Tiara Del Sol Condos

We ended up adding a second night because we didn’t want to leave. It was a romantic, cozy, clean and relaxing place, tucked up on a little mountain but still close to downtown, and the view at night was spectacular. I hesitated to write a review, not because we had a bad experience, but because this place feels like a hidden gem. When wind knocked out the power for a few hours, the staff were kind, friendly and quick to respond. We didn’t mind the outage at all. I’ll definitely visit again. A+++.

The views from our second-floor condo were incredible. We could see Sierra Blanca and the Inn of the Mountain Gods, and that really made the stay. The rooms were clean, although the carpet looked dingy, which was understandable with people bringing snow and sleet in from the balcony during winter. The older furniture and kitchen appliances gave the condo a nostalgic feel, like visiting my grandmother in the ’80s and ’90s. It was our first stay in Ruidoso, and we enjoyed it. The condo stayed warm with its working heating system. The manager mentioned there were space heaters in the closet, but we never needed them. There’s also a working fireplace, with firewood available for $10, or you can bring your own. We didn’t use it. Towels were provided but a bit worn, so I’d bring my own next time. The kitchen worked well for cooking and storing food, and though the refrigerator was old, it kept everything cold. We also used the outdoor grill just outside our unit without any trouble. There was a suggestion that we take out our own garbage, but it wasn’t required. We did it to be courteous, since the maids have to go up and down the stairs. There’s lots of parking. The condo sits on top of a mountain, so the ground isn’t level. I saw a few older ladies having trouble walking down the sidewalk. The sidewalks were covered with snow salt for safety.

We arrived late and found that the three-bedroom condo we’d booked was actually a two-bedroom, which wasn’t what we needed. We’d reserved three days, and they were courteous enough to refund the other two. These are older buildings tucked into the mountains, with dated interiors, furniture and carpets. The views of the pine trees, mountains and valleys are beautiful and breathtaking.

The owner seemed like a good guy, but he needs to be stricter with the cleaning staff. We paid $245 and left disappointed. After being checked in 35 minutes late because the office was shut down, we found a terrible smell in the room and went out to buy air freshener and disinfectant. There were so many bugs that I didn’t feel comfortable, and at one point I asked my family if they wanted to go home. The dishes were filthy from previous users, and the top of the fridge looked like it hadn’t been wiped in months. The Dawn dish soap was almost green and had an awful texture. We cooked, but got so sick from how disgustingly dirty the dishes were. We couldn’t even shower there. The views were good, but I wouldn’t recommend this for a cozy getaway to gamble. We were there to celebrate the new year with some casino earnings. It wasn’t my best experience in Ruidoso, it was definitely my worst.