OK, so my July 4th week vacation plans just got squelched . Family Beach house I was told I could use was given to another family member. Mistake and I am almost over it (ok family issues are not always pretty) but not going to sit at home. Thinking about New Mexico. Would start in AlbQ. and then maybe SF. Would love to work my way down to White Sands and Carlsbad and maybe that area. Been there before and still blown away by it.

I want to rent a car and explore. Don't have to stay long in the bigger areas although I would like to see them. A nice little town with great restaurants and a few bars would be OK for one night if I can fit it in. Would be travelling by myself. I like to see things both unique and natures beauty and tour and drive and see things I have not seen before (from east coast), stay in avg hotels close to restaurants and bars at night. Hilton Hotels are great since I get a big discount.

Looking at Sat to Sat or Sun to Sun or Sat to Sun ????

A couple of questions

1) Any ideas on where and what to see or do ?

2) If I stayed in ABQ, where would would be the place/hotel or area to stay that is either walkable to bars/restaurants or a short taxi ride?

2a) Same for Santa Fe as above ?

3) I love white sands and would like to be there at sunset? Guess I could stay in La Cruces? Where in Las Cruces?

4) Went once to Carlsbad cav and then went north and cut across to some green mountains and ski slopes I think? Don't remember where?

5) Roswell ???? worth the drive there?

6) Anything to see north of ABQ/SF.

Just found out yesterday and making quick plans but not sure if I will go as flights are pretty expensive but might take the plunge.

Or maybe you will tell me to go somewhere else since right now, I am all "Ears"

Sorry if much of this is on the board as I am a long time Foderite and Seasoned WW traveler but I have to make a plan in 24 to 48 hours.

we go every year to Scottsdale/PHX area for the 4th of July since 5* resorts are around $100 a night vs. $700+ during high season.
We booked the Montelucia resort which is a 5* for $99 a night with free breakfast and upgrade room.
The resort is stunning and you can go to Sedona for the day or Tucson.
Try expedia.com for deals.
Phoenician, AZ Biltmore, Montelucia, Boulders, Royal Palms all are gorgeous resorts for super cheap.
Fly into PHX instead of ABQ.
Best to you!

I would fly into ABQ on Southwest if you are able, got schedule and you are still far enough out to get good price.

In ABQ, I would suggest staying in the Uptown area - close to an upscale shopping area with lots of good restaurants. Easy to get to other places too. There Sheraton, Hyatt Place, Marriott and more.

In Santa Fe, most folks like to stay near or around the Plaza. For less expensive rooms, try staying on Cerrillos Road. It is about 15 minute drive to plaza and all the major chains are there.
Inn of the Governors is right at plaza and prices can be good. Call them direct for best price.

Are you willing to Priceline or Hotwire? If so, can get some good deals. I just had some family visiting and they stayed in Holiday Inn Express, just north of ABQ. Got a great rate of $48 thru hotwire. It is 2 minutes from I 25.

North of SF, Taos. Worth seeing. Take the high road and see some really nice country. Do a drive on the Enchanted Circle, through Angel Fire and Red River.

My suggestion would be to stay in northern NM and do ABQ, SF and Taos and pass going south. It will eat up a lot of time to get down to White Sands, Carlsbad etc and it is REALLY hot down there in July. White Sands is a long drive to Las Cruces. Roswell, meh, I'd skip it too.

Head over to Chaco Canyon for some amazing sites; go to Acoma Pueblo [west of ABQ] and maybe go a bit further west to El Morro http://www.nps.gov/elmo/index.htm

Bandelier, Los Alamos, Jemez Springs, all good. Ten Thousand Waves Spa - oh yeah!

Let me know if you have more Q's.

ksucat - you following me around?

Hey Deb!
When are you girls headed out to the Palms?
Wishing you both all the best!
It was 108 degrees a couple of days ago..make sure the cocktail glass is always full so you stay hydrated!
Have fun!

Trip got canceled

It was actually 118 on Monday.

Amazing !! conversation happening in someones elses post. So MY TRIP IS NOT CANCELLED SO PLESE CONTINUE TO POST !!

A Thank You would of been nice!

MY TRIP IS NOT CANCELLED SO PLESE CONTINUE TO POST !!

Yes Sir, right away Sir!

3) I love white sands and would like to be there at sunset? Guess I could stay in La Cruces? Where in Las Cruces?

Always stayed at Alamogordo while photographing at White Sands, which is much closer than Las Cruces. But White Sands will be really hot in July and occasionally access is shut down when they do missle tests.

Lots of chain-type hotels on the south end of town (closest to White Sands). The Space Museum was worth a stop in Alamogordo. Also a day trip to Cloudcroft, where it will be much cooler because of the higher elevation: http://cloudcroft.com/

There was one really nice restaurant up in Cloudcroft, Rebecca's at the Lodge: http://www.thelodgeresort.com/dining.cfm Lunch was not overly expensive and I still remember their great peach cobbler with ice cream.

6) Anything to see north of ABQ/SF.

Personally I'd run with this idea and save White Sands for cooler months. I prefer being in the mountains up north in July just because of the heat at the lower elevations. SF, Taos, maybe even SW Colorado ...

New Mexico in July? I hope you know that the desert areas will be scorchingly hot (100F or more). Mountain areas will be cooler but most of the places you ask about are not in the mountains.

Yes KSUcat, thank you very much. I did not mean it like it sounded but I see a conversation which I am OK and the 3 words "Trip is cancelled"

If I were reading this I would think the person who posted it cancelled their trip. Just wanted to make sure


So again, THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE POSTED !!!!!!!!!!!!!

All is forgiven!


Have you thought about San Diego?
Gorgeous beach city and 20 degrees cooler.
Lots of great deals for 4-5* resorts on expedia.com
ABQ is lovely and New Mexico is a stunning state but it does get really hot in July/August.
Are you okey dokey with that?

Everything Deb said!

Do save Carlsbad and White Sands for cooler weather. Temps will be in the 90s in Albuquerque, cooler up north.

Lee Ann

San Diego sounds inviting but good chance I will be in SoCal in the fall but still looking at it. Flights are not bad. Actually cheaper than ABQ.

90 degrees is hot but it the same in my hometown so I guess if I stayed ABQ and north, might be the same. I have given up on White Sands/Carlsbad.

How far away a drive is monument vally from ABQ or maybe west of ABQ if I were to go some of the RT66 route? Could end up in Taos and then Santa Fe and then back to ABQ to fly out?

Thanks again

Taos is my fav in NM..I would do Santa Fe, Taos and ABQ.
DebitNM is the Mayor/Govenor of New Mexico!
Fall is awesome in SD..
Good luck!

Monument Valley is a pretty long ride [360 miles, 6+ hours] and it will be hot there as it is at much lower elevation.

Have you looked at a road map of NM? We have only 2 interstates - I40 which runs east/west and I25 which runs north/south. It is pretty hard to get to Taos from western NM.