We travel to the wine country often so we try to find something moderate in price for our lodging. B&B’s are not our thing unless we are with a group or it’s a special occasion. We don’t need something luxurious because we spend very little time in our rooms. What we really are looking for is something clean and comfortable, a place where we can get a good night’s sleep. The El Bonita Motel in St. Helena is one such accommodation. We recently spent two nights there and found it to be very a relaxed and affordable place to stay. Besides the price, we like the idea that we could walk into St. Helena. The main shopping area is just a half-mile away. We walked into town for breakfast, and for dinner to Tra Vigne the first day, and the second night to Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen. Cindy’s is at the opposite end of St. Helena so the round trip is about two miles.
El Bonita provides a continental breakfast that we tried on the second morning. They had a good assortment of fruit and cereal along with the usual fare of bagels and such. Our room was in the older section close to Highway 29. The traffic on this highway is busy from early morning to the late evening and the noise can be bothersome. Further back behind the old section is a two-story newer area where it is much quieter. Some of the rooms in this area are suites with two bedrooms. The pool is perfect for a quick dip to cool off during the summer. Prices vary but for the peak season on weekends the rooms start at $189. A two-bedroom suite is $289. Those are pretty good prices for the Napa Valley.
The Good: Budget prices if there is such a thing in the Napa Valley. Rooms are comfortable and clean. The downtown area of St. Helena is about a half-mile.
The Bad: Rooms near the highway are noisy. You won’t find any elegant amenities at this hotel.