I took the Ghostwalk Tour with this outfit and was very disappointed. I've done ghost tours in…read moremany places around the U.S., from Gettysburge to Bisbee, AZ, from Monterey, CA to Chicago, and they are usually well done by people who are real ghost/paranormal buffs, as well as history buffs. My complaint about the Historical Walks offering is that the guide, Allan, really wasn't someone who's a paranormal expert or buff, but a historian who seemed to have a very hard time staying on topic--ghosts. He was extremely long-winded about all kinds of historical minutiae, but short on ghost stories. We spent the first hour, an HOUR--just sitting in the La Fonda Hotel lobby while he droned on and on with the "introduction." I literally dozed off. And I love ghost tours and history. The ghost walk was very short--the old hospital and La Posada, and the hanging tree. I'm sure there's lots more in the area, isn't there? At La Posada he spent more time talking about the furniture and chandeliers than the ghost stuff. There are plenty of historical tours, but someone looking for the ghost tour is getting a short shrift with this one. This guide, Allan, seemed to think he was teaching a class rather than acting as a tour guide. In short, it was boring. Also, the promotional cards and website insist guest make advance reservations. I had to call twice to get a call back, and the person calling was extremely rude. Really poor customer service, and a disappointing ghost walk. There are other operators offering ghost walks, including one called "Original Ghost Walk of Santa Fe." I'm going to check that out. In other cities and towns, it is often the original one who is the real expert.

We took this tour on a weekday morning with guide Carol and were very disappointed. She provided…read morescant historical context or really any information on the social, cultural, and economic development of the town and region. She had difficulty telling a linear story and mostly related personal anecdotes about her two children, her husband, her home and which bars served the best Margaritas. She promoted various shops, the owners of which were ostensibly her "friends," and filled the tour time with similar trivia. For five years, I was a tour guide in San Francisco and we received extensive training on how to provide a meaningful experience for our walkers, both substantively and through effective presentation techniques. I've taken walking tours in many cities, and in my experience this was about as poor a tour as I've seen. The fee of $40 was exorbitant in relation to the experience; even if it had been free, I would have considered it largely a waste. Perhaps the other guides in the company are better, but based on this tour, I'd recommend looking elsewhere.

Friendly, accomodating, nice, clean, culturally rich and shuttle service!…read moreWe really enjoyed our stay at this hotel. I would recommend it to anyone. The best is their shuttle service! There is minimal wait and the drivers are nice and helpful. This stay really made our trip worthwhile. Oh, there are sculptures around and a teepee in the garden.

This place as absolutely amazing!! We found it through dog-friendly.com and saw that it had a…read moreperfect score on Trip Advisor from 14 (soon to be 15) reviews. It was more than we could imagine, we stayed in a lovely room, with comfortable beds, a fire place and a cute bathroom. There was even an enclosed patio with a gate off of the room (made it easier to let the dog out in the morning). The space was very open and we felt like we were at home. There was wireless internet, satellite TV and plenty of space for my friend, my dog and I to roam around. We were the only ones there during our stay and my dog LOVED it! Plenty to sniff and explore. Anne, the owner is wonderful and sweet. She recommended great places for us to eat and helped us find our way around. They offer great pet services and we were allowed to leave our well-behaved dog in the room. The breakfasts were delicious, every morning there was coffee, tea, juice, granola with fresh fruit and yogurt. And if you wanted eggs and bacon made to order with scones! This is a little ways outside of Santa Fe but so worth the stay, much better than being in a city. The views from the Hacienda were gorgeous and we saw snow, clear skies, cloudy days, and starry nights (in the two days we were there in late March). It was gorgeous! Can't wait to go back!

We planned our destination family wedding at Hacienda Dona Andrea. All 20 of us flew in from…read moredifferent states to spend the entire weekend together celebrating our wedding, and all 20 of us were in awe at just how magical and perfect the Hacienda was for our group. Each room and main room had a fireplace which was a nice touch to add to the ambiance with the fall weather. The place decorates itself- the architecture is southwestern and unique. The views are gorgeous and the place is perfectly secluded, yet there is still access to the funky little town of Madrid close by. We couldn't have picked a better spot for our intimate family wedding. The team at the Hacienda made planning from a distance very easy for us and we were well taken care of. We are truly so happy with our choice to get married at Hacienda Dona Andrea :)

Amazing in every way ! Room was well decorated, clean and…read moresmelled great when we walked in. Staff were beyond nice and the breakfast and snacks and attention to detail was superb. Each morning we were asked if there was anything we needed. Gave us ideas on places to visit on a short stay which was very helpful. 100% recommend.

