Best Places to Stay in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Amidst the red and brown desert of New Mexico, we find sanctuary at these Santa Fe hotels – immersed in lush green serenity at Sunrise Springs Spa Resort and then surrounded by art, culture, and history at La Fonda on the Plaza. 

I touched down in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as a mom exhausted. I couldn’t remember the last time I had slept through the night. I had been parenting solo, working a part-time job from home and trying to run a successful new small business. I was the definition of burnt out and exhausted. I didn’t know what awaited me in Santa Fe, but I was ready for whatever it offered. Luckily, what it offered were pleasant surprises.

My first view of New Mexico were long swathes of reds and browns. Miles and miles of arid desert. So imagine my surprise as I found myself immersed in lush green serenity at Sunrise Springs Spa Resort and then surrounded by art, culture, and history at La Fonda on the Plaza. These are two of the best places to stay in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Sunrise Springs: For Rest and Relaxation

So imagine my surprise as I found myself surrounded among lush green serenity at Sunrise Springs Spa Resort. Rated as one of the top three destination spas in the US by Travel + Leisure, the resort sits on 70 lush acres fed by natural springs with 20 gorgeous casitas and 32 garden view rooms.

During my stay, I was lucky enough to be hosted in a gorgeous Casita with private courtyard. It was beautiful. It was relaxing. It was exactly what I needed for my first night away. There were so many services time didn’t allow us to take advantage of; like health and wellness counseling, an integrative spa, expressive art studio, yoga classes, gardening beds and culinary classes.

But I did get to take advantage of a few of my favorite things, including a delightful 30 minutes socializing with puppies at the Puppy Studio.

A few minutes of catch and release fishing. And my favorite activity: soaking in a private, outdoor, mineral-infused soaking tub. The magnesium-based soak helps to detoxify the body and relieve stress. I can attest that it absolutely helps. I went straight from my soak to the ultra plush bed in my private casita and slept like a baby. The morning brought checkout and I had to leave Sunrise Springs long before I was ready. But first, one last delicious breakfast.

 I can’t wait to head back for some R&R with my husband or even on a girlfriends getaway. 

La Fonda on The Plaza: A Cultural Experience in the Heart of the City

The La Fonda holds many titles besides one of the best places to stay in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It’s actually the only Santa Fe hotel located on the historic Santa Fe Plaza. According to city records, the La Fonda also sits on the site of the town’s first inn, established when the city was founded by Spaniards in 1607. This would make the property the oldest hotel corner in America and the building that stands today reflects its long and colorful history around every corner and on every surface.   

Walking into the La Fonda is a different experience than any hotel I’ve ever visited. So unassuming and well entrenched is the La Fonda, that the passersby could easily mistake it for an extension of the neighboring Plaza. A bustling venue with unique shops, gorgeous art pieces ranging from the unique to the collectible, and a vibrant sense of history, the La Fonda is the most inviting space hotel I’ve ever walked into.

It was impossible to tell who was a guest and who was just passing through as people milled around comfortable lounge areas, stopped to dine at the restaurant, or stood in hallways admiring paintings by Gerald Cassidy or remanents of its time as a Harvey House in the early 1900s. 

Tip: My favorite piece by Cassidy is tucked away in the New Mexico Room and depicts a timeless map of the Southwest. 

The art and history carry through the lobby to the guest rooms where each of the rooms features hand-painted headboard, handcrafted furniture and more original pieces of artwork. Rounding out the hotel experience is a pool in a private courtyard tucked away from the city, gym, spa and rooftop terrace. 

In addition to history contained inside, one of the best parts of staying at the La Fonda was it’s prime location. Just steps from the Plaza, minutes from delicious restaurants and a short jaunt to Canyon Road – otherwise known as Santa Fe‘s art district. 

My stay was hosted. Opinions are my own.

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