Visiting Santa Fe in November - Thanksgiving week. I have narrowed it down to the El Dorado Hotel, Inn of the Governors, and La Fonda. I want luxury and full service but I also want to feel like I'm in Santa Fe and not in a big city setting. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

In of the Anasazi is better than the ones you mentioned.

Tiffany,

Have you considered the Inn at Loretto? It is everything you're looking for: full service, VERY southwestern and luxurious--and you will definitely know you are still in Santa Fe. Large rooms--many with balconies and views of the Plaza or hills. If you go to hotelloretto.com you can see pics and information. We have stayed there three times and absolutely love it.

As far as the other three on your list, I would probably opt for Inn of the Governors. While nice, the El Dorado has a bit too much of the "big city feel" you mentioned. La Fonda is nice also but IMHO still a distant second to Inn at Loretto.

Some other I would consider are:
1. Inn on the Alameda
2. Inn of the Anasazi
Inn of the Anasazi is a smaller but excellent property. If you go to satafeliving.com and click on "places to stay" you can get info on all of these. My top three, however, would be Loretto, Anasazi and Alameda.

Have fun,

Davidcs

I was just at INn of the Anasazi and it was well located and fabulous -- I didn't go into any of the hotels you mentioned, but frankly, they didn't look as nice from the outside as the Anasazi. Its a small luxury hotel right off the square and the rooms are built to the style of the area.

I have stayed at Dorado, Anasazi, and Inn on the Alameda. I prefer the Alameda; it is charming, immaculately clean, and very friendly. Also, the value is incredible; it is much less expensive than the other two. Dorado was too much of a big pretentious hotel. Anasazi was nice, but rooms were small and public facilities limited.

Thank you everyone for your help. I really like Alameda but the I wasn't able to get a suite. There will be 3 people in the room - I was just afraid of it being too small.
David - I am going to look at the Loretto and also go to the website you mentioned before I make any decisions. Thanks!

Anyone know the website for the Inn at Lotetto?

Karen

It's hotelloretto.com

Thanks Tiffany

That's one combo I didn't try. The place looks like my kind of place - but I can't tell from the website if they offer suites. Do you know? Otherwise, I will call tomorrow to find out

Tiffany,

Glad you're going to check it out, it's a wonderful place!

Karen,

Yes, they do offer suites--all the way up to a presidential.

What about the Hilton of Santa Fe? They offer private casitas with just about everything in a real home WITH room service. Someone please tell me that they like the Hilton... I prefer MUCH space in my room. And the rates are not that bad.

I haven't been inside the Hilton SF, but I'd have some major questions about it. One, Hiltons are now very mainstream hotels, nothing like they were 15+ years ago. Go ahead, name a Hilton hotel among the top 100 hotels in the US...I don't think there is one.
The pic of the standard room on the website screams "Fairfield Inn with southwestern motif". There are some hotels in SF with genuine character and history. Very unique places.
Choosing the Hilton would be equivalent to eating at McDonald's every night in Paris.

Does anyone have anything good to say about the Hilton? Obviously, Barry doesn't like it.

I just got back from a stay at the Hilton. Barry is right. Nice place with a decent pool but very ordinary and the staff is overworked. You'd do better elsewhere in Santa Fe. La Fonda looked kind of tacky when we visited there. My suspicion is that the Inn of the Anasazi and Inn at Loretto are much nicer.

I recently stayed at the Inn on the Alameda and Hotel St. Francis. Both were great, yet very different and within easy walking distance to the Plaza and other sites. Alameda is my personal favorite--awesome rooms, great ambiance, great breakfast buffet and wine/cheese happy hour. St. Francis is on the historic register and is also quite nice. It is not southwestern like Alameda, but has beautiful decor. Staff at both were very nice.

My vote is definately for the Inn of the Anasazi. It's a luxurious, romantic, pure Santa Fe experience. Margaritas made with fresh limes. Have dinner in the small dining room by the fireplace. Feather blankets and super service. Great location, too.

Bishops Lodge..no contest.

We just returned from Santa Fe, and stayed at the Inn of the Governors. We were very pleased.
The location is excellent, and we had a lovely room.
The breakfast buffet, which is lovely, is served in a charming garden patio.
In the late afternoon, they serve sherry and tea.
We had a car, and the parking was easy.
One thing: we had originally reserved the lowest price room, and someone advised us to upgrade so that we were staying in the main house. I was glad we did; it was more convenient.
I would recommend it.

Sylvia