¡Escapada de ensueño en Rancho Encantado: El paraíso te espera en Santa Fe!
¡Escapada de ensueño en Rancho Encantado: El paraíso te espera en Santa Fe! – ¡Chinga, vale la pena! (A Really Messy, Honest Review)
Alright, chicas y chicos, let's get real. This ain't your average, sanitized hotel review. We're talking about Rancho Encantado in Santa Fe, and I just got back, slightly sunburnt, slightly over-indulged in margaritas (more on that later), and completely, utterly charmed. This review won't be perfect, like me, it'll be a glorious, messy, honest, and hopefully, helpful journey through this slice of New Mexican heaven. Prepare yourselves, because ya llegó la hora de la verdad!
La llegada y la primera impresión (Accessibility, Check-in/out, Getting Around…y un poco de chisme):
First things first, ¿cómo llegamos? Well, I recommend flying into Santa Fe Regional Airport (SAF). Super easy, small airport, no stress. They offer airport transfer – a must after a long flight, especially if you're planning on indulging in those margaritas I mentioned. Valet parking is available, but, ahora que lo pienso, I just parked myself in the car park [free of charge]. Easy peasy. The elevator was a godsend with my suitcase, which, let's be honest, is always overflowing.
Accessibility: Honestly? Pretty good. There are facilities for disabled guests (though I didn't personally test them), the elevator is a plus, and the overall layout seems thoughtfully designed, though I'm not physically impaired so I cannot speak for those with disabilities. Let me know if you'd like a more thorough rundown on accessibility if I can seek someone with said disabilities.
Check-in/out: Check-in/out [express]? Nope. It was friendly and welcoming, but not express. Which is totally fine. They were super helpful, and I felt like they genuinely wanted me to enjoy my stay. The contactless check-in/out option is there, but I like the human touch. The private check-in/out, well, that's more my speed. And yes, they have a front desk [24-hour], which is always reassuring.
The Rooms: Un Oasis, with a Little Quirky Charm (Available in all rooms, Amenities):
My room? Ay, Dios mío! Absolutely charming. Think rustic elegance meets Santa Fe chic. Let’s break it down:
- Air conditioning: Crucial in the desert, obvio.
- Alarm clock: Meh. I use my phone.
- Bathrobes, slippers: A total luxury. I spent half the trip living in them.
- Blackout curtains: Perfect for those lazy mornings where you just want to sleep till noon.
- Coffee/tea maker, complimentary tea: Essential. You can't start a day without it, verdad?
- Desk, Laptop workspace: I actually did get some work done (shhh!), and the Wi-Fi [free] was reliable.
- Extra long bed: Glorioso. I'm a tall girl.
- Free bottled water: Always appreciated.
- Hair dryer: Check.
- In-room safe box: Use it, people!
- Internet access [LAN], Internet access – wireless, Wi-Fi [free]: All good.
- Ironing facilities: ¡Si! Forced me to keep my clothes decent.
- Mini bar, Refrigerator: Necesario for the leftovers and the celebratory champagne.
- Non-smoking: Thumbs up.
- Private bathroom, Separate shower/bathtub: Luxury.
- Seating area, Sofa: Perfect for lounging.
- Smoke detector: Crucial, always.
- Telephone, Wake-up service: Not used, but available.
- Umbrella: Essential when the desert decides to cry.
- Window that opens: I love fresh air, though the AC works just fine.
The Imperfections: There was one minor thing: the carpeting wasn't pristine to the point of immaculate perfection (probably because it is used by people like me). But hey, that's life! It's a well-used, well-loved hotel.
The Spa: Zen After a Red Chili Margarita (Ways to Relax, Spa, Sauna, Steamroom, Massage…)
Okay, aquí es donde la cosa se pone buena. The spa! I booked a massage, a massage. Seriously, go now. It was divine. Totally worth it. They offer a whole menu of treatments including Body scrub, Body wrap and the works.
I did all of it: The Sauna, Steamroom, I even took a plunge in the swimming pool [outdoor]. The Pool with view is breathtaking, especially at sunset.
Food, Glorious Food! (Dining, drinking, and snacking, Restaurants, etc.):
This is where Rancho Encantado really shines. I'm not even kidding. The food is increíble. Let's break it down:
- Bar: Yep. Excellent cocktails, and the Happy hour is definitely worth it (those margaritas…). The Poolside bar is also great.
