We arrived at 11:00 AM with no reservations. It was cold and windy that day (Dec. 29, 2012). The registration clerk found us a very nice room that we could have immediately. After cleaning up, we made our way across town to the SantaCafe for lunch, which was really enjoyable. At 4:00PM we went to the lobby of our hotel, and enjoyed sipping sherry with the other guests. Our concierge was pouring that evening, so we inquired about a nice restaurant that is close by. He steered us to a magnificent place, just around the corner. Early the next morning, we followed a heavenly aroma to a fantastic, full-blown, hot breakfast buffet that we enjoyed next to a roaring fire in a kiva.

We felt well taken care of, and we will definitely return.

Tom and Sheryl
Durango, Colorado

Inn of the Governors has some good points and some not so good points. We reserved our room here based on reviews and location and honestly for nearly $300 - expected it to be similar to the Anasazi or other places we have stayed in the center of Santa Fe.

GOOD:
The Inn has a quaint lobby, is well decorated and has a FABULOUS location. In literally 1 minute, you can walk to the plaza to shop and never get in your car. The breakfast is good, the bar is great for a drink and the pool area is lushly landscaped. The rooms are for the most part tastefully decorated.

NOT SO GOOD:
The rooms all have outside facing doors like a motel. It just doesnt have the ability to have a warm feel. The ceilings in the rooms are a cheap tin drop in ceiling and with the outside facing rooms, there is a lot of noise that you shouldnt have to deal with in paying nearly $300 for a motel type room.

All in all, it is a great location and is quaint but should in no way be compared to the other hotels that are in this price range and this locale. So based on value, price and benefits - I am giving it an "average" rating. We werent impressed.

We lived in Santa Fe some 40 years ago and love to visit. Inn of the Governors is our choice of a centrally located hotel at a reasonable price. We stayed there three nights the week before Christmas and enjoyed ourselves. Some rooms and the ones we always rent have kiva style fireplaces with a supply of wood just down the hall if you run out in the room. The in house restaurant does a good job on a limited menu and we had room service dinner two of our three nights. If we have a complaint, it is the the included breakfast does not seem to change and the preparation on one of our three mornings left much to be desired. I wrote that up on my satisfaction survey and we will see what happens. The breakfast buffet is complete with all you could expect but they do need to rotate the egg dishes and perhaps pay attention to some of the preparation a little more.

Many positive attributes makes this hotel an excellent choice for travelers. First and foremost is the great location. Numerous shops, restaurants and galleries are only a stone's throw from the inn. You can easily go out on the town, make a quick stop back at the hotel to freshen up or unload any treasures you may have found, then go right back out to continue exploring.

Next is the free parking. The inn is a wonderful launch pad for any trips you want to take, whether they be just around town or further out. If you go in the winter like I did, you will appreciate that some of the parking is covered.

If you like the warmth of a fire and don't mind a slightly smoky smell in your room, definitely get a room with a kiva. The hotel supplies the wood and fire starters and stocks a heap of kindling on hand so you can keep the fire going for some time. This makes for a cozy atmosphere, especially after a day of exploring.

One of the best things the inn offers is its $25 credit that can be used at Del Charro. This lively spot features decent wines and enormous Margaritas, which can be sipped in some big chairs by the fireplace. While I spent the credit on drinks rather than food, the menu items looked appealing. Also, you can order your drinks and take them to your room, where you can unwind with your own personal fire.

Each day I looked forward to the breakfast. Two of the most delicious buffet choices were the western-style scrambled eggs and the giant sausages. There are two yummy chile sauces for your potatoes and other foods, which adds a sparkly little twist to your morning. And again, if you are a fireplace lover, you can eat your meal by a toasty kiva. What a way to start the morning!

If sherry and cookies are your thing, the happy hour is a nice feature and a good way to connect with others in the comfortable lounge.

Another thing I really enjoyed is seeing the farolitos or luminaries lit up at night outside of our window, which faced Alameda Street. I expected to hear a lot of noise because of the room location, but I think the snow and cold deterred the revelers.

Service at the hotel was decent, although some of the desk clerks were much more pleasant than others. The nice ones really went out of their way to be helpful. A couple of the others should find jobs away from the hospitality industry. As a rule, though, most of the staff were quite kind and friendly.

Overall, the Inn of the Governors is an excellent value and a serious contender for the middle-income traveler. The beds are comfy, the rooms are clean, although ours could have used a paint job after all those fires in the kiva! It is a well-worn hotel that is great for the person who loves to explore the city and who wants a homey place to rest.