It probably goes without saying that fans of gaming will appreciate this place - the casino is pretty dazzling, at 61,000 square feet, with slot machines, gaming tables, and a large poker room. I'm actually not much for casinos, but I'm still impressed with the property as a whole, and because the gaming area is set well away from most of the property's other common areas (except for some of the nightlife options, which adjoin the gaming area), it's there for the taking, but barely noticeable if you don't look for it. In other words, the property strikes a nice balance between a gaming property and simply an attractive, luxury resort, and the management is exceedingly gay-friendly.
The rooms are stunning - spacious and contemporary with large windows or full balconies overlooking the dramatic scenery (many face the Sangre de Cristo mountains, as did the balcony of my room, from which I snapped this photo during what was about to become a wonderfully thunderous afternoon). Amenities include 37-inch flat-screen TVs, high-speed Internet, and sizable bathrooms with high-quality bath products. Rates are generally about 20% to 40% lower than what you'd pay at hotels with comparable rooms in downtown Santa Fe, and you have the advantage here of being close to the Santa Fe Opera, Los Alamos, Bandelier National Monument, and the "High Road" village of Chimayo.
