Anniversary Savings in January at La Posada de Taos

January at La Posada de Taos means our guests can take advantage of unique deals as part of our ongoing 30th Anniversary Celebration.

Crystal Clear Blue Skies at La Posada de Taos

Are you a skier?  Great!

You can ask for our Ski Week Deal.  We'll pick up your Ski Week Lessons at Taos Ski Valley -- a $99 value.

Discounted Lift Tickets.  Because we purchase Taos Ski Valley Lift Tickets via a wholesale agreement, we're able to pass that savings along to you.  Multi-Day passes are the best deal since we can pass along about $12 a day in savings directly to you.  Combine this offer with the Ski Week Deal and get an incredible stay no one else in Taos can offer.

Discounted Lodging.  During January we can offer you a 30% discount on lodging when you stay between January 16 and January 31.  This incredible savings can only be offered during that time to a limited number of guests, so consider booking soon to take advantage of this deal.  Sorry, we can't combine this offer with any other discounts.

Rocky Mountain Powdery Snow at La Posada de Taos

Finally, if you're interested in a different form of adventure during your stay in Taos, consider taking advantage of our Balloon Adventure Package.  When you book three or more nights with us, we'll set up a discount on the one-of-a-kind flight through the Taos Rio Grande Gorge outside of town on Pueblo Balloons.  Regularly Priced $250 to $300 per person, our price $200 per person.

Ballooning in Taos is a One-of-a-Kind Experience

 Call today to Book with us and take advantage of one of these deals:  (800) 645-4803

Christmas at La Posada de Taos

Christmas in Taos!  It's a special time in a special place.

At La Posada de Taos we simply don't hold back in any way.  On Christmas Eve, for example, we provide our guests, close friends and neighbors with an Open House immediately following the festivities at the Taos Pueblo.  With the house decorated for the holiday inside and out, we open our doors for a traditional New Mexico feast that includes foods and treats prepared by Chef's Rochelle and Michael.

With heavy snow already accumulating in the mountains around Taos, we're bound to have a White Christmas here as well.

A Snow-Covered Front Courtyard at La Posada de Taos

 This year's festivities will also include a special Christmas morning treat for our guests -- but it's a surprise, so I can say anything more. 

As of the time I write this entry, we have three rooms open for guests on Christmas.  Sorry, the week after is completely booked up, but if you're wanting some skiing along with your Christmas, consider La Posada de Taos as your perfect home away from home.

Embrace the Climate You're In

Winter in Taos has been variously described as "magical" and "surprising."  But, what does it mean to your Innkeepers as former denizens of the sub-tropics of Florida and far Southern Texas? 

We have chosen to "Embrace the Climate We're In."  And we're convinced that you will find something special if you join us this Winter.

There are two key ingredients to remember:

Magical:  Snow in Taos is Rocky Mountain powder.  It's so small as to be almost "not there" since its moisture content averages around 7%.  This means that if I'm a good worker-bee Innkeeper, I can sweep the snow off the front courtyard with a broom.  Of course, if more than a few inches of snow has fallen overnight, I'll get out and shovel it.  But shoveling a few inches of snow in Taos is almost like shoveling feathers.  

Surprising:  Winter storms in Northern New Mexico typically ride the Jet Stream, meaning they move fast.  Remember that Taos averages over 300 days of sunshine a year, so it's very rare for a winter storm to linger here more than a day or so.  

As the storms break and ride away to points east, the skies open up to the incredible azure blue the artists found over a century ago.  These are the Bluebird Days and as Taos is blanketed with powdery white snow, the seemingly endless days of blue skies and brilliant sunshine bring warmth to the soul.  

The towering mountains above town remain covered as the dry snow evaporates around town and we celebrate Winter with a gusto.  It's ABOVE town where we go for Downhill and Cross-Country Skiing.

It's important to note that "cold" applies to nights in Taos, but rarely to the days.  Three layers of clothing is all you'll ever need:  a wicking layer next to your skin, a mid-layer such as a polar-tech type pullover and a heavier coat if you're going to be out and about during the snowfall or after sunset.  Gloves are nice and we always recommend a warm hat for your head.

Finally, Taos has an aggressive snow removal program on all its streets.  All roads leading into Taos are "lifelines" meaning that they are cleared as quickly as possible.  It is rare for any road into or out of Taos to be closed due to snow for more than the briefest periods of time.  Even the tiny one-lane street leading into La Posada de Taos is cleared during and after every snowfall.  

Snow never paralyzes Taos.  In fact, last winter during a relative drought between storms, we all started longing for a big storm.  It's a normal part of the cycle that we all live here and we love it dearly.

In the next couple of weeks, La Posada de Taos will be announcing its Winter Adventure Packages that will consist of columns of choices.  Each item will be discounted anywhere from 10 to 25% off the retail price you would pay if purchased on your own.  As you consider something to do this Winter, think about the magical and surprising Town of Taos and all that La Posada de Taos can offer.

Hiking For Everyone! Hundreds of Miles of National Forest Trails.

