Inn at Occidental

As soon as my husband and I pulled up in Occidental, we were pretty disenchanted. I had a vision in my head of a quiet cottage in the middle of the country, but the town of Occidental is right on a major highway. Cars zoom past and the town is so small I was unable to even take a walk in the morning without just going in circles. The website for the inn gave me a completely different idea of what it might be like.
We reserved the Ruby suite, in the main house.
When we arrived, it was a warm day and the innkeeper was using a weed whacker to trim the bushes. I was exhausted from our wedding and had visions of collapsing into a warm, inviting bed. The innkeeper was kind enough to stop using the weed whacker, but he seemed perturbed by the request. The bed itself was kind of a nightmare. It was squeaky, noisy and lumpy. My husband is 6’3″ and it seemed just a tad too small as well. The walls were paper thin and they were doing some kind of construction down the hall. There wasn’t a moment during the day/​afternoon where some loud banging wasn’t going on.
The inn itself felt very empty, however. The website boasts a nice breakfast, but when we went down to the food area there was a sad bowl of fruit and granola and a couple scones. It was almost completely void of people.
The two cafes in town closed early, so there wasn’t much to do except hang out at the inn, and it wasn’t comfortable. The giant spa tub was absolutely gorgeous, but there wasn’t enough hot water to even fill it a quarter of the way. I couldn’t turn on the jets because the water was so low, they were just spraying everywhere. I had even bought special bath bombs and reserved this room for that tub, and I couldn’t even use it. Not only was there not enough hot water to fill the tub, but attempting to use the tub also used all the hot water for the room (if not the entire inn) and my husband couldn’t take a hot shower. The bathroom area is completely open, not even a curtain or shade separates the toilet area from the rest of the room. I’m not kidding. I was peeing in the bathroom and I could hear my husband munching chips literally 4 feet away. If he walked past the bathroom, we could have a face to face conversation while I was on the toilet.
The room was depressing and dark, despite it being a sunny day. They sell a CD of a pianist playing muzak, and there is a CD player with a copy of it in the room. Honestly, it saved us for the one night we stayed. If we didn’t have music to drown out the noise or the eery atmosphere, we would have gone insane. For our honeymoon, we expected something more.
We ended up leaving after that first night. Could we have complained? Yes. But everything just stacked up against this place. Also they have a STRICT policy about cancellations, and I’m 300% sure we wouldn’t have gotten a cent back. They charged our credit card the INSTANT we checked in.

The Inn at Occidental, sequestered on a pastoral hill of Redwoods, exceeded all my expectations. It is as charming as it is meticulously maintained. The denizens of Occidental are equally charming and polite, ranging from the amiable locals to the seasoned stateside traveler. We visited mid-​November (before the holiday season), which afforded us the opportunity to interact with a very friendly and informed staff. Breakfast was also included with our stay. Their homemade yogurt and granola is delicious. Also if you do visit, you should make time to hit some of the delightfully rustic and ‘one of a kind’ shops in town for that special gift, either for yourself or someone else. I will definitely stay here again.

We stayed here for the weekend and our experience was incredible, cozy, friendly, and charming.
First, the drive here was scenic, surrounded by pine trees and vineyards on a small meandering road.
Once we got to the inn, we were greeted by Jerry and Annie, who were amazingly friendly and showed us to our room (The Tiffany).
The room was spacious, with a wood burning fireplace, two shower-​heads, cable tv, free wifi, and most importantly, a trafitional canopy bed with a super soft comforter. Everything was right!
In the morning, we were treated to breakfast, featuring eggs benedict, fruits, yogurt, oj, etc.
The most beautiful thing was the view, and waking up to a foggy landscape of pine trees in a small cozy town.

This place is so beautiful, luxurious, clean, romantic, and the best hotel I have ever stayed at with a Travelzoo coupon. We stayed in the safari room with a fireplace, jacuzzi, very comfy bed. They offer wine hour from 5−6pm in addition to the tasting card for up to 75 wineries. Fern was super welcoming and took her time to show us where to go and eat. She really did a wonderful job and made us feel welcomed!
Love love this place! A must go to even for SF locals like us. We went the next day to Bodega Bay and walked around. We felt like we were on vk for a week even though we were just there for a night. Felt so relaxed.

