Sonoma Wine Country Inns, Hotels

Being close to San Francisco, Napa Valley gets the majority of visitors to California's wine country. Northwest of Napa Valley, though, is the wine-making region of Sonoma County. Sonoma has something that Napa doesn't have – a long and beautiful coastline. Combine this with great vineyards and wineries, and a choice of great hotels, inns, bed and breakfast, and guesthouse accommodation, and Sonoma is a great place for a wine-lover to spend a day, a weekend, a week or even longer.

If you want to stay in the best hotels in Sonoma, however, you need to book ahead. If visiting in the summer or in the popular fall grape-picking season, accommodation books up, especially the smaller boutique-style hotels, with just a few rooms and the best personal service. Do your research now, track down some likely options, and then get on the phone or on the internet, and book well ahead.

There are, to be honest, few bargains to be had in Sonoma County. If you need to travel on a budget, choose the late winter and early spring. The vineyards aren't at their most picturesque, but most will still be open for visits and tastings. You can still enjoy the fine dining in Sonoma's best restaurants, and there will be fewer visitors, so hotel rates are slightly cheaper.

Here is a select list of three recommendations for Sonoma County accommodation options, including links to two other accommodation lists:

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GLENELLY INN AND COTTAGES

This historic bed and breakfast inn dates back to 1916 and has a range of accommodation options, with six guest bedrooms, two huge suites and two garden cottages in the grounds. Room rates are very reasonable for such a stylish property, and include a gourmet breakfast and free wifi access throughout the property. In addition there's a garden hot tub, homemade cookies and – something simple but which many modern chain hotels neglect – good bedside reading lights!

5131 Warm Springs Road, Glen Ellen, CA 95442. Tel: (707) 996-6720

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SWISS HOTEL

This is not only a deluxe hotel accommodation choice but a State Historical Landmark too, having been built in 1840 in adobe-style. That was only five years after the streets of Sonoma were themselves laid out, centring on the Plaza where the Swiss Hotel stands. It's now in the 4th generation of the same family, and has just two king rooms and three queen rooms. All rooms have access to the balcony overlooking the beautiful and historic Sonoma Plaza. The restaurant has a wood-burning pizza oven and specialises in Italian cuisine, with both indoor and outdoor dining options. There is naturally also an extensive wine list of Sonoma Valley and other Sonoma County wines.

Swiss Hotel, 8 West Spain Street, Sonoma, CA 95476. Tel: (707) 938-2884

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THISTLE DEW INN BED AND BREAKFAST

This delightful bed and breakfast inn likes pampering its guests, from the 30-massage-jet hot tub in the garden, free bike hire and a free wine tasting pass that provides free tastings at over 20 wineries in Sonoma Valley. Those bicycles are useful because there are lots of wineries just a short bike ride away from this historic inn, which is half a block from Sonoma Plaza. The two buildings that make up the accommodation were built in 1869 and 1910, and there are only four guest bedrooms and one suite. All have CD players, and some have fireplaces and whirlpool tubs (or both). Ask when booking. Another feature that commends the Thistle Dew is that they don't have a minimum two-night-stay booking policy.

Thistle Dew Inn, 171 West Spain Street, Sonoma, CA 95476. Tel: (707) 938-2909

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See other hotels in Sonoma County wine country by clicking here.

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And other Sonoma wine country accommodation by clicking here.

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Glenelly Inn, Sonoma, California wine country

Glenelly Inn, Sonoma, California wine country

Thistle Dew Inn, Sonoma, California wine country

Thistle Dew Inn, Sonoma, California wine country

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