If you've already visited us in Taos this year, we hope you found your way back home safe and sound.  New Mexico certainly made news headlines for a few weeks while the horrific fires burned far to our south.  Although the fires were far, far away, the Forest Service closed them as far north as Taos as a safety precaution.  Our relatively wet Spring had given us some moisture compared to those places around Los Alamos and Santa Fe that are still closed because of both fire damage and continuing fire danger.

But for those of you who are yet to come to Taos, we wanted to let you know that much still awaits anyone wanting to come. 

The dry weather pattern that seemed to have persisted across the State of New Mexico for so many months has finally broken and the seasonal "monsoons" have arrived.  Daily showers can be seen building above town in the mountains and they might occasionally drift this way or that, so we're never really sure whether we'll get rain in town.  You can be assured, however, that if you're above 10,000 feet anywhere in the Southern Rockies these days, you're most likely going to get very wet and cold.

The National Forests in and around the immediate vicinity of Taos have been reopened, meaning that all the best hiking and biking trails are ready for you to visit.  Additionally, all of the Taos Ski Valley venues are wide open as well, including the most popular Williams Lake Trail.  Some of our guests reported a light dosing of "gropel" the other day -- very light snow that resembles styro-foam.  They enjoyed the experience.

If you're coming to hike during monsoon season, leave right after breakfast, pack lots of water, sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, food and (did I mention?) water.  More water, in fact, than you think you'll need.  Altitude can quickly dehydrate anyone.

A View of Taos Mountain from La Posada de Taos

Schedule your return to your car for no later than 3:30 PM each day.  That's about the time that locally heavy rain or snow might visit the higher trails.  The more intense any particular thunderstorm may become, the colder the temperatures it will deliver to any section of the higher mountain terrain.  So, don't risk ruining a great day -- come on back down to Taos where it might be sunny and warm or we might be having a brief shower.

La Posada has also had a Day Hikes for Guests of La Posada de Taos book printed that features some of the finest choices for hiking if you're just here for a couple or three days.  If you have time, review it once you've arrived.  It's terrific.

Northern New Mexico Sky Early Afternoon July 21, 2011

 August is a joyous time in Taos when the monsoons can keep things cool for everyone while so much of the country bakes in 100+ degree temperatures.   That kind of heat is virtually unheard of in Taos, so plan on coming to the mountains for a cool time.

Hiking, horseback riding, and llama trekking await you!

What is the Taos Pueblo?

It's hard to summarize in a blog just exactly what the Taos Pueblo is, but I'm going to try.  

First, it is a World Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO as one of those places that all of us have a duty to preserve.  Take a few minutes to read the "official" description as to why Taos Pueblo is such a special place.

Second, Taos Pueblo is the only inhabited World Heritage Site in the United States.  This means that in addition to all those incredible things that make it a World Heritage Site, it is also a place that many people call home.  

Third, the people of the Taos Pueblo are nothing short of a treasure.  They have worked tirelessly over the decades of American rule to preserve their heritage while also being citizens of the United States.  Taos Indians have long been known to be the best type of friends anyone can have and their allegiance to our country in the form of the ultimate sacrifice is legendary.

Finally, the five story structures made of adobe are the oldest continuously inhabited structures in North America.   When the Spanish Conquistadors arrived 500 years ago, the buildings had already been standing for 500 years.  Yes, right here in Taos on the Pueblo are 1000 year-old homes.

I'll revisit this topic from time to time in the future. My Mom and I visited there on a beautiful early Spring day in March and fell in love with this incredible place all over again.



In the meantime, I encourage you to read my reviews on TripAdvisor.com regarding the Pueblo.  I can assure you that anyone posting a negative review is simply confused at the difference between an ancient people's ancestral home and Disney World.  

Visit their website and plan a trip to Taos.  You'll be welcome with open arms.

New Adventure Package Makes It Easier to Stay

We're pleased to announce our updated Adventure Package for the 2011 Season that makes it easier than ever to stay at a top-ranked B&B in Taos and get unmatched savings on a white water trip, a horseback ride, a llama trek or even a hot air balloon ride.

Firing the Hot Air Balloon Prior to Launch

When you book 3 or more nights, double occupancy at $275 per night, we'll throw in one of the adventures of a lifetime that await you here in Taos.

Flying the Rio Grande Gorge -- La Posada de Taos and Pueblo Balloon Team Up for the Ride of a Lifetime!

 Of course, as you can see from these photos courtesy Pueblo Balloon Company, we recommend that you include the Hot Air Balloon Flight through the Rio Grande Gorge as your choice of adventures.

Preparing to Land on the West Mesa Outside Taos

 Give your Innkeeper, Brad Malone, a call to get more information.  (800) 645-4803. La Posada de Taos.

A Beautiful Spring Snowfall

It's a little-known secret that the Southern Rocky Mountains receive most of their snow-laden moisture in the Spring months of March, April and May.  The relatively dry winter left us all wondering if the Spring would bring its bounty.


The answer has been "Yes."  Our friends at Taos Ski Valley have reported several feet of heavy wet snow in the last few weeks.  Too bad the lifts are closed.


