TAOS INN
125 Padeo del Pueblo Norte, Taos, NM 87571, 575-758-2233,
Rates: A room with one full-size or two twin beds starts at $105. Suites go for $250. Parking is free.
Stay here if you: want to be in downtown Taos, love to shop or are looking for old-school charm.
It’s close to: Taos Pueblo, 10 minutes away.
The rooms are: shabby-chic to atmospheric New Mexican. The $105 rooms are a bargain, but don’t expect much luxury. Think spare room in an old house, complete with wood floors, drafty windows and homey charm.
They put all of the money into: location, location, location. And atmosphere. Assuming you want to stay downtown — and if you want a feel for the town, it’s a good idea — the Taos Inn is perfect. The hotel anchors nearly a block of the village. The adobe-style place has been around since 1936, and it feels like it — in a good way. With its vaulted ceilings, faux-adobe walls, sturdy vigas and big fireplace, the Taos Inn is an exercise in cozy.
The bottom line: The Taos Inn is of a piece with the village itself, meaning laid- back service, rustic trappings and stiff margaritas. If you seek Swiss-clock service, plush accommodations and quiet, this probably isn’t for you. But if you want a little dose of authentic Taos vibe, then give it a shot. Douglas Brown
