Great Hotels and Guesthouses in Santa Fe for GLBT Travelers

By Andrew Collins, About.com Guide

Developed a few years ago on the site of a venerable historic resort that had been closed for some years, Rancho Encantado (198 Hwy. 592, 505-988-9955) joined the luxe Four Seasons brand in summer 2012. The stunning property comprises 65 exceptionally luxurious suites set in groupings of adobe casitas spread out over hilly, 57-acre expanse of sagebrush and pinon trees in the Sangre de Cristo foothills. The property includes the outstanding Terra Restaurant, the supremely plush Spa at Encantado, a branch of downtown Santa Fe's renowned LewAllen art gallery, a yoga studio and fitness center, and a seasonal heated pool and hot tub. Although it's an unquestionably posh lodging, and rates reflect it, the pace at Encantado is utterly relaxing, and the staff is easy-going and helpful.

What sets this apart from other high-end properties around Santa Fe is the setting - it's 10 miles northeast of the Plaza up a quite rural highway beyond the artsy village of Tesuque, and most rooms afford views for many miles across the Rio Grande Valley and up into the Jemez and Sangre de Cristo mountains. And also the rooms themselves - they're enormous, starting at 630 square feet, and a kiva-style fireplace, private terrace or balcony (some of the terraces even have their own outdoor fireplaces), radiant-heated floors, massive bathrooms with deep soaking tubs and separate showers, a minibar stocked with clever and interesting snacks, flat-screen TVs with DVD/CD players, iPod docks, and both central heat/air and beam ceilings with fans. It's not a great choice if you wish to be in the thick of the action in historic Santa Fe, but its distance from town is what creates the great sense of spaciousness. And once you're here, you may very well not feel like leaving - at least not the first day or two.