want to visit santa Fe in Sept. and can't decide where to stay. Anyone have any good spots?

We like the Hotel Santa Fe. It is owned by native americans and has a great Santa Fe feeling. The rooms are very nice and management is friendly and efficient. Many people like to stay in the hotels that are adjacent to the Plaza. That is too busy for us and the Hotel Santa Fe is outside of the main tourist area and a short walk to the Plaza. By the way, if you like Indian food, India Palace restaurant is outstanding. For great fish tacos, try Atomic Cafe.

We really like the LaPosada. THe grounds are lovely and expansive and they have a wonderful spa. We had a very luxurious suite above the spa. Since it was off-season, we got it for a great price. It's about a five minute walk from the square, which is far enough to be peaceful.

I've stayed at the St. Francis several times and loved it. It's a smallish hotel with extremely pleasant staff and charming rooms. The restaurant is really good, although my favorite restaurant in Santa Fe is about a block away from there - Julian's. The hotel is about 2 blocks from the Plaza.

We like either the Bishop's Lodge and the Rancho Encatado, both of which are just north of Santa Fe (with the Bishop's Lodge being the closest to town). I like tham because they're very, very nice and away from the hub-bub of downtown. We spend most of our time when we're out there driving to Taos, Bandelier, Chaco Canyon, etc. that we don't need to be downtown. But being downtown has its advantages. Downtown hotels I like are La Fonda and Inn on the Alameda. have fun.

there are a million good spots in Santa Fe; can you give an idea of your budget, whether you want to be close to the plaza and your main interests? Most of the places mentioned so far are rather expensive, at least in my opinion, but there are some nice, more modest places. (I like El Rey and the Santa Fe Motel but some people might think they're too funky) Also, fyi, Rancho Encantado, mentioned above, is closed for renovation and i don't think it's supposed to reopen this year.

Santa Fe is very expensive within the city IMO for what you get. I've stayed at the Hotel Plaza Real which I thought was a very good deal compared to some other nice hotels near the plaza which were a lot more expensive. It is within walking distance of the plaza (on Washington Ave near the library), but is all suites so you get a sitting area and fireplace. I did not have kitchenette as I recall, but didn't want one; the people were nice and the rooms were great and very comfortable. It's a total of about 50 suite rooms in a two-story structure around a courtyard. You can get the smaller suite rooms for about $175, I believe, which is about what I paid. It all depends what you want to pay; I think that is lower than some of the more expensive hotels, but a little higher than St Francis (I think the St Francis quoted me a rate which seemed too cheap which worried me, and I did read reviews describing the rooms as "simple", also they have afternoon tea which I found odd as I didn't want an English-style hotel, not sure what that's all about--anyway, I think that is the St Francis I'm remembering that for). There are definitely cheaper places on the edges of town, motel-type lodgings, I've stayed at a nice-enough place like that, also, on that long major roadway (St Francis something?) going north--it was just an ordinary chain-type motel although a good enough one, I forget its name but it was sort of well known as having a good flamenco show on site. Unless you are mainly driving elsewhere, I found staying near center city to be nicer.

I have stayed in Santa Fe a few times but usually prefer to stay in Albuquerque, which is not far away and has a greater variety of accommodations. My favourite is the Hyatt Regency. By the way, if you go to Santa Fe, you MUST visit Los Alamos.

My son loved the Inn on the Alameda and has convinced us that's where we have to stay when we get a chance.

We stayed at the St. Francis and thought it was a good value for the price ($125 about a year ago). The location is great for being able to walk to good restaurants (Cafe Pasqual is across the street, Coyote Cafe just about two blocks away). The Plaza is two blocks away. In other words, we didn't need to use our car unless we were going to the outskirts of town. We spent minimal time in our actual room as there was so much to see and do, thanks in part to the concierge at the SF, who was very helpful.

Albuquerque better than Santa Fe?
On what planet?
ABQ is one of the most culturally vapid places in America on a per capita basis....and that certainly goes for its lack of good accommodations as well.

Santa Fe, on the other hand, ranks high on the Conde Nast Traveller list of most desirable destinations in the US year after year.

And why has no one mentioned the Inn of the Anasazi? Santa Fe's best hotel in the most prime location in town.

Gaby,
Probably the reason that no one has mentioned the Inn of the Anasazi is because it's very over-rated. Beautiful? Without a doubt. Are there better places to stay in Sante for the money. Absolutely.