April 12, 2023
We answer lots of emails from family, friends, and friends of friends to help them put together an itinerary to visit Napa on a budget. (You know who you are!)
Well, not only do we have the local insider scoop in Napa Valley by being a local, but we at Danielle Gibson Events are forever advocating for our clients, this means a large portion of our job consists of scouting new hotels, restaurants, wineries, and activities.
While we have a little break in planning events at the moment, we love to share our wealth of knowledge and hopefully inspire some memorable trips to our favorite valley! So, without further ado, here is the best of our secret list – How To Visit Napa On A Budget.
First, we always focus on what a vacation to Napa looks like to the inquirer…
Why are you visiting Napa Valley?
Most people are visiting for the wine and food, but we want to make sure.
Where are you staying in Napa Valley?
This is very important! The valley is larger than most people think. You want to spend less time driving and more time experiencing what Napa has to offer. We focus on building daily itineraries around the location of your accommodation. Or, if you’re looking for a suggestion of where to stay, we can help there too! The valley runs South to North starting from the city of Napa and ending in the town of Calistoga.
Do you want to enjoy wine tasting while visiting Napa Valley? YES
What is most important to you when wine tasting?
Keeping these questions in mind, this blog is mostly for the type 1 or 2 wine traveler. Napa Valley can be an expensive trip, but there are ways to see Napa on a budget.
Napa Valley produces some of the world’s finest Cabernet Sauvignon. There are plenty of white wines as well, including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and other interesting varietals. If you like these wine varietals, you are coming to the right place!
If you are looking for a more higher-end Napa wine and food experience, try our other Napa blogs:
Our list compiles places in Napa to stay, taste, eat and still have some money to take a few bottles of wine home! Please note: While there are many affordable places to stay, eat, and drink in the Napa Valley, we have pared down our list to guarantee wherever you choose has Danielle Gibson Event’s seal of approval.
Calistoga (North part of the valley) usually has the most economical choices when it comes to hotels. It’s a little further from the SFO airport (if you are flying in) and a little quieter than most Napa Valley towns, but you can save a few hundred bucks a night on lodging.
Our favorites:
Most wineries use Tock or CellarPass to make it quick and easy to book reservations. Our recommendations below are for tasting appointments that range between $20- $40 per person and usually include 3-5 wines as part of the tasting.
Use this Napa Winery Map to help navigate the area, I always send this to friends and event clients who are visiting (click to enlarge and download). Our list below goes from north to south.
Calistoga Wineries
St. Helena Wineries
Rutherford Wineries
Napa Wineries
There are many amazing restaurants in Napa Valley and you don’t have to spend a lot to eat a delicious meal. Below are some of our favorites for casual dining at prices below $20 per person. For a list of more restaurants in several price points see our other Napa blog – Our 25 Favorite Napa Restaurants.
Calistoga Restaurants
St. Helena Restaurants
Yountville Restaurants
Napa Restaurants
Enjoy your trip! X, DG Events
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