posted 05-19-2008 11:25 PM         

I stayed at this MOTEL because my friend was getting married in Sonoma and this was where she was told to get rooms. I looked at the web-site and thought the place looked nice--online. I should've gotten a hint about the service when I called to make a reservation, got an answering machine, left a message, and never received a call back.

I nearly missed the MOTEL because I was looking for someplace worth the $250/night rate. When we pulled into the parking lot, we noted how it looked like a cheap motel with turquoise doors and bad landscaping.

When I checked in, I asked the Hispanic girl at the front desk whether my room was near everyone else in the wedding party. She rudely noted that there was no note on my reservation and that no one reserved a block of rooms for the wedding. After speaking with otheres in my party, everyone noted how the same girl was rude to them as well.

I thought that maybe the rooms were really spacious and nice; I tried with hope to think the $250/night was getting me something more than a cheap motel. The room was spacious and clean. That's about all I can say for it. It certainly WAS NOT worth $250/night.

I chalked the rates up to it being in Sonoma but after a visit into town, my friends and I found El Dorado. The hotel was beautiful, clean, and cozy. It had a full restaurant and bar. Thinking the rates would be astronomical compared to our dink digs, I ventured to get the El Dorado rate card. No room, in any season was more than $200/night. Unbelievable.

Maybe they don't have a pool, I thought. Not only do they HAVE a pool, but they have 3 bungalows along the pool with patios. To pour salt in my wounds, the concierge was actually nice.

Later, when I chatted with some wine consultants at the local wineries, I was told that El Pueblo is notorious for overcharging, "because they can." They can only charge as much as they do because people don't know until they've already arrived. AND they charge your first night's stay before you even arrive. It must be because once you arrive, you'll want to turn around and find somewhere else that was actually worth your money.

What's worse, I left with bug bites on my face and chest. I think they had bed bugs. So much for clean.