Santa Fe and Taos...Help!
 

My husband and I will be spending 10 nights in the Santa Fe and Taos area. We plan to hike, horseback ride, take scenic drives, visit galleries, etc. We also plan to do day trips to cities of interest within driving distance (ie. Albuquerque). How many nights in each city would those of you "in the know" recommend? Also, do you have any B&B or Inn recommendations? Our budget is $150 for Taos and $200 for Santa Fe. Less, of course, would be better :) Thanks!

What month are you going?

What time of year are you going as that will affect the nightly rate?

For Santa Fe:

El Farolito B&B
Inn of the Governors
Inn at Loretto
Hotel Plaza Real
Inn on the Alameda
La Fonda
Hilton Santa Fe

10 nights is a nice amount of time and I would divide it up: 5 nights Santa Fe, 3 nights Taos, 2 nights Albuquerque. If you want to skip ABQ then 6/7 Santa Fe and 4/3 Taos.

Run a search as well and you will get similar threads.

Hope that gets you started.

We're going mid-late June, if that helps. Thanks!!!

Thanks, BeachGirl247 :)

Traveler, that will be high season so some of the lodging I mentioned above will go over your $200 limit. You can also try priceline to get a great rate.

Don't forget Ten Thousand Waves. You'll love it.

BeachGirl247...Ten Thousand Waves for the spa, or as lodging? Thanks!

For the spa. They do offer lodging as well. I haven't stayed there but I've heard good things about it. Now the spa is one of the best anywhere so don't pass it up if it fits into your plans.

www.tenthousandwaves.com

My wife and I have stayed at The Water Street Inn in SF and loved it. It should be around $150/nt.

You might look into the El Ray Inn in Santa Fe. It was built in 1936 as a motel on what used to be Route 66. It has been beautifully maintained and added to, and prices are less than $200, even during high season. A lawyer friend told us about it several years back, and we loved it. They have various types of rooms available, from regular rooms through suites. Breakfast used to be included in the price of the room, but I don't know if it still is.

We visited Santa Fe in October and stayed at the El Farolito and really enjoyed it. The casitas are all have different decor but all are charming and most have a little outdoor area for sitting and relaxing. Breakfast is included and delicious! It is a short walk to the plaza.

Hi Traveler,

As far as B&B's go, I highly recommend American Artists Gallery B&B in Taos and the Galisteo Inn located outside of Santa Fe in the town of Galisteo. My husband and I really enjoyed our stays there just a few months ago and they're both in your price range. The owner of American Artists really enjoyed making recommendations and tips to his guests and the Galisteo is in an amazing setting in a 300 year old hacienda - beautiful. I made a post about our trip a little while ago - it can be found by clicking on my name.

Have fun!

Good responses so far. I would skip staying in ABQ - just do as a day trip. The petroglyphs outside of town were nice and old town was interesting.

Be sure to visit Bandalier, north of Santa Fe.

I also really enjoyed taking a cooking class at Santa Fe School of Cooking.

Here's another vote for El Farolito B&B in Santa Fe. Everything about it was wonderful when we were there in September!

Make sure you drive down Route 66 toward the university in Albuquerque. You'll swear it's the 50's and you're likely to see plenty of old cars cruising up and down.

We spent several days in ABQ and stayed at the Hyatt, which was an excellent hotel. I agree, no more than two nights at most.

Thanks, everyone, for your help :)

We decided to spend 5 nights in Taos at Casa Gallina, and 5 nights in Santa Fe at The Madeleine. Both properties get rave reviews on Trip Advisor, and we were able to get rooms well within our budget.

Does anyone have restaurant or sightseeing suggestions? Thanks!

We stayed at the Old Santa Fe Inn, a block from all the action, walking distance to everything, and less than $150/night. Free breakfast, and they even have BBQ nights with hamburgers/hot dogs. Rooms are nice and clean.

We also used Santa Fe as a base to visit Bandelier, Ghost Ranch, Abiqui, and even Taos, but since you are going to spend a few nights in Taos anyway that will cut down on driving time.