- Breakfast [buffet]: A solid start to the day. They have everything! Asian breakfast, Western breakfast… something for everyone. There's also breakfast takeaway service, which comes in handy.
- Restaurants: More than one! Gracias a Dios. The food in the main restaurant is amazing.
- A la carte in restaurant, Buffet in restaurant: Plenty of options.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop: Always a good thing.
- Desserts in restaurant: ¡Oh, sí! Prepare to forgive yourself.
- International cuisine in restaurant, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Western cuisine in restaurant: Varied and delicious choices.
- Room service [24-hour]: Perfection. Sometimes, you just want to stay in your bathrobe and order a burger.
- Snack bar: Available.
- Salad in restaurant, Soup in restaurant: For when you want to pretend you're healthy.
- Vegetarian restaurant: Fantástico.
A little anecdote: One night, I ordered room service, completely exhausted from a day of hiking. I got a burger and a chocolate cake. It was the best meal I’ve had in months. I ate it in my bathtub, with the Bathroom phone just in case I needed to call them to tell them how tasty it was.
Service & Cleanliness (Cleanliness and safety):
- Cleanliness and safety: A huge priority. They take this seriously.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Check.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Check.
- Hand sanitizer: Everywhere.
- Hot water linen and laundry washing: They've got it.
- Hygiene certification: Present and accounted for.
- Individually-wrapped food options: Good for peace of mind.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: Signs everywhere.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services: They’re on it.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Definitely.
- Safe dining setup: Absolutely.
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: Ensured.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Totally.
- Sterilizing equipment: I couldn't see it, but I trust they have it.
The staff: ¡Son lo máximo! From the front desk to housekeeping, everyone was warm, friendly, and genuinely helpful. They made the experience so much better. I felt safe, comfortable, and cared for.
Things to Do (y Porque Santa Fe is Amazing!):
Beyond the hotel, Santa Fe is a treasure trove. Explore the historic plaza, visit the art galleries, hike in the mountains… the possibilities are endless. The concierge can help with recommendations.
- Things to do, ways to relax: Besides the Spa experience, there’s the Fitness center, Gym/fitness if you feel ambitious!
- Family/child friendly, Babysitting service, Kids meal, Kids facilities: I have no children, but I did see a kids' play area.
- Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Seminars, Audio-visual equipment for special events, On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events, Wi-Fi for special events: Available, but I didn't use any of these.
**The Bad (Because Even Paradise
¡Alojarse en el APA Hotel Namba-Eki Higashi: ¡La experiencia japonesa definitiva!
¡Ay, Santa Fe! Before the glitter of the Four Seasons really got to me…
Here's the chaos, the glory, the absolutely me itinerary for Rancho Encantado… Brace yourselves, it's a trip.
Day 1: Arrival & Altitude-Induced Silliness
- 1:00 PM: Arrive at Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ). Okay, real talk, I booked the flight so early, I felt like a ruddy dawn patrol officer. The drive to Santa Fe… beautiful, sure, but the signs… "Welcome to… New Mexico!" like I didn't already know. Sheesh.
- 2:30 PM: Check-in at Rancho Encantado. The lobby is stunning. Those views! I mean, honestly, I felt a little breathless, not just from the altitude, but from the… elegance of it all. The check-in was smooth, and the casita… Oh, the casita. Fireplace ready to go, a patio that screamed "contemplate your life choices"… I knew I was in trouble in a good way.
- 3:30 PM: Unpack & "Contemplate"… With Wine. This is essential. The altitude has my brain feeling like I'm wading through molasses, so I need a little help. Found a lovely bottle of New Mexico Chardonnay. The patio beckoned. I felt like a proper Santa Fe socialite.
- 4:30 PM: "Wander" (aka, Get Lost) on the grounds. Okay, this is supposed to be a gentle stroll, but I got sidetracked by a particularly fluffy cactus. I took a photo with it. Then I got the giggles. Then I accidentally wandered towards the horses. I have a soft spot for horses, and it was bliss seeing them grazing in the field - I should have stayed longer to enjoy.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner at Terra Restaurant. Oh. My. Word. The food! The views! The… expensive, yet delicious, wine. I splurged on the ribeye. I probably ate too much, but honestly? I’m on vacation… Life is too short to deny yourself the good things.
Day 2: Spa Day & Inner Peace (or Lack Thereof)
- 8:00 AM: Sunrise Yoga (attempted). So, I'm not really a yoga person. I mostly spent the session wondering if the instructor could see how wobbly I was. But, the view! Absolutely sublime. I mostly just focused my energy on breathing, and not quite falling over.
