HOW TO check out NAPA VALLEY ON A budget

Last Updated: 03/17/20 | March 17th, 2020

With its verdant hills, acres of vineyards, and temperate climate, Napa Valley in California is one of the world’s premier wine-producing regions.

Located just over an hour from San Francisco, each year over 3 million people flock to this region to bike, hike, swim in a veritable pool of wine, and eat rich, delicious food.

However, Napa is not easy on the wallet. Restaurants, hotels, and winery check outs add up quickly. like a money-sucking feedback loop, visitors expect to spend a lot of money, and prices reflect people’s willingness to open their wallets.

I went seeking an answer to the question I ask of all destinations: “Can you travel here on $50 a day?”

I found you can, but it takes work. even if you don’t desire to do it bare-bones, there are ways to cut your expenses and still delight in an inexpensive check out to Napa Valley.
 

Accommodations

If you cut your accommodation costs, you can check out Napa on a budget. The average cost for hotels in the area is around $175 per night, with some basic options starting at $99 (before taxes). Unless you’re traveling as a pair or part of a group, that’s a lot for one person to spend per night.

The best way to save money on accommodations, especially as a solo traveler, is to use Couchsurfing, a site that connects locals with travelers who need a place to stay. It’s a fantastic form of cross-cultural exchange and a totally free place to stay at night!

However, there aren’t a lot of hosts in Napa, so look for one in advancement since, given the cost of accommodations, they get a lot of requests. I found a host two weeks before I went, and they had other people staying with them at the same time, too.

But if this doesn’t appeal to you, choose Airbnb. It’s the most affordable paid option. There are a lot of listings for the area, with some costing as little as $75 per night for a private room.
 

Food

Napa is home as much to world-class food as it is to wine. That doesn’t bode well for your pocket. You can easily sit down for a meal and pay over $10 for just an appetizer!

Stick to the markets and sandwich shops if you want to survive on a budget. There is a farmers market (with a few restaurants) in downtown Napa. Gott’s Roadside has locations in both Napa and St. Helena and serves delicious burgers for under $8, while ad Hoc runs a delicious food truck providing fried chicken made by a Michelin star chef for $15 with sides.

Beyond that, cook your own food. There are food markets galore in the region where you can purchase fresh groceries at a sensible price.

I would certainly splurge on at least one meal, though, as the region is well-known for its food, but I would limit how numerous meals you do this on — it will add up quickly! You can find world-class food anywhere. Why blow your budget? So splurge sparingly — save it for the wine!
 

Transportation

Transportation in Napa is complicated. Unless you have a designated driver, driving is neither the best nor safest option. (Remember: Don’t drink and drive!!) To get around, you’ll need to find other implies of transport.

First, you can rent a bike. organized bike trips are over $100 and don’t include tasting fees at the wineries — so I’d skip those. Instead, make your own bike tour. You can rent bikes for around $45 per day. two good rental companies are Calistoga Bikeshop and Napa Valley Bike Tours.

Second, you can hire a automobile service — there is no shortage of companies that will take care of driving you and your pals around. However, this is a really expensive option. many cost $35 per hour and have a multi-hour minimum, while some of the much more glamorous options cost around $115 an hour.

I wouldn’t recommend these unless you are part of a larger group.

Third, you can join organized group tours. These typically cost around $100 per day (and don’t always include totally free tastings). You’ll be shuttled from winery to winery on a timetable, but it can be a good way to see a lot of wineries in a single day.

If you’re searching for a quick and problem-free way to see the wineries and don’t want to bother planning it all yourself, this is the option for you (though it won’t be cheap!).

Your most affordable option is Uber, a ridesharing service that operates around the world. You download their app to your smartphone, register your credit report card, and request a nearby chauffeur directly through the app. It’s a door-to-door automobile service! (Personally, I like their competitor Lyft better, but they don’t operate in the area.)

There are plenty of Uber chauffeurs in Napa, so you’ll have no problem getting a ride. A 15-minute, five-mile drive will cost around $14. If you’re traveling with a group, this will be the most affordable way to get around.
 

Wine

Tastings whatsoever the wineries in the area run $15-20. If you stop by the tourism office, you can pick up a number of 2-for-1 tasting cards, which are terrific if you are traveling in a pair. I tried to redeem them on my own in hopes that I would either get two tastings or half off of one, and the results were hit or miss.

There’s also an app called Winery Finder that lists current promotions at wineries in the region. I highly recommend using this app, as numerous of the promotions noted are not advertised at the tourism office.

Additionally, many wineries will waive the tasting fee if you purchase a bottle or two of their red wine (shipping not included). So if you plan to stock your red wine cellar, you’ll find you’ll be able to taste lots of totally free wine!

***
I really delighted in my time in Napa. The region was beautiful, the food was incredible, and the wine… well, simply divine. However, I don’t recommend going alone. First, it’s much more expensive, and, because I couldn’t split costs, that really drove up costs!

Second, the delight of Napa is exploring the area with your pals and sharing some stories over good red wine and food. You can have fun on your own, but I delighted in myself the most when I met up with my pals and had people to share the experience with.

That said, Napa doesn’t need to bust your budget. There aren’t numerous ways to save money, but there are a few and, when used together, they can considerably lower your costs and make your dream trip to Napa a much more inexpensive reality.

Book Your trip to the United States: Logistical suggestions and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Use Skyscanner or Momondo to find a low-cost flight. They are my two favorite search engines because they search sites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned. start with Skyscanner first though because they have the most significant reach!

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the most significant inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the most affordable rates for guesthouses and low-cost hotels.

Don’t forget travel Insurance
Travel insurance will safeguard you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s extensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it numerous times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

Safety Wing (for everyone below 70)

Insure My trip (for those over 70)

Medjet (for additional repatriation coverage)

Looking for the best companies to save money With?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.

Looking for much more information on the United States?
Be sure to check out our robust destination guide to the united states for even much more planning tips!