hi folks, can you recommend pleasant, moderately priced

[tigereye]

hotels or B and Bs in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, which are close to attractions?


thanks!

[abq e streeter]

1. Well, um....

hi Tigereye; 45 views and no responses yet, so I guess I'll start with some questions. Mainly, what moderately priced means to you, and what kind of attractions are you interested in? Not sure I'll be able to help even then ( I don't get many out of town visitors, so don't know lots about hotels and B&B's, but probably have friends who know more than me), but I promise I'll at least ask around once I know a little more about what you're looking for.
P.S. Glad that it seems like you're not coming imminently; we, like a lot of the country, are having snow and record cold. Below zero in Santa Fe and maybe even Albq tomorrow night. First time that's happened in Albq in over 20 years, if it does.
For that matter, when is your planned trip?

abq e streeter:hi:

[tigereye]

2. probably late March- I guess moderate to me means

under 100-150 per night?, although i am probably should have said cheap but not scary! :D I'm a little old-fashioned in terms of not wanting to pay an arm and a leg! I am getting the feeling from looking at hotels online that somewhere in DT Santa Fe or near the plaza would be optimal. (haven't totally through the idea of accommodations in Alb through yet). I think we would want to see museums like Georgia O'Keefe, art, churches, etc. I don't really know what there is to see in Albuquerque, I don't know much about that.


It would be crazy to be going sooner, I think, given how crazy the weather has been!


:hi: thanks for your response!

[anafreeka]

4. Visiting NM

Albuquerque has places to visit in addition to Santa Fe. You could visit Old Town, the Bio-park, take the tram to the top of the Sandia Mountains, Indian pueblos, Spanish Cultural Heritage Center events, the Natural History Museum and eat some excellent food with our NM green chile.

[tigereye]

5. thanks!

:D

[abqmufc]

11. Fed rate is less than $80 for ABQ

Which means most high end hotels (by our standards) are within your means. Hard Rock, Sandia, Sheraton Uptown should fall into your price range. Avoid time near Gathering of Nations Pow Wow (April) all hotels are double price and full by now.

B/c ABQ is on Route 66 we still have some small independently owned hotels and motels. I lived in one for a week....enough stories to write at least 3 novels. Avoid such places unless you want junkies, thugs, cops, and all sorts of colorful things during your time.

[SheilaT]

3. Will you have a car?

Santa Fe has 3 Motel 6 locations in Santa Fe, including one a bout a half mile from the Plaza. Other budget motels are here. Go to Expedia.com, or the websites of various Motel chains and check it out.

There are plenty of fancy, expensive places right on or within a block or two of the Plaza, which is our main tourist attraction, but you don't need to be confined to that area. And can pay a lot less by being a mile or two away. There's decent parking on the Plaza, although you'll pay a couple of bucks or so an hour to do so. There are metered spaces on many of the streets, but finding a free meter is tricky. Unless you have me in the car, and then the parking gods ALWAYS free up a good space very near wherever you want to be.

[tigereye]

6. not sure if we want to have one while we are there

haven't really thought that totally through. It would probably be nice in order to go and see more attractions, but would increase the overall cost of the trip.

[SheilaT]

7. In Santa Fe without a car, you'd simply

want to stay as near to the Plaza as possible. There are several museums there, including the Georgia O'Keefe museum, a history museum, and one or two others. The Lensic, two blocks from the Plaza, is one of those wonderful old theaters that's been restored and all sorts of events and performances and so on occur there. Check out their website (www.lensic.com) for the dates you plan to be here and see if something is going on that you want to see.

There is bus service here, but quite frankly it's not all that terrific. There is a train, the RailRunner, between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, and that's a lot of fun. Unfortunately, the service is not as frequent as it might be.

In Santa Fe without a car, you could take a taxi to Museum Hill, which has about five museums, including a wonderful folk art one.

We also have some great yarn shops, so if you're interested in those let me know and I'll tell you more.

