Where to Stay
Santa Fe was Ranked the #1 City to visit by Travel and Leisure in 2025!
For the first time, this Southwestern city has claimed the top spot. Readers raved about the inventive New Mexican cuisine and the destination’s natural beauty—sitting at 7,000 feet, Santa Fe is at the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range and enjoys over 300 days of sunshine per year. Voters also appreciated the urban offerings, such as markets and art galleries. “Every trip exceeds the last, with so many new things to discover,” one repeat visitor said, adding, “Santa Fe offers a multi-layer experience.” Another summed it up well: Santa Fe is “a true gem of a place in America.” Travel & Leisure
Below is a list of Beth’s and former students recommendations, but there are dozens to choose from! If in doubt, give Beth a call to chat!
Where should I stay?
Should I rent a car?
How far is the studio from town?
Can I Uber?
Bluebird Studios is located 7 miles to the Historic Plaza and almost any destination in Santa Fe is no more than a 15 minute drive. We don’t have traffic here either, maybe a 10 car jam-up during “rush hour” for a few minutes!
I highly recommend renting a car. This leaves you with the freedom to explore the area and stay in any part of town. If you prefer not to rent, Uber is definatley workable. No one needs to worry about getting “stuck” out here! We take care of our students and if needed we can get you back to your hotel in a pinch.
If you have never been to Santa Fe before and/or you don’t want to rent a car, I highly suggest staying in the downtown historic area. This will give you the opportunity to explore the area on foot, easy access to museums, shopping, restaurants and possibly a sunset margarita at The Bell Tower Bar on top of La Fonda!
The hotel offerings here are endless! We have the historic and classic walkable hotels or B&Bs including, La Fonda (our most historic hotel), Inn of the Five Graces, Inn of the Loretto, La Posada, Inn on the Alameda, Inn of the Governors, Inn of the Anasazi, The St. Francis Hotel and the Hotel Santa Fe (the only Native American hotel in town), just to name a few.
If you are looking for more economical accommodations (honestly, since you won’t be in your room that much) consider, El Sendero, The Sage, Santa Fe Motel and Inn, Villas de Santa Fe…..all of which are easily walkable to the historic Santa Fe Plaza area. We also have several larger convention style hotels downtown that have fabulous offerings of pools and spas and fun restuarants and bars, namely the El Dorado Hotel, the Drury and the Hilton. Again, all are walkable.
If you prefer a quieter more tranquil settings consider The Bobcat Inn located just a few miles from our studio. The El Rey offers a nostalgic feel of Old Route 66 Santa Fe. The Old Pecos Inn is probably the closest place to the studio and it’s a cute, renovated Route 66 style motel with a great restaurant next door for dinner. A rental car is recommended if you stay outside of the historic area.
Many chain hotels on Cerrillos (our main road) are great as well with better room prices and quick commute to the Santa Fe Airport and the studio. These are: The Doubletree by Hilton, The Best Western, La Quinta, Comfort Inn just to name a few. The hotels at the intersection of Cerrillos and Airport Road/Rodeo have good access to chain restaurants and an easy commute to the studio. And these are priced extremley well to not break your budget! Air B&B and VRBO are widely used and if you are concerned about a location please contact Beth before renting.
Camping? Look no further! Here is everything you need to know! https://www.santafe.org/accommodations/campground-and-rv-parks/
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Pecos Trail Inn
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The Pecos Trail Inn is a classic motor lodge from the 1950s. It’s a family-run Santa Fe hotel is located just minutes from the historic Santa Fe Plaza and owly 3 miles from Bluebird Studios with mountains out our back door.
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Santa Fe Motel & Inn
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Great Location with an easy walk to just about everything you would want to see, do or eat. Complimentary healthy breakfast. Dog friendly rooms available ($35 per dog per night).
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El Sendero Inn
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Located in the heart of downtown Santa Fe, this motel is in the heart of the historic district. Walking distance Canyon Road, shops, famous restaurants and museums. Basic but comfortable.
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Villas de Santa Fe
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Warmly decorated suites with kitchens in a casual, modern hotel featuring a gym & an outdoor pool. goes here
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DoubleTree by Hilton
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The DoubleTree by Hilton is on Cerrillos Road near I-25 and is about 15 minutes to anywhere in Santa Fe, especially to Bluebird Studios. Relax on the adobe patio by the indoor-outdoor pool, and enjoy classic Southwestern cuisine at the restaurant and bar.
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Bobcat Inn
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This quaint old adobe Bed and Breakfast is only 4.8 miles or 8 minutes from Bluebird Studios, located in a quiet country setting. Bobcat Inn is situated on 10 picturesque acres, only a 15 minute drive from the historic downtown plaza.
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Inn of the Governors
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Inn of the Governors, an authentic southwest-style hotel located in downtown Santa Fe, has more than a 50-year tradition of intimacy and charm. In the heart of downtown, this is a smoke-free and pet-free inn.
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La Fonda on the Plaza
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Experience the allure of old-world charm at one of the best Santa Fe hotels, where tasteful, modern conveniences blend with the warmth of authentic New Mexican style.
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Hotel Santa Fe
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As the only Native American-owned hotel in downtown Santa Fe, Hotel Santa Fe offers you a relaxed yet deeply reverent immersion into the art, architecture, music and language of the Pueblo people.