Central Albuquerque Hotels

The first Crowne Plaza hotel in New Mexico opened summer 2011 after a full renovation of an existing property (the Hilton), and it offers 261 attractive guest rooms, all providing panoramic views over the city & surrounding mountains, and with modern features like sliding glass doors. Entrance is via a spacious adobe-style lobby decorated with Southwest artefacts; other highlights are a courtyard garden/pool/hot tub, extensive meeting/event facilities, a concierge level (10th to 12th floors), a large fitness center and three restaurants - the fine dining Ranchers Club, the lobby level StoneStreet and the Cantina lounge/bar. The Crowne Plaza has a central location in Albuquerque on the northeast side of the I-25/I-40 intersection.

Just off I-40 (12th St exit) towards the west side of Albuquerque, the handsome new (early 2009) Holiday Inn Express hotel offers 108 microwave/refrigerator equipped rooms & suites, free internet access, a 24 hour business center, pool, fitness center and free hot breakfast buffet. The Old Town district of Albuquerque is just about within walking distance, being 1.5 miles south; other places within a couple of miles are Rio Grande Plaza, Albuquerque Country Club and Albuquerque Convention Center. Right opposite the hotel, the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is the main source of information for New Mexico's 19 historic pueblos.

The Holiday Inn Express in midtown Albuquerque is a fully renovated building of 122 suites (57 single bed, 65 double bed), all nicely decorated in a modern style, and equipped with a kitchenette containing microwave & refrigerator. A complimentary shuttle is provided to places within a 5 mile radius and to Albuquerque International Airport, 7 miles south. The free Express Start breakfast includes hot ingredients like bacon and eggs; for other meals there are a few restaurants within 1 block, along Menaul Blvd NE, though not much else of interest in the vicinity - the hotel sits in an industrial area near the I-40/I-25 intersection.

The Candlewood Suites is a central Albuquerque hotel close to the I-25/I-40 junction, located at 3025 Menaul Blvd, which is 2 blocks north of I-40 exit 160, then 2 blocks west. The hotel has 3 floors and 122 large, modern suites, each with a full kitchen, CD/DVD player, dual phone lines and high speed internet connection. Snacks and light meals are available 24 hours a day from the on site convenience store, or full dining from one of at least six restaurants in the immediate vicinity. Guests may also cook food on the hotel's bbq grills.

Residence Inn Albuquerque has the older design for this brand, with the 112 suites divided into several two floor blocks separated by tree-lined walkways, and an outdoor pool at the center. The hotel is quite centrally located, a mile east of the I-25/I-40 junction, close to a good choice of shopping and dining. The guest rooms include a full kitchen, large work desk, fireplace and pull-out sofa bed; the larger layouts (penthouse suites) are spread over 2 storeys. Free drinks & snacks are served weekday evenings, plus a free hot breakfast every day.

At the southwest corner of the intersection of I-40 and Rio Grande Blvd NW (exit 157A) is the 174 room, 4 storey Best Western Rio Grande Inn - 3 blocks from Albuquerque's Old Town Plaza and a mile east of the wooded valley of the Rio Grande River. Also nearby is San Gabriel State Park and the Albuquerque Country Club. The inn has an on-site restaurant (the full service Albuquerque Grill), plus a cocktail lounge, and there are many more restaurants within half a mile. Leisure activities are based around the pool, which is outdoor in summer and covered in winter, together with a hot tub and exercise facility.

Located right next to the central I-40/I-25 intersection and 2 miles from the downtown area, Fairfield Inn Albuquerque University provides mid range accommodation within easy reach of all places in the city. University of New Mexico is 1.5 miles south. The inn shares some facilities with the adjacent Hilton Albuquerque hotel, including its restaurants, outdoor pool, fitness center and large conference center. Free expanded continental breakfast is available, and if any more choice for dining is needed there are plenty of restaurants a short distance away along Menaul Blvd.

Quality Inn & Suites is a central Albuquerque hotel, one block south of interstate 40 (exit 159A, 4th St), and a mile from the I-25 junction; Old Town Plaza, Albuquerque Zoo, Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and Albuquerque Aquarium, are just some of the many attractions within 2 miles. The chief amenities of the hotel are free airport shuttle, exercise room, free continental breakfast, outdoor pool and on-site restaurant. Besides the standard accommodations several suites are also available, featuring a microwave, refrigerator and separate sleeping/living area.

Suburban Extended Stay Hotel & Suites caters for long stay visitors to Albuquerque, and is located in the middle of town in a business district, close to the intersection of I-25 with I-40. The address is 2401 Wellesley Drive, one block north and then one block west of exit 160 (Carlisle Blvd) of I-40. All rooms include a kitchen area containing a microwave, refrigerator, stove and coffee maker. There are several restaurants and cocktail lounges nearby.

Low rates and a central location are the main advantages of Econo Lodge Downtown Albuquerque, a small (44 room), exterior corridor motel along old Route 66, half a mile from the Convention Center and other downtown locations. Accommodations are clean but basic, all containing a refrigerator and some with equipped with a microwave and private balcony. Other amenities are limited to free continental breakfast, free phone calls and a small outdoor pool. Pets are welcome

Adobe style Econo Lodge Old Town has a good reputation for its clean rooms, low rates, friendly staff and central location, along old Route 66 just a few blocks from Albuquerque's historic Old Town district, either side of Rio Grande Blvd. Some of the 43 rooms have a microwave & refrigerator; all are generally clean and quite large. The standard free continental breakfast is available, plus an indoor pool, hot tub and newsstand.

One of many budget motels along I-40 in midtown Albuquerque, the exterior corridor Rodeway Inn has the usual amenities of free continental breakfast, free phone calls, guest laundry and an outdoor pool plus sundeck, located at the rear of the property away from the main road (Menaul Blvd). Lunch and dinner can be purchased from a selection of fast food restaurants nearby, and the closest shopping center is Coronado Mall, 2.5 miles east. Pets are accepted, for a small fee.