Even though I always knew that they cost notably more, I had always wanted to stay at a Fairmont…read moreproperty. Given their luxurious and sterling reputation, especially when it comes to the one in SF, I couldn't help but wonder what it was like to stay at the kind of hotel resort that the upper crust tends to frequent. So, when the opportunity to stay here at a discounted rate with a whole bunch of perks happened to happily coincide with our plans for a mini-getaway to wine country, we knew we couldn't let our good fortune go to waste!
Now, I have to say - all of the flattering things folks have said about the property and how it looks really are true. Both the vibe and aesthetic are so charming and idyllic (it has a Spanish Colonial feel). Along with their highly touted spa that we had heard about, they also have a pool that's seemingly filled with water from the natural springs nearby, several dining options (including a food truck on weekends and in-room dining), a "lounge", a handful of outdoor firepits, bikes available to rent, and even a complimentary shuttle service that can take you to/from Sonoma Square, which is pretty clutch if you are planning on drinking. Plus, being that it's wine country, they also pour you a glass of wine at check-in.
For our stay, we booked a FAIRMONT KING, but were upgraded to a room in the North building across from the main one. Not sure if/how the rooms differ, but I thought ours was solid (if nothing else, it's closer to the parking lot). The bathroom was surprisingly large, the water pressure in the shower was good, the bedding was comfy, the wi-fi seemed stable, the A/C was decently strong, and there was even a small balcony for us to sit outside. The room also had all of the usual basics (hair dryer, iron/ironing board, safe, etc.), a small fridge, a coffee maker, and a complimentary half bottle of wine for us to enjoy.
While both the hotel and the room's amenities are more than enough to satisfy most people's needs, the absolute best part about this place were the workers, especially the ones at the front desk. Whether it be the gentleman who helped us check-in, the girl working the late night shift, or the fellow who helped us check out, the vast majority of the staff we talked to were really friendly and welcoming (although, less so with the one manning The Water Tower Bar by the pool).
So, given how there hasn't been all that many negative things to note, why not a higher rating? Because, with the possible exception of their highly rated spa that we didn't get the chance to take advantage of, we weren't as amazed as we thought we'd be. To be fair, that may have more to do with our misplaced hopes/expectations and how we weren't able to explore some of their other amenities, like the daily wine tasting and fitness classes, but, based on their normal room rate and their $59 resort fee (FWIW, self parking is $29 and valet is $49), I just thought we would've been blown away.
All in all, if I could, I would give the same THREE AND A HALF STARS as their overall average, as I think it's spot on, but rounded down. I wouldn't say never to staying here again (staying in wine country is inherently a splurge, but I'd be curious about what some of the other hotels are like around here first.
