- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Valet, Private Lot
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- By Appointment Only:
- Yes
106 reviews for Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa
This business is a Yelp Sponsor
8/8/2009
10/6/2009
9/2/2009
9/21/2009
11/6/2009
9/5/2009
9/2/2009
9/9/2009
9/11/2009
8/27/2009
10/18/2009
8/31/2009
9/29/2009
8/3/2009
10/24/2009
5/3/2009
5/13/2009
9/6/2009
9/1/2009
4/11/2009
4/19/2009
4/6/2009
5/13/2009
7/15/2009
8/15/2009
12/13/2008
4/17/2009
1/4/2009
3/30/2009
10/27/2008
4 photos
4/7/2009
12/4/2008
2/21/2009
8/29/2008
4/10/2009
8/23/2008
1/2/2009
7/29/2008
5/27/2008
5/9/2009
One of Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa's Favorite Reviews What's This?
The rooms are awesome, but that's not why my honey and I go there. We got the spa package last time and it was SOOOO worth it. I paid around $460 for a room for a night, a spa treatment each, and breakfast. I looooove their bathhouse. The bathing ritual is fantabulous -- consisting of baths, showers, a steam room, a sauna, and cucumber water. And they have delish snacks while you wait for your treatment like fresh fruit, dried veggie chips, and fantastic tea (the Earl Grey Lavender is my fav). This was my second time getting a deep cleansing facial. I got Michelle T. who was unbelievably funny, sweet, gentle, and just completely lovely. This place makes me feel like a million bucks.
My husband has a bad habit of catering to our desire to be wealthy and elite. Every once in awhile, he will treat us to an indulgent weekend, and this one, he pulled out all the stops.
The Sonoma Mission Inn is an elegant, upscale, highly regarded hotel set in downtown Sonoma. Even though it is set just off of a busy street, you would never guess once you enter the round about. Entering the grounds, I instantly felt like royalty. The service was excellent, they catered to our 2nd Anniversary, and made us feel very special.
You would think that would be it, but with the Spa Package that my husband purchased, we were able to indulge in the pampering life style of spa life. With bath rituals both days and a massage Saturday morning, it was definitely decadent and a treat to our tired muscles.
Would I go back to the Sonoma Mission Inn? If I could afford it... in a heart beat. But because I'm not independently wealthy, I will venture somewhere else for my next luxurious retreat. Would I recommend it to a friend? Anniversaries are special. Birthdays are special. Indulge yourself every once in awhile and spend a gob of money to reward yourself for getting through the year. And come here to do it.
Spa Review only
Loves it. Three reasons why.
Two private, (no children!) outdoor pools.
Service. Wonderful, attentive, poolside servers. Good lunch fare variety. It's just a little bit of nice luxury that I appreciate.
Great facial, limited up-sell.
This place could get really snooty but it's not like that at all. Many of the employees have worked there for decades, are local, and are very low-key. Well, some of that might be because I'm a semi local and they might be sick of the Euros and the Bridezillas.
People thought this was:
- Useful (5)
- Funny (3)
- Cool (3)
This review is only for the spa; we did not stay at the hotel.
Starts with the valet - friendly and quick. If you're staying overnight, there's a $25 fee (although it's waived if you have an electric/hybrid vehicle). For day use (i.e. spa) the fee is also waived.
Ladies' locker room was clean; attendant was also quick and readily available to supply key, slippers and robe. Going to the bathhouse, you can follow their suggested bathing ritual or do your own thing. Very nice facilities, kept clean and tidy. Lots of refreshing water available, along with clean fresh-smellling towels.
Only minor complaint about the bathhouse area is that the wet sauna/steam room is LOUD when the steam is released - not very tranquil.
Had my 90 minute massage by Samantha, who has incredibly strong fingers but adhered to my confession that I'm a wuss when it comes to pain (i.e. no deep tissue for me!)
One suggestion to the spa folks - I would have ordered off the pool menu, if you had a nice plate of cheese and fruit. C'mon, how hard is it to put a fruit and cheese plate together?
All in all, a wonderful place to relax and enjoy, if you have the money. Definitely a fun place for a girls' spa day, place to take mom, couple's weekend, etc.
Couple of side (snide?) notes that reflect not on the facility, but on fellow human beings:
Passed some asian folks (I'm Chinese, so no, this is not a racist comment) who had not one, not two, but THREE bananas in their hands - each person! Please people, if you can afford the spa and/or the hotel, then don't go sneaking off food into your room. So low-class!