The food there is awesome, have fun!

Traveler22, run a search for the dining and sightseeing options. There have been a lot of threads for this. Here are a couple of recent trip reports:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35096682

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35094240

In the meantime, I'll compile a list.

Here are some threads to get you started:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35074545

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34882576

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35073202

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34981675

Come back with questions as I'd love to help!

Beachgirl

Do not miss the Tecalate Cafe for Huevos Rancheros!! I think it is in Taos....

Do you mean Tecolote Cafe?? In Santa Fe--http://tecolotecafe.com/

Reasonably moderate food in Santa Fe: Breakfast at Tia Sophia's, a couple of blocks from Plaza. The Shed is slightly pricier, but not much; sit in the courtyard and arrive by 10:55 to avoid lines. Get the mocha cake and split it. Then order another one. I hear they have a cheaper place and just as good place out off Cerillos Rd, but never got to check it out.

When I started hanging out in Santa Fe eons ago, Tomasita's Cafe was in a funky little house on the wrong side of Paseo de Peralta, and had moved to the old train station by the time I went to college there. It's always packed. On my last trip back, I discovered Dave's Not Here in the same little house on Hickox St and in the same spirit as the old Tomasita's. Funky, but delicious.

Whenever we go to Santa Fe, unlike anywhere else in the world, there is a list of restaurants I must visit and green and red chile I must eat.

On Friday evenings, the museums near the Plaza are free, including the Palace of the Governors. Check out the beautiful Georgia O'Keefe Museum. If Catholic, consider going to Spanish language mass at the cathedral, early Sun.

I must mention our really fine accommodations last fall, found through craigslist. It's in a great residential neighborhood with fine coffeehouse 1/2 block away. 10 min walk to Plaza. You have 2 bedrooms and a living room, private bath, microwave, small fridge. The owner is long time Santa Fean and very friendly and knowlegeable. Price was quite reasonable for us four, less for fewer people.
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Taos: Be sure to have one breakfast at the Taos Inn. Other meals probably just as good, or drinks in the lobby, but my husband always refers to it as the best breakfast he's ever had.

Both towns deserve lingering in the Plaza and watching the scene. Consider taking the High Road and stopping by Chimayo and the Santuario. The low road is wonderful along the Rio Grande, but getting through Espanola and past the casinos is a tad dispiriting, especially if you knew it pre-casino.

<i>Whenever we go to Santa Fe, unlike anywhere else in the world, there is a list of restaurants I must visit and green and red chile I must eat.</i>

stokebailey, GMTA!!! It's all the about the next meal!! We are settling for a 5:30 dinner tonight at La Boca as they couldn't accommodate us at a later seating before they close for a week. We'll take it.

If you really need your chile fix, Hatch ships frozen chiles straight to your door. And if you have a attachment to the charred tomato salsa at The Ore House they, too, will ship.

The Ore House had samples of salsa and chips available at street level when we were there in the fall. It almost lured me in, but we were on our way to another place. Thanks for understanding, BeachGirl.
I'll check out the Hatch angle. I do prefer to have it set in front of me with a: &quot;The plate's hot!&quot;

May La Boca treat you well tonight; will put that on my list for next time.

Try the Don Gaspar Inn. It is not right in the thick of things, but is an easy walk, and it is within your price range and very charming.

traveler22, what are you leaning towards? El Faralito is an excellent choice, I agree, for Santa Fe.

stokebailey: &quot;the plate's hot!&quot; That says it all for us!! :)

If you are going to spend a week in one place or the other, have you considered renting a casita or other self-catering place? We spent a week in Santa Fe a while ago, and found a 2-bedroom place just off Canyon Road. It was about the same or less than the B&amp;Bs we considered (I just checked, it's not available in June, already booked, but it is currently priced at $800/week in high season). We didn't need the second bedroom, but really appreciated having a kitchen and living room to relax in.

Oops, just saw that you've already decided where to stay...

I'm a little slow on the uptake, too!