Travel, United States

Unique Hotels to Explore the Many Sides of Santa Fe, New Mexico

The city of Santa Fe, New Mexico draws over 4 million tourists a year. That’s almost double the state of New Mexico’s population. What’s the draw? A lot, actually. Santa Fe boasts everything from outdoor adventure to a vibrant art scene to history. Intermixed are Southwestern flavors and Native American influences. Added bonus, Santa Fe is blessed with over 300 days of sunshine a year. Here’s a list of five unique hotels in Santa Fe to help you explore the side of the city that excites you most.

 

Unique Hotels to Explore the Many Sides of Santa Fe, New Mexico – 5 creative hotels as diverse as Santa Fe itself.

Photo by Jon Battle via Trover.com

 

Rustic Luxuries at Eldorado Hotel and Spa

Eldorado Hotel and Spa excels at combining the first class amenities that one expects at resort with the rustic charm and touches that Santa Fe is known for. The downtown hotel proudly heralds their full-service spa, which Premier Traveler listed as one of the top 10 in the world. The spa blends both modern and ancient healing techniques, incorporating gold, turquoise, chile, and honey into many of their services. Also worthy of mention is the Old House Restaurant, which prepares dishes using fresh, seasonal ingredients, and the heated rooftop pool. Then there’s the downtown history and museums that are a short walk away.

 

Native American Touches at Inn of the Governors

Also located in downtown Santa Fe is the Inn of the Governors. Where Eldorado delivers rustic charm, Inn of the Governors offers guests a peak into the Native American side of Santa Fe with Native American decorations like rugs and southwestern patterned carpets. The hotel offers guests a complimentary breakfast in the morning and an afternoon tea and sherry hour daily in the lobby. The real highlight is the saloon. Del Charro won seven awards in 2015’s Santa Fe Reporter’s annual Best Of publication. The honors include awards or best cocktails, happy hour, local bar, hotel bar, cheap eats, margarita, and chile cheese fries (a regional specialty).

 

In the Heart of Santa Fe at Las Palomas

Rounding out the list of downtown Santa Fe hotels is Las Palomas. While the rooms are charming, offerings at Las Palomas are rather basic. That’s okay though, because this hotel is all about location since its mere steps from the famous Santa Fe Plaza. If you need a break from city exploration and want to indulge in more resort like amenities, Las Palomas guests have access to the pool and spa at sister property Hotel Santa Fe.

 

A Touch of Old West at El Rey Inn

Guests at the El Rey Inn are charmed with the historic details of the hotel. Each room is individually decorated with unique furnishings highlighting the hotel’s adobe architectural features. Some rooms even have a fireplace for that additional western charm. Of course, the hotel, which sits on the Original Route 66, doesn’t live entirely in the past. There are modern amenities like a pool, jacuzzi, and fitness center. The highlight to many guest though is the properties five acres of lush gardens.

 

Game on at Cities of Gold Casino

It seems that almost anywhere there’s a Native American population, a casino soon sprouts out of the ground. Santa Fe is no different. Cities of Gold Casino houses slot machines, table games, and nightly bingo. Gambling is just the start of the fun though. From the hotel, guests have easy access to outdoor activities. Nearby Taos is a great spot for biking, hiking, horseback riding, and white-water rafting.

 

Which of these unique hotels in Santa Fe sounds most interesting to you?

This article is part of the Hipmunk Boutique Hotels series.