To the couples who use the spa pool - okay, we've all seen the website video about the romance and blah blah blah of this place - when you try to imitate the video (girl on guy's back, while he's gliding around the pool) it just looks plain silly.
People thought this was:
- Funny (1)
Great property. Looks a bit dated from the outside, but the rooms are fantastic. The service and food are great. The lobby is very comfortable... get a drink in the tiny bar and sit in the lobby.
I got an amazing deal for a junior suite at the Fairmont during Labor Day weekend. I had high expectations of this place because after all, it IS a Fairmont property. The picture on the web site made the room look amazing, so I was psyched. I was a little let down, however, when I realized the property was set up kind of like an apartment complex, with multiple buildings. My room in the 800 building was hard to find. The hallway was dark, and I felt like I was walking through a cheap hotel. My room was a lot nicer than the outside of the complex, but it was still smaller than the website portrayed.
Some of the major pluses about this Fairmont: complimentary wine in the hotel room, fireplace in the junior suite WITH firewood, garden patio, flat screen LCD, HUGE garden tub and separate shower, robes, and sandals to use.
They also have a complimentary wine tasting everyday at 4:30 in the lobby. The wine wasn't very good, but beggars can't be choosers.
My only complaint was that the main pool was closed for a private event from 4pm - 10pm on the only night I was there. We were invited to use the spa pools, but those closed at 8pm, so I was just out of luck, as I wanted to use the pool between 8 and 10.
The grounds could use some work. Definitely don't pay the advertised price for a room here. The room I got went for $599 on the night I stayed (checked on the website). Fortunately, I paid less than 1/3 of that price.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Cool (1)
This is a wonderful historic property and Fairmont has done a great job leaving the property intact.
I travel a lot, and the concierge service at the Sonoma Mission Inn is incredible. These guys know the wineries and the restaurants and will plan your trip in such a way, that you really don't have to think. And, when one work-related item popped up, I was able to have the concierge handle a long/complex fax.
The hotel showed it's appreciation to loyal President's Club members through a complimentary bottle of wine and a great cheese plate. Breakfast was great and their 2 gift shops were a fun browse.
Next time, I will upgrade the room as I thought it was tiny, and having only one sink for 2 people is a show-stopper.
Making a reservation through http://Fairmont.com was a nightmare! So much so, I actually took the cycles to write a letter. (Net-net, I was peeved.) I identified a bug in their IT system/Customer Service which they corrected and apologized for.
My family and I were in Sonoma for a wedding a few weeks ago and we stayed athe the Fairmont SMI. This is a fabulous spot for a weekend get away from SF. So close and so comfortable. Our 2 year old daughter loved the pool and my wife loved her experience with the spa. The service was great, the food was good and the accomodations were excellent. We stayed in a Jr Suite at a special rate for the wedding guests. For the money, it was fabulous.
I recommend breaking down and buying a Davidoff cigar and a Scotch flight to enjoy at their fire pit. The cigar was a bit pricey, but that comes with the territory. The Scotch flight (Oban, Singleton, Talisker and Laugavulin (sp?)) was great, especially for $25.
Canadian Pacific Hotels and Resorts until CP Hotels purchased Fairmont in 1999 and changed its name to Fairmont Hotels and Resorts. The name change reflected the new international focus of the company. Its portfolio includes the Plaza Hotel in New York, the Savoy Hotel in London and the Peace Hotel in Shanghai.
Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, the native Indians revered this special area for its natural springs of healing waters. The fresco painted on the ceiling depicts the celestial sun and moon. The natural pools are truly heavenly. Was a big fan of the facials and made sure tried as many treatments I could for a week.
My cousin got married here last weekend and it was my first experience here! I Can't believe it is 40 minutes door to door and I'm such a donkey for not visiting sooner.
Stunning grounds, peaceful surroundings, excellent customer service.
They really do wait on you hand and foot here, no request gets turned down. The suites are quaint and comfortable. Love the open air bathtub.
Can't wait to come back and relax and enjoy the spa! I was with 40 + friends and family so I really didn't get a minute to relax. Will be back and write more.
Stayed here the first night of our honeymoon, were upgraded to a Mission Suite-- so amazing! We absolutely loved our room, huge balcony, beautiful grounds/fountain out our window, comfy King bed, fireplace, huge flat screen tv (well huge by hotel room standards), jacuzzi tub, Spanish tiling... Really wonderful! Staff was very attentive and friendly too, thoroughly enjoyed our stay and will be back!
