More about The Carneros Inn
Loved Carneros Inn!
by TripAdvisor Member MarciaB10
We just returned from a weeklong road trip in Northern California. Staying in San Francisco, Mendocino, Napa and Carmel.
Our biggest mistake was to stay only one night at this spectacular resort! We were doing a coastal drive, and did Napa as an after thought on our way from Mendocino to Carmel. I had read all the reviews and looked at the pictures and unlike some other places Carneros truly exceeded our expectations!
Driving into the resort, my husband did comment it looked like we were checking into Army barracks, but we both just loved the cottage! The bed was one of the most comfortable we ever slept away from home in. After staying in smaller inns, it was so was nice having a large bathroom with dual sinks! Even though our room didn’t have a “view” I really liked the very private heated patio! So much so, we made notes to incorporate that feature into the next home we build!
The staff was very friendly and helpful and while we didn’t use the pool but it certainly looked inviting! We’d go back in a heartbeat!
Not as good as it sound!
by A TripAdvisor Member
We stayed at the Carneros Inn for 3 nights in August; our first stop in a driving vacation through California. Other hotels we stayed at were: The Triton (San F), Post Ranch Inn (Big Sur), Garden St Inn (SLO), Brisas Del Mar (Santa Barbara), The Mondrian (LA), The Bellagio (Vegas).
In the case of the Carneros Inn, the reviews and the hotel's website were a little misleading. They portrayed the hotel to be amazing.
Unfortunately we arrived and due to inflated expectations, we were a little disappointed. The hotel is a collection of "tin cottages". Very sterile! The inside of the cottages is very NICE. State-of-the-art technology, flat screen TV, luxurious bedding and beautiful colours and materials. The bathroom is large and well equipped. The private garden is useless! It is narrow and bordered up with the same tin wall (no views). The outdoor shower is not exciting; It is too small and the tin wall too high which defeats the purpose of showering in the outdoors.
The service was not great. The hotel's restaurant was average. They served cold coffee for breakfast and it took them 30 minutes to get us hot coffee. The pool ran out of towels and had to wait for a while to get towel. The turn-down service was being performed at 9.30pm!!
The carneros inn is not a terrible hotel. It just need the attention of a strong management to rectify the service flaws. And maybe more plants and colour to give the place some life.
We loved this place for our honeymoon and will return!
by TripAdvisor Member Colette
We just came back from 4 days at the Carneros Inn and we both wished it were many more. We did not want to leave. The place looks very rustic when you approach it, almost like a summer camp, but then what unfolds is this beautiful place of comfort and warmth. Our cottage had a vineyard view, a patio, a porch and an outside shower. And such a lovely fireplace! Our bed was the most comfortable bed we have ever slept in. The room itself was decorated in warm neutral colors that relaxed you. And, they level of privacy afforded by a private cottage can't be compared. After a day of wine tasting and eating rich food, we could return to the cottage, take a bath and sit on the patio watching the sun go down. We ate at the Boon Fly Cafe twice - have the lamb hash with poached eggs and a side of donuts! They willl also pack you a lunch for your day! The inn's staff was so focused and friendly recommending a casual restaurant in Napa that had great Sicilian food when we were overwhelmed with rich French cooking. We have decided to return to the Carneros, in fact we decided that the level of service and comfort warrant several return trips. Since it sits at the mouth of the Sonoma and Napa regions it is a great place to stay if you want to go to both valleys. Soon the inn will sell vacation homes and my husband and I are seriously considering buying something there.
Absolute Perfection
by A TripAdvisor Member
My husband and I stayed here for 3 nights on our honeymoon and LOVED it. We ended up extending our original reservation because we did not want to leave. The design of the cottages is amazing - LOVE LOVE LOVED the shower. The staff was excellent. It felt like we had the place to ourselves. I cannot say one bad thing about this place. We'll be back!!
Trailer park? Chic? Hmmm...
by A TripAdvisor Member
Many kinks to work out. Understaffed, and the place is very quirky. We came here because of great review in The Wine Spectator and good prices. But, despite lovely photos in the WS, you arrive at what appears to be a bizarre village of tin roofed cottages (migrant workers?). Indeed, it's built on the site of a trailer park, and for some bizarre reason, it needed to look like that. The strong majority of cottages, though very private (all have completely private outdoor patios and showers, with corrugated tin walls) face nothing; you can feel very claustrophobic. As a fluke, when our garden cottage (no views) had no air conditioning for the first 24 hours, a new manager allowed us to change rooms, and we ended up with a wonderful suite (Cottage Lee, Room 10), and this had a fabulous vineyard view. The communal swimming pool is spectacular; overlooking the vineyards, a disappearing edge... But the touted Hilltop restaurant was closed the Friday night we had a reservation (and they never contacted us to tell us-- one of those management kinks) but they did arrange for an alternative restaurant. The room interiors are all funky and pleasing; the exteriors are absolutely strange. The Boon Fly Cafe food was good for breakfast, but expect a lot of (what else) flies. Would we return? Let's see how they improve over time, and compensate for the trailer park legacy.
Oh-my-god! I loved this place!
by TripAdvisor Member nj4me
First ever visit to Napa and wanted to relax and be pampered. This place fit the bill. Yes, its farmy, but that's the charm! What a setting. sitting by the infinity pool & jacuzzi after your spa treatment, sipping a drink as you look at the vinyard and valley vistas...or relaxing in your cozy cottage in the so--o-o comfy beds with the down comforters in front of the wood burning fireplace watching your favorite DVD's or sipping wine with your companion...or sitting onnyour deck in the chilly evening with the outdoor heater on while you gaze at the many stars you normally can't see...or watch the sunset from the hilltop in your adorondak chair. I would go back in a heartbeat!
Absolutely Fabulous!
by TripAdvisor Member ginnybear
We stayed for several days in August and could not be more pleased. This is a well kept secret but won't be for long. The service is impeccable, the food was fabulous, and the rooms are heavenly. The beds are so comfortable you may never want to get out! The showers are terrific-imagine showering under the stars! The private deck was perfect in the cool mornings, complete with a heater and internet connection. What a way to start the day. This is a first class experience! Don't let the outside fool you.
Great Service, Very Private
by A TripAdvisor Member
The staff at the Carneros was great! Laurie Gordon, Carneros Hospitality, was able to make reservations at restaurants that we were unable to make on our own. Laurie Gordon made wonderful suggestions about the Napa area (our first trip) which took the guess work out of our days. I would highly recommend using her to assist in the planning of your trip. The entire staff, from cleaning to restaurant, were very capable of superior service. I would highly recommend the Boon Fly restaurant...great casual dining and great breakfast. The Boon Fly is on the property and we enjoyed walking to breakfast every morning. We enjoyed the private setting of the cabins. After a long day of wine tasting and traveling we were able to open the french doors and let the breeze flow in while we relaxed. The showers are wonderful. We opened the door to the Alfresco shower and enjoyed the fresh air while using the indoor shower. The heated slate floors were great on a cool Napa morning. We will return to Napa and will stay at The Carneros again.
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