Albuquerque
 

Suggestions for places to stay for a last minute trip...what area to stay or avoid? My husband and I will have a car and a budget hotel ok if safe and clean. . Suggestions for dining, we prefer mom and pop places. We love green chiles! We wouldn't mind a splurge for dinner one night.

Budget for hotel?

How much power is splurge dinner? cuisine?

( NM food doesn't tend to be splurge meal. )

We are trying to do less than $80 and are going in less than 2weeks. Hoping to get a last minute deal. For splurge$50 per person with wine for a dinner but really want some local places for breakfast and we love burgers with green chiles No preference on type of food.

I'll get back later this morning with more specific info, heading out but:

DO NOT stay at any motel that is just off any ABQ exit ramps of
I-40 !!

Seriously, there have been too many incidents of car break in's in those type of places.

DebitNM, would that apply to places like Nativo Lodge also?

Native seems not to be one that gets hit.

Nativo, sorry.

To the OP, there are some upper scale ones: Courtyard, Marriott Pyramid, a couple near Uptown - A Hyatt Place there that would be ok but not sure about $80.

Why don't you post any ones you are considering and I'd be happy to help.

I would stay away from Rodeway Inns, Econolodges, Super 8, Motel 6 etc.

Anything in the Uptown area even off 40 would be fine. Also the Holiday Inn Express off 40 by the Pueblo Cultural Center would also be fine.

Generally one can do well with $90/night in ABQ. All the hotels by the airport are fine also.

The Clubhouse Hotel by the Big Eye on Menaul might fit your budget.

There's no end I'd cheat local food, for chains try Garcia's, Monroe's or Los Cuates.

No end of cheap

Big I, not Eye ;)

Menaul is not a street to stay on for the most part.

The area near the Cultural center is iffy too.

Thanks, DebitNM, good to hear as we are booked for a quick overnight en route. For the OP, would it be a possibility for them?

Yes.

I play pub trivia every week at The Cube BBQ on Central between I-25 and University. They have some of the best barbecue in town, as well as fantastic burgers.
http://www.thecuberestaurant.com/

Lee Ann

Breakfast and Lunch -
Frontier *
Garcia's *
Mary & Tito's **
Golden Crown Bakery **
Cocina Azul ***
Range Cafe
Duran Central Pharmacy *
Flying Star
Bocadillos New Mexico ** [excellent and unusual sandwiches]

All are primarily New Mexican/Mexican except Range Cafe and Flying Star

Splurge Dinner -
Artichoke Cafe
St. Clair Winery & Bistro
Seasons Rotisserie-Grill
Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro
Scalo Northern Italian Grill
M'tucci's Italian
Torinos' at Home
Elaine's
Farina

Not really splurge but very good and decent price:
Zacatecas Tacos + Tequila
Il Vicino Wood Oven Pizza
Dion's [several locations, best pizza in town]
Budai Gourmet Chinese Restaurant [best Chinese in town]

Debit: Do you live in Rio Rancho? The Sheraton, the Crowne Plaza, the Hampton Inn, the Clubhouse Inn and the HIE / Pueblo Cultural Center all on different parts of Menaul and all are good. There are some motels on Central I would avoid.

The Comfort Inn on Yale near the airport is under $80.

Thanks everyone for your replies. We have seen several priceline for 3 stars in our range and several by the airport. Any LaQuinta's to avoid? They seem to be in our price range. From my understanding it is easy to drive around ABQ. things we plan on doing include Old Town, Museum of Nuclear Science, petroglyph national monument ,Rio Grande Nature Center. We will spend one night in Santa Fe and stop at Tent Rocks.

I lived in RR when I first moved to NM, I live in East Mountains now. ??

The La Quinta on Menaul near University is across the street from a huge truck stop; issues with drug sales and prostitution in that area.

This one should be ok:
La Quinta Inn & Suites Albuquerque Journal Ctr NW

I personally don't like staying near airport. Chain restaurants and not much else in the area.

I would be careful with priceline, if you end up with one that you don't like, it's too late as they are prepaid. 3 stars isn't a guarantee for a good area.

As I stated before - ask about a specific motel/hotel rather than a broad category like chain name -- I can help more that way.

