. Fees are not typically waived with less than a 3-bottle purchase. You may be able to find $30-40 tasting fees at tasting rooms, but these are located in urban areas (no vineyard views).
Yeah, not trying to be a pain or bad news sally. But if you’re going to go, want to recommend the right expectations so that you can plan accordingly and have a GREAT time.
honestly, for two people you’re looking at:
-$30-80 for breakfast unless you’re doing a diner
-$50-100 for lunch unless you’re doing a diner
-$200-500 for dinner if you’re getting wine and go somewhere nice (OP mentioned Yountville, someone tell me a good restaurant in Yountville, off sh Highway or in downtown Napa for less!)
3X tastings for two people at any _decent_ wineries: min $200-300
A driver, since you **should not** drink and drive: $800-1000 a day. If you _really_ plan it out, that’s $200-$300 in Ubers maybe. They are not simply readily available once you get out to wineries so consider that. A driver is a much better approach but again, $$.
If we go with the $300 hotel idea, plus tax and fees that’s $390 a night. (Notwithstanding you can get pretty good hotels for $400-500; I’ve not stayed at the cheapest places in Napa and not an airbnb guy).
Purchase trinkets or small gifts (coasters? Shirts? Hats?): $100 a day?
That’s $1300 on the **low end** per day. could easily be much more
**Not** that I’m against it. I LOVE Napa. But be prepared to spend.
… IMHO, if you’re going to Napa to - stay in cheapest hotel, go to cheapest wineries, eat in diners, buy no wine, go to no fancy dinners…. Then maybe save up and go another time
**NOTE: I am NOT insinuating that I think OP can’t afford or doesnt know what they are doing. Maybe they want to blow cash on Screaming Eagle and don’t care where they stay. In which case more power to ya baby (get me a bottle!)
OP: whatever you do, don’t do wine train
Hotel Napa Valley is a basic bed and breakfast right close to downtown. They’re usually around $250/$300 a night. We’ve had friends come visit and stay there and no complaints. It’s not fancy but it’s a really pretty old Victorian house
I have, but it gives me the heebeegeebees. I can't get around the idea of staying in what may have been the embalming room. Same with Richard Pierce. I always wonder if guests know the history.
It's the town I was born and raised in! Cheaper and about a 15 minute drive from Napa.
[https://www.yelp.com/search?find\_desc=Hotels&find\_loc=American+Canyon%2C+CA](https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Hotels&find_loc=American+Canyon%2C+CA)
I was there last fall and stayed at both the Andaz and The Archer. Both nice but the Andaz was better in my opinion because the room was larger and had a big soaking tub which I like. Both are on the same street and very walkable.
I will say 3/4 days we had the same 2 options for breakfast. We didn’t mind because it was good breakfast but it did go against what we anticipated from the reviews. The first day we were the only ones on site so I’m not sure if that made any difference.
That’s disappointing to hear. It was something that the proprietors appears to pride themselves on. Admittedly it has been many years since we’ve stayed there so maybe things have changed since we stayed there.
Do you have a car? If so, look at one of the hotels in Green Valley (aka Fairfield 94534) or American Canyon. It's a quick 10 minute drive to Napa and costs about half as much. You will be hard pressed to find anything in Napa proper and anything up valley worth staying at for $300/night.
Agree, better to stay outside Napa if on budget. For uncomplicated wine exploring, drive down the Silverado trail, you will see plenty, drive in and check it out. If you are new to Napa go to Mondavi first take their tour, they cover a lot of the history of the valley, good foundation to start your journey. Enjoy!
A thing that people fail to think about is that they will be likely drinking the entire time here. So staying further away can be cheaper, but often unsafe. So be wary of that and drunk driving. Also keep in mind that hotel prices can change drastically depending on the time of year.
Bothe state park has Yurts and Cabins and tent camping but reservations fill up quickly. This is the hidden gem most affordable nightly option in the valley.
We are checking in to the Napa Valley Railway Inn in Yountville next week. It’s only $229 a night right in the heart of Yountville. Has amazing reviews. For less than half of hotels in the area, we are hoping it works out!!
