I’ve been to Santa Fe New Mexico a few times over the years, but not in awhile, so was curious to see how it had changed since my last visit. While the last two times I had stayed in the center of town, making it easy to explore by foot, this time it appeared that mostly everything was booked up. A major event? Six weddings? Hard to to be sure, but what was clear is that the place was busier than I had remembered.
We ended up at a charming hotel a 10-15 minute drive from the city center called Inn at Santa Fe, a boutique hotel with 98 guestrooms on three floors. The weather was cool when we were there since it was winter, but not so cool, we couldn’t take advantage of their outdoor hot tub and sauna, two features that were a significant plus for me given how much driving we had been doing. They also have outside fire pits, table style, you can enjoy a glass of wine in the evening and the pool is heated year round.
Their guestrooms and mini-suites, albeit in a standard sized space, were more creative than your typical hotel room. We opted for a Deluxe Sunset Vista, which has an oversized headboard with a queen bed and a small seating element facing the armoire, done in a very New Mexico motif. The rooms have flat screen TVs of course and also free HBO, although we were out and about too much to take in the movie selection. I love old world style, so the dark wood headboard and desk were a plus for my eyes.
The more standard rooms are a little more modern with granite counter tops and vanities but also with a great desk space, which is a godsend for us as writers.
What’s nice if you were traveling the way we were, or with a family, the rooms have microwave and refrigerators with a freezer, free high speed internet access and a complimentary breakfast in the morning — cereal, muffins, toast, eggs and more. What’s lovely is the seating area where you can relax anytime of day, but if you love fireplaces as much as I do, you’ll gravitate towards the comfy sitting area in front of the fire for breakfast, drinks or just to relax and read a book.
Dog lovers will know that not all hotels accept pets or some that do will charge you significant surcharges to do so. The Inn at Santa Fe is pet friendly, another great plus if traveling with your entire family, dog or cat included.
In addition to full American breakfast, which they proudly display a sign for as you enter the parking lot (easy parking btw, which may have been trickier in town), they offer Happy Hour specials on appetizers, beer and wine by the glass. Since it’s on the outskirts, you’d have your car of course, but they do offer a complimentary shuttle service into town seven days a week if you don’t want to deal with in-town parking or simply want to relax and not think about your car.
There’s a 24 hour fitness center also, which is the way it should be at hotels. It’s astonishing to me how many hotels have a fitness center but have it open at odd hours, making it inconvenient for business travelers or those of us who are night owls like myself.
You have easy access here for Santa Fe Plaza, Canyon Road, shopping, restaurants, museums, parks, skiing, and golf. Also, adjacent to the hotel are the Fashion Outlets of Santa Fe, where you can get bargains on chic brands like Polo Ralph Lauren, Merrell, Nike, Sunglass Hut, Brooks Brothers, Coach, Aeropostale, Chico’s, Levi’s, Under Armour and Tommy Hilfiger.
Another great feature for family travelers and worth noting is that they have mobility accessible rooms, which include an accessible tub or Roll-in shower, accessible peephole and Visual Alarm Alert. Hearing Accessible kits are also available upon request with reservation.
Victoria Bruneni, the general manager of the hotel was overly gracious and while it may be true, she knew we were there covering Santa Fe from a myriad of perspectives, hospitality is part of her DNA — it was evident from how she handled situations and the proactive approach she took with every situation, big or small. She also made recommendations for great cafes and bars and passed along names of pals at nearby vineyards and restaurants to help facilitate our planning. Two thumbs up! We would definitely return.
8376 Cerrillos Road
Santa Fe, NM 87507
(505) 474-9500
Note: we were hosted at the Inn but all opinions expressed are my own.
Renee Blodgett is the Founder and Managing Editor of We Blog the World, a global travel, culture and lifestyle publication exploring the world through the lens of meaningful experiences, human connection and cultural depth. Having lived in 10 countries and traveled to 95, Renee has spent much of her life immersed in the people, traditions, landscapes and ideas that shape how we experience the world.
Since launching We Blog the World in 2007, she has written and produced extensive editorial coverage spanning boutique and luxury travel, culinary experiences, arts and culture, wellness, adventure, technology, spiritual traditions and transformative travel. Her work is rooted in the belief that travel is about more than where we go—it is also about what a place, culture or encounter awakens within us.
Renee brings more than three decades of experience across journalism, photography, media, brand strategy, technology, wellness and global storytelling. She has worked with companies and organizations around the world on brand positioning, communications, product launches, media strategy, speaker positioning and storytelling. Through Blue Soul Media, she works with authors, entrepreneurs, thought leaders and purpose-driven brands to clarify their message and expand their impact, which includes speaker coaching/training for high-profile stages such as TED and bringing authors’ work to market while retaining authors rights.
She is also the co-founder of Blue Soul Earth, an educational platform exploring consciousness, ancient wisdom, spirituality, healing and the intersection between science and the nature of reality. Renee is the producer and host of the award-winning Blue Soul CHATS, a conversational series bringing together leading voices in science, technology, consciousness, wellness and spirituality.
Her growing body of work also includes Blue Soul Living, which extends her interest in consciousness and well-being into the spaces we inhabit, exploring how intentional design, energy and environment can support greater harmony and connection.
Renee is the award-winning co-author of the bestselling Magdalene’s Journey and founder of the Magdalene Collection, inspired by women’s voices, stories and wisdom across cultures and generations.
A longtime photographer and storyteller, Renee has documented people, places and cultures around the world and produced photographic collections focused on destinations including the Galápagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome and Ecuador. She also co-founded Traveling Geeks, an international initiative that brought entrepreneurs, journalists, creators and technology leaders together with their counterparts in other countries to exchange ideas and explore innovation across cultures.
Renee’s work has been recognized by Forbes, the United Nations and others for her influence in media and social storytelling. Across her work in travel, media, consciousness and culture, a common thread remains: curiosity about the world, the stories that connect us and the ways meaningful experiences can change how we see ourselves and one another.
