A Lovely Stay in Santa Fe at the Inn on the Alameda
After returning from my weekend in Yuma I settled down to rest…for two days and then I headed back east to the Land of Enchantment – New Mexico. My destination was Santa Fe to enjoy a a short visit with my aunt. This was to be a personal vacation but I was able to work with Tourism Santa Fe who provided complimentary accommodations and meals to ensure our trip was as special as could be. And it was! It was my first time in Santa Fe and I was instantly smitten. It is one of the most beautiful, most unique and most historical places I have ever visited.
Accommodations can make or break a trip. No matter how wonderful the region a subpar hotel can destroy the experience. Luckily, that was not the case in Santa Fe. Our hotel, Inn on the Alameda, was simply wonderful and enhanced the entire trip.
Our travels found us flying from LAX to Albuquerque and then driving an additional hour to Santa Fe. As such, we arrived in town as dusk fell. Luckily, it’s easy to navigate and we found the inn quickly. As soon as I entered the lobby I knew it would be the perfect place to stay.
Warm and inviting with signature touches throughout it was a beautiful representation of the area. Just off the lobby is the Agoyo Lounge – the onsite restaurant. Hungry after our travels we decided to drop our stuff off in the room and come back for dinner. Now here’s where I introduce the one negative aspect of the inn – no elevator. Our room was on the the third floor and we had to drag our luggage up flights of stairs. This is a minor quibble as it only had to be done once and every other climb was a good excuse to get a few more steps in our days!
Our room was well appointed and spotlessly clean. It was quite large accommodating two queen beds, a sitting area and large bathroom. There was a full balcony and ample amenities throughout. It remained a comfortable place to rest during our entire stay.
Returning to the Agoyo Lounge we decided to share one of Santa Fe’s signature dishes – the chile cheeseburger.
Here it was offered as a buffalo burger topped with roasted green chile, caramelized onions, and pepper jack cheese. It was generously portioned and full of flavor. We enjoyed it so much that we made sure to return to the restaurant for our last dinner in town.
We shared a variety of lighter bites – local bread with seasoned butter, roasted fingerling potatoes and Caesar salad. Again our meal was flavorful and satisfying.
The Agoyo Lounge is the center of activity at the hotel offering both a complimentary wine hour every evening and a complimentary breakfast buffet every morning. Of course, we had to partake in both.
The wine hour was a fun way to socialize with the other guests at the inn and the breakfast was fantastic. Really and truly fantastic. There was an array of items available from fresh baked pastries to hot entrees to freshly cut fruit and everything in between. It was the best hotel breakfast I’ve ever enjoyed.
With all the nourishment available at the inn we were well fueled for sightseeing. Luckily, the hotel is centrally located and within walking distance of most major sites. After our morning breakfast we would head out the door for a day of exploring.
Although the town was easy to navigate occasionally we would need to ask for directions and the hotel employees were always happy to provide them. Actually, happy is the perfect way to describe the staff of the Inn on the Alameda. Every employee we encountered had a smile on their face. Friendly and outgoing each and every one of them made us feel welcome during our entire stay. From the concierge to the wait staff to the maintenance team each person was happy to assist us in any way. In fact, as we were leaving one such employee stopped me on the way down the stairs and carried my luggage to my car. It was completely unexpected and much appreciated.
When I return to Santa Fe I will be sure to stay at the Inn on the Alameda. Centrally located, beautifully accommodated and pleasantly staffed I can think of no better place to be.