We stayed in room 383 at the Hotel Santa Fe for 4 nights and found the whole place to be fantastic in so many ways. The thoughtfulness and pride with which the staff operate made our stay very special and we would gladly return again. What shortcomings the hotel had (and it did, I am sad to report); it somehow achieved ways of easily overcoming them.
The room was adequate in size - fitting in a sitting area, a mini bar, as well as a balcony overlooking the patio with a decorative teepee. The adjoining bedroom had a large bed which got more comfortable with each night (my first impression was that it was soft, but it turned out to be great) and somehow they had managed to squeeze in two large television sets in the room, so should one of the guests be sleeping the other could sit in the sitting area without disturbing them.
The bathroom was a little on the small side, so only one person can get ready at a time. There was a small sink area outside the actual room with the bath, shower and toilet, so one could rotate. Toiletries were very nice and ample towels were provided.
The venue was a little out of the way - this should not be a negative as they provide a useful (sort of*) free shuttle that gets you anywhere worth vIsiting within a mile of the hotel. That said, the hotel is a quick drive to downtown, the local CVS or Whole Foods and as I mention the shuttle is always close by to take one anywhere else - such as the galleries or the museums.
The actual hotel has a restuarant with an excellent menu and great service and it also comes with a gym, a hot tub, a pool as well as a spa - which I thought a little overpriced.
Parking was ample and (sort of*) free.
The positive aspects include the most helpful friendly staff I have encountered in awhile - the front desk staff were all particularly kind and any request was met with a smile and an eagerness to help as best they could. The hotel also bills itself as the only Native American owned hotel in Santa Fe - which some might find a positive.
The negative aspects include the strange HEAART* fee the hotel includes in your total price - this fee provides you with 'free' parking, 'free' wifi, the 'free' shuttle and some other things. This fee comes at a daily cost of $15 and I overheard several guests complaining to the front desk about it, or asking if they can not pay it. It seems you have to pay it, so why the hotel doesn't just include it in the price boggles the mind of this reviewer. It just seems to over-complicate things.
That said I enjoyed the shuttle; I used the parking and the wifi was okay - although you had to re-log in every time you connected which can be a chore for long stays.
I also understand a portion of the HEAART fee goes to supporting local NPO's - but I dislike paying money to charities I do not know myself.
The other negative was that the hotel provided free tea and coffee from 7.30am till midday and then charged you for it afterwards. This seemed strange.
To conclude my stay at the Hotel Santa Fe was excellent despite all its strange quirks and complicated rules - wifi should just work, parking should be free or not, shuttles should come at no cost or with a cost - if coffee is free, it should be so all day.
That said I cannot say I had a bad stay. It was very good. And I would certainly stay again.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
November 12, 2012
Your critique of your stay is gratefully received and we re pleased to know that you enjoyed your stay and will return in spite of our “quirks”. To address the HEAART Fee, it is often known as a parking, wifi or resort fee at our competitors and we choose to highlight it as a separate charge instead of adding it to the room charge which would equate to the same difference!? It highlights the facilities we provide, as well as a contribution to our local charities. It is an acronym for “Health, Education, Art (Charities), Amenities, Resources and Transportation (and Parking)” at the Hotel!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.