High Season Begins at La Posada de Taos

We've been busy in these recent weeks not only with lots of guests, but in preparation for an amazing High Season in Taos.   It's good to know that we're ready.  All the rooms have undergone a deep cleaning, all the old fixtures have been tightened and the 60-odd pots of flowers have begun to sprout.  Soon, the entire property will have blooms aplenty. 

On June 11, we'll be hosting our annual Texas Bar-B-Que.  It's a time when we thank all the locals who have contributed to or participated in our success.  Since coming to La Posada on May 1, 2008, the owners and Innkeepers have seen a meteoric rise in occupancy and our ranking on Trip Advisor and other travel sites has moved into the top spot among traditional Bed and Breakfasts in Taos.

As in the past, this year's event will feature amazing food prepared our two chefs, Michael Carter and Rochelle Woollard.  Because we love food so much, that's usually the star of the event.  Beef brisket, venison sausage, grilled chicken and all the trimmings to be sure.  Potato salad, cole slaw and pinto beans.  Yum.

If you'd like to join us, please give us a call at (800) 645-4803.  We'll save a seat at the table for you.  If you'd like to book a room and get the entire experience as part of your stay, check availability online or call your Innkeeper, Brad Malone. 

Only One Night in Taos? Sorry . . .

With only 6 rooms and one vacation rental, La Posada de Taos can't book 1-night stays in advance.  If we've got something open at the last minute, we can do it, but why take the chance?

Besides, one night in Taos isn't a good idea. 

There's too much to see and do.  If you're driving into Taos for a one-night stay, you're not going to get here until mid-day at the earliest.  This gives you about a half-day to visit the Pueblo and maybe do some gallery and shop-hopping.  You'll check into your B&B, go to dinner and come back for a nice restful night.  

The next morning you'll have an amazing breakfast and then what?  Check out is 11 am.  Oh, I'm sorry, you're leaving already?  Did you get to visit the Pueblo?  Did you get to the Harwood or Millicent Rogers Museums?  Did you visit the John Dunn Shops?  What about that horseback trip or the Hot Air Balloon Ride?  Did you drive the Enchanted Circle?  What did you think of the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge or the Wild Rivers Recreation Area?  Did you get to eat at Graham's Grille or El Meze or Lambert's?  Lunch at Lula's? 

I don't want to belabor the point, but Taos simply isn't the kind of place that offers much or caters to people who are in a hurry or just passing through.  Nothing personal, really.  Many of us stayed here or came here specifically to avoid moving at Mach IX with our hair on fire.  If you're ready to quietly slow down, then you're in for a treat.  If not . . .

As D.H. Lawrence said, "Time moves differently here."  If you're in a hurry, you're just not going to enjoy Taos at all.  In fact, you're probably going to think that people here are rude or indifferent. 

Innkeeper Brad Malone and his Mother, Mary Malone at Taos Pueblo

 I said in my recent review of Taos Pueblo on TripAdvisor.com, that people rushing through Taos often experience a major disconnect.  The problem is that we believe in moving at the "Speed of Taos."  It's slower and much quieter than many are used to.

A recent guest experience says it all.  While visiting the Pueblo, they allowed themselves the opportunity to find a place to quietly sit and take in the scene.   They're not sure how long they sat there, but it was at least a half hour.  Finally, they got up and visited some of the shops and met some of the residents of the Pueblo.  As they put it, "Suddenly this entire new world opened up to us.  People were friendly and genuinely interested in not only telling their story, but learning ours."


Open your heart to the possibilities of what this place offers to those who stay.  Many guests to La Posada de Taos leave with an understanding that they'll need to come back to finish what they started.

That's Taos. 

Stay at a Real Bed & Breakfast

La Posada de Taos was the first B&B in Taos when it opened its doors almost 30 years ago.  Since that time it has remained continuously open and operating to offer its guests both Beds and Breakfasts each day.

La Posada de Taos always serves fresh-baked items at Breakfast

Why am I mentioning this?  Many people don't know it, but at least one of the "B&B's" at or near the top of Trip Advisor's Taos B&B page isn't a B&B at all.  Fact is that guests at that small Inn have to pay extra for breakfast, so most simply skip the extra expense.  Don't let their reviews fool you: if someone mentions they had breakfast at this non-B&B, they paid a boatload of extra cash for it.

Staying at that "other place" means missing out on one of the essential truths of a B&B:  that special time each morning when guests from all over the world gather in some of Taos' most historic homes and break bread together.

At La Posada de Taos and other members of the local Taos Association of Bed and Breakfast Inns (TABBI) we never charge extra for breakfast.  It's simply not done in our industry.

La Posada de Taos' Breakfast is included in the price of your room.

Be sure to ask when you're booking whether that price includes breakfast.  If the quoted price only includes the room with some other frilly-sounding stuff, call a B&B and compare.  

You get the beds, the breakfasts and all the other great stuff at one cost when you stay with us.  Don't let Trip Advisor's categories fool you.

Call your Innkeeper, Brad Malone today and ask him, "What's for breakfast, Brad?"  

Adventure Package: Horeseback Riding

Since we've announced our participation in the national B&B's Kick Gas Campaign, we've almost forgotten about the Adventure Package we're offering this year.  In previous posts we discussed the Hot Air Balloon Ride and the White Water Rafting.  Remember that once you're in Taos, you're going to be right where you need to be for these adventures.  No long drives anywhere else.


There are two primary venues for horseback riding in Taos:  the Taos Pueblo and the Taos Ski Valley.  The availability of either of these locations is going to be based on weather.  This time of year riding at the Ski Valley isn't possible because of the deep snow, but rides on the Pueblo are available as long as the weather's OK.