The Inn at Occidental is a cozy place off the beaten path of the Napa a Sonoma wine crowd. The rooms are spacious and attractive, Jerry & Tina are great hosts and their dining staff are fantastic. We always enjoy the wine reception to swap stories with other guests and get the scoop on what to do next. Then to top it off, the breakfast in the morning is delicious and plentiful with a wide selection of healthy food and indulgences. Love our stays at the Inn at Occidental!

What a beautiful location with amazing hosts! We stayed in the Safari Room and as soon as we walked into the room we knew that we had just landed the best vacation ever. This bed and breakfast located in Occidental was so charming in every way. Looking at our calendar to plan our next stay!

Stayed at the Inn for 2 nights in March 2015.
Got a great Groupon rate to stay here mid-​week, spoke to Marilyn who was very helpful when I made my reservation. Service there is very personal, the staff is welcoming.
Jerry escorted us to the room and provided us with details regarding the facilities.
We stayed in the Lodge room, which had a unique aspen canopy bed and great views from the balcony. The rooms are very spacious, have double sinks and fireplaces. Room was very clean. The perfect place to cozy up.
During our stay we took advantage of the complimentary wine tasting passes to over 100 Sonoma County Wineries. Was great to enjoy the picturesque countryside and sample some of the wines at no cost. Getting to the participating wineries can be a bit of a drive, the inn provides a map of Somoma that makes it easier to plot your path. We also visited Bodega Bay which is about 30 minutes from the Inn.
Enjoyed the wine and cheese hour, very relaxing to have cheese and wine pairings on the veranda or in the courtyard. Very good cheeses. Can also take your glass of wine to enjoy on your balcony.
4 star rating because breakfast could be improved.
Small flavorless items are served. Breakfast potatoes were undercooked and cold.
The self-​serve coffee would run out quickly in the mornings.
After check out I noticed my credit card was charged for a $ 23 bottle of in room Merry Edwards wine we did not drink. I immediately called the Inn and spoke to Marilyn who apologized and quickly reversed the charge. Just be aware that there are actually supposed to be TWO bottles of wine in the room, one in the refrigerator and one on the bureau. In our case upon check in there was only a bottle on the bureau which is why we were mistakenly charged for drinking one.
Overall I really enjoyed my stay and definitely recommend this charming B&B.

This B&B was absolutely picturesque! It’s tucked into the hillside. The facility is clean, cozy, comfortable, spacious and inviting! My boyfriend booked a secret (to me) engagement weekend and the staff assisted in making it a weekend we’ll never forget! The accommodated our specific needs and made the weekend seamless for us. The chef was amazing and even took care of us when we arrived at breakfast past their serving time. Thank you so much!

Along with friends, my wife and I had just enjoyed a great weekend at the Inn. Everything was top-​notch, especially the wonderful hospitality of the proprietors, Tina and Jerry. The property was beautiful and the room very clean and well-​appointed, while still exuding the feel and charm of a B&B.
In addition, Occidental is a great jumping-​off point to visit the numerous nearby wineries and the picturesque Sonoma County coast.
Definitely worth the drive off the beaten path to stay at the Inn. Can’t wait to go back!

Received this as a Christmas gift and it was amazing!
A great bed and breakfast in a very small town. We stayed in the Wine Room and the décor was nice, but some work could be done. Baseboards don’t match, no LED lights on the steps in the room headed to the bathroom in the middle of the night, and could use paint to cover up patch marks from work done. Other than that, the room is a great size, has a nice size tub for 2 to relax in with robes and fireplace.
The wine hour is nice as you get free wine and can mingle with guests. They don’t serve cheese and crackers anymore, so bring your own!
Breakfast down stairs was good. It is changed everyday what they serve. If you have special requests you can let them know and they will accommodate your needs if they can. They have coffee and tea, along with juices. They also serve two kinds of granola with milk, fruits, and a pastry of some sort.
The only downfall is it is some ways from wineries. With that being said, mileage isn’t all that far, but they are windy roads. If someone gets car sick, possibly not the place to stay.
Highly recommend this location for a nice quiet get away with your loved one!