I paid $350 per night, $700 total. This is exceptionally expensive for the area, especially on the…read moreoutskirts of town. I thought this price point meant it would be lovely service and a nice clean comfortable room. I was told upon arrival I would have to pay an additional $50 to use the pullout sofa that is in the room. This was not made clear in any way on the booking page. $750 is not a justifiable amount for this room. We did not have consistent hot water, so twice we took cold showers. There was not enough water pressure to fully rinse my hair. A fabric shower curtain unsanitarily clung to my skin in the small shower. I woke up to find a very large creeping insect on my pillow, crawling inches away from my face. We did not sleep well after this. The bed was miserably uncomfortable with sunken areas, old mealy thin pillows, no comforter or duvet but rather a thin quilt. We were given one towel each for the two of us. There is no front desk to get more, and I didn't feel good about texting them at 6am when I needed one. There are no robes, no full length mirror, no comforter, or any other amenities that make $350 a night make sense. The grounds are cluttered with items like old milk pales, skeletons, quirky sculptures, unused picnic tables, etc, it did not feel like a peaceful environment nor reflective of the photos online. Why are all the other reviews positive? It's extremely difficult to write a negative review of any business where you've interacted with the owners directly. But I really wish I had seen a review like this so I could have made an honestly informed decision.

I came to Suitable Digs for the 20th time or so...this time, with a new and wonderful man in my…read morelife. We were still in the early stages of getting to know each other and basking in such beautiful and lively surroundings, I learned some new things about him (one can't help but express themselves openly while visiting Suitable Digs). The interest and the pleasure he took in retro, vintage style items was new to me--and only enhanced by our getting to stay in the unique classic, the Spartan. We were already excited by the incredible vegetable and fruit gardens growing in this desert Eden, alongside the various and fascinating water catchment, solar and other energy-conserving systems. So much to see and take in! But when we stepped into the Spartan for the first time, wow...he came alive in a new and different way than I had seen before. His eyes gleamed with wonder, like a little boy on the first eve of Chanukah. The trailer was adorned in time period style, authentic in its original form with all the little extras that Lisa had taken the time and painstaking effort to locate and attach, no distance too far or too wide, no fixture unaccounted for. My beau settled in on the couch to read, out loud, several pages of Red Sky at Morning, a 1968 novel by Richard Bradford that takes place in New Mexico. I listened to him laugh and reminisce all over again, as he had when he first read it years ago. That evening, we sat in chairs on the patio outside the Spartan, gazing at the bright moonlit sky and feeling dreamy about where we had landed together. I recall the moonlight as it shone into the Spartan and landed on soft pillows, just as the warm morning sunlight welcomed itself into our cozy abode to gently awaken us the next day. Being at Suitable Digs for the 21st time was just as familiar as ever...and at the same time, it was as unexpected and fresh as traveling to a completely unfamiliar and exotic destination for the first time. The innovative air that always exists there, remains.

An exceptional stay--this was one of the most comfortable and pleasant Airbnb lodgings and by far…read morethe most sustainability focused stays I've had. The rooms were cute, very well-kept, and extremely comfortable--exactly as the pictures illustrated. Lisa took time to show us the premises, complete with all of her amazing projects. The rooms feature water recycling, solar-generated electricity, composting, and on-demand water heating system (very cool). Beautiful surrounding area with soul-warming views of the distant mountain range. Easy drive from downtown (yet far enough for a refreshing & secluded feel) and delicious restaurants--just ask Lisa for some recommendations. She was very helpful in offering suggestions to explore the culture, food, and geography of Santa Fe. Overall: overwhelming comfort met eye-opening learnings in sustainability, along with a truly wonderful and inspiring host.

I last stayed at The Lotus, in Madrid, New Mexico in 2014. It was charming, quirky, rustic and a…read moregreat getaway. The time was even better. Proprietor, Lonnie McGuinn brings her New York/Chicago attention to details and sophistication to blend with the rustic charm of Madrid, a hidden gem of a historic mining town located just 30 minutes southwest of Santa Fe. The Lotus is hidden in the hills above the town of Madrid which means it is a bumpy ride with winding dirt/ashphalt roads that can take their toll if you don't have 4 wheel drive. Lonnie does caution first time guests to arrive before dark as the road signs are not that clear. I booked the Standard Room but was upgraded to the Suite (due to a cancellation)-thank you, dear Lonnie! The Lotus is a mecca for the display of the talents of the local artists: sculpture, ceramics, oil paintings, jewelry are omnipresent in this zen paradise hidden in the upper hills of Madrid overlooking the town. The views from my private balcony in the early morning and at sunset were wonderful. Lonnie is truly a master at the art of hospitality. She offers a (complimentary) breakfast of several equally tempting, tasty and organically sourced selections (food allergies or preferences are catered to)--cooked to your specification and served at your selected time. This is about YOU, being catered to, pampered and Lonnie's speciality is "making the world go away." I don't have any problem with being spoiled and treated like a VIP and it's fortunate because Lonnie's personal attentions exceeded my expectations. Complimentary skin and hair products (organic and locally sourced) are offered and a wonderful selection of beautycare items are available for testing. The patchouli shea butter, created by Madrid's Jada White, is a delectable indulgent for hair and body and I loved the botanical lotions and potions of Albuquerque's Star Light skin care products. The Lotus Suite features a clawfoot tub (my favorite way to relax) and a (heavenly) outdoor shower. The Lotus is pet friendly or more accurately, pet indulgent. Lonnie's personal entourage includes 2 well behaved canines and 2 extroverted felines. The magic of The Lotus must be palpable, since my pug (not ordinarily a cat lover) had no issues with the resident felines. Peaceful, private, environmentally and spiritually aware, this is truly a sanctuary.

