WorldMark Taos

The decor is pure Southwest, and the carved doors echo the museum next door. That alone makes it worth staying here. It’s quiet, and restaurants and art galleries are an easy walk away. The staff were friendly and the service was great. Getting there takes some figuring out: Google Maps only gets you close, and you can see the sign only from the north entrance. The resort is behind the museum. We weren’t the only ones who turned into the apartments on the south side. The rooms are a little smaller than at regular WorldMark resorts, though not cramped, and there’s no range in the room. There’s a public kitchen off the billiards room with two large ranges and plenty of counter space, where we met some nice people. If you’re used to WorldMark, a few things may surprise you. It’s about an hour from the Cumbres and Toltec railroad, which is a must, and it’s also a great base for driving the Enchanted Circle, another must-see.

Lovely resort in a great spot, with great service. The one drawback was the fireplaces: some didn’t work, and others made the room smell like gas. Maintenance said they’re being replaced next year. Still worth staying.

The rooms are small, and some have Murphy beds. The kitchenette comes with a microwave, mini dishwasher, and dorm-size fridge. There’s nice scenery from the rooms, and restaurants and shops are very close, so it’s easy to get around on foot. You’ll need a car to go farther afield.

The room turned out to be a small suite with a Murphy bed, even though we’d reserved a studio because nothing better was available. As an owner, I expected better, and we were among the few rooms without a private porch. We called to ask about switching to a nicer room, but were told the whole place was booked, even though we saw very few people. It worked out okay because there’s a large community kitchen, plus a pool table, games, a pool, and a hot tub.