Best Western Plus Inn of Santa Fe

This adobe-style building sits on a busy road, in an area that lacks the appeal of central Santa Fe but is more affordable and popular with travelers. A few benches and an outdoor patio offer a view of the parking lot and nearby stores. Once inside, guests are treated to charming Santa Fe-inspired common areas. The functionality of a budget motel remains, but beautiful carved and painted cabinets, colorful rugs, and artifacts native to the region create a welcoming and warm space. Comfortable leather chairs offer seating in front of the TV or a cozy fireplace. The breakfast room has a little Santa Fe flair as well, with colorful chairs around tables with patterned tops and curtains reminiscent of Native American blankets. The hotel primarily caters to leisure travelers on a budget, as it is far from downtown, and it's particularly popular with those bringing pets along for free. 

This hotel is on Cerrillos Road, a main through street and a straight shot into downtown Santa Fe. The street is lined with inexpensive hotels and an array of chain restaurants and stores catering to nearby residences. The hotel is flanked by a pawn shop and a car dealership, and there’s an outdoor and furniture store across the street. A seven-minute walk away, there is a shopping plaza with a Target, Best Buy, and fast-food options, plus a movie theater across the road. Transportation is needed to reach the sites and galleries of the city -- there's a bus stop a two-minute walk from the hotel. Santa Fe Plaza, the cultural and shopping center of the city, is a 20-minute drive away. For winter skiing and summer hiking, Ski Santa Fe is a 45-minute drive from the hotel. Santa Fe Municipal Airport is an 11-minute drive away, and Albuquerque International Sunport is an hour drive. Santa Fe means "Holy Faith" in Spanish and is home to about 70,000 people of varying cultural backgrounds including Hispanics, Native Americans, and Anglos. New Mexico's fourth-largest city is also the nation's highest capital and its oldest: It was founded in 1607. It sits at an elevation of 7,000 feet at the southern edge of the Rockies, in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, halfway between Taos and Albuquerque.Hiking in summer and skiing in winter are great reasons to visit, but Santa Fe is also renowned for its local art. In addition to the many galleries at the Plaza and along Canyon Road, several museums including the New Mexico Museum of Art and the Georgia O'Keefe Museum (showcasing the painter's long relationship with New Mexico) celebrate Santa Fe's creative spirit.

Well-kept rooms are comfortable and outfitted in the same Santa Fe-inspired decor as the rest of the property. Walls are papered in tones of beige and gold, while carpets are patterned with dark colors. Pillows, bed runners, and accents pull in more reds, blues, and browns in deep Southwestern shades. Overall, the look is inviting, but the dark palette tends to feel dim. Small closets and dressers provide limited storage. All rooms have flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, MP3-compatible clocks, and irons. Some rooms also include mini-fridges, microwaves, and wet bars. Suites offer separate sitting areas. Higher-category rooms may include a furnished balcony or whirlpool in the bedroom space. Bathrooms are simple and have a few touches of the Southwest, including patterned curtains on the shower/tub combos. Hairdryers are provided, and free toiletries include soap, lotion, and Pantene-brand shampoo and conditioner. 

This hotel has basic amenities and a few nice extras. The heated indoor pool is a highlight and includes a hot tub and a few tables. The stone floor and patio-style furniture lend a feeling of an outdoor terrace. The free continental breakfast is simple, consisting of a few hot and cold options, plus waffle makers. The room is small and gets crowded during rush times. There’s a fitness center in a tight space with a few cardio machines and free weights. A business center and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel are available. Pets are welcome in some rooms -- typically on the first floor only -- for free.