By Kathy Chin Leong
Obligatory shopping. Anxious wrapping. Hosting parties while stuck in the kitchen. Admit it, you need a break. You need a 24-hour mini retreat to swap grumpiness for gratitude.
The antidote this season is a night at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa in Sonoma, Calif., a resort nestled among olive trees and redwoods with mountains in the distance. Pull up onto the wide circular driveway and gaze upon the grand Spanish Colonial Revival architecture with red tile roofs and a pinkish stucco exterior. You have permission to breathe deeply. Close your eyes and listen to the gurgling fountains stationed throughout the acreage.
The property features eight room types, some with fireplaces, others with balconies, and all with the satiny smooth sheets I dream about.
It is the first luxury hotel with underground geothermal waters. The resort takes full advantage of that by piping that into three outdoor and two indoor pools.
Here’s what we did in 24 hours, and here’s what you can do, too.
2 p.m. Early check-in
Call ahead for this. While the team cannot guarantee your room will be ready before 4 p.m. (the official check-in time), you can register at the front desk and be greeted with a glass of Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Valley sparkling wine.
The vast lobby during the holidays is gloriously festive. The candle, flickering fireplace, and potted poinsettias fall in second and third place compared to the giant Christmas tree touting a small red mailbox for kids to drop off letters to Santa. Meanwhile, an open chess set may beckon some guests to play or others may opt to nestle upon one of the leather sofas or chairs.
Lobby swags of greenery and miniature trees are such a joyous sight, especially for those of us relieved we don’t have to de-Christmas this room after the holidays are over. Do take a moment to admire the Spanish motifs and materials such as wrought iron railings, tiled floors, and exposed wood beam ceilings.
3 pm. In-room indulgence
If you are lucky like we were, you’ll be rewarded with an early check-in time, and snagging a suite is well worth your investment. We are on the third level in the Mission Spa suite, featuring a four-poster king bed, so tall management has placed a step stool on one side to give guests a boost. That is a good thing because at night I have to fling myself onto the bed. My husband fears he may forget that the bed is high and fall out in the middle of the night. But he doesn’t.
In this room, the open area deep soaking tub with jets, along with a real wood burning fireplace, shouts romance. Just so you know, you get a sack of complimentary firewood to light, and if you must ignite future embers, call the front desk for extra wood at $10 a bundle. Ours lasted about an hour, so getting a second round is worth it. We enjoy a roaring fire in the morning with our coffee (a Nespresso machine comes with the suite), as well as lighting one at night after dinner.
The Mission suite also has a balcony with a table and chairs, but right now it’s pretty chilly. I am happy enough to go outside, admire the mountains and fountains, and rush back in.
Active guests can borrow a resort cruiser bicycle and take the bike path to quaint downtown Sonoma. Adjacent to these are e-bikes available for a small rental fee. Want to stay on site? Engage in a few rounds of outdoor ping pong or bocce ball.
4:30 p.m. Complimentary wine time
Local wineries showcase wares from 4:30-5:30 in the lobby, so don’t miss this daily ritual. When we arrive, a steward from Highway 12 Winery is touting the benefits of its whites and reds. Plus, he is doling out two-for-one coupons for the tasting room in downtown Sonoma. By the way, Sonoma Valley is home to over 80 wineries with chardonnays, cabs, and pinot noirs as it mainstay. A few are well worth visiting before you depart the area.
6 p.m. Winter Swiss Chalet dinner
This is why we came, to pretend we just finished skiing in the Swiss Alps and to experience the ambiance of a re-imagined room of a Swiss chalet. Surprisingly, the cost is reasonable. All you have to do is spend at least $50 in food and beverages per person, and you get all the time you want in one of three adorable, cozy wood chalets. As the brochure says, “perfect for families, friends, or a romantic date night under the Sonoma moonlight.”
Located in the front of the hotel, the boxy rooms are filled with a picnic table and benches layered with blankets and sweater pillows. Meanwhile, walls are festooned with ornaments and the ceilings dripping with starry lights. Each possesses its own decorative spin. Ours is lined with colorful lights above and that pillow with a zebra wearing a Santa hat beckons me to come. Here, the chalet menu is separate from the hotel restaurant, featuring seven entrees and three desserts. I do recommend the smooth and stretchy cheese fondue with bread, apples, pears, and grapes. I toast my man with the festive eggnog spiked with rum while Frank clinks my glass with his Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice espresso cocktail.
Also on our meal docket is Winter Chicory Salad with pears. Next up is a Steak Tartare Tartine, which is chopped raw meat on toast, tasting very much like a Japanese ahi poke in consistency. The Chocolate Hazelnut Profiterole crowns our evening. The dessert is dressed as a circular pastry with cream within, sitting atop a blanket of caramel and crushed hazelnuts.
8 p.m. Back in the room
Take advantage of everything your spa suite has to offer. After dinner, I turn on the bathtub knobs to prepare for a deep soak to stave off the evening chills. When you come, grab that fluffy robe from the closet and slip on the Fairmont slippers. Pop open your complimentary bottle of wine and watch a movie in front of a fire before hitting the sack.
8 a.m. Breakfast
Wake up! Wake up! No doubt you’ve noticed these sheets are so satiny and irresistible that you feel you want to sleep in all day. However, unless you’re fasting, go downstairs for breakfast at Sante Restaurant. We were still so full from dinner, we pretty much skipped breakfast and had coffee, though.
9 a.m. Hit the gym
The 24-hour workout facilities are included as part of your stay. Singe off some fondue calories using the free weights, treadmills, elliptical machines, and stationary bikes. Mornings feature a complimentary group exercise class such as Pilates or yoga. Creature comforts in the gym include stacks of clean gym towels, earbuds to plug into the machines for guided instructions, and apples for energy.
10 a,m. Spa time
The resort features one of the most palatial spas in the region, or even the state. The geothermal waters is its distinguishing hallmark. Book a massage that gives you all-day spa access or buy a day pass at a discount. You will get your money’s worth, for there are private cabanas, private whirlpool zones, plenty of lounge chairs, and two decks of geothermal pools. That is just outside.
Inside the white walled, two-story co-ed space are two more geothermal pools with jets, a dry and wet sauna, and a shower. Before soaking, I snuggle on a couch and journal in the fireplace lounge. In the spa lobby, you’ll find a banquet table with fruit, coffee, tea, cucumber water, and iced tea to keep customers hydrated.
11 a.m.: Official check out
This is the resort’s standard bye-bye time. However, you can request an extension or check out of your room and linger in the spa with your day pass. Hint: the spa closes at six p.m., so plan accordingly.
2 pm: Departure
Before you know it, your 24 hours is up. But now you’ve been steeped in the spa waters, filled up on comfort food, and basked in front a roaring fire. Now you can get out there and seize the season with joy and without the stress. Happy holidays!
- For more information or to book your stay visit: Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa
