El Sendero Inn - Best hotel in Santa Fe Downtown

A nice place to stay. The rooms are spacious. No breakfast, but that's okay because the square is so close. Nice, friendly staff. (One small improvement, please, put in a larger mat in the shower. Us older folks are not a nimble as we would like to be.) Wonderfully close to the square. It is nice to just walk, eat and shop. We will return to this hotel.

This was a nice little spot. The room was clean, the beds were so comfortable! The restroom was extremely spacious, perfect for those mothers that always have to fight with older daughters for the mirror! Perfect location to take a walk to the shopping spots! I’d give it more stars if I could I didn’t rate the service but they did come and clean while we were out, great job at that as well! And the restaurant connect to it was BOMB 🤤 it will not disappoint! Keep in mind we did no research on this place, we came in late from Texas and HIT A GEM!

Enjoyed a 3 night stay, however as others have noted, this is not a Hotel but a Motel...not that that is necessarily a negative. Location is fantastic for anything in the downtown area...they do charge $10 a night for parking but being in the heart of the city it is somewhat understandable. Can be a little noisy in the morning as all rooms face the parking lot and you'll hear people walking and talking. Pool looked nice but didn't use and a slight ding as they offer no breakfast of any kind, but overall a decent alternative to the crazy prices that the high end properties in the area charge. Would definitely stay again if the price is competitive.

Could not access the shower hot water because that door was gluded shut. Turning on the shower while in the shower I was sprayed with cold water until it warmed up. To combat the problem I ran the sink water until it ran hot. The advantage was that the shower warmed up faster I could not use my water pik in the bathroom because there is no plug in the bathroom. The lighting was terrible, and i could not read in bed. There were not blankets the first night, and I froze. except by standing in

I enjoyed my stay at El Sendero overall and appreciated both the room and the service. However, there were a few areas where the experience could be improved. I wish I had been informed ahead of time that breakfast was not included. The $8.50 breakfast option at the restaurant next door did not feel like a good value, and I would have preferred no breakfast offering at all if that were the only option. I also would have liked to see a wider variety of teas available in the tea room. Lastly, I had a valid parking ticket but was still flagged for not being able to park, which was frustrating. Thank you for your hospitality, and I hope this feedback helps improve the guest experience moving forward.

Great location and well-maintained older property. Parking is excellent. Staff was very good. Location is great. The only reason I didn't rate my likelihood of staying again higher is because of the cost. My one-night stay was $326 after fees and taxes, and I believe there are private vacation home options that are in this price range, so I will also consider those options.

Location is great for walking the city but hotel room is lacking any personality. No place to sit in the room and relax. A desk chair and ottoman? In a tourist area hotel? Employees were great but you need more amenities here. The pool was heated to 76 degrees in October? No one used it while we stayed here. You might as well have a hot tub. Wasting electricity to heat a pool no one’s using. We’d definitely stay here again if we paid less just for walk ability.

The motel is in a convenient location but in the room there is no microwave, small bars of soap and thin towels. The air conditioning was good and were happy with the clean pool. Parking was convenient and worth the price. Going into the lobby you could smell the stale carpeting and deodorizer. The staff was professional and helpful. They answered any questions that we had. If these issues did not exist we would definitely give 8 to 10 grade. John & Stella

El Sendero Inn, Santa Fe: Looks Nice -- But Security Is an Afterthought Let's be clear: Not offering in-room safes isn't a trend -- it's an affront to guests and a failure to meet basic hospitality standards. And that failure led to a serious issue during my stay: a valuable personal item went missing from my room. Adding insult to injury, there was no in-room safe, and the front desk offered no secure storage of any kind. When I asked why, I was told the safes were removed during renovation because "hotels aren't really using them anymore." That claim doesn't hold up. I personally called several other hotels in Santa Fe -- including Comfort Inn, Quality Inn, and Days Inn -- and all confirmed they do provide in-room safes. Many of them are more affordable than El Sendero and even part of the same Choice Hotels chain. Furthermore, the hotels that are downtown and in the immediate vicinity of the El Sendero also provide room safes. Peace of mind and personal security when traveling is an essential aspect of traveling.