I have the greatest friends ever. For my last birthday - we spent the weekend here to celebrate and it was pure relaxation! The service is five stars all around. I will definitely stay here again. Rooms are luxurious and spacious. A total of 5 girls stayed in one room last time and we had more than enough space.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (3)
we stayed there for 2 night a couple of weeks ago and it was pretty great. All the staff was great. the only ones that were not very friendly where the spa folks in the locker room. Kept watching you like you're going to take something. Uncomfortable.
Fantastic place.
I see a lot of people giving this place 4 & 5 stars but there's no way it's worth that in my book. A lot of other reviews relate to the spa which I didn't visit as I was too busy drinking so maybe that would have increased it a star.
First of all this place positions itself as a beautiful resort - it's not. The grounds are OK, just, and my favourite part is the massively attractive water tower that, being a tower, towers over everything. If that's supposed to add to the charm they need to look up charm in the dictionary. The rooms are OK, nothing special. Bit old school which doesn't suit my taste but given the exterior and grounds it would be a mental filling it with contemporary furniture. Pool is decent, much bigger than Macarthur Place a few miles away. Staff all very nice and friendly. We were attending a wedding and were somewhat annoyed to find after the wedding party ended the bar had also closed, at 11pm, despite assurances from the staff that it wouldn't. Only example of the staff not being nice.
If this place had cost $200-300 it would have been OK, but given it was $409 I don't think so. Maybe I'm cheap, or got screwed over, but it's not worth it. I stay in the Fairmont Montreux Palace every year. It's 100 times more beautiful than this place and about 20% cheaper. The Montreux Palace is on the banks of Lake Geneva over looking the Alps, this one is in Sonoma and has a nice view of a parking lot. Doesn't make much sense to me
Wonderful Spa! My mom took me here for my birthday and I had the most relaxing, replenishing stay there. I loved every minute of every treatment! Great atmosphere, service, amenities and food (by the pool)!
Spent a night here with my friend Leah who was up visiting from Phoenix. She used some credit card points to reserve the room and we had reservations to do a spa day the next day as well. This review is 2 fold. The first part is for the hotel/room and the second is for the spa experience.
When we checked in, hotel, the young woman at the reservation desk was a bit snarly. Unlike the person working at the counter next to her, ours never asked if we wanted to upgrade, join a club of sorts, etc. She also challenged my friend when she tried to give us a room with one bed when the confirmation my friend had was clearly for 2 beds (not that it would have mattered but it is the point). She challenged this so much, I went out to the car to get the printout of the actual confirmation. At this point, the young woman realized that not only was the reservation for 2 beds, it was for one of the winery rooms, not the bunk room she was going to pawn off on us. No apologies were made, and my friend and I both felt like this is the Fairmont, which to us should equal Nordstrom type service.
Aside from this, the hotel is lovely. Pretty grounds, a comfortable chateau like lobby area with a wine and cheese tasting in the afternoon. We did partake in the wine part, but left the cheese part alone (too many stinky options, plus we were full from our late lunch). The winery that was doing the tasting had 3 selections and it was fun sitting and talking for what seemed like forever with my dear friend.
Our room was great. Nice comfy beds and lots of pillows. 2 robes in the bathroom along with apricot scented bath products which was nice. Old TV's and jenky remote control, but otherwise, a fine room.
Our spa day:
We were both signed up for a facial and a pedicure. We arrived early and the spa area itself is lovely. The Bathing Ritual is something you must do-it is included if you stay at the hotel or the fee is minimal. There are 2 outdoor pools, one small indoor (warm and not for swimming), a hot tub and both a wet and dry sauna. The waiting area for treatments is lovely and fully stocked with water, tea and fresh fruit, nuts and dried fruit. The treatments are expensive and everything is an "add-on". They want you to tip a standard 18% and to include it PRIOR to your treatment which I don't care for(I mean, what if it is lame?).
My facial was great. Probably one of the better I have had-I did add on a brow wax and a glycolic peel. These both cost additional and upon completion of the facial, the esthetician had the bill ready for me to sign and there was a line for an additional tip (18% for each add on).
My friend and I both agree that the pedicure is simply not worth it. The people we had do them were both very nice, however, for $90.00, plus an 18% tip, neither of us felt the pedicure was the blow me away experience we expected. We both thought the massage didn't last long enough and the paraffin wax was nothing. Both of us still had a bit of dry skin afterward. Additionally, they do not offer special things like flowers on the toes...this is a cut and dry, shape and paint type deal.
On the upside for me, I did inquire as to getting my haircut. I have been seeing my lovely stylist for many years and though I am loyal, I felt like I needed a little trim. They were able to get me in, and lo and behold, I got a bit of a new do and my hairdresser at home even complimented the cut when I saw her on Friday for a color.
