A Skeptic's review

Guest: Triathlon Bill (Carmel)
Date of Stay: 06/13/11 Review Submitted: 06/17/11

Stop! Review no further. Pam and I have traveled rather extensively, and who hasn't touted their vacation wonderland as someplace akin to Shangri-La? Well in truth this one is very clearly understated!! The property and house are well beyond imagination. But would you expect otherwise when the owners, Bill Bylund is a world class architect and his beautiful wife Diane is a acclaimed master gardener? The residence is well up the road from the renown Meadowbrook Country Club, No other dwelling is visible. It's like the gateway to heaven.. I dare you to make a wish list and not find it present here in spades.There is nothing here not super deluxe first class, from the linen, feather pillows, towels, carpet, dishware, library, cleanliness, design, climate control, fireplace, and much more. And the garden and views even top this. There is not an outdoor nook that doesn't captivate you, so many areas for total creature comfort. So please stop your research, and sign on with Diane and Bill; it's the very best you can do for your mate. But please don't compete with us for out time next May. .

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, girls getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers.

The perfect place to take your Lady of Shallot

Guest: cat (Lodi, CA)
Date of Stay: 12/08/10 Review Submitted: 12/12/10

My wife and I have travelled to or through St. Helena every year since our first stay at Bylund House in 2001. We always make it a point to either stay with the Bylunds or at the very least stop and visit with them. They are truely the most gracious of hosts and we have come to consider them a part of our small circle of friends. The property is tucked away on a beautiful hillside and blends in perfectly with the natural suroundings. No detail is left unaddressed. The tower provides a perch above a wooded valley that allows us to see the region in as close to a pristine state as anyone could expect in this day and age. The rooms are cozy, clean and inviting and the ambient aroma of grape is accented by green apple. Mornings are cool and shaded by the hillside; the windows in the tower face northwest... a photographers dream for an early morning shot. I am a swimmer and the the lap pool is close to a full 25 yards. My morrnings are spent in aquatic meditation and after 30 minutes or so I am refreshed and ready for a day of exploration. After a "touring" of the towns and shops, we return to the tower (I always feel like Lancelot arriving to court my Lady of Shallot) spend some time cleaning up, enjoy the hot tub and a glass of the local vintage, usually poured by Bill or Diane from their little stash. My wife and I agree that our trips to Bylund House have always produced a sense of peace and relaxation and a real escape from the hubub of the everyday grind... We recommend it to all who seek a serious a get-away-from-it-all.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+.

Midwesterner loves the Bylundhouse

Guest: nat (Bellville)
Date of Stay: 06/11/10 Review Submitted: 12/06/10

Dorothy says "There’s no place like home." Well for this Midwesterner, "There’s no place like the Bylund House." Friends and I have stayed at the Bylund House on more than a few occasions within the past ten years. It is one of the most beautiful, breathtaking, relaxing, places I have ever stayed at in Northern California. During our stays, my friends and I often commented on how lovely and awesome the place was. We all just loved soaking it all in and when it was time to check out, we simply didn't want to leave. The Bylund House, has all the comforts of home with the bonuses of beautiful landscaping, breathtaking surroundings, a gorgeous pool and an ample size hot tub. The stay there is awesome, enjoyable, and relaxing regardless of the time of day. You can walk outside in the morning and sit in the gorgeous patio while enjoying your freshly squeezed orange juice, coffee, fresh fruit and pastries; mid-day enjoy the poolside area while sipping cocktails under the umbrella shade or simply cool off by taking a dip in the pool; take an early evening stroll around the flower and vegetable gardens; and by late evening, enjoy your crackers, cheeses, and wine while star gazing by the fire pit or just simply relaxing in the hot tub. Diane and Bill Bylund are wonderful and gracious hosts that add their personal touch to our every stay. They have always ensured that our needs were met and that we were comfortable and felt welcomed. There are many other places one can stay in the Napa Valley area but WHY? Once you’ve been there, the Bylund House will become your home away from home too.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+.

Wicked Awesome Place to Stay!

Guest: Alan J (Alan J. from Essex County)
Date of Stay: 07/11/10 Review Submitted: 12/03/10

Although slightly off the beaten track, it was a perfect location for me! I enjoyed the fact that I was close enough to the popular wineries, enabling me to enjoy my wine tasting experience during the day and not be in the throes of the tourists and winos at night. Diane and Bill were fantastic hosts who were more than happy to direct me to some of the "off-the-beaten-path" restaurants and wineries in the area, a true bonus to have that wealth of knowledge at your side. During the evening grab a bottle of wine, sit in the lounge chair, relax and rejuvenate while enjoying the amazing views that surround the facility. Another bonus to this retreat is the moderately sized lap pool that can be used to take some laps before hitting the hot tub. If you’re lucky, you might even catch Diane trying to coax the coyotes into their evening serenade ritual. When you retire for the night rest assured you will get a great night’s sleep on the unequalled comfort of the feather beds. You will wake up refreshed and ready to enjoy another day in Napa. Thank you Bylund house, you made my Napa experience second to none, see you next "Bud Break"

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+.

