Napa Valley on a Budget
One of my favourite trips last year was seeing Napa Valley! My girls (Katelyn and Katie) and I went for Easter weekend and explored wine country as well as San Francisco. After we bought our plane tickets from DFW to SFO, we were taken aback at how expensive everything was. I mean, we knew California was pricey but the 17% tax rate did not help either. But we managed to enjoy our trip and saved a lot of money doing so.
Where to Stay:
Hotel Napa Valley: This downtown Napa beauty is a few miles from most of the wineries. This hotel still gives you the classic Napa feeling but is a great escape from the many tourists you may run into. Built to look like a bed and breakfast, this place offers a cozy feel as well. Starts at $179 USD per night.
Hotel Indigo: A hotel offers a boutique type of feel with modern decor. Located near restaurants, bus transportation, neighbourhoods, and vineyards, this hotel is a great option for an array of guests. Starts at $145 USD per night.
Hilton Garden Inn: As a Gold member, I couldn't not post about Hilton on here. This hotel starts at $135 USD per night offering all the perks of most Hilton's (free Wifi and parking). Also, this location offers complimentary wine tasting so glasses up!Now you may be thinking that this is still over your budget because if you stay three nights you are spending almost or more than $500 USD not including tax. And I agree, it is pricey and majority of the hotels in Napa are $200+ USD a night. You can really save by staying outside of Napa in small towns like Saint Helena, Oakville, or Yountville. Where you will really find savings is staying north or south outside of Napa. (Do note that I only included hotels with 3+ stars).
We stayed in the Oakland area. I know Oakland is known for crime but we stayed specifically in Alameda at the Hampton Inn for $103 USD a night and had no issues or concerns. Because we only spent one day in Napa, this was perfect for us because we explored San Francisco the rest of the time. We flew into San Francisco's airport which was about 35 to 45 minutes away but this hotel is right next down to Oakland's airport (for your reference). The price for this location fluctuates from $95 to $159 USD per night but as a Hilton Rewards member, you will get discounts at any of their locations and you can join for free here.
And of course, if hotels aren't your thing then go for Airbnb which is another favourite of mine.
Where to Wine:
Napa Cellars: They have an array of wines with the low starting price of $15 per flight. They have other prices starting at $25, $35, and $45. This winery only requires a reservation if you have a group of 5 or more people. They offer indoor and outdoor seating with views to die for (as shown above).
Artesa Winery: With three different wine flights offered, the prices range from $35, $45, and $55! The building looks like a pyramid and offers beautiful outdoor fountains and lots of greenery (pictured above) plus breathtaking views of Napa. I did enjoy the small shopping area located inside with great ideas for souvenirs. Side note: One thing about this location is that it was packed!
Beringer: If you haven't heard of Beringer then have you really had wine before? Beringer has to be one of the oldest, most classic wineries out there. And believe it or not, you can visit this Napa staple starting at $25 plus they accept walk in's. They offer group and private tours, tastings to include private tastings, etc. As a part of the tour, you are taken through the cave which is naturally cool where you will try a variety of wines (as pictured above)!
Where to Eat:
Because we only spent a day here, I won't tell you a bunch of places I have heard of but we did go to Gott's Roadside which is this yummy little diner style burger joint. Everything is homemade and fresh! Homemade BBQ sauce and ranch dressing (we love our ranch in Texas, y'all). They offer 10+ varieties of burgers starting at $8.00 (vegetarians included too), regular fries, garlic fries, sweet potato fries, and onion rings (roughly $3 each). They also have chicken sandwiches, salads, soups, hot dogs, wine, beer, frozen yogurt, and to die for milkshake. I wish I had a picture but I ate my food so fast, there wasn't an ounce of evidence left. :P But believe me...as a burger guru (in my head) this place is a must, but go towards the end of the your day because you may not be able to move from being so full afterwards.
Have you been to Napa before? What did you enjoy the most?