All and all, I am a total fan of this place. I would come back for a night here, or even come back for the spa. I would skip the pedicure, might even forgo any type of treatment and just hang out and do the bathing ritual. It was quite the treat (oh and bathing suits required since it is not unisex.
People thought this was:
- Useful (13)
- Funny (3)
- Cool (8)
This place is absolutely charming... an amazing weekend getaway for this city girl. The staff is incredibly helpful and friendly, leaving no stone unturned... making a point to remember your name, not just your order or room number. The grounds are meticulously maintained, the food nothing short of divine, and the decor undeniably charming.
Alas, every sparkling fairy tale comes with its share of upheaval: If you do choose to visit, you will immediately notice that the rooms are unfortunately small and crowded for the price tag, and unless you request it in advance, you won't receive turn-down service. This was the biggest bone that I have to pick with them... as $300/night should most definitely guarantee a turn-down.
Lastly, this got me VERY excited:
Attention *GREEN* Yelpers: for those of you who drive a hybrid or electric vehicle - they will waive the $25/night parking fee. Kudos to the Sonoma Mission Inn for rewarding its eco-friendly patrons!!
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (2)
The Fairmont was an OK stay. The room lacked furniture. Room service for dinner was delivered on trays (as opposed to a cart that sets up as a table). For a highly rated property, there were several things missing. But, we roll with it. We spent an entire morning in the Spa which was five stars - the treatment for guys - massage, facial and manicure was top notch and the spa staff was very accommodating and pleasant. Next trip to wine country, we're planning to stay on the Napa side to experience one of the fine accommodations over there - not sure I'd come back here in a hurry. Too much per night and missing too much by way of service.
I really dig the Inn. The one star downgrade is for the rooms, themselves; they're small, and if you're not in the main building it's not worth going. That being said, the hotel is gorgeous, spa is top notch, the property is close to town and not secluded like many places in Wine Country, and Sante is a fabulous restaurant. The grounds are very charming, and the lobby and architecture is beautiful. Also, if you're partial to the Glen Ellen wineries, this is the place to stay. To me, this is the ideal Wine Country getaway spot b/c it's a full service big chain, not secluded in the middle of nowhere, but still charming and great service. SMI is totally worth the price and schlep. It doubles as a great couples getaway, or a same-sex bonding/wine tasting weekend.
The Good:
*Beautiful grounds
*Amazing restaurants on site
*The spa
*The Bathing ritual
*The Elixir that you can add to your water at the spa
*Robes in the room
*Free parking
The Bad:
*Even walking past the fire pit quickly will make your hair smell
*Expensive
*Not enough lounge chairs at the spa pool
*Crappy not free continental breakfast offerings
*No free wi-fi
*hard to use shower
The Ugly:
There was a distinct smell of dirty feet in our room.
People thought this was:
- Useful (4)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (3)
Recently spent a couple days here for a team off-site and I can say my experience was enjoyable and went smoothly. Everything from the conference room setup, to little things like staff members being pleasant and attentive, to everything just working like how it's supposed to.
Decent sized room that came stocked with a complimentary bottle of wine. I would say the only negative is that you have to pay for the internet in your room.
While they have frequent wine tastings onsite in their main lobby lounge area, my favorite is that during the evening they have a gigantic fireplace roaring with coaches and blankets that just beg for you to unwind with a good book or good company.
The Fairmont is definitely more of an an all inclusive type place. It's completely opposite from if you stayed closer to the Sonoma square where you have restaurants and boutiques within walking distance. Over here, the main things within walking distance are a couple of trailer parks, Mexican markets, and a burrito joint.
Predictable
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
Three words... My happy place!
If you ever need to forget about all the stuff that makes your blood pressure go sky high.... this is the place for you.
Everything is soothing about this place... they have the huge lobby with the fireplace, they have the phenomenal service, they have that amazing spa... and I am really not a spa kind of guy (but I pretend when I'm there).
Sure, the rooms could be more luxurious, but the relaxation that you feel at this place, you just don't care what the room looks like. They even burn seasoned oak at night, which gives you that camp feel... who's up for a game of truth or dare?
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (1)
As expected, the service here is phenominal...I would not expect less from Fairmont. What I expected more of was luxury. The place is a bit rundown and a lot smaller than I had expected. What is NOT small are the prices. Whoa! I stayed in a Heritage room in the old part of the building. The hallway carpets are a bit worn and stained and the pink/salmon walls in the room took a second to warm to. I love all of the little amenities; the robe, the slippers, the paper in the morning, the free bottle of wine, the stylish magazines all around and the oh-so-comfy bed. The staff could not be more pleasant. They are always offering help and going out of their way to make you happy.