We booked one room with two queen beds for three nights. The entry lobby area is small but spacious and tastefully decorated. No free breakfast but there is free coffee for guests and an assortment of snacks available for purchase such as chips, candy, granola bars, soda, and bottled water. A Chinese restaurant is adjacent to the lobby and accessible from the inside of the lobby. Our beds were made with four fluffy pillows on *each* bed and the sheets were the softest, most comfortable sheets I've ever slept in! I'd love to have some at home! We visited in summer so we used the a/c. The unit was mercifully quiet and kept our room quite comfortable. The hanging flower baskets that line the upper railing are stocked with real flowers! It really made for a lovely homey feel. One minor drawback is there didn't appear to be any elevator to the second floor so steps are the only way to get upstairs. Plenty of accessible parking spaces. The bathroom had a modern shower and toilet and comfy, fluffy towels. The only drawback IMO was no counter space around the sink, although there is a counter area outside the bathroom. No exhaust fan but you can open the window. Amenities included a hair dryer and an ironing board although we didn't use either of these. The inn is in a perfect location for tourists as it's within easy walking distance of the nearby plaza, the famed Loretto Chapel, the Catholic cathedral, the Georgia O'Keeffe museum, and many other museums, art galleries, restaurants, and shops. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and hope to return soon!

What you need to know is: it's clean, there's a kureg & pods, & close to the plaza AND it's a remodeled motel, so it is not for light sleepers (cars right by the window, thin walls, even the refrigerator buzzed on and off all night). It feels very mom and pop (some of the toiletries we've seen in Airbnbs), the comforters weren't the same, one of the lotions & one of the coffee packets were open & partially used, the USB port wasn't usable because it had been pushed in at an angle. The shower goods are squeeze bottles which might be challenging for arthritis hands. I can't say what kind of restaurant they have, I waited a while to be seated while the staff were chilling & looking right at me, so I left without even seeing a menu. I think the most annoying thing is charging for parking. They have a huge lot, and it's not like there are other options near.

Positives: Great mattress, TV, and Wi-Fi. FANTASTIC LOCATION walking distance to the plaza. Has a refrigerator and coffee machine in room. Good counter space. Lots of outlets with USB A Negatives: Toilet leaked 2nd day of stay and the receptionist didn't even apologize for the inconvenience Shower difficult to use because the glass door closest to the shower didn't move, so you had to be in the shower to turn it on. Typical motel breakfast that you paid for. 1 of 2 ice machines didn't work.

Route 66 motel if you're into saving money in pricey Santa Fe, NM. Got a room here through our Choice Hotel Privileges card for 3 nights after the conclusion of the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta for prices ranging from $144 to $137 a night, before taxes They charge $10 for daily parking, but that's less than the tax you would pay on the room. Motel structure built in 1957, and the parking lot is huge for the 80+ units. Two story, park your car in front of your room. Outdoor corridors with no balconies. Standard room is 10'x 14' with two column windows next to the front door, and one window in the bathroom. Our room was a two bedroom unit. Bottom floor right on the corner underneath the awning, with a coke machine next door. Main bedroom was 20' x 15' plus a second bedroom 8' x 8'. 365 square feet, or two and a half times the size of a standard room. The second bedroom was underneath the outside stairwell leading to the second floor corridor. Place was really dark when the front door was closed, as no windows in the front. Two small windows in the back faced a steep embankment on top of which was a parking lot, so people parking their cars could see down into the units, if the drapes were open. Window in the bathroom faced a retaining wall. Little natural sunlight in the room, and forget about a view from the room, as dark as the deepest New York City basement studio. Single bathroom had a shower had the liquid soap, shampoo, and conditioner dispensers reattached to the wall -somebody figured out they could save these until after the pandemic subsided. Comes with a flat screen TV, microwave oven, and mini refrigerator. The 20' x 15' main room was so large that they fit a 4 chair dining table, an L shaped sofa, and ottoman in the room. They serve a pickup and go breakfast: coffee, orange juice, yogurt, tiny apples, oranges, and pre packaged chocolate chip muffins and breakfast bars. Minimal seating in the lobby. For a real breakfast walk 6 minutes to the Plaza Cafe in the central plaza or 10 minutes to Tia Sophia's on 210 West Francisco Street near the Hilton Historic Plaza toward Guadalupe. We usually stay at the Hilton, but they wanted $333 during our stay here. El Sendero had the usual wifi in the rooms, while Hilton's $333 rooms had no microwave and no wifi in their rooms.

