The Accessible Travel Guide

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New Mexico


Santa Fe:                                    A-

It can be especially difficult to find hotels in historical locations like Santa Fe where quaint little Bed and Breakfasts are the norm, but I was able to find a place on the edge of town for $75 a night. The Inn at Santa Fe had a roomy roll in shower, grab bars and a tilted mirror over the sink. The room itself had a refrigerator, flat screen tv and enough room for a wheelchair on either side of the comfy, queen-sized bed.

The upside to staying outside of the downtown area is that it's much quieter. The downside is that you'll have to drive in and find parking. However, it's a short drive downtown and it turned out to be much easier to find parking than I'd expected. There was a handicapped spot on one of the main streets of the plaza available on a Saturday night. On Sunday, there was parking at the garage on San Francisco for $1.80 an hour with a $9 daily maximum. 

 

 

 

More parking options can be found on Grant Street right near the Georgia O'Keefe Museum. The Georgia O'Keefe Cafe has a small, eclectic menu that is a bit pricey, but very good. The Museum is fully accessible with an accessible bathroom. Another accessible bathroom can be found at the Five and Dime, located right along the plaza.

 

 

Most of the shops have flat or sloped entrances. Some have steps, but that was surprisingly the minority. (Some buildings may have accessible back entrances - it doesn't hurt to ask.)

The sidewalks are bumpy here or there, narrow in some spots, but generally good.

Summer 2009

 

Another hotel option: The Santa Fe Sage Inn is closer to downtown and offers nightly rates of about $100. Their accessible rooms include wider tubs and grab bars. 

 

 

If you're driving from Tucson: The drive is a good 8 hours, so you'll need a few breaks. Consider these:

  • Chevron and Food Mart. Exit 20 on 10 in NM. About 3 hours in.
  • Off 25, mile marker 114. Accessible rest area. About 5 hours in.
  • Mile marker 166-167. Accessible rest and picnic area, about 6 ½ hours in.

On the way back:

  • Truth or Consequences. Accessible bathroom in Subway. 3+ hours in.
  • Wilcox. Gas/food. About 2 hours from Tucson.
  • Mile marker 320. Accessible rest area. About 1 hour from Tucson.
Summer 2009

If you're flying:
If you don't take American Eagle Airlines, then you'll land in Alburquerque which is 1 hour and 20 min away.  To get to Santa Fe, you can take local bus #22 which runs Mon-Fri and takes you to the railrunner train. Most hotels will be near the last stop called Santa Fe depot. It will costs $7 for bus and train.  Bus and train are handicap accessible with wheelchair ramps and lifts.  Several cars on the train have ADA accessible restrooms and wheelchair locks. If you arrive on the weekend, then take either the Alburquerque shuttle or taxi to the railrunner train. There are two shuttles that go to Santa Fe but one is $27 and the other is $25. You can also contact Santa Fe Paratransit a week before you go to make arrangements.  http://www.santafenm.gov/DocumentView.aspx?DID=1797
 
I stayed at hotel Las Palomas for $65 a night which is the sister property to Hotel Santa Fe. The rooms are casitas which are adobe style apartments equipped with microwave, fridge, iron, can opener, fireplace, tv, desk, dining table, skylight, and patio furniture for the outside of some casitas. All casitas are located in a courtyard, and some are ADA compliant.  It is 2 1/2 blocks from the tourist part of downtown plaza, walking distance to most attractions, 5 blocks to the railyard and the shops near it, 4 blocks to mall that has 2 supermarkets and Las Cosas  Cooking School. They provide a free shuttle to take you to all points within a mile of hotel. 4 local buses stop 1 1/2 block away from the hotel. They provide free continental breakfast which include: omelette, waffles, muffins, cereals, breads, yogurt, fruit, etc. Free cookies all day long. It is not a 24 hour hotel and there is no lobby. They close the front desk at 10pm and after that you have to contact Hotel Santa Fe. It has a gym, but to use the pool, jacuzzi or spa you have to use the free shuttle to go to Hotel Santa Fe. There is a computer in the main area for use. Internet access in the room only worked on my blackberry but it did not work on my nook.

The sites that should be on your to do list and are accessible are :The International Folk Art Museum, Museum of indian Art, New Mexico State Capitol, New Mexico History Museum
and St Francis Church.

The sites that are nice but quite difficult to navigate are:
-Bandeleir National Monument- Some steps are short and they are steep. You have to climb up the ladders and peek inside the cliff dwellings. Just give your camera to someone who can climb and let them take the picture. If you can walk but have foot problems take your cane. 
-Canyon road- steep incline in many areas and the sidewalks are narrow and bumpy. 

Two places I highly recommend for food:
Dream Cakes Bakery - they make the best sugar free gluten free cupcakes in the world
Dinner For 2 which is continental.
*Compliments of a guest reviewer