Places to stay in New Mexico

Enchanted Trails RV Park, Albuquerque

“Enchanted Trails is located right on Route 66 on the west side of Albuequerque.  They offer 20 Full Electric and Water sites and 115 Pull Through sites… but coolest of all are the 6 Vintage trailers that they rent for anywhere from $46 to $66 per night.  We stayed in Della, a 1974 Silver Streak appropriately decorated per the year – lava lamps, 8-track player and all the cool colors from the early 70s.  Enchanted trails also has a swimming pool and hot tub on site for relaxing after a long day on Route 66.  We stayed here in August 2011 and were really glad we did.  And as an added bonus, Vickie Ashcraft, the owner, is an officer on the New Mexico Route 66 Association and a really nice lady to boot!  Highly recommended!”

Kindly recommended by Mike Dagney, USA

www.enchantedtrails.com

Blue Swallow Motel, Tucumcari

The Blue Swallow is one of the most well-known and easily recognisable motels along Route 66, largely due to its wonderful neon sign. Built in 1939, the Blue Swallow perfectly encapsulates the classic route 66 feel. A particularly charming feature is that every room has its own adjoining garage. The rooms themselves are retro but cosy, clean and well kept, and the showers are very powerful. The owners, Bill and Teri, are clearly proud of their motel and, upon arrival, Bill showed us to our room to check that everything was okay.

The town itself. - Tucumcari - is very peaceful and a typical historic Route 66 town. The Motel is a short walking distance from the gloriously neon-lit Tee Pee Curios souvenir shop (a route 66 icon in it’s own right), Mesalands Dinosaur Museum and several places to eat/drink. Stay in the Blue Swallow if you want an authentic taste of old route 66 on your vacation.

www.blueswallowmotel.com

The Hotel Blue is situated on Central Avenue (old route 66) with easy access to many bars, restaurants and clubs. It offers a few more creature comforts than most similar hotels with HD TV and Tempur-Pedic mattresses to help rest the travel-weary road-tripper! We stayed here on a Sunday night and were surprised to find Central Avenue bustling with activity (see video); in particular with cars driving up and down the avenue showing off expensive sound-systems and hydraulics. At this point it’s worth mentioning that none of this can be heard from the hotel, which is conveniently tucked around a corner and away from all the activity. It’s a great location if you want the best of both worlds as you’re five minutes from the vibrant nightlife but secluded enough to enjoy the swimming pool and comfortable rooms.

www.thehotelblue.com

The Motel Safari, Tucumcari

Now owned by Smalltown America, this classic motel features many new amenities, including 32″ Flat Panel LCD TV’s with cable, free WiFi & coffee, and clock radio/CD Players, making it a comfortable stopover while retaining the original retro charm or it’s heyday.

“This motel is wonderful! We actually decided to stay an extra night because we liked it so much! The owner showed us to our room and when we got there the lights were on, the a/c was running and she had a CD play with the songs of Tucumcari. She gave us recommendations about dinner and some things to do in the area. The room had been wonderfully redone to it’s mid-century roots. I would recommend the hotel to anyone that wants the true old time Route 66 experience!”

Kindly recommended by Mary Ann McGreevey, US

www.smalltown-america.com