I was surprised by the tiny location right off the busy road. There is really no where to walk on the grounds, besides to the spa or to your room. With this being wine country I expected a vast open area with trails to explore. They do offer free morning hikes where you are bused to a location.
The spa is nice and luxurous but I have a hard time paying that price for a massage. The massage price does come with a days use of the pools and saunas but expect to pay well over 200 for anything. The spa is not crowded and well equiped with other amenities such as morning yoga, exercise machines and a spin class. If you want to pamper yourself while giving your bank account a beating go right on ahead.
I was a bit put off by the lateness of the room being ready. Check in is at 4pm so I put a request in for an early 3pm arrival. The room was not ready until 4:30pm.
We have just walked out of the main restaurant to have dinner down the street. I am very angry. We are paying a lot of money to stay at a Fairmont establishment, and we've stayed in a few, but this hotel is a Best Western with Fairmont name. The main reason for this review is that THEY ARE NOT KID FRIENDLY! They would not allow us to sit in the main dinning room of their main restaurant with our child. They sat us in the front entrance next to the kitchen. We could hear the dishes being washed, untensils and plates banging, and some industrial grinder that stopped any chance of conversation. We complained and the Manager moved us CLOSER to the kitchen, and the restaurant was empty.
If you have children, or are familiar with most other Fairmont Hotels DO NOT STAY HERE. You will be sorely disappointed.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
This is my favorite full-service spa in the Bay Area. You cannot go wrong with a massage here. The watsu pool - grab the noodles and float in the warm hot springs water - incredible if it is sprinkling or at night with the steam rising off the pool. They have multiple outdoor pools at different temperatures and big roomy outdoor jacuzzis. Inside the spa, you need to experience the grapeseed exfoliation shower and the hot springs pool and jacuzzi. This is great for a girls' spa outing, they will bring you menus so you can order food or refreshments and just lounge around and relax. Your skin will feel incredibly soft and you will feel super relaxed after the bath ritual.
As for the hotel, the mission suites are the newest building additions with large patios and patio furniture. Each large suite has a fireplace, en suite jacuzzi tub and comfy sofas and chairs. The bed is so comfy you never want to leave.
The grounds are beautifully landscaped and the resort is pet friendly. They will provide you with dog food/water bowls, a pet bed, and treats in your room.
And stop by Sante restaurant - terrific food and incredible service!
As with all Fairmont resorts, the staff are very friendly, knowledgeable and courteous throughout your stay. Enjoy!!!
The Sonoma Mission Inn is the place to go for a relaxing weekend with the girls or for a romantic weekend with your special someone.
I went for neither one of those reasons.
Actually, we had our Investigator Meeting here (Thank you Kate!) and it was remarkable! The grounds are stunning and my room on the 2nd floor of the main building was peaceful and relaxing. Side note: my colleague didn't have the same luck with her room. She was under the stairs and her room was half the size of others there. She requested to be moved but they were full that week & weekend.
The meeting rooms were spacious and the nonstop treats and drinks had me on a constant sugar high. We had dinner in the white tent on the lawn and the food was delish! No really, I am salivating right now. The following night, we had dinner at the Sonoma Golf Club and I cannot wait to go back! I think I gained at least 10 lbs during that 3-day excursion. Since I've been planning to learn how to golf for a while now, I thought I should take lessons there and eat in-between swings? Can I even do that?
Oh before I forget, during one of the meetings, I managed to sit on some chocolate (I promise it was chocolate!) and the hotel staff were swift to have my slacks dry-cleaned and returned to me immediately! Phew!
If anyone's planning a wedding, this place would be perfect for you! If you need a relaxing, girl's trip away from home, go here! If your honey and you need to escape, the Sonoma Mission Inn is the place to be!
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
I'm going here for a 2nd time this weekend. My first time there we spent the night in the Heritage room and I must admit it's small, but we didn't spend too much time in our room. Aside from that our massages were so good and the bathing ritual was so AWESOME that sleeping in our bed proved no discomfort.
Go on their website and reserve a package. The rooms are expensive, but by reserving your package you're getting more bang for your $.
Notice how nobody has given this place 1 star. Yeah its THAT good and you know that holds true especially for Yelp.
Have a good time and prepare to relax for real.
Oh yeah, Sunday there is the all you can eat Don Carneros brunch. Let me put it to you this way. All the mimosas you can drink along with all the local organic good's you can handle aka smoked salmon.