- 9:00 AM Breakfast at Terra More food, more scenery, less guilt. The chef should be awarded for the exquisite food that they served.
- 10:00 AM: Spa time!! The Rancho Encantado spa is seriously a slice of heaven. The massage was glorious. So good, in fact, I almost fell asleep (and probably snored a little). I need to add this spa treatment to get me through the week.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch & Poolside Contemplation (Again). A light salad, a mocktail (for the sake of my liver!), and some quality people-watching. I'd like to stay here all day.
- 2:00 PM: Cooking Class?! (Ugh, I don't cook. But… I did it). The class was fun, and I kind of surprise myself a little bit. I actually made something edible!
- 6:00 PM: Happy Hour at the Terrace Grill The setting sun hitting the mountains and the cocktail in my hand… This is the good life. A little appetizer, some gossip (I overheard someone talking about their ex, the drama!), and overall relaxation. A perfect way to end the day..
Day 3: Santa Fe Excursions & Spiritual B.S.
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast and Strategy. I spent the time to review what I was going to do today, but there are so many choices in Santa Fe!
- 10:00 AM: Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. Okay, this was beautiful, but a little… intense? All this stark beauty. So much white space. I definitely felt the need to take some photos.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch at The Shed. A Santa Fe institution! The red Chile. The chips. The people! It was the best kind of local, messy, authentic.
- 1:30 PM: Canyon Road: Art Overload! Wandering along Canyon Road, you are overwhelmed by art, art, and art. A few really lovely galleries, some really… interesting galleries. I ended up buying something I probably didn't need, and probably couldn't afford, but it looks beautiful.
- 4:00 PM: The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi. Did I go looking for something spiritual? Maybe. Did I find enlightenment? Maybe not, but it was peaceful. And the architecture? Stunning.
- 7:00 PM Dinner at Geronimo. I did it! I finally visited Geronimo. Worth the wait, the food was very nice and I can see why it is so popular.
Day 4: Ranch Life & Departure
- 8:00 AM: Breakfast at Terra. One last chance to enjoy that view! And the breakfast.
- 9:00 AM: Hiking. The resort has hiking trails! It was nice to explore nature and have a nice walk before I leave on this trip.
- 11:00 AM: Check out and say goodbye.
Overall Feelings:
- The Good: That View. The Spa. The Food. The Staff (seriously, everyone was so nice, and helpful. I loved the casita, and it was the perfect getaway.
- The Bad: The Altitude. My silly impulses. My bank account. The food was expensive for just a single person.
- The Verdict: I would go back in a heartbeat. Yeah, it was a bit "boujee," but Santa Fe has this… magic. And Rancho Encantado? It's got the magic, too.
¡Ay, Dios mío, qué es eso de "Rancho Encantado"? ¿Es como un rancho... con magia?
¡Ja! Pues mira, sí, en parte... Es como si un rancho y la fantasía se dieran la mano y tuvieran un hijo. Rancho Encantado es más que un lugar, es una experiencia. Literalmente, te transportas a otro mundo, ¡y eso que Santa Fe ya es bastante "otro mundo" por sí solo! Imagínate: casitas de adobe, chimeneas crepitando, ese olor a madera quemada... ¡Y el silencio! El silencio, amigos, es oro puro. Yo, que vivo en la ciudad, casi me da un ataque de pánico al principio. Pensé, "¡¿Dónde está el bullicio?! ¡¿Dónde están los bocinazos?!" Pero te acostumbras. Y te enamoras. La magia... bueno, está en la atmósfera, en la amabilidad de la gente, en el cielo estrellado. No busques duendes, busca paz, ¿sabes?
¿Cuánto cuesta el "sueño", porque los sueños suelen ser caros, ¿no?
Uh, sí, el "sueño" no es precisamente barato, pero a ver, ¿qué te da la vida? Yo soy de las que piensa que a veces hay que darse un lujo. Depende de la temporada, del tipo de habitación... Mira, te lo digo claro: no es para ir cada fin de semana, pero es para ahorrar y darte el capricho una vez al año, una vez cada dos años... Piensa que estás pagando por la experiencia completa, la desconexión, el servicio... A mí me pareció que valió cada centavo. ¿Te soy sincera? La primera vez, casi me da algo al ver la factura. Pero después, al volver a la vida real, me di cuenta de que me había recargado las pilas. Y eso, amigo, no tiene precio. O casi.