Started calling to try to make a camping reservation at 10:30am. Called a total of six times and…read morenobody picked up. After cycling over 35 miles, we tacked on another mile or so down the dirt road to the lotus to finally speak to someone. Of course they were booked full. Looking at my fully loaded (we're touring across the U.S.) bike they offered a flat piece of property to pitch our tent but it was up a super steep trail (impassable for our kind of bikes) and we would still be charged the normal camping rate. I appreciate the offer but try picking up your phone so people can make necessary arrangements. We passed two other campgrounds we could have stayed at.

Madrid Casita is a private lodging for daily/weekly rental in the historic mining town of Madrid,…read moreNew Mexico--just 20 minutes from Santa Fe on the historic Turquoise Trail. The casita is located behind the owner's artist studio and home. It is a very small home equipped with a queen-size bed, a full-sized futon, roomy closet, full kitchenette including: coffeemaker, toaster oven, stove, utensils, refrigerator/freezer, blender, complementary coffee and tea, air conditioning, a space heater, a private outdoor deck with an amazing mountain view, and private parking. The fridge is stocked with bottles of water, a couple of sodas and two beers and if consumed you pay a reasonable price unlike what hotels try to charge you for that stuff. A bottle of water was a dollar and it was $3 for a beer. My boyfriend and I stayed at the Casita for 2 nights. It was super romantic and peaceful. We spent the evenings stargazing on a little deck next to the roof and one night we heard the coyotes singing. The bed was comfortable. The casita was quiet. It is really nice to stay somewhere that you don't have the housekeeper knocking at your door at 8 in the morning and you don't have to listen to the people in the next room doing who knows what. It was also very affordable, $95.00 a night including tax. Now for what I would call the weak points. 1. The water pressure isn't so great but you are out in the desert so what do you expect. 2. The driveway is unpaved and a bit sketchy unless navigated with care, mostly while exiting the casita. 3. This is my least favorite thing about the casita. You can't flush your toilet paper and have to put it in a trashcan next to the toilet. I kept forgetting and having to fish it out and the sink was not in the bathroom so that part was a bit gross and kind of a pain. Despite the three weak points mentioned above. The casita was way better than staying at any lame motel in Santa Fe or Albuquerque. The town of Madrid is amazing and a walk to town is only 1/2 mile. You are also close to hiking, horseback riding, and/or a massage.You can also visit owner Mike Wright's artist studio and sculpture garden. I would definitely recommend this place to my friends and family.

Desert Harbor is such a special place and I am so thankful that Raymond (and his family) are…read morewilling to share with people who might need some time and space. The casita was exactly what I wanted for my little personal retreat and and solitude The highlights: The food was so delicious and enriching. The wood fire hot tub soak was amazing and I was gifted with seemingly billions of stars. The property has room for roaming and meditation (including a chapel that had painting-like views). I can't say enough about this special place.

This is our second time at Desert Harbor for my wife and I, and our experience there was even…read morebetter than our first (which was exceptional already!). We stayed at Desert Harbor for 5 days, and had breakfast and dinner served by Raymond (the fabulous owner of Desert Harbor). The food was amazing, although we knew what we were going to get as we were given a menu to pick our meals prior to arriving, the actual food was so much better than what we imagined from the menu! I love that we can pick exactly what we want to eat, as well as accommodating to any dietary restrictions. The portion size was super generous as well! During our stay, we highly enjoyed our interactions with Raymond, he is super polite and thoughtful! We had plenty of privacy during our stay, and highly enjoyed taking our outdoor showers! In our 5 day stay, we did not get bored of things to do, never did we leave the property once to explore ABQ or Santa Fe. This place is truly a restful, rejuvenating retreat! The wood burning hot tub was probably one of the most special moments for us there as we got to be outside in the dark watching the stars. If you are considering a place to getaway, to rekindle your marriage, or a place to just find yourself and refresh, Desert Harbor is definitely the place! After this second experience, my wife and I have decided that we will be making an annual trip out here as our little marriage retreat!