Best thing to eat in Albuquerque is Frost Gelato at the Coronado Mall (and there may be others there now). And yes, they're stacked with customers even in the winter. Quality will out.

Frost Gelato is in ABQ Uptown not Coronado Center [close by but not the same.] New one supposed to be opening on Central in Nob Hill.

Oh!
Tomasita's, a long time must do in Santa Fe, is coming to ABQ!

http://tomasitas.com/

Not sure when they'll open. I-25 frontage road, where Texas Land and Cattle was located.

The La Quinta on I-25 at San Antonio/Journal Center would be a good choice.

You could combine Old Town and the Rio Grande Nature Center on one day; I haven't been to the latter location in a couple of years, but it's a nice place to walk.

Sorry, BigRuss - Frost Gelato is OK, but we were spoiled in Italy and weren't impressed with their offerings. :-)

Lee Ann

Lee Ann and I concur on that LQ

True the airport location has only the Waffle House and the Applebee's, but a lot of hotels there serve a free dinner: Residence Inn, Staybrige, and Homewood, all unfortunately out of the OP's budget. And it's close to things like Old Town and Nob Hill, and the traffic is lighter than being up in Journal Center or out near Louisiana.

But the Journal Center area is probably the best value in hotels in a newer area, although it isn't really near anything except Kohl's and chain restaurants. There's a Comfort Inn (pretty sure it used to be a Quality Inn) that I have stayed in there that's fine, but pricing out closer to $100. The Homewood and Staybridge here price out lower than the Uptown or airport locations, and have a good free breakfast plus a dinner 3-4 nights per week.

tom_mn curious as to why you asked about Rio Rancho?

With a car, finding places to eat won't be an issue.

The big thing is to avoid motel chains along I-40 exits. Even more well known names. The cheap places are often used for things other than "tourists" needing an overnight stay or for a vacation and the more well known names are targets for car thieves looking for people who are moving with all their worldly possessions or tourist with "good" stuff in their trunks.

Sad, but true, especially lately.

Thanks so much for lodging...now how to maximize our days. We will be staying one night in Santa Fe and will head out to Tent Rocks and plan on being there when they open. We plan 1/2 day there leaving at lunch and wondered if picking up the Tourquise Trail would be a good option and then take Route 66 into town? Next day petroglyphs and Old Town, Rio Grande Nature Center state park and Nuclear science Museum. We need a hike for our 3rd day 3-5 miles and afternoon activities. Is Ekena Gallegos Picnic worth a stop for a sunset visit? Farmers Market on Saturday ?

From Tent Rocks into ABQ via Turquoise Trail.

Long, but nice ride:

https://goo.gl/maps/q9xTrVK92nm

I would get on I 40 to head into town from Tijeras. Rt 66 along there isn't anything special.

Hikes here:
https://www.nps.gov/petr/index.htm

Afternoon activities:

http://railyardsmarket.com/

Bio Park
http://www.cabq.gov/culturalservices/biopark

http://www.cabq.gov/parksandrecreation/open-space

http://losranchosnm.gov/growers-market/

Another nice splurge meal in a beautiful setting:
http://www.lospoblanos.com/


What days of week are you here?

Petroglyph National Monument, Old Town, Rio Grande Nature Center and the Nuclear Museum are too many activities for one day.

There are nice hikes on the eastern side of the Sandias. Consider going into the mountains in the morning and hiking before it gets hot, then coming back into town for the Nuclear Museum.

It sounds like you'll be here on a weekend, so I highly recommend seeing a tablao at Casa Flamenco. We went last summer, and it was incredible - fantastic dancing and music in an intimate space. Seating is limited, so get your tickets ASAP. http://www.casaflamenca.org/

DebitNM mentioned the Los Ranchos Growers' Market, which is quite nice. I also like the downtown market.
http://www.downtowngrowers.org/

Lee Ann

Looks like we will be in the area Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

>>Rt 66 along there isn't anything special.

Not exactly, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eCTk8Yp01A

Heading from Tent Rocks via Turquoise Trail to ABQ has you go from SR 14 west into ABQ on old Rt 66; it is nothing special.

The music is only on the eastbound side of Rt 66 and last 30 seconds max.

Thanks so much with lodging help. I didn't think about the crime of the area until you posted it and I did some research.