Hope-Merrill & Hope-Bosworth Inns

This place is awesome! My boyfriend and I wanted to get away for our anniversary and we found a living social deal for this place so we thought we’d give it a try! We happened to be the only guests staying during our visit and at first I thought that was going to be a little strange but it turned out to be the best thing! We had the whole house and pool to ourselves! I absolutely love the décor and old charm of the home. Ron & Cosette are the best hosts! And the breakfasts both mornings were amazing — I was stuffed! We chose to stay in the carpenter gothic room because it had a jacuzzi tub! The jacuzzi is a must if you’re going to stay here! Few cute little wineries just 2 blocks away so we didn’t have to drive a whole lot. I would definitely recommend this B&B to others!

My husband and I love the Hope-​Merrill house. The beds are comfortable, the house is charming and the hosts are too! Not to invalidate anyone else experience but we have never been given a lecture on what not to do, we have always found Ron and Cosette very accommodating. The selection at breakfast certainly is effected by the number of people at the table but we have never been disappointed with the food. Cosette has a lot of information and shares it freely at breakfast but if you are ready to go, it is perfectly acceptable to gracefully exit with a thank you. These conversations can go on for a while particularly with a lively bunch at the table. We were lucky enough to stay on a weekend with folks from as for as Belgium, Utah, and right here near the coast. We have been coming here since the younger years of rarin to go and making a quick exit, to our current age and attitude of rest relax and enjoy hearing a good story before we hit the wineries and beautiful scenery. This is not the perfectly starched interior of a larger resort/​spa type B&B. What it is, is a quaint, beautiful property that Ron and Cosette work very hard to keep authentically trapped in time and that’s why we love it. Dated? It’s a Victorian, it is supposed to be for goodness sake, who wants to stay in a Victorian and feel like they are in a Marriot? As long as they keep keepin on, we will keep coming in. Thanks Ron and Cosette!

Best B&B that I have stayed at! Awesome staff, awesome rooms, and don’t even get me started on the breakfast! Absolutely amazing! It is also in the perfect spot for wine tasting. Ended up being able to do 14 wineries in 2 days because of the convenient locations. Highly recommend!

We found this place as a last minute thing, and it was terrific. We like to have a quiet place that is close to the action. This suited us just fine as it is close to Dry Creek and Healdsburg and within walking distance of two delightful restaurants. The physical plant is charming, if a bit eccentric. The highlight is the host and hostess. We, eventually tore ourselves away from a breakfast conversation with Cossette and enjoyed the surrounding area, but we could have simply stayed and enjoyed a day of that (she was remarkably well informed about almost everything in Sonoma).

This was our first B&B experience and it was definitely worth it. The hosts are super nice and helpful with suggestions of things to do in the area if your unfamiliar. The breakfast was ok, wasn’t too impressed and some of the past posts. They do give you a pamphlet to explore over 100 wineries in the area with free wine tastings. Great experience.

We’ve just returned from a weekend at the Hope-​Merrill House that can only be adequately described as magical. From the moment we arrived, we were overwhelmed with the charming eccentricity of the place. It’s small, so we ended up booking nearly the entire hotel for my friend’s bachelorette party weekend.
Have you ever been on the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland and thought to yourself, «I’d like to spend the night here»? I mean, who hasn’t, right? Hope Merrill is completely bedecked in Bradbury wallpaper and outfitted with Victorian furnishings and decorations — it is gorgeous.
The day we arrived, Cosette, our awesome hostess, arranged for a wine tasting in the garden with a local winemaker (J. Rickards), which was wonderful. We spent the afternoon at the fabulous saltwater pool, then enjoyed our dinner in the gazebo. Our party dominated the hotel (there were only two other guests, who fortunately were very good sports), so we were able to stay up late in the parlor playing games and drinking wine.
In the morning, we were treated to an incredible French-​style breakfast — baked eggs, sausages, homemade pastries, preserves, OJ, coffee, etc. It was delightful and a great way to line our stomachs for wine tasting. We explored Healdsburg and Geyserville with the free tasting passes provided by the hotel, then returned to the hotel for some quality pool time, with a special guest appearance by Cosette & Ron’s dog, Brandy. The owners provide plastic cups to use by the pool, and glass for inside, which classed up our game from the red plastic cups we were planning on using all weekend. They also provide ice and even let us park our cooler in the common dining area so we wouldn’t have to haul it up to the rooms.
Our room (the Carpenter Gothic) was comfortable, with a jacuzzi tub, small TV, and of course the signature wallpaper and Victorian furnishings. The Victorian Room across the hall was probably the coolest (and the largest), and had one of those fake fireplaces for ambiance. Very kitschy and fun. The Bachelorette Button was cute but smaller, and their bathroom was across the hall. All of the rooms have air conditioning. Lots of parking, and the location is walking distance to the quaint but fun town of Geyserville.
Overall we had an awesome experience and I will definitely return!