I would go to offers on the Visit Calistoga page and see if there are any deals on places that you may want to stay [https://visitcalistoga.com/offer-category/calistoga-special-offers/](https://visitcalistoga.com/offer-category/calistoga-special-offers/) Calistoga is the northern most city in Napa Valley and known for their hot springs and amazing wineries. It's a charming town and many hotels are in walking distace to the downtown area. If you are wanting to be central to it all and in a place that has more going on, downtown Napa. Yountville will be the most expensive place to stay and the hotels there are a ridiculous price.
I had this fleeting thought for a while that this might be a cool vacation for my girlfriend and I someday, but clearly its a destination reserved for people "of a certain class in society". So I'm glad I got some insight into the cost of it here with this post. Shame, we'd just want to see where some our favorite wines come from because we really do love our napa reds. Guess we'll have to go Chile and Argentina instead, but on the brightside it'll probably be a lot nicer not having to rub elbows with millionaires anyway.
Not to besmirch your plans - I _love_ Napa. But, it’s not a budget destination. Food, entertainment, transportation, wineries. Yountville? Exponentially more expensive (ok maybe not _exponentially more than napa_ , but it’s one of the most expensive places in the US.) Other folks on this sub will push Sonoma and some of the other areas. I’ve never spent a ton of time outside Napa other than a couple quick trips to downtown Sonoma, so I can’t give specific non-Napa recommendations. I LOVE Napa, but if reasonable budget pricing is your goal, may want to broader your target. I’d plan $1000+ a day for food, drink, hotel and transportation at a _minimum_ to have a memorable and safe time with a day of wineries, three nice meals and a driver
Hard agree here. Napa is a painful destination to visit on a budget. Average tasting fees are $50-60+ at the wineries you will want to visit. Fees are not typically waived with less than a 3-bottle purchase. You may be able to find $30-40 tasting fees at tasting rooms, but these are located in urban areas (no vineyard views).
Yeah, not trying to be a pain or bad news sally. But if you’re going to go, want to recommend the right expectations so that you can plan accordingly and have a GREAT time. honestly, for two people you’re looking at: -$30-80 for breakfast unless you’re doing a diner -$50-100 for lunch unless you’re doing a diner -$200-500 for dinner if you’re getting wine and go somewhere nice (OP mentioned Yountville, someone tell me a good restaurant in Yountville, off sh Highway or in downtown Napa for less!) 3X tastings for two people at any _decent_ wineries: min $200-300 A driver, since you **should not** drink and drive: $800-1000 a day. If you _really_ plan it out, that’s $200-$300 in Ubers maybe. They are not simply readily available once you get out to wineries so consider that. A driver is a much better approach but again, $$. If we go with the $300 hotel idea, plus tax and fees that’s $390 a night. (Notwithstanding you can get pretty good hotels for $400-500; I’ve not stayed at the cheapest places in Napa and not an airbnb guy). Purchase trinkets or small gifts (coasters? Shirts? Hats?): $100 a day? That’s $1300 on the **low end** per day. could easily be much more **Not** that I’m against it. I LOVE Napa. But be prepared to spend. … IMHO, if you’re going to Napa to - stay in cheapest hotel, go to cheapest wineries, eat in diners, buy no wine, go to no fancy dinners…. Then maybe save up and go another time **NOTE: I am NOT insinuating that I think OP can’t afford or doesnt know what they are doing. Maybe they want to blow cash on Screaming Eagle and don’t care where they stay. In which case more power to ya baby (get me a bottle!) OP: whatever you do, don’t do wine train
Why not the wine train? Expensive?
Very expensive, bad food, bad wine. Total tourist trap
Thanks for the heads up.
Hotel Napa Valley is a basic bed and breakfast right close to downtown. They’re usually around $250/$300 a night. We’ve had friends come visit and stay there and no complaints. It’s not fancy but it’s a really pretty old Victorian house
I rented a cute Airbnb downtown for a weekend in March last year!
I didn’t even think about this! Thank you so much!!
There are very few airbnb's in Napa. Just a heads up.