A solid pick and definitely the best value being a better-than-average hotel that feels secluded despite being just steps to the Plaza. We would return and highly recommend it to our friends who aren't seeking luxury. The parking lot is comically huge, which provides an asphalt plaza that separates the rooms. The lobby is pretty big, with $2 food and drink options, free juice and coffee, sightseeing literature and helpful maps, and a free continental breakfast of pre-packaged muffins, danishes, breakfast bars, with cereal, yogurt, and fruit. The microwave came in handy when heating leftovers. The rooms are fine: bug-free and clean but not immaculate (our bathtub was a little outdated). The soaps, shampoos, and conditioner did not lather, so bring your own. The grounds were relatively quiet with hourly church bells. The bottom floor gets a few stomps from the second floor, but that's unavoidable anywhere. The walls weren't paper thin. Keurig coffeemaker in room. The water pressure and free wi-fi were better than average. The room had free waters (I think they were free) and a small fridge. The big screen TV has a tourism channel default. There are plenty of outlets, some with usb slots. The bed was huge and comfortable. Perfect heat and A/C. And there's a pool. It's a Choice Hotel (in case you're a member) I The location is amazing. TO THE NORTH: 600 ft: La Fonda* restaurant and La Fiesta Lounge* (voted #2 hotel bar, with live music). 800 ft: The PLAZA* TO THE SOUTH: 100 ft: 315 Restaurant (French) and wine bar; 200 ft: Upper Crust Pizza (open til 10pm); 300 ft. Pink Adobe (Mexican, dinner only). 400 ft: San Miguel Chapel (the oldest church in the country) TO THE WEST 600 ft: Del Charro* (locals restaurant, voted #2 bar 2023); 800 ft: Pantry Rio* (its original location voted #2 best breakfast 2023) (* check for my reviews)

Location is the only thing that is good about this place. Whatever you do, do NOT eat at the restaurant that is attached to the office. They put out a breakfast that is designed to look exactly like a free hotel breakfast. They don't tell you that you have to pay until you are done eating. It was very misleading, and a truly disappointing shakedown. It was also the worst breakfast I've ever had, and I left most of it untouched. I wish I would have taken a picture of the bacon. I'm letting this affect my rating for the hotel because there are no signs or warnings, and they leave the connecting door unlocked.

You absolutely can't beat the location of this hotel. It's right downtown, within a short walk of all the tourist-y things people come to Santa Fe to see: five minutes to the plaza, eight minutes to Starbucks, and ten minutes to the Georgia O'Keeffe museum. Restaurants galore. The room is clean and comfortable, and quiet for a motel. All in all, should be top marks, right? But there's so much that makes you wonder who's running this place. Upon check in, the clerk announced, "There's no breakfast in the morning; dining room is closed. There's coffee." I mean, I don't choose a hotel for the breakfast, but leading with that info on check in tells me it's something they know guests expect, and they don't want to provide any more. (Turns out the "free" coffee is the crap instant kind. They can't even spring for a decent coffee maker.) She also told me it would cost $10 to park here. Where the H am I supposed to put my car then? And when I'm already paying more than $200 a night for a room, why charge me more for parking? There's no easy chair in the room, despite there being ample space for one. The amenities are the cheapest possible. The list goes on and on. One other odd thing that seems small but isn't: Apparently they used to supply body wash, shampoo, and conditioner in the shower. They took out the dispensers, but left the mounting brackets in the shower stall, so it looks terrible. What's worse, though, is that now there's no place to put your soap and shampoo -- are you just supposed to hold them in your hands the whole time you shower?

The BEST location in Santa Fe !! This hotel/ motel may not be the fanciest , but sits seriously an amazing DEAL and prime location to all the fun stuff in the old Santa Fe plaza area. Everywhere we wanted to visit was walkable . 30 seconds to the oldest church in the US, one minute walk to the Loretto , two minute walk to the heart of the plaza !! Doesn't get any better then that . Rooms were great. You can definitely tell that this place is an older renovated motel, so don't expect The Ritz. However , you will get a clean room with, with good shower and not super icky surroundings . The lobby is super basic ( no lemon water or cookies to greet you ), yet you can tell they are in the process of continuing to update, so it might be better the next time we visit ! Here is a quite tip : walk one minute to the Fancy Loretto hotel , and enjoy their lemon walter , shops, happy hour lounges without having to pay for their $$$$ rooms . We had the BEST margarita at the Loretto lobby lounge while in Santa Fe ! The few staff we encountered were ver nice and friendly. Parking is abundant and 10 $ a day , with in and out privileges. So convenient! Love this place !

