Santa Fe Motel & Inn

I stayed at Casita Bonita mainly because it was close to the train station and previous guests raved about the burrito breakfast. I’d been looking forward to it so much that I even mentioned it to Brian when he checked me in. Nobody told me breakfast had changed to granola bars and yogurt. The website didn’t mention the change or list what was being served, and I wouldn’t have booked if I’d known. Breakfast sucked, and so did the toilet paper. We stay in boutique hotels often, and we were shocked they couldn’t spend another five dollars on decent rolls. I even told management I’d have paid a couple of bucks more. The casita itself was really nice, with a gas fireplace, rubber ducky, and sanitized items. It’s clear someone cares about making guests comfortable. That person may not be the one who chose to put motion cameras in the “private” patio areas. I don’t like feeling watched on vacation. Maybe it’s because of the rule against smoking within 25 feet of entrances, but the cameras record the street and sidewalks, so there’s no privacy outside. The place had a lot of rooms booked even in the off season. If they brought back the breakfast, got decent toilet paper, and let adult guests have privacy, this could be a consistent five-star property. In my experience, cost-cutting and security paranoia can point to bigger issues that should have been dealt with without harming the guest experience. Still, I had a pleasant stay. I wouldn’t have booked if I’d known about those problems, and I wouldn’t book again unless I knew they’d been fixed.

This was the best lodging of my cross-country trip, and such a great find. The price was fair and reasonable for a well-preserved time capsule of Santa Fe architecture and finishes. The staff were excellent at customer service, and not being asked for a surprise deposit at check-in made me feel like a trusted friend right away.

We stayed in September 2025, and the room was very clean. The staff were so pleasant and friendly, and my sister, who was visiting SF for the first time, thought the place felt very southwestern. We also really liked having a seating area outside under the tree. Breakfast was very good and thoughtfully put together. The only reason I didn’t give five stars is the location. If you’re older, it may not be as close to downtown SF as you expect, and it’s right off a very busy street. The price felt about right for SF. I’d stay again and have already told people how nice it is.

The welcome was lovely, with hot tea and cookies, and the staff were very friendly. A big tree stands outside the check-in area. The property has a two-story motel building and an inn-style building, connected with convenient parking. We stayed in Room #3, which is small but comfortable for two. It’s near the main entrance, so busy times bring some road noise, and we heard footsteps upstairs early one morning, but we slept well overall and the neighbors were quiet. The room had a TV, microwave, mini fridge, coffee maker, desk and chair, and small sofa. The bathroom is tiny but cute, and we appreciated the glass water bottles. There’s also a water fountain by check-in. Free breakfast is served in a separate room near reception, with a hot water dispenser and fireplace. It’s a cozy, convenient motel with reasonable prices, and it looked great even in the cold season. I can imagine it being even prettier in summer with greenery and coffee or breakfast outside. Step out the main entrance and you can see the mountains toward the end of the road. It’s 10-15 minutes to downtown Santa Fe and five minutes to the Railyards, and EV charging is available. We’d definitely return and highly recommend it to anyone visiting Santa Fe.