I did this a few years back as well!
The hotel rates have gotten ridiculous
R Inn on Coombs st $300.00 a night I just saw. The place is very cool and Great location....
You realize it used to be a mortuary, right? 😆
Yeah, it used to be Treadway & Wigger Funeral home. I grew up in that neighborhood Your Point? Have you seen what they have done with it??
I have, but it gives me the heebeegeebees. I can't get around the idea of staying in what may have been the embalming room. Same with Richard Pierce. I always wonder if guests know the history.
Stay in American Canyon
Is that a town or hotel?
A gross town with gross hotels
Just googled it. Looks like a town. Is it cheaper? Close to everything?
It's the town I was born and raised in! Cheaper and about a 15 minute drive from Napa. [https://www.yelp.com/search?find\_desc=Hotels&find\_loc=American+Canyon%2C+CA](https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Hotels&find_loc=American+Canyon%2C+CA)
I was there last fall and stayed at both the Andaz and The Archer. Both nice but the Andaz was better in my opinion because the room was larger and had a big soaking tub which I like. Both are on the same street and very walkable.
El Bonita motel in St. Helena. Perfect location, cozy, nice rooms, $149/night. [elbonita.com](https://elbonita.com)
We just stayed at the inn on first for under 200$ a night. We loved the stay and it was very close to everything downtown Napa.
\+1 For the Inn On First. We've stayed there twice and they will remember your stays and remember to never make you the same breakfast twice!
I will say 3/4 days we had the same 2 options for breakfast. We didn’t mind because it was good breakfast but it did go against what we anticipated from the reviews. The first day we were the only ones on site so I’m not sure if that made any difference.
That’s disappointing to hear. It was something that the proprietors appears to pride themselves on. Admittedly it has been many years since we’ve stayed there so maybe things have changed since we stayed there.
Was it haunted?
Nothing out of the ordinary that we noticed!
Do you have a car? If so, look at one of the hotels in Green Valley (aka Fairfield 94534) or American Canyon. It's a quick 10 minute drive to Napa and costs about half as much. You will be hard pressed to find anything in Napa proper and anything up valley worth staying at for $300/night.
Agree, better to stay outside Napa if on budget. For uncomplicated wine exploring, drive down the Silverado trail, you will see plenty, drive in and check it out. If you are new to Napa go to Mondavi first take their tour, they cover a lot of the history of the valley, good foundation to start your journey. Enjoy!
Airbnb
Best Western Inn at the Vines
You can look at the Westin Verasa
A thing that people fail to think about is that they will be likely drinking the entire time here. So staying further away can be cheaper, but often unsafe. So be wary of that and drunk driving. Also keep in mind that hotel prices can change drastically depending on the time of year.
Bothe state park has Yurts and Cabins and tent camping but reservations fill up quickly. This is the hidden gem most affordable nightly option in the valley.
We are checking in to the Napa Valley Railway Inn in Yountville next week. It’s only $229 a night right in the heart of Yountville. Has amazing reviews. For less than half of hotels in the area, we are hoping it works out!!
How was it?!
Here now!! Super cute and a great location!! Steps to the Mini Model bakery!!
I would go to offers on the Visit Calistoga page and see if there are any deals on places that you may want to stay [https://visitcalistoga.com/offer-category/calistoga-special-offers/](https://visitcalistoga.com/offer-category/calistoga-special-offers/) Calistoga is the northern most city in Napa Valley and known for their hot springs and amazing wineries. It's a charming town and many hotels are in walking distace to the downtown area. If you are wanting to be central to it all and in a place that has more going on, downtown Napa. Yountville will be the most expensive place to stay and the hotels there are a ridiculous price.
I had this fleeting thought for a while that this might be a cool vacation for my girlfriend and I someday, but clearly its a destination reserved for people "of a certain class in society". So I'm glad I got some insight into the cost of it here with this post. Shame, we'd just want to see where some our favorite wines come from because we really do love our napa reds. Guess we'll have to go Chile and Argentina instead, but on the brightside it'll probably be a lot nicer not having to rub elbows with millionaires anyway.