Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
150 E. de Vargas St., Santa Fe, NM 87501.
&
505/992-0957.
www.fivegraces.com. 23 units. $400-$900
double, depending on the season and type of room. Price includes full breakfast with specialty items and
afternoon treats. AE, MC, V. Free parking. Pets welcome with fee and deposit.
Amenities:
Restaurant; bar;
concierge; Wi-Fi (in lobby).
In room:
A/C, TV, CD player, fridge, hair dryer, microwave.
145
Inn & Spa at Loretto
This much-photographed hotel, just 2 blocks from the
plaza, was built in 1975 to resemble Taos Pueblo. Light and shadow dance upon the
five-level structure as the sun crosses the sky. After a multimillion-dollar renovation in
2008, this is a comfortable and elegant place to stay. The medium-size rooms employ a
Navajo motif, with comfortable beds and fine linens, while the medium-size bathrooms
have fine tiling and robes. Be aware that the Loretto likes convention traffic, so some-
times service lags for travelers. Overall, it is fairly quiet and has nice views—especially on
the northeast side, where you'll see both the historic St. Francis Cathedral and the Loretto
Chapel (with its “miraculous” spiral staircase; see “More Attractions,” later in the chap-
ter). The Spa Terre offers a range of treatments, from facials to massages, in intimate,
Southwest-meets-Asia rooms.
211 Old Santa Fe Trail (P.O. Box 1417), Santa Fe, NM 87501.
&
800/727-5531
or 505/988-5531. Fax
505/984-7968. www.innatloretto.com. 134 units. Jan-Mar $179-$279 double; Apr-June $189-$349
double; July-Oct $199-$499 double; Nov-Dec $179-$299 double. Additional person $30. Children 17
and under stay free in parent's room. Resort fee of $10 per night. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $16
per night.
Amenities:
Restaurant; bar; concierge; health club; outdoor pool (heated year-round); room
service; spa.
In room:
A/C, TV, hair dryer, Wi-Fi.
La Fonda
Whether you stay in this hotel or not, it's worth strolling through just
to get a sense of how Santa Fe once was—and in some ways still is. Located right on the
plaza, this was the inn at the end of the Santa Fe Trail; it saw trappers, traders, and mer-
chants, as well as notables such as President Rutherford B. Hayes and General Ulysses S.
Grant. The original inn was dying of old age in 1920 when it was razed and replaced by
the current La Fonda. Its architecture is pueblo revival: imitation adobe with wooden
balconies and beam ends protruding over the tops of windows. Inside, the lobby is rich
and slightly dark, with people bustling about, sitting in the cafe, and buying jewelry from
Native Americans.
The hotel has seen some renovation through the years, as well as a whole new wing to
the east, where you'll find deluxe suites and new meeting spaces. If you want a feel of the
real Santa Fe, this is the place to stay. Overall, however, this hotel isn't the model of
refinement. No two rooms are the same here, and while each has its own funky touch,
some are more kitsch than quaint. A recently added spa offers a variety of treatments
ranging from massages to salt glows, as well as a sauna and Jacuzzi. The Bell Tower Bar
is the highest point in downtown Santa Fe—a great place for a cocktail and a view of the
city.
100 E. San Francisco St. (P.O. Box 1209), Santa Fe, NM 87501.
&
800/523-5002
or 505/982-5511. Fax
505/988-2952. www.lafondasantafe.com. 167 units. $219-$319 standard double; $239-$319 deluxe
double; $349-$549 suite. Additional person $15. Children 11 and under stay free in parent's room. AE,
DC, DISC, MC, V. Parking $10 per day in a covered garage.
Amenities:
Restaurant; 2 bars; concierge;
health club; Jacuzzi; outdoor pool; room service; spa.
In room:
A/C, TV, fridge (in some), hair dryer, fire-
place (in some), private balcony (in some), Wi-Fi.
7
La Posada de Santa Fe Resort and Spa
If you're in the mood to stay in a
little New Mexico adobe village, you'll enjoy this luxury hotel just 3 blocks from the
plaza. It's especially nice in the summer, when surrounded by acres of green grass. Here,
you get to experience squeaky maple floors, vigas and
latillas,
and, in many rooms, kiva