I don't know, but I expected more. I wouldve rated this 3.5 but it wasnt in the yelp stars-so I rounded down.
So BD (5+ stars for him) surprised me w/ this impromptu mini-vacay-getaway at THE MAILBOX BASEBALL CAPITAL OF CALIFORNIA (yes, I am less traveled -so what?) Nice package--bottle of wine, spa entrance, n 2 free drinks at the bar.
THE ROOM
The "heritage" room was small. I couldn't sleep because the bed was practically right next to the door so you can literally hear people burp up the days worth of wine tasting in the hall. Also, the synchronized swimming pool right outside our window didnt stop spurting its version of the bellagio water show til late. If you like the sound of pee hitting the toilet, then you wouldnt mind this at all.
THE SPA
The spa services seemed iffy since it was cheaper to cut my nails than it was to wax my kitty-that just didnt seem right. So we only partook in the bath ritual (part of the package). THIS was nice. The lounge area was relaxing with the fresh fruit, tea, n them dried veggies i kept munching on. The gym was small but adequate-both better to attend at 7 in the morning if you don't want to be a part of the mass roaming robe zombies walking around the hotel.
THE FOOD
We were only spous to get some apps at the bar but ended up eating our dinner there. Tip: DO get anything that goes w/ those fries! Thick arse french fries! Loved those things. DONT get the "buffalo wings"--more like ketchup n tabasco (and no ranch...come on!?!). BD said his steak was pretty good. Still an overpriced meal.
To sum up, I don't see how anyone would pay anything over $150 a night for this hotel (& thats with a package). Being that this is the "Fairmont", maybe I expected more...like singing staff, perrier, grey poupon...you know, the basics of le bougie.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (2)
Overall we really enjoyed our stay, so why not a 5:
- The hotel is located in a really shabby neighborhood. Doesn't set the scene when you drive through that town. It also is a problem to have your spa and spa pool separated from an active street by just a concrete wall.
- Service was lacking in terms of attention to detail. Cups were piled up in the spa, there was a general lack of attendants, and the feel was not the same as say the Fairmont Princess in Arizona.
- Rooms were on the old side. There is a new side of the complex, but our smaller room was given away, so we were upgraded to a suite on the older side. The size and room was great, but a bit on the old side.
Overall, still, we had a very enjoyable and relaxing time, just not the same level of resort that we expected.
BIG TIPS:
- Enroll in their free President's Club. You can get a free room upgrade, free access to the spa pool area at all times (even if you don't have spa service) and other special treatment. Do it. You won't regret it!
- Eat "Crack pancakes" (aka Lemon Ricotta Cheese Pancakes) from Big 3 Diner or Room Service. (read more about it below)
Now, onto the review...
We had a spectacularly lazy time on our anniversary trip to the Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa. It was amazing. We had reserved one of their lowest (i.e, cheapest) rooms at the resort, so we were surprised when they upgraded us to one of their nicest suites thanks to my mention it was our anniversary and since we were part of the President's Club.
We were on the third floor with a balcony, overlooking a fountain. The room had a king bed with a sitting area, 2 sink bath, shower, and jacuzzi tub. The grounds were spectacular with vines growing up the buildings, rambling paths, and flowers. None of it felt too manicured or pretentious.
In the evening, the pool is lit and streams of water over the top of the water turn it into a glowing fountain. A few feet away is the water tower. I'm assuming this is where the warm mineral water that they brag so much about (but I can't quite figure out what the benefit really is, but I vigorously nod my head like I'm very impressed).
You MUST go to Big 3 Diner at the corner or order room service (which is from Big 3). This restaurant is associated to the Inn and is a bit more of their "casual dining" on the grounds. We both ordered an amazing "Big 3" breakfast with eggs, CRACK pancakes. "Crack Pancakes" are Lemon-Cottage Cheese Pancakes and are so addicting, we call them "crack". They are out-of-this-world good. We loved them so much that we had them twice and I looked up the recipe online.
We had spa stuff scheduled for this day, so we wandered over to the bath house early to enjoy the mineral pools and "bathing ritual". The Bathing Ritual takes an hour and is very relaxing. You almost don't need treatments after you're done with that. It starts with an exfoliation shower. They have a grape seed exfoliator that your rub all over while standing in your bathing suit in a shower. Then, you jump in a body temperature mineral water pool for 10 mins. Then, you go to the hot mineral pool with jets for 10 minutes (we were both so hot, we jumped out after about 5 minutes - ha!). Then, you cool off in a cool shower. Next is the eucalyptus wet sauna with orange water wash clothes to wipe your face (again, about 3-4 mins and we were out, it was so claustrophobic). Then you jump in the dry sauna. Lastly, is a cool shower, then you're done.
