Although it wasn’t my own leisurely pursuits that brought me to Santa Fe, the allure of the city will bring me back as a tourist again. My travels to Santa Fe were initiated as a result of a conference I was attending in the city. What a pleasant surprise this trip turned out to be. Even more shocking was the number of exciting options for hotels and resorts. I am going to talk about a couple of hotels below, but I want to mention a few my eyes are on for future travels to the area. The Inn of Seven Graces can get rather pricey, but the photos are really enticing. This hotel I continue to see on “best lists” time and time again. If you want something away from the main square, the Four Seasons Rancho Encantado looks very relaxing. Last, I have to mention a hotel slated to open in March of 2021 called Bishop’s Lodge. It also has my interest peaked.
For arrival into Santa Fe, something I did not realize is that the airport is very small. You also have the option of flying into Albuquerque and traveling via car transfer to Santa Fe, which is about 60 some miles. Their airport is a little larger depending upon which airline you choose. I flew American Airlines into Santa Fe and was on a regional jet from Dallas to Santa Fe.
While visiting Santa Fe, I actually stayed at two different hotels. The first evening I spent at La Posada Hotel. The remainder of the trip was at La Fonda, which I stayed at utilizing the group rate with the conference I was attending. In general, I found that Santa Fe was a very affordable city. Both hotel rates were very reasonable in price. There are pricier options if you are interested like the ones I outlined above.
1. La Posada: This hotel is a Marriott property. It has a central location being only a couple of short blocks from the main city square. The hotel is spread out with many different buildings, and the rooms have entry from semi public spaces rather than hotel hallways. I thought that the decor was what I would imagine when I think of New Mexico. Is that bad to say? There was a cozy fireplace in the corner of the room, which I always think is a great addition to any hotel room. The hotel does offer some activities, for example, s’mores by the fireplace in the evening. In addition, for being a hotel guest, you have access to the spa facilities such as the steam room. There is also a 24 hour fitness center.
2. La Fonda: This hotel is also in a very central location. It is just adjacent to the main city square. When we checked in, they gave us a map highlighting all of the nearby sites/hotels. I thought that the rooms were relatively modern with nice decor, especially the bathrooms. They still kept the traditional “New Mexico” decor alive. The hallways did not seem as updated as the rooms themselves. A couple of things I enjoyed were the mini fridge in the room that was stocked with water. They always left additional bottled water each day. This was a great touch.
On a return visit, I do not think I would stay at either of the same hotels again. This is mainly due to my excitement over of all the properties the area has to offer. If you want value for price, you can definitely achieve that with La Posada or La Fonda in a great location. On the other hand, if you want a more luxury experience, there are plenty of options at your fingertips.
