Bodega Bay Lodge & Spa

Great Get-Away!

As always with staying at a new hotel I was a little worried at what we would find, especially since previous reviews complained that the renovations were not uniform. We were pleased to find a charming and warm lodge with tasteful rooms surrounded by the beauty that sat at the edge of a state park. As a designer from Chicago I could also pick apart imperfections such as woods not matching in the room, but we chose not to stay at a cookie cutter hotel and off the beaten path. And it is away from it all, and quite a drive to Yountville and Napa, but the beauty of the area and seclusion from the winery crowds was worth the drive. The staff was fabulous and accommodating, the food was wonderful and the entire experience relaxing and a great get-away. We enjoyed the restaurant for breakfast and also room service of a cheese and fruit plate every evening with wine by our fireplace in our room, but heard from others that dinner was fabulous and reservations are needed. I would have preferred to stay longer and try the spa but we only had a long weekend and wanted to explore the nearby redwoods state park and restaurants and wineries in the valley. We noticed many other guests stayed at the lodge the entire time. We will be back to stay longer and explore the nearby state park and golf course.

Best time to visit the area is Fall and weekdays are less crowded. Make restaurants reservations well over a month in advance at renowned Sonoma county venues, and save money by having lunch rather than dinner at more expensive spots. Also reserve wine tours in advance. Check area and specific websites. Allow additional time for travel with traffic on weekends, and bring a GPS.

Outstanding room, view, food and service!

Our short stay at the Bodega Bay Lodge & Spa was near perfect. Check in was delayed, but they upgraded us to a room with a wonderful view. The room was lovely, comfy bed, fireplace, big flat screen tv despite almost no reason to watch tv in Bodega Bay! The bathroom is a real standout - gorgeous natural stone shower, granite counters, fantastic heat/fan control. Dinner was fabulous. The chef knows his way around creative fish dishes! The Arctic Char was perfect. We are foodies, so that was a treat. Service was outstanding. We did not have any spa services, but we certainly did enjoy the outdoor pools. Perfectly clean and obviously well maintained, the same can be said of every part of the grounds. The coastline in this area is simply amazing - plan LOTS of beach time, Armstrong Redwoods is a must-see, plenty of nice wineries within decent drive times - try for a tour of Chalk Hill Winery - you won’t believe the views. The people from the surf shops to the art galleries are happy, helpful and fun to meet and it’s an easy drive from San Francisco. Bodega Bay will now be at the top of our ’visit again’ list, and we will absolutey stay at the Bodega Bay Lodge & Spa.

Traveller's tip on recreational activities

There are several exciting beaches with really easy access for those of us that have difficulty with steep walks. Don’t settle for just Doran Beach - it was honestly our least favorite. Check out the dunes at Salmon Beach. A drive up to Goat Rock and a walk along the shore there is worth the time, really beautiful - then, head to Armstrong Redwoods. Much more amazing than I expected. Take pictures! This area has given this life long photography hobbyist some of the most breathtaking photos ever!

Repeat Visitor

Can’t say enough about this place. It is a great "grown-up" place to go if you want some relaxation. The rooms are wonderful and the service and front desk were very professional and accommodating. Everything is first class. The wood burning fireplace in the lobby was very nice as was the wine and cheese hour. We made the mistake of going on a holiday weekend and there a few too many noisy children during the wine hour making shishkebobs out of the cheese. Otherwise this is a very quiet and pleasant place to spend a few days......