Calling Ellen-dil-pickle and Debit, Help!!
 

Hello ladies, and anyone else that is familiar with the Santa Fe area.

I'm really having a problem trying to make up my mind where to go for Christmas this year..( see other post on Christmas).
I don't usually have such a hard time making up my mind.
BUT, I will be on my own.. and I really would love to spend the holiday in Santa Fe. BUT others have suggested Las Vegas and my heart is also pulling at me to repeat a successful Christmas in NYC ( the first on my own).

Here is the problem. Because of other trips planned, I'm on a budget....and will only be there 5 days. I don't really want to spend the money to rent a car..
Soooo, am I better to leave Santa Fe for another time when I can spend more time and money? Also, I live near Toronto, so the cold weather does not bother me... but someone has suggested I could run into snowstorms. Not fun anywhere. I know no one can predict, but how likely is a snow storm, do you think?

Thanks for any advice.

Hi kodi!!
You can do Santa Fe without a car if you are planning to stay around the plaza area. You will need to take a shuttle from ABQ to get you up to SF - it is about 1 hour drive time.

A bigger concern to me would be IF you could find a hotel around the Plaza that would fit your budget. Christmas time can be expensive.

You can enjoy restaurants, museums, art galleries in Santa Fe if you can get yourself located near the plaza. Rooms will be cheaper the farther from the plaza, but getting to the plaza will be costly.

Email me directly if I can be more specific.

Debi

Debi, thanks so much for the quick response.
I do have more questions now.. Let me do some research and I will email you.
I usually have good luck with Priceline, but it might be a different story at Christmas.

Is Chicago too cold for you??? I love it in the winter.

Hi Sharon. Chicago is definately a place I want to visit, but I think when it's a bit warmer. SInce I've heard it's windy, it might feel colder at Christmas.
Thanks for the idea.

Santa Fe would probably be less expensive than New York, though, as Debi said, hotels aren't cheap. There is a motel called Garrett's Desert Inn on Old Santa Fe Trail - it's within easy walking distance of the Plaza, and it might be a good choice for you.

You won't need a car; it's a fairly small city and there are buses if you want to go up to Museum Hill.

It will definitely be cold, but I don't know if there will be much snow.

One perk, though - if you come to Santa Fe, we can get together and compare New Zealand pictures! :-D

Lee Ann

Mr. Pickle just reminded me that we had a huge snowstorm over New Year's which pretty much shut everything down this past January, but that was one of those record-breaking "perfect storm" things, and the chances of it happening again this year are pretty slim.

Lee Ann

Hi Lee Ann. Oh it's good to hear from you.
You guys are the best.
It's sounding better and better all the time.
Thanks so much for the info.
I sent an email to Debi and she has sent me some websites to look at.

I'm out the next couple of nights.. so will do some studying on the weekend. Then I'm sure I'll have more questions.I'll check out Garrett's. As long as I can walk to the Plaza, I'll be ok.

More later, after I do my research.

You both are already helping me make this decision.
Ahh, and the New Zealand pictures. You ARE trying to sway me.

I should have been in bed hours ago.....

>>Ahh, and the New Zealand pictures. You ARE trying to sway me.<<

Why, yes, I am! :-)

Lee Ann

LeeAnn, it's working!!!

Please drop me an email if you have a chance, so I have your email address. I don't seem to have it anymore.
[email protected]

kodi, Santa Fe in the winter is magical! I was there for the huge snowstorm that shut down I-40 and the highway into Santa Fe. It was like no other visit we've had there (and we've been going 17 years!) But that doesn't happen often at all but we were very happy to have arrived just in time before all the snow came.

There are several hotel choices in the plaza area that I've checked out and they are all under $200/night for stays over Christmas. Here is the websites for info:

www.allseasonsresortlodging.com
for Camas de Santa Fe, Dancing Ground of the Sun and Fort Marcy Compound. All of those are walking distance to the plaza.

Hotel St. Francis, located in the plaza, has rooms under $200, in fact one for $149/night. That's an incredible rate for the location and over Christmas!

www.hotelstfrancis.com

As LeeAnn mentioned, Garrett's Desert Inn has a great location.
www.garrettsdesertinn.com

I will add my photo link later when I take another break from packing!

Have fun planning and feel free to email me.
Sheila

Thank you so so much. Debi told me you were the expert!!!
I'm just heading out the door to go to work, but I'll be in touch later.

I have to check flights too, but Santa Fe is sounding better all the time..

Gotta run..
Thanks again..

You're welcome, kodi. No expert but I've been a few times. ;) I can't figure out how to post my pics on PhotoBucket from Santa Fe but when I do I'll post them.

Good, let me know.
I'm still on the run.. going out tonight..
but I do have Santa Fe on my mind!

Santa Fe is definately on my mind!
I bought Loney Planet Santa Fe, which is proving to me that my heart is already going there for Christmas.

Thanks for the great advice, and I'll post as soon as the airfare is a done deal.

Yes the airfare is a done deal. I'm really flying to Santa Fe for Christmas. I'm so excited!!
Thanks to all for helping me decide.
I know it will be great!

Hotel Plaza Real also is near (almost on) the Plaza and has pretty good rates. It's a little rough around the edges, but most rooms have a nice fireplace and sitting area. Enjoy, annieladd

Thank ;you Annie. I will check it out.
Finding a place to stay is next on my 'to do' list!

I've stayed at Hotel Plaza Real, too. Great location! It's next door to Inn of the Anasazi which has a great bar and restaurant. Also, a few doors down the other direction is El Meson, an excellent Spanish restaurant. The room I was in was just fine -- fireplace, small balcony with no city view, and the room was decorated in southwest decor. Not too tired yet.

Real has underground parking but I don't recall exactly how much -- somewhere around $12/$14 a day. To save a few dollars you can park in the public garage for $8/day.

Have fun putting your trip together! We're planning on the 26/27 thru New Year's again. It was just magical last year with all of the snow.

Beachgirl, thanks so much for the tips.
I'm thinking now , to save money, to go on Priceline and stay out on Cerrillos Rd and renting a car.
I've got so much on the go in the next year, I shouldn't even be doing this trip. Oh well, it's booked now!! And I can't wait.