A Luxury Travel Blog

The Inn and Spa at Loretto, a 134-room boutique hotel in the heart of Santa Fé, is beckoning golfers to come bask in the mild early summer sun and enjoy a golf excursion with their Golf Getaway Package.  The packages includes one night’s lodging, two rounds of golf (with cart) at the Black Mesa Golf Club and complimentary breakfast for two at the Inn’s restaurant.  Black Mesa Golf Club, which Golf Digest described as “Southwest architecture of the highest order”, is located on the Santa Clara Pueblo just north of Santa Fé. The course was also listed as one of the “Top Ten Courses You Can Play” by Golf Magazine. For more information, or to book a golf getaway package, call 800-727-5531 or visit the Inn’s website.  Prices begin at $379 per room, per night through until October 2008.

On the banks of the Rio Grande within the ancient lands of the Native American Pueblo of Santa Ana, the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa offers luxurious amenities and beautiful natural surroundings with an ideal year-round climate. Just 20 minutes from Albuquerque and 40 minutes from historic Santa Fé.

Here’s another of those packages where you wonder if it’s truly just for media consumption rather than with the expectation of a likely buyer.  Eldorado Hotel & Spa is offering a Picture Perfect Package for $100,000.  Whilst that might sound a lot for a 3-night stay, the reason is that the guests are escorted through Santa Fé’s top galleries with a view to selecting a piece of artwork up to the value of $85,000. They say you’ll also get to meet the artist at a private dinner at the hotel’s Old House restaurant.  The package also includes accommodation in the Presidential Suite, first-class airfares for two, daily breakfast in bed and daily spa treatments. 

Experience a place of remarkable beauty and rich, cultural history where sunsets paint the mountains and warm breezes stir the imagination, at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa.

Today marks the start of New Mexico’s 5th Hot Chili Days Cool Mountain Nights festival, a 3-day event packed with entertainment in a beautiful Red River setting.  Oh, and some great chili of course.  For just $35 you’ll get entry in to all concerts and the CASI (Chili Appreciation Society International) cook-off, plus a commemorative event mug!  See the site for further details.

Inspired by the new movie ‘Wild Hogs‘ starring John Travolta et al, the Eldorado Hotel & Spa in Santa Fé, New Mexico, is offering an extravagant ’Hop on a Hog’ package. As well as three nights deluxe accommodation, dinner for two at the award-winning The Old House Restaurant and - wait for it - a Harley Davidson so you can ride home.  The package price is $18,888, of which approximately $17,000 is the Harley. The offer is available until 31st October 2007.

The luxury ski and spa resort Bishop’s Lodge, in northern New Mexico, is offering packages for spa-goers and ski enthusiasts, or a package for guests that want to sample both. Located in a forest valley in the mountains, the hotel has an award-winning spa and offers plenty of opportunities for enjoying the natural beauty of the surrounding area with miles of trails for hiking and horse riding. Prices start from $399 per night for the spa-only package based on two sharing, from $289 per night for the skiing-only package, and from $499 for both, including all taxes, gratuities, and resort fees.

Take note if you’re yet to book a stay for Valentines. We’re still only in January, but the the “Top 10 Most Romantic Inns of 2007″ as chosen by the guidebook publisher, American Historic Inns, Inc, has been revealed as follows:

• Adobe & Pines Inn - Taos, NM
• McMillan Inn - Savannah, GA
• Magnolia Mansion - New Orleans, LA
• Glasbern Country Inn - Fogelsville, PA
• Blair Hill Inn at Moosehead Lake - Greenville, ME
• Candlelight Inn - Napa, CA
• The Place At Cayou Cove - Deer Harbor, WA
• Rivertown Inn - Stillwater, MN
• Historic Jacob Hill Inn - Providence, RI
• 1795 Acorn Inn - Canandaigua, NY

The 12th Annual Roswell International UFO Festival begins next week, running from 30th June to 3rd July 2006. This is an event which will attract thousands of people from all corners of the globe, all seeking the truth on what happened back in the summer of 1947. Is it really true that a UFO with aliens on board crashed and was recovered by the United States military?  Go along and maybe you’ll find out!

Hilton Worldwide Resorts will open three new resorts in the US during the next 12 months. Florida’s Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort and Missouri’s Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing will both open this summer, while Hilton Santa Fe North Buffalo Thunder Resort  in New Mexico’s Rio Grande valley is not expected until the Spring of 2007. This will bring the total number of Hilton Worldwide Resorts in the US to 19.

There’s still time to grab tickets for the Taos Winter Wine Festival, held in New Mexico’s best ski country, Taos.  The 20th annual festival takes place from 18th to 28th January 2006. Winemaker dinners, vertical and blind tastings, seminars and panels fill the schedule, but you’ll be able to squeeze in time on the slopes, too. Held at Taos Ski Valley; events are $35-$125. Register by calling (505) 776-2291, ext. 1427 or visit the website.