Earlier this year we took the ride on the Pueblo and it was fantastic.  Starting just outside the tiny community of Arroyo Seco, you enter the Pueblo from the west.  It's a more rustic experience here.  Because Pueblo land isn't generally fenced on the interior sections, the trails meander along the flat expanse just below the mountains and then approach the steep climbs.  Depending upon the length of your ride, the climbs up the steep slopes are for folks with lots of horse experience.


At the Taos Ski Valley the rides are nothing short of spectacular.  Nestled near the end of a beautiful Rocky Mountain Valley, TSV is known in the winter-time for its 'steeps,' the unbelievable runs coming down from over 12,000 feet to the base.  Horse trails don't generally follow the steeps.  They're on the opposite side of the valley and are not groomed (that's a little ski humor).  The experience is unbeatable because you get to ride -- the horses are doing most of the work.  Again depending upon the length of the trip you want, you and the guide will take a break somewhere along the way for a wonderful lunch.


Longer trips are available through the outfitter that include a chuck wagon dinner.  Although it's not part of La Posada's Adventure Package, we recommend that you consider this extension of your trip up the mountain slopes on horseback.


There are other venues available for horseback riding in the Taos area.  Since we're a fairly rural place, the number of horse farms and ranches allows for lots of choices.


When you're ready to do some more research, follow some of the links provided in this post and then give us a call at (800) 645-4803.  We're looking forward to providing lots of guests with an incredible horseback ride this summer in Taos.

Adventure Package Update

La Posada de Taos recently announced that we would be offering an Adventure Package that includes 4 nights in a premium room and your choice of one of the following:  White Water Rafting, Horseback Riding, or the Llama Trek.  For an additional $75 per person, guests can choose the Hot Air Balloon Ride through the Rio Grande Gorge outside Taos.

As the snow begins to melt in earnest and the Spring Storms bring wet snows to the region, the headwaters of the Rio Grande River will begin to rise and pick up speed heading south.  Located in the San Juan Mountains northwest of Taos, the headwaters this year will be fed by a snow pack that is well above average.  Huge storms have pounded the San Juan Mountains all winter long and more are expected to bring that needed moisture in the coming weeks.  Although snow pack in the immediate vicinity of Taos is only 80% of normal, that will not adversely impact the white water rafting season.


Simply put, the White Water Season is here NOW and it's time to come and see what all the fuss is about.  Here's a general video from Travel Guide New Mexico regarding Adventure Sports in Taos.

Another source of some great Taos Box White Water experience can be found in the following video:

Here's another particularly good video we love:

The White Water portion of the package is truly an exciting adventure and we wanted to fill in some details.  


1.   Any true package includes features that you cannot possibly buy separately for the same price or less elsewhere.  In this case, the individual costs of rooms plus white water rafting trips for 2 would range from $1,100 to $1,300.  Not only do we discount our rooms, but we discount the white water rafting trip and we pay the local lodger's tax.  Total savings for guests booking La Posada de Taos' Adventure Package is substantial.


2. Local white water companies do not guarantee any particular run of the Rio Grande in advance due to changing weather and water conditions.  Therefore, when you book with us, although we cannot guarantee the Taos Box is going to be available, the outfitter company does guarantee an amazing adventure somewhere in the nearby vicinity that will include some whitewater.  In our experience the need to change away from the Taos Box can be governed primarily by extreme high or low water conditions as well as extreme weather.  Although the need to change away from the box is rare, we believe in full disclosure.


3.  White Water Rafting is a sport.  This means that you need to be able to swim.  All Taos outfitters insist that those participating in this sport on their rafts must be able to assist in their own rescue.  Each person is provided with safety equipment including helmets, life vests and other gear the guide believes is necessary on the day of launch.

4.  Children under 12 are not allowed on these trips and age restrictions rise with water levels, so be sure to check with us regarding age limitations.  If you have children under 12, there are plenty of other white water choices right here in the vicinity for just about any age.

5.  La Posada de Taos' Premium rooms are large and comfy.   They have whirlpool style tubs and showers in the private bath.  Each room has a private entrance and a wood-burning kiva fireplace.  Each morning you will be provided with the full, multi-course breakfast prepared by one of our professional chefs and each day our housekeeping staff will refresh your room completely.  Your Innkeeper will serve as your Concierge during your stay, assisting you in making restaurant reservations and directing you to and from the Adventure.


If you're ready, give your Innkeeper, Brad Malone a call today:  (800) 645-4803.

La Posada de Taos Kicks Gas!

As part of the national Better Way to Stay Campaign sponsored by the Professional Association of Innkeepers International, La Posada de Taos Kicks Gas!

The B&B's Kick Gas promotion offers incentives to try a B&B for a change.  La Posada de Taos is offering two options: 

1. Book 4 or more nights and we'll give you a $50 gas card to enjoy driving either of the nationally listed scenic byways in our area: the Enchanted Circle or the High Road to Taos, 

or

2. Arrive in a Hybrid and we'll give you a $25 gas card. 

With gas prices through the roof, we're aware that many of our guests are feeling the pinch this year, so we're trying to add some value to an already remarkable stay at La Posada de Taos.  You'll still receive all the amenities we offer including the incredible multi-course gourmet breakfast, afternoon snack, free parking, free wi-fi, free DVD collection and our close-to-everything location.

Innkeeper Brad Malone is Ready for Your Call to La Posada de Taos

Give your Innkeeper, Brad Malone, a call at (800) 645-4803 and he'll set it all up for you.