Hi. People always ask what hotel to stay in when they come for the fiesta. We've found that there are a lot of furnished rental properties that can be rented for not that much money if you're staying 3, 5 or 7 days. Try sites like vrbo. If you want to be close to the balloon park, look for sites in NE ABQ or Corrales or thereabouts. Check out the location on google maps, selecting the "street view" option to get an idea of location and neighborhood. You might be surprised by the prices, and at least you'll be staying somewhere where you can eat breakfast at 5 AM in the comfort of your own "place" and then head out to see the ascensions!

Good suggestion, roothy.

Rather than drive to the balloon park, we prefer to use one of the park and ride locations. The buses don't have to wait in line with car drivers, and you are dropped off and picked up right by the entrance. You miss a lot of traffic this way.

Lee Ann

Well, I was wondering about the buses, and you've now answered one of my questions. Specifically, I was wondering if they were able to travel in a special lane or bypass traffic. We are staying up north, so if it's like 3 years ago, coming southeast won't be too bad, but I'm always up for making it easy on the residents and balloon fiesta goers alike, so I'm hoping to be able to take a bus!

The only special accomodations given to the Park and Ride busses are that they go in a special entrance and drop you off and pick you up close to entry. There are no accomodations on the interstate or local roads for the busses.

I am not sure there are park and ride locations "up north." Is that Santa Fe? or someother place north of Balloon Fiesta park? There is a pickup in Rio Rancho at Intel.

http://www.balloonfiesta.com/Guests/...arkandride.php

They are talking about having a pickup on the weekends at the Railrunner Station which might help you coming from the north.

Deb

>>The only special accomodations given to the Park and Ride busses are that they go in a special entrance and drop you off and pick you up close to entry. There are no accomodations on the interstate or local roads for the busses.<<

That's true, and it still might be sort of slow using park and ride on a mass ascension morning.

We used park and ride two years ago for an evening special shapes rodeo and fireworks show, and while the park was full, we were really pleased at how quickly we got into the park and back to our car after it was over.

Lee Ann