Great location. Right off the Plaza, so I can walk to anything around there, but not right in the middle of things, so I could exit the tourists when I want to. The room was very clean with plenty of space in the bathroom and in another counter outside, so others could be getting ready as I was showering. The bed was more firm, which I prefer the sheets and. Wedding were very soft. Even the towels were soft. So many times hotel towels are kind of crunchy. Lots of parking, with tehthe vehicles in view of the room.

We spent two nights at location and enjoyed our visit. The staff was very helpful. The rooms were very clean and well maintained. I believe just recently upgraded and they did a great job! The location is fabulous so close to everything and really in a perfect location. The price was also reasonable. We definitely will stay here again!

The El Sendero management charged me for 3 nights when I booked and stayed for 2. They won't return my phone calls and have flat out lied to my credit card company. If my card company will not reverse the charges in question, I will file a police report with the Santa Fe P.D. wherein I will submit my car's GPS records which will show exactly when I departed from the Inn (the scheduled check-out date) and did not return. In fact it will show the whole trip to include my car leaving my home address and returning to my home address on the scheduled date of check-out and not the day after. Not a threat, just a plan of action. And l will ask for security camera footage to prove that I was there that extra day. They won't have it because I wasn't there, but they will have footage of my leaving early the morning I was scheduled to check out. And I have phone records of my many attempts to reach them. Their phone records of attempting to call me back will show squat. It's up to you John and/or Jane Q. Vacationer. But imagine going home and the next day seeing that they hit you up for an extra night. Okay... people make mistakes, but when they won't return your phone call... Well, you be the judge and Buyer Beware.

Beware of Smoking Fee!! Location and price seemed good but a month later, we discovered an additional $250 charge on our credit card statement for "smoking in room". We don't smoke! appeals to management are futile. Caution to guests - Check your room carefully for odors. Note and report anyone smoking near your room. You can and will be charged for their secondhand smoke. Also, request that management come to your room before leaving it at checkout, and have them sign that your room is smoke-free. Horrible experience - for the extra $250 we could have stayed somewhere nicer and been treated like a valued customer. Deb S - guest June 2024

After my online bill was completed with hotels.com, only then was I told parking would cost $10/night. A sleazy way to do business. The 'breakfast' was far less generous than the worst continental breakfast I have ever seen. Not even muffins and butter or jam or dry cereal. some cheap sugar muffins and crackers only a 14 year old sugar junky could enjoy. On one of our 3 days, there was no room service. Yes, the location is very walkable.

Affordable for the location and that is really all that needs to be said. Disappoinments: joke of a continental breakfast. Junky feel to the lobby area that could be remedied simply by getting rid of all the mismatched yard sale decor.

This hotel location great for shopping in within walking distance . It's newly renovated hotel . The problem is the water pressure in the shower. No microwave in the room. The maid came every third days to clean your room. We stay for 5 days the maid only clean once . I call front desk sometimes they didn't pick up so I have to go down to ask for clean towels . That's a charged $10 to park your car each day . I think it does not make any sense since we paid the hotel room daily .

We stumbled upon this place by chance when we decided to visit Santa Fe on the spur of the moment and without reservations , It has recently been taken over and remodeled, (it had fallen into disrepair and suffered terrible reviews under a different name prior to its closing). Now, undergoing remodeling and revamping it is gradually opening up to limited bookings as rooms are available. We found the rooms to be very clean, bath and shower were obviously new and fresh. Carpets clean and the beds clean and comfy. The pool sparkled. Ample parking and walking distance close to the downtown plaza area with great access to parking, museums, shopping, dining and imbibing. The rates were very reasonable for being so close to downtown. We would definitely recommend it and would not hesitate to stay there again.

Upon arrival, it just looks like your run of the mill, older hotel. But after entering the lobby , it was clean and renovated, the service was friendly and fast, and had a large parking lot. This was such a gem! Affordable prices, newly remodeled and modern style rooms and bathroom, comfy beds, walking distance to downtown... what more could you ask for?! We will definitely be back.

I will never, ever again recommend this place to out of town visitors. When it was Garretts Desert Inn, everyone from management to front desk staff to the excellent Santa Fe Bite restaurant on premises were gracious, helpful, and made my family and friends feel welcomed. Now, under the new ownership, the staff is surly, unhelpful, and not interested in promoting the kind of atmosphere that makes spending time in Santa Fe the magical experience that it should be. Too bad, because it enjoyed a great location and had the potential to be a charming base from where to visit The City Different. Fortunately, there are a number of good inns to choose over this pointedly unfriendly place...The Sage is perhaps the best of the affordable options. Leonard Thatch, MD...retired longtime local family doctor and proud Santa Fean.