¿Qué se puede hacer ahí? ¿Solo contemplar el horizonte y ahogarse en el vacío existencial?
¡Jajaja! Buena pregunta. A ver, si quieres contemplar el horizonte y ahogarte en el vacío existencial, puedes hacerlo (y te diré que es *muy* satisfactorio con la vista que hay). Pero ¡no es lo único! Hay de todo, para todos los gustos. Senderismo, yoga (¡ay, el yoga con las vistas!), paseos a caballo (¡cuidado con las pompas!), clases de cocina (¡aprendí a hacer chile verde y casi lloro de emoción!), masajes... Y la piscina, ¡la piscina! A mí, me dio por leer y no hacer nada, excepto comer. El desayuno... ¡Dios mío, el desayuno! Y las cenas... Todo un festival. Eso sí, prepara el bolsillo y la ropa cómoda – y no te olvides de la crema solar. La altura es un demonio, a veces.
¿Y la comida? ¿Es todo "comida sana" de esas que te dejan con hambre?
¡Por favor, no! Casi me muero de desilusión si fuera así. La comida en Rancho Encantado fue una de las mejores cosas, bueno, la *mejor* experiencia. ¡Olvídense de la "comida sana" aburrida! Es comida... ¡de verdad! Platos locales, con sabores intensos, ingredientes frescos. Me acuerdo que la primera noche pedí chile rellenos... ¡Casi lloro de la felicidad! Y el pan... ¡Dios, el pan! Crujiente por fuera, suave por dentro... Y el vino... ¡Ay, el vino! Me dejé llevar. Comí como una reina. Y creo que subí dos kilos, pero... ¡valió la pena! ¿Mi consejo? Date todos los gustos. Después ya harás dieta, si quieres. Es que no te puedes ir sin probar el biscochito... es pecado no hacerlo. Pecado mortal.
¿Es para niños? Imagina a mi hijo, correteando por ahí...
Ummm... Depende del niño. A ver, no es un parque de atracciones, ni un hotel con toboganes. Es más para desconectar. Si tu hijo es de esos que necesitan estar todo el rato haciendo algo, quizá se aburra. Aunque, claro, hay espacio para correr, para explorar... Y los caballos, a los niños les encantan los caballos. Pero, en general, es más un lugar para relajarse y disfrutar de la tranquilidad. Yo he visto familias, pero no diría que es la prioridad. Si tu hijo necesita acción constante, o una Nintendo... mejor busca otro sitio. Aunque pensándolo bien... a lo mejor le vendría bien una desconexión también, ¿no? (Me lo planteo, eh?)
¿Hay wi-fi? Porque, ¿cómo voy a subir fotos a Instagram?
¡Ja, ja, ja! La pregunta del millón. Sí, hay Wi-Fi. Y funciona, más o menos. Pero te diré algo: Aprovecha para DESCONECTAR. Olvídate del móvil. Deja que la vida real suceda. Yo, al principio, era un manojo de nervios sin enterarme de donde estaba, pensando en responder a los mensajes, en subir fotos... Luego, lo mandé todo al carajo. ¿Las fotos? Luego las subes. Y créeme, las fotos no hacen justicia a la experiencia. Disfruta del momento. Respira. Mira las estrellas. ¡Eso es el paraíso, no un "me gusta" en Instagram! De hecho, la primera vez, dejé el móvil en la habitación y no lo toque en todo el fin de semana. Fue algo... liberador. Recomendado 100%.
¿Y si no me gusta? ¿Me sentiré estafado/a?
Mira, es que esto es muy personal. Depende de tus gustos, de lo que busques. Si vas buscando fiesta, discotecas y jaleo, olvídate. Si eres de los que necesita acción constante, tampoco. Pero si buscas paz, tranquilidad, naturaleza, buena comida, un servicio impecable... tienes muchas posibilidades de que te encante. ¿Estafado? No creo. Puede que sea caro, pero, normalmente, la calidad se paga. Yo, por ejemplo, soy muy maniática para la limpieza. Y allí, todo estaba impecable. La atención, perfecta. ¿Y si no te gusta? Bueno, siempre puedes decir que no era lo tuyo. Pero yo creo que es algo que vale la pena probar. Al menos, una vez en la vida. Y si no te gusta... ¡a otra cosa, mariposa! Pero estoyHotel Facils
