How to Find Cheap Hotels in Taos, New Mexico

Taos, New Mexico is situated at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and is a major tourist attraction in the Southwest due to its musuems, art galleries, ethnic cuisine, recreational water activities and world-class skiing facilities.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Rental car
• Hotel reservation
• Plane tickets
• Computer
• Luggage
• Map

Know Your Destination

1. Feel the history. Archaeologists believe that the Taos Indians occupied this area long before Spanish explorers arrived in the 16th century. Some of the ancient ruins are believed to have been constructed between 1000 and 1450 A.D.
2. Hear the hum. Many residents and visitors to Taos claim to hear a low-frequency sound similar to that of a running diesel engine. The sound escapes detection by recording devices, and to date, no certain explanation of this phenomenon exists.
3. Notice the flag in the Taos Plaza. In 1861, the American flag was nailed to its pole to prevent Southern rebels from tearing it down. Congress later granted official permission to display the flag in this manner and Taos became the first--and still one of the only--U.S. locations in which the flag may be flown 24 hours a day.

Getting to Taos

4. Fly in to Albuquerque. Taos has a regional airport, but no commercial airlines service Taos directly. Albuquerque International Sunport (135 miles away) is serviced by American, Continental and Southwest airlines.
5. Map your driving route. Several interstate highways cross the state of New Mexico, including Interstate 25, Interstate 40 and Interstate 70.

Choose Your Accommodations

6. To book accommodations, contact AccommodationsTaos.com at [phone] or visit their Web site (see Resources below).
7. Stay in town. There are several charming B&Bs and Inns in the area that offer cheap accommodations.
8. Consider a vacation rental from a one-bedroom casita to an entire house. These accommodations can run less than a few hundred dollars per night.
9. Book a "Pillow and Powder" ski package to get the best Taos has to offer and save on accommodations.

Seek Out Primary Attractions

10. Visit Taos Pueblo, a living Indian village that has remained unchanged for centuries.
11. Brush up on Southwestern art at the Taos Art Museum, which houses collected works of several members of the Taos Society of Artists.
12. Stop by the Artesanos de Questa in nearby Questa. This cooperative features crafts by many local artisans, such as stained glass, woodwork, sculpture and more.