You'll want a car to visit Bandelier and Taos; you could take the RailRunner from Albuquerque to Santa Fe and back, and there may be some public transportation between Santa Fe and Taos, but it's easier to drive to see the places you want to visit.

Your itinerary sounds OK. With a car, you can take the high road to Taos, which takes you through some lovely scenery.

Lee Ann

Lee Ann

Would it make a difference whether we go to Bandelier from ALB then Santa Fe versus going to Bandelier from Santa Fe and on to ALB ?

If we are doing a one way car rental (because we do not need a car while in Santa Fe) we might do Bandelier and Taos at either the beginning or end of our trip, although doing Bandelier first, meeting, then Taos might be a good sequence.

Appreciate any thoughts.

You might consdier driving to Taos when you know you have good weather - which hopefully it will be in late October - but you never know when a big - early winter storm might blow in.

Would suggest going one leg (Sante Fe/Taos) using the high road and the low road the other way.

Also if you have time to do the drive around the Enchated Circle/Valley/Ring of Fire - very pretty. http://www.onroute.com/drives/drives_enchantedcir.html

Why are you going to do a one way ? How are you going to get back to airport or from the airport? Shuttles for 2 won't be inexpensive and a drop off fee in SF or renting IN SF one way will be expensive. I would keep the car for a RT and this be able to go beyond the Plaza. Where are you staying?

Have you looked at this page:
http://www.nps.gov/band/planyourvisit/directions.htm

Regional map here:
http://www.nps.gov/band/planyourvisit/upload/area%20map%2012307%20wo%20overlay%202.pdf

You may have a good point about the cost of rental , drop off charges versus shuttle costs. I have not crunched those numbers yet.

The meeting is at the La Fonda on the Plaza Hotel and we can get a room at $235/night. However I am considering another location with more space than a hotel room with a kitchenette. Can you recommend one ? Have seen several, one called the Lavender Sunset. We do not need lavish lodgings but do want to be able to walk to everything including the meeting.

Is there more than one way to enter Bandelier ? If we leave from Santa Fe for Bandelier and exit to return to ABQ is there a preferred route ?

Thanks for all the good advice !

Another question- would spending Sat night in Taos then leaving for Bandelier and onto to ABQ Sunday to catch the plane home Monday be comfortable or too much ? We'd like to day-hike a bit in Bandelier.
Thanks.

>>Is there more than one way to enter Bandelier ? If we leave from Santa Fe for Bandelier and exit to return to ABQ is there a preferred route ?<<

Check Diamantina's link for directions. You'll have to park in White Rock and take a shuttle to Bandelier, due to the fire and floods last year.

If you're getting to Albuquerque in the morning, you could stop at Bandelier on your way to Santa Fe, but I would probably choose to head to my lodging in Santa Fe, drop off my luggage/change clothes/whatever, then go to Bandelier.

Lee Ann

Thank you for the links - the directions are exactly what I am looking for.

Will the weather in the third week of Oct be generally nice ? I know anything can happen, but by and large pleasant ?

Renting a car does sound like a good idea, and we might do Taos and Bandelier on Sat and Sun after the meeting. I hope we have allowed enough time to enjoy a leisurely drive to Taos. Not sure if we have time for the Ring of Fire but will try.

The weather should be great. Sept Amanda oct are our best months, as far as many are concerned, me included. Sunny days with clear clue skies and cool,crisp nights that can be warmed by a fires in a kiva fireplace with the scent of piñon wood. That said, it can rain (we hope) and there is a chance of snow in higher areas like Taos.

Don't bother looking for info on the Ring of Fire in New Mexico; all you'll get is links to the recent annular eclipse. The loop is called the Enchanted Circle. I don't know that you would have time to do it, though, given your other plans.

Lee Ann

How would the drive to Taos from Santa Fe be if done in the late afternoon versus early morning ? I see the full moon is around that time in October.

"How would the drive to Taos from Santa Fe be if done in the late afternoon versus early morning"

In regards to what??

Would a late afternoon drive on the High Road to Taos in October be too late to enjoy scenery and sites along the way ? Would it be better to wait until the morning to do the drive ?

At the bottom is the info from my earlier post on driving the Enchanted Circle/above Taos - and if you have a couple of hours - I think it's definitely worth it. Of course, it depends on the weather, your available time, etc.

I did it early in the day - but one travel writer said the sunsets at Angel Fire (aptly named?) ski area - can be incredible. http://www.angelfireresort.com/


"Also if you have time to do the drive around the Enchanted Circle/Valley/Ring of Fire - very pretty. http://www.onroute.com/drives/drives_enchantedcir.html "

You might want to check out Fort Marcy Hotel Suites in Santa Fe.
These are condos a couple of blocks from the plaza with full kitchens, and living areas in addition to bedroom and bath at reasonable rates. Our unit for a recent stay was very attractively fully furnished including original art, and the kitchen was equipped with everything we needed including vases and wine glasses.

Thanks for suggesting the Hotel Suites. Will check it out.

Still looking for a Taos B&B or hotel without a 2 night minimum stay .

And wondering whether the drive from Santa Fe to Taos is best done in morning or whether late afternoon can be nice.

Thanks.

Bandolier is NW of Santa Fe. Give yourself plenty of time to get there from the highway. It's a curvy road. You could include it in you trip to Taos. Most of the cliff dwellings are in close proximity to the visitor center so it doesn't take too long to see it.

See my post about shuttles to Bandolier. It is easily drivable all the wall to Bandolier without having to wait and take the shuttle if you want to hike anyway. You park at the entrance and hike in--easy, enjoyable 2 mile hike down the Frey Trail. It takes you past cliff dwellings and other sites and on to the visitor center. You can catch a shuttle back to your car.

http://www.elpueblolodge.com/ Good prices and clean rooms.

It starts to get dark earlier in Oct, so I guess I would say that driving in the morning would give you a better chance to see views. Just depends what time in the afternoon you plan to leave SF IF you go at that time of day.

I would want to head to Taos in the morning allowing time to stop along the way and giving you plenty of daylight to get into Taos. The end of the drive in the canyon along the river loses daylight a little earlier. It's not a difficult drive but it is scenic in places. We usually plan 2 hours for the drive allowing for photo stops along the way.

We, too, enjoy driving The Enchanted Circle if there is time. Eagle Nest can be gorgeous when the fall colors are out.

Fall is our most favorite time in Santa Fe. Enjoy!

OP, have you been to Santa Fe before? I'm asking because there is a lot of great information here that you should check out if you are new to New Mexico. You can use the search box at the top of the page to find restaurant recs, good museums, day trips and much more for ABQ, Taos and SF.