In the bath house, we waited for our couples treatment while munching on the free fresh fruits, dried fruits, nuts, tea, and water. I love their water - mint, lime, cucumber water. I think I should start making some at home and keeping it around. It's perfectly refreshing for a warm day!
We enjoyed our "Couples Harvest Kur" treatment. It was a dry exfoliation (we got double exfoliated that day!), a hot bath with smelly stuff in it. They told me what it was, but I can't remember. Next, we had a grape seed mud wrap. They put the mud on, wrapped us up in a big cocoon of a blanket and did a head and foot massage while we were wrapped. We jumped into a shower to wash off the mud and finally had a full body massage. It felt SO good. I wish I could get massages every week!
Every morning, the paper was delivered in a "Fairmont" bag on our door. They also provided us umbrellas in case it started to rain. How plushy is that?
Tuesday, my husband had a men's facial and I had a pedicure, so we went down to the spa early to hang out by the outdoor pool and do nothing. He loved his facial and I think that was the best pedicure I've ever had.
We also ate dinner on the grounds at Sante one night. It's a great restaurant! I highly recommend it.
It was the PERFECT trip. We needed it so badly. We are already saying that we need to plan another trip to the Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa. Everyone was friendly, great service. It was just great. If you ever have a chance to go, you should do it. And don't forget to order the "Crack pancakes"! :)
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (2)
My husband and I spent a Sunday night here for our 1st wedding anniversary. First, I read a previous review suggesting to sign up for their Presidents Club. I'm SO glad I did that before our visit!!! A lot of perks come with being a member. If you're a hotel guest and a Pres. club member, you get complimentary access to their spa and it is a must!!! I had a massage and my husband came with me just to use the spa facilities which are amazing! I highly recommend the bathing ritual. Very relaxing!
We were able to check in at noon, which was great! We went straight to the spa and relaxed there all afternoon. The spa pool is way better than the regular pool. I had an excellent massage but if you're trying to save money, just spend a few hours at the spa and enjoy the bathing ritual. After you're finished with that, you feel so relaxed!
When we got back to our room, we were delivered a complimentary bottle of Gloria Ferrer champagne to celebrate our anniversary from the hotel. Big points there!!! All of the staff we encountered were very friendly and helpful. We didn't have dinner at the hotel but we did order room service for breakfast. After reading reviews about the lemon pancakes, I knew we had to have them. They were excellent!
My only complaint is that the room (wine country heritage room) was a bit outdated. An older tv, which was a bummer. The bathroom was a good size but the room could use some touch ups. It was still beautiful and nice though.
Overall, we had an amazing stay and didn't want to leave. The staff was great, afternoon wine tasting in the lobby was a nice treat, the spa is a must, and sign up for the Presidents Club!
This is a lovely place for a romantic weekend. The grounds are gorgeous, the rooms - esp. the suites - are luxurious (check out the website if you don't believe me), and the spa service is fantastic.
If you want to make the most of your weekend or getaway here, start off at the hotel. Then make your way to a local winery, such as benziger. Cap off the evening with drinks at the inn. Then, before you go home, take in the spa services.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
Worth every penny! My husband and I went for a much needed spa weekend. Our suite was to die for! Bigger than our two bedroom SF apartment it had TWO fire places a lovely balcony overlooking a fountain. We checked into our room and immediately started throwing our dust covered ridding clothing all over the room as well as the contents of our suitcase to make our spa reservation. When we returned from our treatments we continued to fling clothing about to get dressed for dinner. I remorsefully looked at our clothing strewn beautiful suite as we closed the door off to dinner.
When we returned after having a fabulous dinner we opened the door to find they had come in and put away the ironing board, folded all our clothing up into neat stacks, hung up our wet suits, fluffed the pillows, put out our slippers, lowered the lights AND put on a romantic cd!
That is service!
The spa is a little piece of heaven. The massages we both had were fabulous. I did the bathing ritual two times a day while we were there. We went from pool to pool snacking on delicious fresh fruit and sipping tonics. We didn't even want to do any wine tasting while we were up there because we felt so clean.
This has been the best find for me this year - so much that I have visited numerous times! I enjoy the fabulous detoxifying bathing ritual coupled with a grapeseed wrap/massage.
