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.
Restaurants tend toward the casual, and none of them is a major reason to stay or visit here, given all the excellent ones in Santa Fe itself. But there are plenty of options, from buffets to the Route 66-inspired Turquoise Trail Bar & Grill to a handy branch of Starbucks. Hale Irwin and William Phillips developed the property's renowned Towa Golf Course, which consists of three nine-hole courses for now (with a fourth to planned down the road). And a full slate of spa treatments are offered at the property's fabulous Wo' P'in Spa, and there are also tennis courts, a well-equipped health club, a pool, and plenty more.
