Known first and foremost as a serene Japanese-style spa and baths nestled in the foothills 4 miles east of downtown, en route to Santa Fe Ski Area, Ten Thousand Waves (3451 Hyde Park Rd., 505-982-9304) also has a collection of simply furnished casitas and bungalows set along a slope beside the spa. These 12 artfully furnished lodgings with a minimalist aesthetic that matches the overall vibe of the spa range from relatively compact and simple units with queen tatami platform beds to spacious suites with full kitchens, fireplaces, and deep soaking tubs. All are sumptuous without feeling overdone, and decor often blends Asian and Southwestern elements. There's a good mix of amenities in each one, too - some have private patios and courtyards, and some lack cable TV (all have high-speed Internet).
Although you'll need a car to get anywhere from this secluded compound, the spa does have a small shop selling healthy snacks. A major reason guests stay here, of course, is to partake of body treatments and massages in the spa, which has long been one of the best in the state - known for a wide variety of massages as well as Ashi Anma Foot Massage, Deep Stone Massage, Yasuragi head and neck treatments, salt glows, Japanese organic facials, and more.
There are also seven private baths, which guests can reserve. Like all of the spa facilities, the baths are available to the general public as well - in fact, both have a strong following among Santa Fe locals, including outdoorsy types returning to town after a day of skiing or hiking in the nearby mountains; they also have a strong following within the GLBT community. There are also two public communal baths, one of them coed and the other for women only. Be aware that the communal baths are in no way a sexually charged scene, which isn't to say that they aren't quite social - they can be a fun place to meet locals and other visitors. And from all of the baths you're treated to amazing views of the mountains and, when the sun goes down, New Mexico's starry nights.