Great classy uptown hotel in Santa Fe that is walking distance to everything. it is close to Loretta Chapel, St. Francis Cathefral Santa Fe Plaza,, San Miguel Mission and the Oldest House. There's also a wine and bar restaurant and upper crust pizza nearby. The room is classy and updated, there is no complimentary breakfast and oibby of the hotel is separate. the swimming pool is outside in the parking lot There is no room service because of COVID but you can request for fresh towels and garbage disposal.Really a worthy place to stay when you are in Santa Fe

Had a comfortable stay. The people are nice. Rooms were clean. Would recommend. I'm walking distance of downtown Santa Fe.

We had a great stay. The it was clean and nice. No issues what so ever. I have nothing bad to say about this place. Will stay again.

Quiet, clean and convenient. 3 blocks from the plaza. Reasonable rates for Santa Fe. Staff very welcoming. Restaurant appears closed but plenty of others within walking distance. Kuereg and fridge in room. Coffee in lobby 24/7. Breakfast is coffee and danish. Parking fee is $10. Great pool. Will come again.

Lied about my rate over the phone and up charged me on arrival. Refused to provide a refund or explanation.

Avoid this place. Front desk is run by amateurs and I saw a list of room complaints a page long for that night alone (A/C not working, smoke alarm kept ringing, toilet won't flush, etc.)

An employee stole from me and threatened me stole my computer charger and my iPhone charger so I was unable to contact anyone until a friend brought me a new charger and I called 911 again and told them I was robbed the experience was very debilitating and it made me feel scared when I was being told what to do and to open the trunk by the employee he also impersonated a police officer . I wasn't able to sleep had a hard time swallowing and drinking water and other things. After wards I waited for the police and at 4:05 am got a call back

This is a hidden gem in Santa fe. Great price, great location, nice staff. Only issue i came across was the AC unit was a little funky, but still cooled the room well. We stayed 3 nights and wish we could have stayed longer, but our journey didn't stop there. 50 yards to the left out of the parking lot you have great pizza, the one and only Raaga Go and San Miguel Church built in 1610. Going right out of the lot you have everything else Santa fe has to offer. At 30 yards you're at Alameda St., and once you pass that the fun begins! This looks like an old motel 6 location based on the layout and room specs, but the renovations were done very well. This would be considered a 2 star hotel on the star rating, but just for the simple fact they aren't showering you with amenities and on site activities. It also only yields 2 stars because of the amount of rooms. I give it 5 stars here because this is a great 2 star hotel!!!

The location of this place is unbeatable. It is a block or so from the action downtown meaning a five minute walk to shopping etc., but without a steady flow of people walking past our own room. It was quiet and safe. Inside the room was a little less comfortable, though. The curtains close in a way that leaves a huge gap so we ended up hooking our curtain around our door handle for privacy. The bathroom door has a similar problem- it looks modern enough being a sliding door hanging on a track, but that leaves big gaps between the door and the wall so it is never fully closed. The shower had no shelves or ledges at all so everything has to be set on the floor, and there is no way to reach the faucet without being on the shower so it is a shocking moment turning the water on and immediately being soaked. I also wish the sink was outside the room that had the toilet and shower, it makes it easier to get ready with two people and would have made the bathroom less crowded. Finally, it took us forever to figure out the AC and it clearly put out a lot of condensation as the carpet under it stayed wet the whole three days- glad I wasn't wearing socks! All that said, I can totally see us staying here again because those minor complaints are well worth the walkability and quiet location.

Stayed here often and happily when it was Garrett's but was never treated then as I was at this Ascend hotel. When after several days I asked why the room had not been cleaned, I was told rooms were cleaned between customers or after a customer stays 5 days. Then when I asked again, why after 5 days the room still had not been cleaned, the young man at the front desk said because of Santa Fe's COVID requirements, rooms are never cleaned durIng a customer's stay, only between customers. I replied that I had spoken to a woman manager who had told me rooms are cleaned every 5 days; he stated "we don't have women in management, so you didn't." Then he turned his back to speak to another customer who had come in after me. The hotel provides new clean towels if a customer brings used towels to the front desk and asks for replacements, but when after using the same towels for a week, I asked for fresh towels, they were given very reluctantly, a few at a time, by the same young man. I can understand a towel policy intended to conserve water, if that is the reason, but I do not understand repeated disrespect for the customer.