Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder

It may be fine as a stop if you’re visiting the casino, but I wouldn’t recommend it to families or for a longer stay. The property didn’t feel very kid-friendly, and the price didn’t feel justified. Our first visit was decent in some ways: the rooms were clean, spacious, and generally good, but the amenities were disappointing. There was only a small fridge and basic coffee maker in the room, with one microwave shared among all guests. Food at the property was extremely expensive, and breakfast wasn’t included. There wasn’t even a buffet option to buy.

I came to surprise one of my massage friends for his birthday, and ended up thinking this hotel would be a good choice if I come back. It was very clean, and the staff were friendly. I checked out a few minutes late and they were totally fine with it. Thanks for letting me stay three days. I tipped pretty well, really appreciate it, and I’ll be back soon.

Jason turned a reservation mix-up into a great stay. I’d booked a king room with a balcony for last Saturday, but we were given one without it. The front desk agent couldn’t fix it, so I asked for a manager. About five minutes after Jason came over and heard what happened, he had us in a lovely room overlooking the courtyard with the balcony we’d booked. This was my third time at Buffalo Thunder, and I’ve always found the hotel and casino fabulous. The staff are friendly and helpful, and the property is beautiful. Thanks again, Jason.

Breakfast was the one part that caught us off guard. The hotel doesn’t run its own buffet; breakfast is through the paid Iguana Café. Some days there’s a $28-per-person buffet, and other days it’s à la carte. We booked through Booking.com with breakfast included, but Hilton reimbursed just $20 per person per day, so we had to cover the difference ourselves. The rest of the stay felt like a proper resort. The property was well cared for and thoughtfully laid out, and we loved relaxing in the hot water tub. Our balcony room had mesmerizing mountain views, which were a highlight. It’s about 25 minutes from downtown Santa Fe, but we felt that was worth it. We really enjoyed our visit and would happily come back.