Amazing little hidden gem! Stayed in the Sonoma Country room was gorgeous with a bed made of actual aspen trees with yellow leaves still attached! Was a work of art! Had a huge soaking whirlpool tub (bring lush bath bomb). Had an amazing time! Went zip lining a few miles up the road and to the Cedar enzyme bath at osmosis as well! Amazing experience!

I’m a Sonoma County native and Occidental is one of my favorite towns. I decided to take my best friend to the Inn at Occidental after seeing a deal on Groupon for a spa treatment at nearby Osmosis Day spa and sanctuary combined with an overnight stay here.
The inn is charming in every way, and we got great customer service overall. My friend and I loved the unique themes of each room and all the small touches that make this place truly unique. It’s clear that the owner cares about providing a lovely experience for each guest. It feels like they thought of everything! The inn is pristine, beautifully decorated, perfectly situated in town, with a gorgeous courtyard garden and a veranda that wraps around the lodge. There is a daily wine and cheese reception (very good) and the full breakfast in the morning is definitely above average.
You really have to experience this place for yourself!

My wife and I stayed in the Kitchen Cupboard room for 1 night. We were very graciously welcomed and escorted to our room by the front desk attendant. The room looked great. The fireplace was not only a really nice decorative touch, but is also the rooms only source of heat. The bathroom area was plenty big and clean. The only knock I would give the room would be the comfort of the bed. It was very hard. Not my preference for a bed, but some people like it I’m sure. The facility is right in downtown, close to a couple of restaurants and shops. I would recommend this place to a friend.

We were a repeat customers until our last stay at the inn. We had found blood all over the sheets in our room, when we pulled down the covers to go to bed. We called the front desk to let them know and also spoke to the innkeeper at checkout about the situation. I don’t understand how they could just shrug this off as no big deal, and charge us full rate. They need to get their housekeeping in order, and because of the lack of customer service I will not be coming back. I am tempted to post the photographs because it was not just a small spot but in several places all over their white sheets!

I spent the weekend up in Wine Country with a bud and our wives — and based on a TravelZoo deal, spent the weekend at the Inn.
The Inn itself is pretty spectacular — the owners have done a VERY good job of decoration, and the 100+ year old home is both whimsical and comfortable. The cottages (out back) are only about twelve years old, and are themed — we stayed in the Safari room (you can figure out the theme there) while our friends stayed in the Heritage room. Other than décor, the rooms were identical.
The visit includes wine/​cheese between 5−6pm, as well as breakfast. The staff at both of these were very friendly and attentive (as were the owners).
The breakfast itself was a bit of a letdown, when compared to other B&B’s. Saturday was waffles (which is great, unless you’re not a big fan of bread), and Sunday was a quiche. Neither was exactly filling. The coffee was good though, as was the OJ.
The only REAL ding is that this is VERY out of the way… a good 45 minutes from Sonoma, and frankly, a VERY small town. Two Italian restaurants, one Mexican restaurant, and a tavern. We ate at the tavern the first night (which, while packed with locals, was not all that great) and the family-​owned Italian the second night (which was pretty good). But that’s it. No other options without driving a ways.
On the upside, if you’re planning on a weekend on the Russian River, this is reasonably close by.
Overall, a thumbs up. Again, I’ve been in better B&B’s when it comes to breakfast, but this is a good B&B with friendly staff — oh… and wireless (thank goodness, as there is NO cell phone signal).

