Stanly Ranch, Auberge Resorts Collection

Stanly Ranch, Auberge Resorts Collection

Check-in is at four, which leaves the rest of the afternoon for the patio, because every one of the 135 rooms has a private furnished one, plus an indoor fireplace for later in the evening. Nothing here is stacked. The whole property runs across a single floor, so the outdoor pool, the poolside bar, the sun deck, the garden and the picnic area are all a level walk from the door. The spa does massages, body treatments and facials, there is a steam room and a spa tub, and the health club stays open 24 hours. Dinner is at Bear, the restaurant on site, room service runs around the clock, and cooked-to-order breakfast is served from 7 to 11 for a fee. What this is not is a walk-into-town base. Downtown Napa sits about six kilometres off, Oxbow Public Market 12.6 kilometres, Domaine Carneros 11.1 and Buena Vista Winery 23.6, so a car is the working assumption, with free valet parking and electric charging on site. It rewards guests who want the day to start on the property, with hiking, a tour desk to arrange the rest of it, and dogs allowed. It will frustrate anyone who wants to walk out of the lobby into a wine bar in town. Five meeting rooms handle groups without the place tipping into conference territory, and the terrace, garden and gift shop keep the rest of it self-contained. One floor, 135 doors, each one opening onto its own patio and its own fire. A single-storey hotel outside Napa where all 135 rooms come with a private furnished patio and an indoor fireplace. Spa, spa tub, 24-hour health club, outdoor pool and the restaurant Bear on site, free valet parking, dogs allowed. Town is six kilometres away, so bring a car.