in or around Durango
 

Does anyone know of any accommodations other than hotels that have air conditioning? We'd really enjoy being 'out of' but 'close to' Durango. Lodges, B&B's etc.
I know it's cool up there, but I've fallen for that twice - NOT again.
If it is a hotel, we'll do that - any recent suggestions? I know DebitNM has some...
Thanks!
d

Hi gypsy,
B & B's - not sure about A/C, but you can call and ask:

I know that this one is top notch --
Apple Orchard Inn just north of Durango on RT 550: http://www.appleorchardinn.com/

Others { have no first hand knowledge on how these are}:

http://www.fathershousedurango.com/

http://www.countrysunshine.com/

http://www.bluelakeranch.com/

http://www.rochesterhotel.com/

Historic/quaint hotels in Durango:

Strater [nicer of the 2]
General Palmer

Hope this helps..
Debi

Thanks Debi -
I've already looked into three of the five you listed... Apple Orchard is booked up except for a couple of days here and there. That was my first choice. Thanks for the info!
I know you travel between Alb and Durango a lot, so which is the best route?
Your help is greatly appreciated -
d

gypsy - certainly listen to Debi, but thought I'd mention that we liked Hwy 550 from just north of ABQ all the way to Durango. It's fairly direct, the road is good and scenic around the continental divide.

dfr is 100% correct about driving from ABQ to Durango. RT 550 is the best way to go.
Here are directions from Sunport in ABQ to Durango:


Take I 25 north out of the airport. Continue until you get to Exit 242; exit there and make a left at end of exit ramp onto 550 {I THINK at this point is says 550 West, but it might say 550 North} towards Cuba, Bloomfield and Aztec. I have heard that there is road work around there, so expect some delays.
You will stay on 550 all the way to Durango!

Be careful, there are small little towns along the way where the speed limit drops to 30 - very quickly- and they just love getting speeders from out of town.
There are also some spots that slow down for what appears to me no apparent reason [there is a small gas station or trading post] and the love to get you on those too. Don't ask how I know ....

There will be a couple of turns that you will make going through Bloomfield and Aztec, but you will stay on 550 the entire time. As you approach Bloomfield, you will make a RIGHT turn at light [it will have a 550 sign pointing to right]; then a LEFT turn at light [it will have a 550 sign pointing to left] and then in a few miles you will make another RIGHT turn at light [it will have a 550 sign pointing to right]; in Aztec. {Could be some construction in Aztec -there always is}

You will now heading toward NM/CO border. Staying on 550 you will enter CO and about 15 miles later, you will come down a winding road and come to a traffic light. {You will be able to see Durango at this point}. At that light, make a LEFT turn and stay on 550 --which is Camino del Rio. The road will actually be 550 and 160 WEST as they overlap here. {A right at that light would send you to Bayfield and Pagosa Springs - it will say 160 East DO NOT GO THERE}

You will drive through the first part of Durango which will have a Home Depot and Walmart on the left {if you wish to buy supplies, do it now! Shops and groceries at regular supermarkets in Durango are expensive}.

Continue on 550 the road will curve to the right and you will come to a traffic light with a Doubletree hotel on the left far corner. Bear right and stay on 550. {IF you make a LEFT turn that is 160 West - that is the road you will take to go to Mesa Verde entrance}. I THINK at this point 550 might start to say NORTH.

Depending on where exactly you are going; this will get you 1 block west of downtown.

Hope this helps..
Debi

Thanks Debi and dfr for the info - I'll probably have more questions later...
d