Inn at Occidental was quite an experience. Upon arrival, I was given a tour of this beautiful converted Victorian with a bit of its history. It has all the amenities that others have mentioned… a large porch for sitting, a garden to wander in with lawn chairs to enjoy the day, on-​going beverage station, wine and cheese in the evening and a wonderful breakfast head and shoulders above the fruit and sweet rolls of commercial hotels. My room was upgraded to the quilt room with a sunken, jetted tub and fireplace. The bed was very comfortable and the furnishings were an eclectic mix. Such ambiance!!! Will definitely treat myself to a stay here again.
They also offered concierge service by booking wine tours in the surrounding areas and to book reservations at the 2 Italian, French Bistro, fine dining at one of the hotels, and a breakfast/​lunch place in this town of 150 or so.
The Inn was paired with Osmosis Day Spa in Freestone. Another wonderful adventure!

One of the nicest bed and breakfasts I have stayed in. Excellent service and detail oriented from the personalized letter on the bed to the bottle of champagne for our anniversary. My girlfriend and I stayed in Room 7 and it was perfect. The extra large spa tub was simply amazing. We didn’t want to leave the room! The praline french toast was by far the best breakfast I’ve ever had at a hotel. Highly recommended!

My husband received a gift certificate for the Inn at Occidental! Where is that?!? Little did we know we would fall in love with this place!
We got in later which was no issue and we were greeted by a friendly woman (not the owner) and asking if we wanted to try some wine! Yes! We were then led on a mini tour where there’s a Library for business needs, 24hour hot beverage station, and a garden with a fountain in a courtyard!
Next we saw our room! Beautifully decorated! The «wine country» which has a fireplace and jetted tub to say the least! There was also a split of sparking with 2 flutes for our anniversary!
To top it off daily you receive a hot gourmet breakfast with a continental spread and an evening wine and cheese reception is included!
We will be back!

For me this was as good as it gets. I love this place. It’s fantastic.
First, the staff is amazing. And the main house is just lovely. Decorated to within an inch of its life, there’s something to look at everywhere, and the English garden is just as delightful. Have wine and cheese in the garden, in the main house or on the veranda.
Our room was charming. Fantastic decorations! Themed rooms are tastefully decorated (so often this theme stuff goes terribly wrong, but not here). The tub was AMAZING! Fit two very tall people easily. And the jets are super fun. And the tub fills super fast– I wish my tub at home filled as fast. Plus there is a separate shower. The toiletries are very nice, and you get q-​tips and cotton balls too– which is a nice touch. There was an in-​room fridge in our room, and a hair dryer. We had a great view from our second floor room. The linens, both towels and sheets, were superior.
Breakfast was lovely. There’s a large room dedicated to dining downstairs– 6 tables, with two buffet tables, and then on top of the fruit and muffins and granola and yogurt, you get a cooked to order breakfast delivered by your server.
The only negative for some might be there was no TV in the room (I certainly didn’t want one), and no coffee maker– but coffee and tea are available in the main house– but it’s a bit of a walk if you are in the rooms above the main house. Also, and this was a big negative for my husband, there is an emergency siren (think air raid siren) that goes off and sounds like it’s right outside your room– it summons the volunteer fire department members– for ANY kind of emergency. This did not bother me, but my husband needs medication to sleep, and he ended up needing to take a double dose, so for him this was a big negative– and he was wearing ear plugs, as he always does. There is nothing the people at the inn can do about this. But you should know about it.

After driving through winding country roads we were greeted upon arrival by the two most gracious owners in this Sonoma County area: Tina, who is originally from Hawaii and her husband Jerry Wolsborn, who used to manage high-​end hotels such as the Ilikai and St. Francis in SFO. They bought this inn in ’03 and have infused it with their special style and unique hospitality. The features of this inn are spacious rooms, daily hot breakfast, maid service and an afternoon wine and cheese hour. Cell phone reception is spotty in this area. but the inn has wi-​fi and it’s free! To sum it up, this place has comfort, charm and class and is perfect for the wine country traveler.
P. s. I hope S.R.‘s review wasn’t referring to me. Our family stayed in the Sonoma Cottage, a separate unit away from the main inn. A spacious, 2 BR/​2Bath rental complete with kitchen, dining and living room. Lots of privacy and great for groups or large families. Sleeps six.