Great little B&B equiped with a salt pool and within walking distance of a few of the tasting rooms (be sure to check out Locals tasting room), antique shops, and Diavola pizza (one of the greatest pizzas I’ve had the pleasure of having).
The girls and I took over most of the house for a bachelorette weekend and had a great time. The rooms were absolutely gorgeous with unique wallpaper in each. The room I stayed in, the Victorian Room, had both air conditioning, fake fireplace and small flat screen tv. The bed was soft and comfy. For a Victorian I was surprised at how updated it was. It seemed like every second one of us staying in the room pointed out something new we had never noticed in the room before. It wasn’t until the end of my stay that I realized the top boarder of the wallpaper had bunnies and fawns throughout.
The only problem with the room was that since the room was at the front of the house, a ton of light came in during the morning. There was also some sort of blue ooze coming out of the handle of the tub, so I didn’t want to take a bath but the shower was fine and had great water pressure.
I was really worried after meeting Cosette, the Inn Keeper, that we were going to be yelled at every two seconds about doing something wrong but she let us have free reign of the house and we mostly just saw her in the morning after an incredible breakfast! For breakfast we had sausages, apple tart, spicy frittata, potatoes, fruit, coffee and OJ. P. S the coffee is excellent. The second morning we had baked french toast, a sweet bread, potatoes, sausage, fruit, coffee and OJ. I don’t know if it was customary but Friday night they also had a free happy hour from 6 – 7 showcasing a guest winery.
My only suggestions would be to have a little kitchenette area for guests. We had to fill water bottles in the bathroom sinks and also didn’t have a place to toss the trash. The kitchen is off limits so we had no way to dispose of our pizza boxes and other trash. The gazebo is also lovely, but would be better with some lighting inside.
Overall, this was a great little place to stay and I will be back to stay again. Oh and no one under 21 allowed — I LOVE IT!

Purchased a living social deal for this place without really knowing what to expect. My husband and I just returned from our one year anniversary weekend spent at the Hope-​Merrill House and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. From the unique décor to the delicious home made breakfasts, everything was wonderful. We made the most of our stay by also staying cool in the pool in the afternoons after wine tasting. Just yesterday we even had the chance to swim with Ron and Cosette’s chocolate lab Brandy. Cosette gave us great recommendations and we loved all of the smaller boutique wineries. We will definitely be back!

Victorian charm set in the heart of a peaceful town. Walking distance to the center of Geyserville and two very nice restaurants. Awesome breakfast both mornings. Consists of homemade tarts, jams (fruit from her property) egg dishes, sausages, scones, and coffee that rivals Starbucks. Most rooms are spacious and fairly comfortable with queen size beds (average quality) and homemade soaps. The innkeeper has a colorful personality (which we enjoy) and favors the small local wineries which is why one would come here; to get away from the crowds of Napa. Cosette offers opinions and very helpful advice on which wineries to tour. Every morning we are given a map and recommendations. Previous reviews of her are a bit harsh. We see in her and Ron kindhearted people with a gift for hospitality and folks who care for preserving the local traditions of the small wineries. We’ve traveled extensively to European and Bay Area B &B’s and keep coming back to this one. Martin & Cheryl

We loved our stay at the Hope Merrill House. Very clean and comfortable. Cosette and Ron (Owners) were very helpful and knowledgable about restaurants /​wineries in the area. They served wonderful family-​style breakfasts each morning which was prepared by Cosette and Ron. Will definitely stay there the next time in Sonoma and highly recommend to all!

