We always Priceline so that we can stay in nice Hampton Inns and Marriotts for $50. Takes some planning.

SandyBrit, I just thought of something that might be helpful. Choice Hotels' Choice Privileges program is currently doing a "stay two nights and get the third night free" promotion. Joining Choice Privileges is free, and that might save you a little money.

Ronkala, my inlaws used to live in Chama, so we usually stayed with them. They used to like a place called The Gandy Dancer B&B, but I don't know if it's still there. Other than that, I haven't stayed overnight in that area.

Lee Ann

Thanks LeeAnn,
I found a Comfort Inn and a Days Inn in Espanola that look good. That is eighty miles from Chama so we will have enough time to get to the steam train at 10 a.m.

When we get back to Chama in the afternoon we'll drive route 64 to Taos, stay there two nights, then two nights in Santa Fe, and then back to Virginia.

I like to make a tentative itinerary by targeting possible stopping points, researching hotels and their reviews,and then making a list of the cities, hotels, addresses, mapquest directions and 800#s. I sometimes do the same for restaurants. It is piece of mind knowing what is available in each area and the reviews. The reviews have always been accurate and it was nice to make reeservations enroute knowing the conditions of the hotel that we would be occupying for the night, in addition to our dining options.