Best place for first timers to stay in Napa Valley

Hi Liz! I live in SF and go to wine country often. I love them both, but I tend to prefer Sonoma over Napa. However, both are lovely and you can't really go wrong!

The Lodge at Sonoma Renaissance Resort & Spa is one of my favorite places. The spa is incredible and there's a great restaurant. The hotel also offers free shuttles to the town square.

For something a little more unique, I'd suggest El Dorado Hotel. It's right on the main plaza and is a beautifully restored boutique hotel.

In Napa county, I love Calistoga! Indian Springs hotel is pricey but worth it.

We found Milliken Creek Inn & Spa perfect in every way. We visited this tranquil place on our honeymoon. It's close enough to walk to Napa and it's feast of restaurants but far enough that you  looking out on to the beautiful river and greenery . You will need a car though to visit all the wineries in the region no matter where you stay , unless you want to do driven private tours . We really can't recommend this place enough. Comfortable and luxurious without being ostentatious or stuffy. Cheese and wine in the evenings, breakfast brought to bed every morning and the best fluffy robes around ! It has a lovely boutique feel . Make sure to ask for a room with a view, and do book a spa treatment me and the hubby adored ours .

Though I don't specifically have any recommendations as far as hotels go (I live close to Napa so I never need to spend the night), I can say that an area right in the vicinity that's charming is Yountville. I know that the Napa Valley Lodge is there and looks really nice! Yountville is literally minutes from the main wineries of Napa that I would assume you'll spend a lot of your time in! Yountville is also home to, in my opinion, the best of the best restaurants in all of wine country- you could walk to some of my faves like Bouchon and Bottega. I hope that this helps, and have a great time!

Hi Liz

Well living in the SF area, I would stay in Yountville a nice place to stay is Bardessono quite new, and walking distance to restaurants, and marketplace stores. 

Leave Yountville on the east side, going though wineries, going to Silverado Trail using Yountville Cross Rd.

Going north to Calistoga about an hour away, but mostly away from the crowd. Many many, Wineries along the way. There new ones all the time, do a search for what you want, Tours, stores, tasting. In Calistoga is a small town, in the heart of Wine country, with mud baths, hikes on the ridge overlooking all of Napa valley, old faithful geyser, and nice walk down main st. There are many hotels that do the hot springs and spas and mud baths, many choices.

I always stop at  Ca' Toga Art Gallery 1206 Cedar St, Calistoga, CA.

Since I do not know what you are looking for, it hard to recommended a specific spot.

Here are some pricey, but very good options.

Napa: Auberge Du Soleil; The Carneros Inn

Sonoma: Hotel Healdsburg; Farmhouse Inn and Restaurant

There are some amazing places to stay, but one of my favorite is the Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa.  It has a lovely pool which will still be in operation in October, and the rooms have four posters and fireplaces.  It's a great hotel as a base to see the Sonoma Valley wine country.  It's a bit pricey is the only thing.

I lived in Napa for a year - you must go to Morimoto for dinner.  Hotel wise, the only place I have stayed in Napa was the Westin Verasa, which was good.  Has a high end feel and the restaurant was good also.  Slightly wrong side of the tracks is the down side there.

Have a wonderful time - very jealous!

We haven't stayed in Napa but have stayed in Sonoma a couple of times. We really liked the area around Guerneville (California) and Monte Rio (California).

You will LOVE it! We just stayed at The Meritage Resort and Spa. The Churchill Manor is darling too! Here is our complete guide! http://www.welltraveledwife.com/2014/01/guide-to-sonoma-napa.html

The Cottages of Napa Valley in Darms Lane in Napa California