First off Cosette and Ron are really great hosts. Cosette is very punctual, and likes to do things in a timely manner. The couples are very knowledgeable, and very accommodating. They love noobs, but be warn they do not like wine snobs. The couple cooks breakfast for everyone, and it is served family style. The place is beautiful during the day, but come night time it is a little creepy. Haha. The room that we stayed in was so cute. I liked how there was a reclining chair by the windows looking out. There was no TV in the room, and luckily we had our laptop to stream movies after our adventure. There are a lot of wonderful places to eat nearby, and I recommend staying local just to enjoy the neighborhood, and what it has to offer.

These inns are owned by the same couple and are across the street from each other and walking distance to the center of Geyserville. So — the location is great. The Hope Merrill is where you check in, and I thought was a little nicer than the Bosworth, where we stayed.
Our room had a tub but no shower (check on that when reserving as some rooms do and some don’t). The rooms were a bit dated — fixtures, art, amenities.
We had breakfast for one of the days — the breakfast was average vs other B&Bs we’ve stayed at. There was a big crowd at breakfast so not sure if they get more creative with smaller groups.
Parking is a cinch with both houses having private lots.

We booked a last-​minute weekend trip to Sonoma and stayed in the Carpenter Gothic room here. Quaint old house (1870) and shows it’s age but the room was still comfortable, had an AC unit that we could crank (loud but didn’t really bother), and a nice little bathroom/​tub shower suite. Didn’t take a bath but slightly bigger than normal tub would have been a little tight for two. The pool was out of commission while we were there but would have been nice on a hot day. We still enjoyed poolside wine and the side-​yard and gazebo. Would recommend dinner at Catelli’s, a three minute walk down the road. Breakfast the next morning was great with our hosts and other guests around the table — Ron and Cosette can definitely answer any questions about the Sonoma area and offer recommendations. We definitely recommend staying here, will probably be back again. Beautiful setting, very accessible to all of the Dry Creek/​Healdsburg wineries. *Also note 20% off by paying with cash!

We stayed her for a couple of nights while wine tasting in the Dry Creek Valley… we really enjoyed our stay. The breakfasts were really really huge in the mornings: one morning we had eggs in a pastry puff, sausage (was a gourmet feta and something. forgot), fruit, and scones… we could never finish our breakfast! The hostess Cosette would then come out and give us a ton of information about the area… unlike the other reviewers I didn’t feel like there were too many rules or that Cosette was rude at all, but I don’t think she will appeal to everyone.
The rooms were nicely decorated… loved the wallpaper… didnt love carpet though… was a bit old and slightly on the dirtier side.

Beautiful home with a beautiful wine country backdrop, but strangely, the hostess, who has taken much time to plan out the details of what makes a good B and B, is very rude. No matter how nice the place is, when someone is unnecessarily condescending or just plain rude, it really brings down the whole experience.

