Dispatches From The Road - The final days and hotel reviews

Arriving in Flagstaff was anticipated to provide photographic opportunities, but there were no Aspens to be found along out route. 

We also were anticipating the stay at the Hotel Monte Vista.  The hotel was originally built on 1926, played host to many famous and infamous people. 

Unfortunately, we got off on the wrong foot before we set foot in the hotel.  We arrived in late afternoon on a Saturday.  No one told us there would be no where to park . I had to call the hotel twice as we continued to circle the hotel trying to find a place to park.  We wound up parking in an underground parking and paying $10/day.  It would have been nice if we knew that up front.

The upside of our stay was dinner that night at Pasto - Cucina Italiana, located across the street from the hotel.  http://www.pastorestaurant.com/  The food was great and the waiter/bartender made a mean Margarita.  I would highly recommend this restaurant if you are ever in the area.

Sunday morning we were on our way to Albuquerque.  On the way, we stopped at the Barringer Meteor Crater, which is 35 miles north of Flagstaff.  Take a look at their website, it is very interesting http://www.barringercrater.com/  It is just amazing when you are standing there looking at the expanse of the crater.

 

 

In Albuquerque, we stayed at the Rio Grande Inn-Best Western Plus, on the northern edge of Old Town.  Very nice to be in a comfortable room.  Monday morning we took a walk through Old Town and visited many quaint shops.  http://www.albuquerqueoldtown.com/    It reminds me somewhat of Sante Fe.  But, I am still partial to Sante Fe. 

Once we were done shopping, we headed to Amarillo.  On the way, we stopped to Stand On The Corner in Winslow, Arizona.  It was pretty cool, the store on the opposite corner was playing all Eagles songs and you could hear it outside.

Our last stop before home was the Sleep Inn & Suites in Amarillo.  What a pleasant surprise.  Very big room with king bed, couch, coffee table, desk, good size bathroom with plenty of counter space with frig and microwave.

Our trip was very enjoyable.  We saw many beautiful and interesting places. Now it is time to go back to work.  Ughh !!

Thank you for following along the past few days.  I hope you enjoyed the pictures and I hope the information I provided will be helpful if you ever find yourself in these areas.

Hotel ratings

My opinions on the hotels we stayed at were based on a few points.  Comfortable bed, plenty of counter space, good in room coffee, cleanliness, attention to detail, pleasant staff and best bang for the buck.  I am listing them by favorite first to least favorite last.

1) Best View  The View Hotel in Monument Valley, UT/AZ http://www.monumentvalleyview.com/

• The hotel was built with respect for the Navajo people and the land it sits on.  The room was very nice, it was clean, the in room coffee was great.  The view from every balcony was exceptional.  There was not an upcharge to get this view.  Every room faced the monuments.
• Nice complimentary toiletries.
• Hooks for clothes in bathroom.
• The restaurant was good, with a great breakfast buffet.
• Elevators
• Many options for tours are available and the one we chose was exceptional.
• A bit pricey, but willing to pay it for the experience.
• Helpful and pleasant staff.

2)  Best Rate  The Sleep Inn & Suites West Medical Center in Amarillo, TX.  http://www.sleepinn.com/?chain=Z&source=pmfgosil&pmf=google&cid=go000718138

• The hotel seemed to be relatively new.  Very roomy and clean.
• Lots of counter space in bathroom and in the room itself.
• Hooks for clothes in bathroom.
• Very cool features included a door bell, litghted buttons to indicate privacy or room make up requested.
• Nice complimentary toiletries.
• Very good price (suite for $85). 
• Hot breakfast, but no restaurant.  However, there were many restaurants nearby. 
• Elevators 
• Downfall, was the coffee.  It was awful and I was glad I brought along a couple pkgs of coffee from The View.
• Nice staff

3)  Rio Grande Inn-Best Western Plus in Albuquerque, NM  http://www.riograndeinn.com/

• The hotel was clean and roomy.
• Acceptable counter space.
• Hooks for clothes in bathroom.
• Very good restaurant with wide range of selections for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Elevators, but the luggage carts did not fit in the elevator.
• Location was great as it was right on the edge of Old Town.
• Coffee acceptable
• Nice complimentary toiletries.
• Acceptable price ($93.00)
• Elevators
• Pleasant staff

4)  Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, NM  http://blueswallowmotel.com/

• First I want to say, I loved this hotel.  I was expecting the limitations of the hotel, so they were not a dissapointment. 
• The owner was there to check us in and took the time to tell us how he and his wife came to own The Blue Swallow.
• The hotel was clean.
• Hooks on door in bathroom
• Extremely unique
• Small bathroom with no counter space.
• Nice complimentary toiletries.
• No in room coffee
• All rooms were at ground level, no elevator needed.
• Very acceptable price ($59.95)

5)  Yavapai Lodge in The Grand Canyon  http://www.usparklodging.com/grandcanyon/yavapai.php?gclid=CLaH07OZh7MCFbKiPAodQG0Asw

• The hotel was clean and recently updated inside.
• There was a pull out sofa in the room, but if you pulled it out, it would have butted up against the bed.
• Hooks on door in bathroom.
• Sink located outside of bathroom. Was inconvenient.
• Average complimentary toiletries.
• Coffee acceptable
• Only saw the staff at check in/out
• Office and restaurant/cafeteria was about a 1 block walk away.  Since it was rainy and our car was in the shop the first 2 days there, it was inconvenient.  However, not the hotel's fault.
• No elevator

6)  Hotel Monte Vista in Flagstaff, AZ  http://www.hotelmontevista.com/

• Room seemed to be clean.  Carpet needed to be tighten and cleaned.
• Big room, with antique furniture.
• Elevator
• Bathroom small, no counter space.
• No hooks in bathroom
• Toiletries were not good and just tossed on a ledge over the toilet.
• Staff at the front desk would not even look at us when checking us in.
• View was of the roof of other parts of the hotel.
• I opened a window and it would not close completely, so had to stuff it with the curtains to keep the cold night air out.
• No designated parking.  Under these circumstances there is usually a valet, but no assistance was available.
• Tragically hip. 
• Note:  Got off on the wrong foot, so opinion there on was jaded.

7)  El Rancho Hote in Gallup, NM   http://www.elranchohotel.com/

• The hotel has a historical background
• Room was small
• Old and dungeon like along our hallway
• Staff was rude
• Although we reserved a room, they did not have a record of it.  I showed him our print out and he showed me a hand written list of people who were to check in that day.
• We did get a room, but not what we reserved.
• Restaurant was average.
• I was told by the staff at the front desk not to park in the back, it wasn't safe.   I guess at least he told me.