The massage therapists I highly recommend: Vince is a memorable masseuse with really talented massage techniques that got all of my tight spots to release. His touch is very confident and his drape technique is flawless. Simeon is really great with deep tissue - REAL deep tissue and not simply "hard massage" like so many massage therapists think those who ask for deep tissue are looking for, which infuriates me when others do that to my body. Simeon has impressive signature strokes with pressure that is firm but not painful. His trigger point release is beautifully sophisticated and effective. I highly recommend BOTH Vince and Simeon because I can feel the years of experience in their hands coupled with the beautiful work they do that not only promotes detoxification and relaxation - they both have a firm grasp of what it is a client wants when it comes to pain relief.
The restaurant is divine! The dazzling entrees that boast local, seasonal goods satisfies my particular palate. The somalier staff are outstanding. Thanks to them I discovered a jammy Gamba '03 Zinfandel that paired beautifully with my NY strip (cut diagonally).
The suites with balconies across from the spa are much more luxurious than the rooms in the main hotel.
Every single staff member I have encountered there made my visits memorable.
You get what you pay for, that's for sure! I plan to visit again next month, as I have been doing this entire year.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (2)
I hesitate to give this place a bad review, because much about the inn and spa were excellent. Specifically, the service was superlative from all involved. The grounds are nice, the views pleasant, the amenities in fine order. However, the beds (which is critical to the "sleeping at the hotel" experience) were cheap and stiff. The pillows were not much better. It's a shame that such hard work on the part of the hotel staff to provide a fine experience were undercut by management's decision to cut corners on the beds themselves. It really kills the fun of an expensive overnight stay when you wake up from an ill night's sleep with a backache. Get a mattress liner, guys. Oh well, at least we were able to recover at the spa. All the same, for the money you're being asked to spend, you would expect better from the one piece of furniture they know you're going to use.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
My review is for their spa services only.
Part of our Sonoma trip was to enjoy the spa at the Fairmont and indulge a bit. We both had an appointment for a facial which was preceded by spending time in their mineral pools, which is included in spa services. Before getting into the pools, we were advised to take a hot shower using their grapeseed body scrub. The scrub left our skin feeling soft and moisturized. The two indoor mineral pools are set at two temperatures. We enjoyed both pools. Then we were told to use one of the saunas (they have wet and dry) before rinsing off for our facial.
We waited a few minutes for our facial technicians to call us in, so we had some cucumber water and fruit in the waiting area. I had the Sonoma Lavender facial, while my friend had the European Deep Cleansing facial. We both had a very good experience. The facials were fantastic. My skin was rejuvenated, and my face looked great afterward. The technician wrote down the name of all the products she used on my face which was useful. She also told me that at the spa, all the techs are trained the same way, so that you get consistent treatment every time. I thought that was cool.
Just remember that this is the Fairmont, and expect to pay Fairmont prices. Completely worth it though.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
4 stars for the "bath ritual". Relaxing and an alternative way to increase your flexibility. Remember to wake up at 8:30 so you can have the entire bath house for yourself, then you can sleep for the rest of the day. It works better than ambien.
1 star is taken away for the room. I made a mistake by thinking I got the deal for the "Wine Country SUITE" (average $500 per night) at the price of the "Fairmont Wine Country ROOM" (average $300 per night). The "Room" is not worth the price. There is a reason they only put the pictures of "the suites". You can get a way better room at other resorts at Napa/Sonoma area at the price of "the rooms".
Went there for a quick getaway this weekend and it was fantastic. It's close to the Square so you can stumble/crawl home if needed. It's remodeled and look really nice.
The customer service is top-notch and their pool areas is sweet. Grab a chair and order up a mojito -- you'll stick around for awhile!
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
My experience at the Fairmont is nothing short of amazing. I spent a summer weekend here and would absolutely recommend it for a romantic getaway.
To start, I've never had a better massage than at the Spa. Even though my therapist told me I had a tighter back than the middle aged big wigs who came in regularly (lol, I'm in my early 20s!), I felt like my body was in perfect condition after 50 minutes. The Fairmont also has several pools with water and towel service for pre and post massage goodness :D
Then, our room was so beautiful. It had French doors that opened into a patio with love seats looking out upon a gorgeous courtyard. The bath essentials smelled like heaven and the robe was so soft I didn't want to wear real clothes any more. Added bonus: there was a bath tub right in the middle of the room. Added bonus #2: complimentary champagne. Gosh, lovely!
Go here, guys. It makes you fall in love. Queue the sappy music!
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
Fabulous spa, great massage, loved the Watsui pool. The lobby is a real gathering place. The staff is attentive. The rooms are nice. The grounds are lush and inviting. Wish I could afford to stay here every trip!