For the last three years, my husband and I have ventured to California wine country for Labor Day. The first year we were in Napa and stayed at the Harvest House. Last year we were in Healdsburg and stayed at Honor Mansion. This year, we decided we did not need to spend $ 500 a night for a room and booked three nights at the Hope Merrill. We were very happy to find this inn and very much were looking forward to staying here after reading the positive reviews.
Our room was the Vineyard View and it was perfect. It was very roomy for a bed and breakfast room. The window air conditioning unit worked great during the day and we opened the windows at night. The room had beautiful high ceilings and a little bistro table. We enjoyed the pool every afternoon. The grounds were nice, if a little bit neglected, with tons of potential. As many others have mentioned, the breakfast is wonderful.
Simply rating the inn on these factors would give it an easy 4 or 5 stars, especially given the great value for your money. My husband and I even said we would give it this rating the morning we left — right up until we checked out, when we realized we had not been imagining things for 3 days. We decided we would not be staying here again. The reason for this lower rating is the innkeepers, specifically Cosette, as we felt Ron was very nice.
When we arrived on Friday, Cosette greeted us hastily and handed us off to Ron as she was busy on her computer. This was fine and Ron did a good job of giving us the tour. The next morning at breakfast, we had our first real interaction with Cosette. Every morning, she comes into the dining room, hands out maps, and talks about wineries. This in itself is delightful. It is her presentation and treatment of guests as children that turns people off. She expects absolute silence and does not appreciate guests giving their opinions. She bad mouths Napa Valley and larger or corporate wineries. I understand her opinion; I prefer Sonoma and smaller, family wineries as well. But, so much negativity is not pleasant at 9:30 am and is not welcoming to those guests who enjoy those other types of wineries on occasion. On our first morning, my husband asked about shipping wine home versus checking it on the plane and her thoughts on it (we have shipped 6 cases home over the last 2 years, but he felt it is always good to get another opinion). Her response «well, you would have to pay to check it on the plane!» in a nasty tone. We tried to explain we got free checked baggage on our flight and she ignored us. It was not worth explaining. Cosette then went into a long diatribe about Congress and wine shipping. We explained state laws are the real problem now, as we both worked for Congress at one point. She continued to argue with us. We eventually dropped the issue. Morning 2 went similarly. We have many more stories, which unfortunately exceed the space constraints here (see tripadvisor)
My husband and I laughed at these instances, just chalking it up to an eccentric innkeeper. It was our last encounter, on our last morning, which sealed the deal and prompted this review. We had packed and were ready to leave. We went back into the inn to say goodbye and hand in our key. My husband walked up to Cosette, who was talking to another guest and he waited until a pause in the conversation. He said, «Can we check out?» and held out the key. She opened her hand, glared at him, and he dropped the key in her hand. She then went right back to talking to the other guest. No «thank you for coming.» No «I hope you had a nice stay.» No «have a safe trip.» No words at all. It was the most bizarre experience we have ever had. As we drove off, I was flabbergasted by her treatment of us over the past three days. I asked my husband if it was maybe a case of her simply not liking us (even though we have traveled extensively around the world and never had such a personality conflict before; usually we have great interactions) and he said that should not matter. She should have been nice to us no matter what, as her customers. I realized he was right. We also witnessed her disrespectful and rude behavior towards other guests, but I will leave it to them to write.
This was not a review I wanted to write. I take no pleasure in writing it, nor do I enjoy specifying personality issues with an owner of a bed and breakfast. I use reviews every single time I travel, thus I decided I needed to write this review so others could be prepared. Without factoring in Cosette’s cold and rude behavior, this inn would have been rated higher. However, for me, she needs to be factored in as her behavior was a definite black mark on an otherwise lovely weekend.

Warm, charming hosts. Delicious breakfasts. More wallpaper than you could shake a stick at.
Solar collectors melded nicely with a Victorian mansion… jams from their own fruit trees… advice on all the local goings on… yep, this place is a gem.

Spent 2011 New Years Eve at the Hope-​Merrill. What a great experience! Ron and Cossette the very hospitable Inn keepers started off the evening with a bottle of Champagne and hoers d’oeuvres, which got everyone in a cheery mood. The appetizers were followed by a magnificent Prime Rib dinner and a dessert to die for. There were 5 other couples from other parts of the country which led to many interesting conversations. Rather than being in a crowd of a million revelers in Time Square, we had a very pleasant time mingling with an interesting group of individuals. Wine flowed freely throughout the evening and at midnight we all hailed in the New Year in elated spirits and in the company of new found friends. We cherished the experience and highly recommend this B&B.

Geyserville is one of those places that doesn’t get a lot of attention, even though it may be considered the Northern epicenter of Dry Creek Valley and Alexander Valley wineries, as well as being just a few miles from the River Rock Casino. I needed a respite and this seemed to be the place to do it, and I had heard good things about these inns from other sources.
To keep a long story short, this B&B is the place to visit if you want a great room (in a redone older house), clean, quiet, and with hosts who are committed to providing a warm and open perspective on the area. Now, granted, you can visit here, eat Cosette’s amazing breakfast, and then go on your way. Or, you can get their tips on where to go and what to see, and spend some time getting a perspective on what is really happening locally, and how you can enjoy the scene, whether you stay in G-​ville or go elsewhere.
Specifically, I stayed in the Vineyard View Room, which was an abundantly comfortable and brightly-​styled room with lots of reading material (you could also go downstairs for other books and magazines). You can purchase drinks on the honor system, use their computer, make local calls on the phone, and just about make yourself at home anyway you see fit.
One last word — Cosette and Ron are absolutely dialed into the local scene, and if you are new to the area or just want some ideas about where to go and what to do, they bring great knowledge — and connections — to help you make the most of your trip. I didn’t need a lot of tips, but just enjoyed a couple of hours of kicking back with them and talking local history.

HORRIBLE! Please don’t waste your time and money. The room s are TINY and the inn keeper, Cosette is the rudest person we have every met. There are more rules here than perhaps — a prison. She loves saying «don’t do this», «don’t do that» than assuring that guests have a good time. Again, HORRIBLE!