[tigereye]

8. yes, I saw your post in the NM forum about living in SF

that was a very educational thread and post! Quite interesting. I'm not a big fan of driving in places I'm not familiar with, unless I have to, and sometimes on vacation it's easier to have other folks do the driving. (plus with all the talk about drunk drivers, maybe that's for the best...)


Sounds like a very intriguing and lovely state to live in. My husband is very interested in alternative healing practices as well as Native Am culture, etc. so other than historical and art interests, I think that is a reason he wanted to visit SF.


:hi:

[SheilaT]

9. This is in many ways a great place to live.

Just about every single day I'm happy and grateful I wound up here. Unfortunately, we have a newly-elected Republican governor who is trying to undo everything good and progressive about this state. One thing that makes this place stand out compared to many other places I've lived is that so many people here have only lived here, and so tend to have absolutely no perspective on all sorts of things.

Getting around Santa Fe by car is not difficult. It's a small city, and the main thing you need to watch out for is the constant running of red lights. I thought it was bad back in Kansas, but those people are amateurs compared to the red-light runners here. However, I often share your dislike of driving in unfamiliar places, so do what works for you.

[abqmufc]

10. My list

ABQ -
Sheraton Uptown is the best hotel for service and location. I've dealt with them for over 7 years for business meetings and national conferences. Prices vary. But any hotels in the Coronado Mall area is close to shopping, bus stop (if you don't have a car). East central part of town and close to both I-40 and I-25.

Embassey Suites downtown - 5 years old and in downtown. I've also used them for work. Since in downtown close to bus for transport.

Sandia Casino Resort - NOT cheap, but nice and 100% tribally owned and operated facility (unlike others). Near the mountains and near balloon park...but not near public transport. Do have shuttles.

@ I'd also note Hard Rock Casino and Resort operated by Isletta Pueblo, but south of town...not near any attractions. ABQ and Santa Fe are easy to get around with a car. Public transport is not what one would hope for here. If you had specific spots or hotels you are curious about, I'd be glad to offer an opinion.

My mom has stayed @ the extended stay (non chain) on Menual Blvd near the I-25/I-40 crossover (the Big I). It is near a Walmart and close to the MCM Elegante (avoid MCM). I forget the name...but the hotel is reasonable and not bad.

Santa Fe -
Hotel Santa Fe - tribally (Piciruis Pueblo) owned, in downtown. So so service for the national conference I held their.
http://indiancountrynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2848&Itemid=75

[TygrBright]

12. I don't know about ABQ but in Santa Fe there are a good many options...

...depending on when you come. Once the ski season is over (varies depending on weather) everything is pretty cheap and accessible until Memorial Day or so, when it goes up again. A number of motels and hotels have, or share, a shuttle that will take you to/from the Plaza, so ask about that. If you can find something between the Plaza and the Railyard you've got the best of both worlds although you'll still have to get a taxi or shuttle to see Museum Hill.

We don't have many chains, but a lot of our independent motels are wonderful. I'm especially fond of Sage Inn and the El Rey Inn. They are not walking distance from the Plaza but they are on the main bus line and they may have shuttles. Plaza Real and Santa Fe Motel/Inn are closer to the Plaza but still affordable and not at all scary.

Enjoy your trip! We Santa Feans love our tourists and do our best to pamper you... you're the mainspring of our economy and we know it!

helpfully,
Bright

[TygrBright]

13. Self delete for unintentional double-post

[abq e streeter]

14. Glad to see all the great recommendations above

Not much to add, except that it seems to me that we've had some music related conversations here ...(I think)...anyway, I don't know that with all the great things to do and see here, and especially in Santa Fe, that you would want to try to catch any local music (or whether you're gonna be here with kids etc) but once you're close to being here (like a few days before, so the "who's playing where" calendars are up to date), feel free to PM me if you want, and I'll try to throw some recommendations your way.

[Steerpike]

15. Define Moderately priced?

Grant Corner Inn is walking distance from the plaza in Santa Fe and a very sweet place! But, it is kinda pricey...but well worth it in location and accomadations! I used to wash dishes there many moons ago...