I really think it depends on what you are looking for. Taos is small and, although historic and interesting, there isn't a lot of variety. Santa Fe is marvelous, in my opinion. A real city. A small city. A wonderful tourist destination. Excellent art, restaurants, history, hotels.
I would stay in Santa Fe and probably one day trip to Taos, and a day, or half day into the cave dwellings of the Anasazi, and the rest of the time in Santa Fe.

Taos is like a small rural cowboy town gets boring after a day for me. So Santa Fe for me if budget the Hilton Plaza for me last free parking $79/nt last betterbidding.com for me.
If budget is good www.innatloretto.com
Try to stay downtown around the plaza
big parking charges if you drive in from Cerillos.
visitsantafe.com

visitsedona.com on your way to GC I like the Hyatt there.
Good deals again priceline hotwire ususally for me at Betterbidding.

I would stay at least night in Taos - and see some of the art/museums there, and if you are there during a Pow-Wow - all the better. And if you have time - drive the Ring of Fire - up to the Taos ski resort and by Angel Fire, and through an old west type town, etc.

Then - enjoy Sante Fe for a couple of days. Like them both but as noted - Sante Fe is bigger, if that's what you want.

I much prefer Santa Fe. Taos was small and boring compared to Santa Fe (which is not a 'city' as in NYC or LA, it's really pretty 'small' too). In fact, in our entire trip last summer which included Zion, Bryce, GC, Santa Fe and Taos it was our least favorite place.

BTW you don't "dip" over to Santa Fe/Taos from Bryce/Zion. It's about an 11 hour drive. How much time do you have and what else are you doing on this trip?

Would like to go to Monument Valley and of course the 4 corners on our way to GC.
Would you recommending staying overnight around Monument Valley/4 corners?
Never been to this part of the world so distances are still a bit vague

Santa Fe has never failed to be a wonderful trip. There is so much to enjoy there. Look at some of DebitNM's threads and responses in the archives here about Santa Fe and your choice will make itself.

There are a couple? of lodges right in/next to Monument Valley - and the nearby town of Kaitana (sp) also has some lodging. Love Monument Vzlle- and it's also fun to visit 4 corners. Just to the West of Monument Valley is the Navajoe Monument - which has a good visitor's center and Cliff Dwellings visible from a short walk.

IMO, Taos has gotten full of tacky tourist shops. I was disappointed.

Taos and Santa Fe are a long detour between Zion/Bryce and Grand Canyon.

Should we stay in Taos and do day trips to Santa Fe or the other way around.

The other way around. I would stay two nights in Taos because for a small town it has quite a bit to offer. The Taos Puebla is extremely interesting. There are some good museums, and we especially enjoyed the E.L. Blumenschein Home--a 1797 adobe that gives insight into Taos artistic roots.

Taos has gotten full of tacky tourist shops. I was disappointed. It's a great place if you get beyond the surface.


HTTY

I would suggest that you also consider staying in/near Mesa Verde NP on your way from NM to Four Corners [which I would skip, but that's me] and on to Grand Canyon. Stay in the park at Far View Lodge or in Cortez CO. Mesa Verde is a MUST SEE.

A day in Taos would work and I think staying in Santa Fe for a day or 2 as well. I would also suggest that you consider a day or 2 in Albuquerque too - there is some great sites there too that many zoom by in their hurry to get to Santa Fe.

Thanks. I'm the one who emailed you so your reply (and all replies) are greatly appreciated.
Should we stay in Monument Valley on our way from Escalante to Sante Fe? Does this make sense? Or, should we drive from Escalante to Sante Fe and then go to Mesa Verde on the way to GC as you suggested?

If the point is to end up at the Grand Canyon, I would drive Escalante, Monument Valley, Mesa Verde, Taos, Santa Fe, Grand Canyon.

I would break up the trip between Santa Fe and the Grand Canyon by visiting (wonderful) Canyon de Chelley where I would stay at and book a morning jeep tour at the Holiday Inn there: http://www.nps.gov/cach/index.htm

HTTY

LOL! I will get that email out to you as promised~

If you drive to Taos from Santa Fe, take the high road one way (daytime) and along the river the other. I always like to stop at the Sanctuario in Chimayo and drive through those rough little mountain villages like Truchas and Las Trampas