Thanks for the advice, Deb & BeachGirl.
Unfortunately, there is no availability at either Hotel Plaza Real or The Eldorado. And, I have had a few bad experiences with Priceline, so am a bit skittish about going that route. If Hotel Santa Fe at $206 is as close as I can get to the Plaza (admittedly, several minutes walk), I'm wondering if it is that much better to pay $80 or so more than what I would pay in chain hotel land on Cerrillos.

Again, I wouldn't pay all that extra $$ to stay near the Plaza. Don't get me wrong, I like a nice hotel as much [maybe more] than the next person, but I could do alot with the price difference in staying on Cerrillos and staying near the plaza.

We were in SF over New Years and stayed on Cerrillos and were pleased with it. {a Marriott property, can't remember which one].

Deb

I'm with you Deb. I'll save a few bucks for fun in town. Just booked at the Marriott Courtyard. Thanks again for your advice and suggestions!

Let me know if there is anything else I can help you with!
Deb

That's pretty good. It's on the west side of 285 if I remember correctly. Not walking distance but not on busy Cerrillos either so you'll have a short drive into the plaza area. Plus, you are close to Albertson's grocery if you want snacks.

There are several parking lots available. The first one that comes to mind on that side of the plaza is at Sandoval and San Francisco (parking garage) and the other is on Grant just north of San Francisco. The parking garage mentioned first will fill up quickly so get there early in the day. Metered parking is a hassle if you are in the plaza all day as they are only 2 hour meters and you have to go back to replenish.

You're going to have a great trip!! Depending on how I feel when we get home from China, I may be at the wine festival and getting my annual supply of roasted green chiles and red chile powder. I have my priorities you know. ;)

A new 580 car garage is slated to open [actually it should have opened already, but....] it <i>should</i> be open by the end of Sept:

The garage is across Don Gaspar Avenue from the Capitol, on what had been a state-employee parking lot bounded by Paseo de Peralta and Manhattan Avenue, South Capitol Street and Don Gaspar. It has two levels above ground and one underground.


Deb

Just back from our trip. Not sure what we enjoyed most, but highlights certainly include Madrid and the Turquoise Trail drive, including some great nachos at the Mine Shaft Tavern (and a neat stop at the church in Golden: another visitor actually grew up in the area and reunited with the caretaker while at the church - they hadn't seen each other in nearly 40 years). We also throughly enjoyed Bandelier National Monument. The trip up the ladders at Alcove House was truly memorable. And our visit to the San Ildefonso pueblo was very cool - including our visit with relatives of the great potter Maria Martinez.

The food was amazing. We had great meals in Albuquerque: dinner at Church Street Cafe in Old Town, breakfast at the Owl Cafe, and a late lunch at the Range Cafe in Bernalillo. In the Santa Fe area, we enjoyed dinner at the Coyote Cafe and El Paragua in Espanola (near the San Juan pueblo).

The natural beauty of NM is hard to describe until you see it in person. The Sandria range near Albuquerque was stunning, but the mountains north of Santa Fe (some snow capped) were just as beautiful.

We're already talking about returning to the area in the future.

Thanks to all of you for your great advice and insights.

Glad you have such a great time; you''ll be back!

Deb

Thanks for the trip report!

Lee Ann

Thanks for coming back to tell us about your trip. So glad you enjoyed it!!

New Mexico <i>is</i> hard to describe -- you just need to experience it.

BG ((h))