I asked for a hotel “reeking in Santa Fe charm” and the hotel where I ended up staying was so much more. The Inn on the Alameda is situated at the foot Canyon Road, address of Santa Fe’s leading art galleries, and is within walking distance of more historic areas, museums and fine restaurants.
Address:303 East Alameda, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501
Phone: 505.984.2121 or 800.289.2122
Website: www.inn-alameda.com
Finding the Real Santa Fe
The Inn is actually a cluster of eight adobe buildings joined by meandering paths and beautiful gardens. The buildings have been a part of Santa Fe for years and the Inn has taken great pains to create a simple yet luxurious range of accommodations. “That Enchanting Small Hotel in Old Santa Fe,” is the phrase the Inn uses to convey the warm, homey feel that visitors will enjoy.
The 71 rooms and suites are spacious, each individually designed and decorated with Santa Fe art and earthy touches. Handmade armoires, chairs and sofas, authentic hand-woven rugs and artifacts, Spanish tile and traditional Kiva fireplaces are just a few of the touches that add to the real Santa Fe ambiance.
The Inn also has a two adobe-walled conference rooms, one with a fireplace, for meetings where you can avoid distractions, relax and get some productive work done.
Since the Inn at the Alameda is located in the historic district of Santa Fe and delightful smells of Mexican food cooking waft over the back wall, the “real Santa Fe” doesn’t have to be re-created.
A Peaceful and Hospitable Place
As we registered we found the front desk staff to be not only efficient and friendly, but very knowledgeable about Santa Fe. They offered to recommend restaurants within walking distance and to make reservations for us. They offered a fantastic little walking map with all the local sights highlighted.
The Inn is not classified as a “spa” yet as soon as I settled in to my quiet, tastefully decorated room, opened the French doors and then sat for a minute on the patio listening to the rustling of the Aspen leaves, I felt relaxed and serene. Over the next few days, I never heard another guest. The room was very quiet and relaxing. From the fluffy pillows and terry robes to the Spanish tile in the bathroom, it was the small touches that added so much to my impression of the Inn on the Alameda.
The Inn has relaxing outdoor spas but does not have a swimming pool. There is a room where local massage therapists can provide a single or couples massage and there is a small exercise room, but after relaxing in my quiet room, I thought, “Who needs more?”
Sumptuous Breakfast and Welcoming Wine and Cheese Hour
Each morning the Inn provides a complimentary breakfast buffet style in the bright and cheerful common room off the main lobby. We enjoyed muffins, pastries, fruit and an excellent warm frittata. Fresh squeezed juices and fresh ground coffee added to a wonderful way to start the morning.
Each afternoon guests gathered to compare notes about their day of sightseeing and shopping and to plan where to go for dinner. A full cash bar was available but what people seemed to enjoy most was the variety of wines accompanied by fruit, bread, crackers and cheeses. Don’t expect local wines, just a warm welcome and a great selection of wines and cheeses.
Special Programs
From time to time the Inn offers special programs such as a package including classes at the Santa Fe School of Cooking, a fly-fishing weekend, and a “guys getaway” weekend. What sounds enticing to me is to stay at the Inn during Christmas time, walk out the door and up Canyon Road to enjoy the festivities.
Photo Gallery
Get a sense of the allure of the Inn on the Alameda as you enjoy our photo album taken in May.
When You Go
- Make your reservations well in advance. The Inn at the Alameda is a popular place both with individuals and groups.
Expect good parking. The Inn doesn’t charge an extra fee.
The best airport to use is Albuquerque International. Shuttle services are available for the 1.5 hour trip.
As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary accomodations for the purpose of review. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.
