The Wine Stay - Healdsburg, California

abhishek G.

We booked a stay at the Tranquil Calistoga property via winestay. We just got an email, *as we are about to leave*, that the stay is cancelled because the property is sold. On top of this we received another email in which they say that "since you didn't take travel Insurance you won't get any refunds but get credit with winestay". After this experience I doubt we would want to do any business with them.

Further, the same property is still being advertised on Airbnb with the dates still available and Wine Stay as the host. From our, i.e. the guest's point of view this looks like an inflexible and shady move to keep the rental money. We are also unable to reach them on their helpline.
After going through another similar review from someone else this company seems like a scam. Please don't risk your money while booking with winestay.

KD

We have stayed with the Wine Stay a few times as we love visiting wine country in beautiful Northern California. The homes available are out of a fairy tale! Very clean & comfortable! Their team has been very responsive to our needs on each and every trip.
We can't say enough about these homes...Wow!! If you are looking for immaculetly clean homes with privacy / seclusion this company is it! Thanks again and we can't wait to return. 🙂

jeff M.

Our trip was scheduled for April of 2020. We had made reservations and paid in full $5653.57 not including an additional $1500 damage waiver that was to be refunded after our stay. Covid 19 restrictions and stay at home orders caused us to cancel our trip. Keep in mind it would have been against California law for us to travel to or stay at this location during this time. The Wine Stay is refusing to refund any of our money paid including the $1500 damage deposit. Total $7153.57. When offered a stay credit for the same house, the same week 1 year later the cost of the house is suddenly $2600 more to stay at then what is listed on their website currently.
The Wine Stay may offer beautiful homes to stay in but they are horrible people who are using Covid 19 to turn a profit. Shameful.

Update: Our reservation #79661 ID #5817- Made through VRBO- with The Wine Stay- 1083 Vine Street- Healdsburg, CA--I don't want there to be any doubt by anyone reading this that I am making a mistake- Our many emails with Mike Little CEO were ignored and I am sure the rest of this review will be as well. If you really want to satisfy your customers offer a refund.

Priyam P.

I do not think The Wine Stay is competent at handling problems professionally. We rented "Tranquil Calistoga" retreat for April 23 + 24th, 2021 through them, however they sent us an email *on the day of leaving* 1 hour before check in time that the property has been sold and they have cancelled our reservation. We are reasonable people and understand that even companies can have mishaps, what is not ok is their response and no refund.

To make matters worse, the company still has the property listed on their own website as well as Airbnb with availability for the immediate two dates (find attached pictures). As a consumer, I am not sure how to feel about the way they are still advertising the unavailable property and how things have been handled.

Cathryn G.

The Wine Stay offers an incredible selection of vacation homes and I would recommend staying with them if you want to visit Wine Country in California. Plus, I can't wait to use their new extended travel services to start planning our next getaway - the homes in Hawaii look amazing to say the least!

Cassie S.

Overlooking the vineyard
This is a beautiful property - so well appointed I want to come back here and cook in the kitchen overlooking the vineyard. The outside areas that overlook the vineyard in back and across the street in front are just as charming as they look in the photos. The beds are incredibly comfortable, the Master bedroom shower is great (and so is the fireplace in the Master) We loved the fire pit in the cooler evenings. There is highway noise from 101 which is about 2 blocks away, but the house is walkable to town and that's a big plus.

Jordan W.

SHADY. The Tranquil Calistoga Retreat we rented for July through their VRBO Link has officially sold. I only found this out through a realtor.com search and then voiced our concerns about the legitimacy of the listing, which were also based on google reviews I read from April of 2021- where renters were cancelled upon at the last minute and lost their payments (scroll down to Priyam).

I am out half my deposit ( $2000)- despite multiple attempts to reconcile with the owner, Mike Little. He told me his final word is that we will receive a credit for our deposit based on their 2020 covid policy.

The phone number sends you to an answering machine. None of my voicemails left with the Wine Stay number were returned in the past 7 months. Book at your own risk. I'll never use my alleged "credit."

Meghan F.

DO NOT BOOK WITH THIS CROOK!! We booked Tranquil Calistoga Retreat only to find out that he is not the property manager. He emailed the week before stating there was no water to the property. We were left panicking to find a new place to stay. After further investigation, we learned he has done this to many others and we are out 5k. There is a new property management company, Mike Little is a fraud. Do not book through this fraudulent “company”!