Wine Country Villa

Guest: Larry and Heidi (Monrovia, CA)
Date of Stay: 06/29/10 Review Submitted: 07/14/10

Wine Country Villa is one of the most beautiful vacation spots we have visited. The listing description is accurate as well as the photos on their website.The ambiance is very clean, light and serene. We loved swimming in the pool, relaxing on the deck and enjoyed the georgeous view! It was especially nice to barbeque in the lovely garden and spend a lovely evening relaxing after wine tasting all day! The Bylunds were very helpful with any question we had. I would highly recommend the Villa to everyone! We are looking forward to returning.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, girls getaway, age 55+.

RELAXING GETAWAY

Guest: AL&CAROL (WARREN)
Date of Stay: 06/18/10 Review Submitted: 07/08/10

WE FOUND THE ROOMS IMMACULATE AND COMFORTABE. THE GARDENS WERE BEAUTIFUL AND SERENE, JUST WHAT WE NEEDED FOR OUR GETAWAY.LOOKING FORWARD TO RETURNING!!!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, girls getaway, age 55+.

Excellent experience

Guest: Guin (San Francisco)
Date of Stay: 07/05/10 Review Submitted: 07/05/10

I first stayed at the Wine Country Villa 8 years ago and has such a delightful experience that it remains my first choice for accommodation when visiting the Napa Valley. Diane and Bill are excellent hosts and ensure a peaceful relaxing experience with first class hospitality and a home style touch. You cannot top the serene location of the Wine Country Villa amidst the rolling vineyard hills north of St. Helena. This is a quiet high class retreat that feels like your own private home. The pool and infra-red sauna are great amenities, as well as a garden and private vineyard view. Not to mention that the location is superb; just 5 minutes from Auberge du Soleil Resort and Quintessa Winery.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

BREATH TAKING SCENERY

Guest: kathy (michigan)
Date of Stay: 06/15/10 Review Submitted: 07/02/10

We stay with you every year and have been delighted each time!! You have the most beautifull location in all of Napa Valley. We absolutely love your gardens, they are out of a dream. Our boys have such a good time in your lap pool, racing each other. I on the other hand enjoy the hot tub! Every time we stay you have updated and improved the property. We feel in the lap of luxury!!! Thanks So much for such such a beautifull place to vacation every year!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Beautiful but was not clean and LOTS of bugs...

Guest: nimarii (San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 05/07/10 Review Submitted: 06/12/10

This is a kind of duplex property, where the main house (where the owners live) is connected to the rental, although the rental has it's own private entrance. We rented the entire rental, plus an extra bedroom. The location is great, very close to town, but still quite remote. The grounds are also extremely beautiful, but with a rustic/overgrown feel. It felt a bit like being in (Miss Havisham's mansion in Great Expectations) When we arrived, the pool was really dirty, there was bird poo all over the place, and the pool was heavy littered both at the bottom of the pool and the top of the pool. There was some sort of giant dead centipede at the bottom, which I fished out myself, but none of the girls wanted to go in at that point. The pool is also quite small, its more of a narrow channel. One of the bedrooms was also quite dirty. There was an old cup of coffee on the dresser, and there was fur and animal paw marks on the chair pillows as well as on the bed pillows!! I love animals, but it was really unbelievable to see that. None of the girls wanted to sleep in that room either. The other rooms were nice, but there were mosquitos and bugs in all the rooms and bathrooms. The shower stalls all had bugs in them, so we had to turn the shower on, and then use tissue to pick them up and throw them away. Overall, great location, and intensely beautiful property, but we had to do so much cleaning when we got there, that it kind of ruined the whole experience. Not to mention, the pool was a really big letdown (it was one of the reasons we booked the place for our girls weekend).

Owner response:The girls arrived while my husband and I were out of town and a house sitter was on the premises. The guest telephoned me about the problem (someone had left a door open so bugs and cats had gotten inside). I immediately telephoned the house sitter and asked her to rectify the problem but the girls did not let her do so. The pool service had cleaned the pool hours before she arrived but high gusting winds had blown debris into the pool. Every pool in Napa had debris in it as a result of these extreme winds. I regret that they had a bad experience but we have been in business for 26 years and this is the first negative review.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, pet owners, adventure seekers, age 55+.

Guest: Susan and Richard (-)
Date of Stay: 09/04/04 Review Submitted: 09/04/04

Thank you for a perfect retreat only an hour 1/2 away from home. We loved celebrating a birthday and anniversary here with the lovely views and decor.

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