Luxx Hotel

Visitors to Santa Fe learn quickly about the city’s penchant for hanging chili peppers, adobe construction, and classic Southwestern art. The owner of the Luxx Hotel decided to take a different route. This boutique strives to be unique, and succeeds via a combination of hands-off management, environmentally friendly practices, eclectic decor, and an emphasis on creativity and local art.

The Luxx’s entrance is unobtrusive: It's a doorway off a busy sidewalk that is shared with an Asian restaurant. Inside is a hallway that leads to the lobby, which is a welcoming space with high ceilings, skylights, and a diverse array of local art. A drum kit sits high on a mantel above several pieces of minimalist furniture that are arranged in the rectangular room to give a funky, art gallery feel. There’s none of the art one expects to see in New Mexico, such as romanticized depictions of Native American Pueblo life or sweeping Southwestern landscapes. Instead, the pieces have abstract, erotic, and political themes that add to the lobby's unusual look.

A full-service kitchen, outdoor Jacuzzi, and Airstream trailer (known as the Buddha Lounge) are open to all guests, but the property lacks a fitness center, pool, and restaurant.

The Luxx is aimed at the younger generation and those travelers who don’t find a traditional full hotel staff necessary. The self check-in process eliminates the need for a front desk, so hotel staff are not always on the premises.

With the Plaza only one block away, it’s easy to explore the many attractions in the retail and cultural hub of town. With parking at a premium near the Plaza, the hotel charges a nightly parking fee -- which makes some guests feel as though they are being nickel-and-dimed.

The Luxx is located one block from the Plaza on Marcy Avenue. A cafe and Asian restaurant are available in the same building, and many attractions such as the Georgia O’Keefe Museum are a quick walk away. A nightly parking fee is charged, which is fairly standard for hotels by the Plaza, but does make some guests feel as though they are being nickel-and-dimed.

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 capitol and its oldest: It was founded in 1607.

The “City Different,” as it’s known, sits at an elevation of 7,000 feet at the southern edge of the Rockies, in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Although the cool summer hiking and skiing in winter offer great reasons to visit, it’s best to keep in mind that the high elevation also means more stress for the body while acclimating. Most people become used to the thinner air after two or three days which means that strenuous physical activity will become easier and less dangerous if you wait a day or two after arriving in town. One more caution - one alcoholic drink at this altitude will equal three drinks at sea level!

The Spanish influence seen so often throughout Santa Fe stems from the missionaries who arrived in the 1600s to convert the local Native American population. Old missions such as the San Miguel can be seen scattered across New Mexico and offer a fascinating glimpse into the region’s history. Often times, these missions are located at or near Native American pueblos, such as Tesuque or Cochiti, which are home to the various Pueblo peoples. Visiting New Mexico’s pueblos offers a chance to interact with the locals, purchase art and wares, and gain a better appreciation of New Mexico’s rich history.

Today, Santa Fe is the nation’s third-largest market for buying and selling 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 the creative spirit in Santa Fe.

• 90-minute drive from Albuquerque International Airport
• 10-minute drive from Santa Fe Municipal Airport
• 5-minute walk to the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum
• 5-minute walk to the New Mexico Museum of Art
• 5-minute walk to the Plaza, the shopping and cultural center of town
• 5-minute walk to the Palace of the Governors, oldest continuously occupied public building in the nation
• 10-minute drive to Canyon Road, home to over 100 art galleries and studios
• 15-minute drive to Tesuque Pueblo, a Native American pueblo
• 15-minute drive to the Santa Fe Opera House
• 15-minute drive to Santa Fe Country Club (golf course)
• 30-minute drive to El Rancho de las Golondrinas (a living history museum)
• 30-minute drive to Ski Santa Fe

The Luxx’s 22 rooms toe the line between luxury and practicality, with an emphasis on contemporary, Asian-inspired decor, such as carved wood furnishings. No two rooms are alike, but each includes a Blu-ray player, large flat-screen TV with Internet capabilities, mini-fridge, and microwave. Tiled accents on walls and furnishings evoke a Mediterranean vibe, while silk blankets and pillows add a luxe touch.

Bathrooms look modern and fresh, with gleaming stainless steel fixtures. Toiletries are a proprietary, cruelty-free organic type and come in large bottles that eliminate plastic waste.

• Eclectic, Asian-inspired decor, with no two rooms alike
• Flat-screen TVs with Internet capability
• Blu-ray players
• Free Wi-Fi
• Microwaves and mini-fridges
• Rooms are large, ranging from 325 to 550 square feet

• All guests have free access to a full-service kitchen
• Outdoor Jacuzzi is tiny
• Airstream trailer serves as a lounge space in the back of the hotel
• Many works of local art on display
• No pool, fitness center, or restaurant
• Fee for parking
• Free Wi-Fi
• View Full List of Amenities