These Fantastic Santa Fe Hotels Are a Serious Bargain
One of the most upscale destinations in the Southwest, Santa Fe nevertheless offers a broad spectrum of accommodations in every price range. Some of the best deals in the region are in small B&Bs with cozy, simple rooms. Other properties offering great values include several well-kept chain properties located along Santa Fe's rather ugly Cerrillos Road—what these hotels lack in curb appeal they often make up for in spacious rooms, free perks, and appealing amenities. Finally, if you're willing to stay a bit outside of town in one of the smaller communities within an hour's drive, you can potentially save money and enjoy a quiet, scenic setting. These clean and nicely maintained lodging options all have at least entry-level cheap rooms priced well below the area's average rate.
Best Western Plus Inn of Santa Fe
Why it made the list
Among the dozen-or-so chain properties out on busy Cerrillos Road, this clean and comfortable Best Western stands out for its very reasonable rates and excellent amenities, including a very pleasant indoor pool and hot tub. Even the upgraded spa Jacuzzi suites here are priced far below what you'd pay for comparable accommodations in town.
Inn at Santa Fe
Why it made the list
A chain-style hotel just off Interstate 25 on Cerrillos Road, on the far south side of town, this 99-room hotel looks pretty ordinary from the outside, but with some of the lowest rates in town, the well-designed rooms are a bargain, especially when you factor in the free parking, pool, and free breakfast. There are also a number of inexpensive dining and nightlife options nearby.
Pecos Trail Inn
Why it made the list
A short drive south of Santa Fe's historic Downtown, this small mid-century motel is one of the only budget properties in the city that's not on busy Cerrillos Road. Rather, this low-slung motel with a nicely maintained pool and spotless rooms lies along the edge of the Sangre de Cristo foothills, close to Interstate 25 and Museum Hill. There's a nifty little restaurant on-site serving commendable Northern New Mexican food, too.
Santa Claran Hotel Casino
Why it made the list
As is often the case at gaming hotels, rooms often come cheaply, as ownership aims to make the majority of its revenue through the casino. Whether or not you plan to gamble, this clean and contemporary modern hotel is a nice deal, with spacious and well-decorated rooms, some with balconies that afford impressive views of the Jemez and Sangre de Cristo Mountains. It's on a busy (and not especially attractive) state highway in Española, about a 30-minute drive north of Santa Fe, but the Santa Claran is a good base for exploring the High Road to Taos, Puye Cliff Dwellings, Bandelier National Monument, and other area attractions.
Luxx Hotel
Why it made the list
An eco-minded boutique property with contemporary rooms that's just a block from Santa Fe's historic Plaza, Luxx Hotel isn't for everyone—rooms tend to be a little dark, and little about the hotel's aesthetic captures the style of Santa Fe. But the rooms have plenty of nice amenities, from rain shower heads to plush linens, and the location simply can't be beat.
Guadalupe Inn
Why it made the list
Owned for years by the same Santa Fe family, this attractively decorated 12-room inn lies within a short walk of the trendy Railyard District and features comfortable, if not necessarily luxurious, trappings that include well-chosen art, hardwood floors, and—in most cases—decks and gas fireplaces. A quite good buffet breakfast is included, and the staff is exceptionally helpful.
Rancho Nambe
Why it made the list
If you're willing to accept a few trade-offs—the 30-minute drive from the Santa Fe Plaza, small and somewhat dated bathrooms, and a shared bathroom for the two least expensive units—this 18th-century hacienda represents an impressive value. For a fraction of what you'd pay at most inns with such charm and history, you can book a spacious room with a wood-burning fireplace, luxurious bedding, and beam ceilings, and an absolutely delicious breakfast is included in the rates.
Santa Fe Motel and Inn
Why it made the list
You'll be hard-pressed to find nicer, cheaper accommodations within easy walking distance of the Plaza and Railyard District than at this lovingly restored vintage motel whose rooms have attractive Southwestern decor. If you're willing to spend a bit more, you can book one of the property's roomy casitas.
Pueblo Bonito Bed & Breakfast Inn
Why it made the list
Arguably the best value among Downtown Santa Fe's traditional inns, this historic inn has 19 rooms done with vintage Southwestern furnishings, wood-burning kiva fireplaces (there is an extra charge to use these), and Talavera tile bathrooms. A very good breakfast buffet is included.
Santa Fe Sage Inn & Suites
Why it made the list
Over the past several years, the management behind what had been a dull budget motel has taken big steps to transform it into one of the city's most appealing and affordable lodgings. Next to a Whole Foods and a short walk from the many restaurants, galleries, and attractions in the trendy Railyard District, Santa Fe Sage Inn & Suites has cheerfully designed, if somewhat compact, rooms as well as a nice little bar and restaurant and an attractive pool. The Plaza is just a 15-minute walk, and the inn offers a free shuttle service there and back.
Inn at the Delta
Why it made the list
In the center of Española, a small city in the valley about a half-hour drive north of Santa Fe, this boutique inn has 10 huge rooms with such luxurious perks as jetted soaking tubs and kiva fireplaces, plus an excellent breakfast is served each morning in the main house. You'd likely pay twice the rates here for similar accommodations in Downtown Santa Fe.
Silver Saddle Motel
Why it made the list
The coolest, funkiest little motel in Santa Fe is set along dull Cerrillos Road, but this low-frills gem is next to the colorful Jackalope home-furnishings retail complex and right around the corner from Meow Wolf. The Southwestern decor—including red-tile floors, equipale chairs, and built-in banco seating—lends plenty of warmth to these '50s-style rooms, and some units have kitchenettes.
El Rey Inn
Why it made the list
A mid-20th-century charmer set along a relatively close-in stretch of busy Cerrillos Road, the El Rey has attractive and often spacious accommodations, most with free parking spaces right outside the door, and such pleasing amenities as complimentary Continental breakfast and a pretty pool with a gym, sauna, and indoor hot tub.
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