MY STAY
The vineyard room
Montage Healdsburg made the landscape part of the room. I could look toward vineyards, shower outdoors and end the day by a fire on the deck. The hillside layout also meant that the position of a suite affected how quickly I reached dinner or an event.
Carts & timing
A cart was useful, but its timing could not be taken for granted. One ride from a suite to a wedding took nearly an hour, long enough to miss the start. I would settle a pickup ahead rather than turn a peaceful distance between buildings into an anxious wait.
Bar & dining
My favorite drink stop was the lobby bar with its vineyard view, and dinner deserved a reservation rather than assuming the only open restaurant would have a free table. The spa and pool offered other reasons to stay, though spending every free hour on appointments would have meant less time on the deck. A second security deposit charged to another card during a stay was a less welcome surprise; the payment details deserved clarity at check-in.
Would I return?
The vineyard deck deserves a longer Sonoma break when carts, dinner bookings and room charges have been sorted out. The room and scenery were memorable. Having the carts and billing run as smoothly as the setting would make them easier to enjoy.