Honeymoon in San Francisco and Napa Valley

Jason called and wanted to plan his honeymoon. He and his new bride wanted to spend a week in San Francisco and Napa Valley. They wanted a hotel in the heart of San Francisco within walking distance of sightseeing, great restaurants, and shopping. They also wanted a quiet, romantic hotel in Napa Valley near vineyards and wine tasting.

I suggested the Villa Florence, a boutique hotel located half a block from Union Square. Villa Florence is known for its personal service, stylish Italian feel, and great location. I also suggested staying at McClelland Priest Bed and Breakfast, a historic inn within walking distance of shopping, dining, and wine tasting rooms.

Great tips from Jason and Julie: San Fran was great. The hotel was excellent, and in an absolutely perfect location. Here are a few notes for future travelers:

1. Definitely stay at the Villa Florence. Perfect location, and about 50 feet from a cable car stop.
2. Use the BART train to get to the Powell station (downtown) from the airport. No waiting for a cab and it’s only about $8.50 per rider versus about $60 for a cab. Takes about the same time as a cab, also.
3. Buy the MUNI public transportation pass right away. It’s available near the cable car turnabout on Powell, right outside of the BART station. $27 per person for 7 days unlimited riding. It’s good for cable cars, trains, and electric bus.
4. Follow driving directions…enough said.
5. I wish we would have known about the NASCAR race at Sonoma that Sunday. Traffic was horrible on the road back to San Fran (at least an additional 2 hours time).
6. The Wine Train was worth it. Excellent food and the views were stunning.
7. McClelland-Priest was neat. Very nice B&B which Julie really enjoyed. It was very quiet and well kept. Room was always clean when we returned. I’ve never done the B&B thing, so I wasn’t prepared for no TV, and the breakfast with everyone. Still, it was very nice and relaxing.
8. The 2 wineries we enjoyed most were Rubicon and Beringer. Many others need reservations made in advance in order to tour. These two did not.
9. We would recommend driving north all the way to Calistoga and plan a full day or two as there are hundreds of wineries and small shops to check out. We were a bit hurried and didn’t have time to explore as much as we wanted.

We really did have fun and there were no hassles. So, the next time we have an opportunity to go on vacation, we will probably be contacting you!  ~ Jason and Julie