Santa Fe has been known as an exclusive and perhaps expensive town to visit and stay in. That does not have to be the case and that is what you will learn in this article.
Lodging
The first concern you have is lodging. On a Santa Fe vacation there are different parts of town to stay in. The closer to the Plaza, the more expensive the rates are. As you go further out in circumference from the Plaza it gets cheaper.
The accommodations described here within 4 blocks are walking distance from a lot of the sites downtown and wouldn’t require a rental car unless out of town trips are planned.
Walking tours are available as well as shuttles that operate for tours or to get to some of the more remote museums.
Del Charro Bar in the Inn is open from 11:30 am – Midnight and serves snacks, sandwiches and desserts. This bar has a reputation for some of the best margaritas! Their drink specialties bring in the Santa Fe locals and are priced very reasonably.
The Inn of the Governors room rates are for Single or Double occupancy $139, $169, and $179 (depending on the season) They have mid week discounts as well.
Guadalupe Inn is 4 blocks southwest of the plaza and is a quaint family owned Bed and Breakfast.
Every morning guests of The Guadalupe Inn are treated to a generous hot breakfast featuring home-baked pastries, fruit, pancakes or an egg dish (such as the Santa Fe Omelet, Huevos Rancheros or Breakfast Burrito) plus juice, coffee or tea.
Two bedroom suites and a Celebration room (honeymoon or anniversary couples)
are available along with double or single occupancy rooms.
Winter (lower) rates are from Jan 5 to April 15.
Room rates for regular rooms with queen-size bed $135/$108 (winter),
Room with two twin beds $135/$108 (winter)
Rooms with whirlpool bathtub, fireplace, and either balcony or patio. $160/$128 (winter) Two-bedroom suite with whirlpool bathtub, fireplace and private balcony with views of the Sangre de Cristo mountains $185/$148 (winter) honeymoon, birthday or anniversary couples. $160/$128 (winter)
A few Bed and Breakfasts’ smaller rooms are in the budget range especially when you include homemade breakfasts!
The El Paradero (4 blocks from Plaza) range from $95 to $105 (double occupancy, lo to high season) a night and include a FULL breakfast
El Pueblo Bonito B and B (4 blocks form Plaza) offers prices from $80 to $125(double occupancy, lo to high season) They offer a continental breakfast, but we are told the “Pueblo Margarita” offered in the afternoons is famous!
The Santa Fe Motel and Inn is five blocks from the Plaza and only one block from the Guadalupe Street area.
Several historic residences have been converted into southwestern casitas. Some have kitchenettes and fireplaces.
A Continental Breakfast is provided in this cute Santa Fe gem.
Rates range from $69 - $99 for a King or Queen room. The casitas are $159 and sleep up to 4 people.
As you get further from the plaza on a main street (Cerrillos Rd) a rental car might be a good idea although The Santa Fe Trails bus line stops close to these locations.
Fairfield Inn - Marriott's award winning economy hotel lodging chain features clean, convenient, quality accommodations and the peace of mind you get from Marriott consistency - all for a great value. STSN high speed Internet access is available to guests and a complimentary continental breakfast is included. Rates are $69 during high season and $59 during low season
Holiday Inn Santa Fe has just finished a complete renovation all of their guest rooms. Nestled at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains is Santa Fe and Santa Fe's only full service Holiday Inn. They feature the Desert Moon restaurant and lounge, room service, indoor/outdoor heated swimming pool, Jacuzzi and dry saunas.
Rooms rates range from $99 high season to $72.80 low season
Red Roof Inn has a double occupancy rate of $63.00 a night during high season and $49.00 during low season. There is a discount for AAA members and AAARP members.
Super 8 Motel has double occupancy rates of $53.00 during low season and $65.00 during high season.
El Rey Inn A classic Route 66 Inn, built in 1935 and maintained beautifully. Under the same local ownership for the past 31 years, with a loyal and dedicated staff with an average tenure greater than ten years. This tranquil, roadside inn features lush gardens.
Garretts Desert Inn Beyond your expectations, located in the heart of the historic downtown plaza area. Affordable accommodations in downtown Santa Fe, Garrett's Desert Inn has 83 spacious rooms with adjacent parking that are beautifully appointed in southwestern style.
Spas
Ojo Caliente is by far the best value for a spa. They have specials that include spa treatments and lodging as well as always having lower prices for their treatments than most spas. They are also a mineral springs with healing waters discovered by the Tewa peoples- the original people of the Southwest.
It does require a rental car and is an hour to hour and a half drive, but well worth it.
Ten Thousand Waves Spa, in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains is a unique Japanese style Spa that offers specials year round. Although the normal prices may be prohibitive on a budget, the specials and unique services and environment would be a unique treat.
Restaurants
There are an enumerable number of great restaurants and there is a wide range of pricing.
But meals on a budget can be had.
Prix Fixe menus are a way to go in some of the high end restaurants. These menus are limited to a few choices, but they give you three courses of a good restaurant’s food for $25 to $35 a person. Some of the restaurants that offer this option are Ristra, Old House Restaurant, and The Restaurant at The Inn at Loretto. The Old House limits the hours the menu is available. Call to find out hours.
Since Mexican and New Mexican food are the specialty here in Santa Fe, I will steer you towards a few very good restaurants that are low to moderately priced.
El Comedor (on Cerrillos Rd just outside the downtown area) is a low priced family style New Mexican style food that the locals enjoy. Los Mariscos (two locations one on Cerrillos Rd. and one on Cordova) offers family style dining and serves Baja Style Mexican Seafood. Dave’s not Here (on Hickox) is a burger and New Mexican favorite of the locals as well. Zia Diner (on Guadalupe) is one of our family’s favorites, because they offer something for everyone- American and Southwest. They make great shakes, desserts, and have a full bar.
For breakfast The Cowgirl Hall Of Fame (Guadalupe Area) just began serving breakfast. (at least on weekends. I don’t think many people know about it.) Tecolote Café on Cerrillos Rd.again is a great family breakfast place too.
Santa Fe Baking Co. (Cordova Rd) is a large restaurant that is family run and offers everything from fruit smoothies, to coffee drinks to pastries and great omelets.
Just to round it off with some other categories of food I will throw in a few others.
New China Super Buffet (Cerrillos Rd) is open for a late breakfast, lunch or dinner. It is an all you can eat buffet with more food than you can imagine, and it is not all Chinese.
Garduno’s (downtown) has Monday thru Thursday night specials. They range from fajita night to family night where kids under 12 eat free. A Happy Hour Buffet is M-F with great margaritas prices!
Rio Chama Steakhouse says they have the hottest happy hour in town. Check it out and let me now!
Shopping
After this you must be full so I will give you a little more you can do on a budget.
The very best place to go for a large variety and great prices (because in a lot of cases you can bargain) and pay no tax on your purchases is the Santa Fe Flea Market. This is on the Tesuque reservation (hence no tax) here you can find southwestern jewelry, Asian rugs, nick naks, artist’s creations, furnishings, food, and some junk. But remember one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.
The days of operation are Friday thru Sunday March thru December.
Entertainment and Activities
As you can tell many Santa Fe businesses offer different rates for different seasons.
This you will also see in this category:
The Lensic.(theater), the Santa Fe Opera house, Santa Fe Chamber Music, and other cultural venues offer discount pricing for late purchase of tickets just before a show. Call to find out availability.
Some out door activities such as hiking, biking, snowshoeing and fishing are always free, but some companies give great family package pricing as well.
This of course would be a whole other article. Until then, enjoy a Santa Fe vacation on a budget.
Eileen Richardson