But the moisture does bode well for the river running we so enjoy.


White water, anyone?

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 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.

Spring Has Sprung at La Posada de Taos

The daffodil blooms are about to burst.  The crocus are showing off.  The soil is slowly warming up here in Taos and we're excited that Spring has really arrived.

It's kind of wonderful since we're planning our Summer Chef's Garden already.  We're trying to hold back since we know that being at 7000 feet means that Spring may be more of a concept right now than a fact.

Believe it not Spring in Taos is a Rocky Mountain Spring.  Meaning that at any time a little storm could come flying overhead and dump several inches -- or a foot -- of snow here in town.

Two years ago Michael and I drove to a little town outside San Antonio, Texas to visit my extended family for Easter.  It was such a beautiful trip.  Leaving Taos the giant herds of elk had already migrated down into the Moreno Valley east of Taos.  Geese and ducks could be seen flying their "vees" north.  We saw Bald Eagles and giant flocks of Sand Hill Cranes along the way. Down in Texas the trees were green and the bluebonnets were peaking.

On our way back to New Mexico, we camped overnight in Garner State Park in our tent and sleeping bags.  It was warm!  Foxes were chasing rabbits through our campsite and we were glad to have some ice-cold drinks for dinner.

Not being in a hurry, we visited our dear friends, Shaan and Collen at Casa Cuma B&B in Santa Fe for a night and took care of some B&B business before heading home early the next morning.  It was a little cool that morning in Santa Fe, but nothing signaled what we were about to encounter.

When we're on our way home after a long trip, we always take the so-called Low Road to Taos.  This means taking State Highway 68 from Espanola north and east through the beginnings of the Rio Grande Gorge.  About 10 miles north of Espanola you start following a carefully engineered road that hugs the twisty Rio Grande river channel.  About 10 more miles along the river, steep cliff faces begin to rise along the road.  Finally, as you prepare to come up into the San Luis Valley, home of Taos, you make one final climb up and out into a breathtaking view of the giant crack in the Earth that is the Rio Grande Gorge.

On this day in the 3rd week of April, 2009 we drove north knowing that home and our own warm bed would be awaiting us after two weeks away.  As the road began shadowing the Rio Grande we noticed something odd for late April:  southbound cars were covered with snow.  In fact, the farther north we drove, the more snow there seemed to be on passing cars.  By the time we started up the last hill out of the gorge, some cars had as much as a foot of snow on them.

We looked at each other.  We looked at the cars.  We looked back at each other and both of us busted out laughing.  The tent and sleeping bags we had just used two nights before in the Texas Hill Country obviously were immediately going into storage.

Climbing up and out into the valley with Taos off in the distance, we were awestruck.  The whole San Luis Valley was covered with the pristine white of freshly fallen snow.  The steep walls of the Rio Grande Gorge held ledges of snow accentuating its depth and majesty.

This year hasn't brought the heavy spring snows yet.  We're kind of melancholy about it.  Historically, the Southern Rockies receive the majority of their snowfall and almost all of their snow-sourced moisture in March and April.  It hasn't happened yet and long-term forecasts are for that trend to continue into the summer.

Not to worry, experts say that the snow-pack as of early March was just below average.  The rivers will run and the adventure sports will continue.  Plus -- and here's the big one for our guests -- the weather is absolutely spectacular.  I mean day after day after day of cool, crisp mornings followed by 60 degree afternoons.  It's really special.

We'll be taking our first white water trips in a few weeks.  Why don't you come join us?  La Posada de Taos awaits. . . 

Hot Air Ballooning in Taos: A Once in a Lifetime Adventure

Have you ever imagined a balloon trip where the main thrill

is going down instead of up?

We're very excited to be offering this year's Adventure Package featuring a hot air balloon adventure on Pueblo Balloons.  It's an amazing opportunity to experience something that few ever get to see or do.

A balloon adventure in Taos can truly be described as one-of-a-kind.  Where else in the world can you fly down?  Really. 

Innkeeper and La Posada de Taos' Chef Michael Carter Prepares for the Flight

Just outside Taos where hot air balloons fly just about every day sits a huge volcanic rift known as the Rio Grande Gorge.  Located at the bottom of the virtually flat San Luis Valley, the Gorge is quite a sight. Each morning just after sunrise, balloons launch near the rim of the Gorge and ride a cool, sinking current of air into that giant crack in the Earth.

Flying in the Rio Grande Gorge (Photo Courtesy Pueblo Balloons)

As the balloon sinks the pilot guides it down to the Rio Grande River where riders are treated to various forms of "baptism."  Pilots are known to simply skim the bottom of the basket along the top of the water or to allow it to sink slightly below the surface for a "Splash and Dash." 

Because the bottom of the Gorge slowly drops in elevation as it meanders south just outside Taos, the current of air takes the balloon slowly beneath the towering cliffs.  Ranging from several hundred to almost 1000 feet, the walls of the Gorge are impressive volcanic formations.

Flying Just Above the River in the Rio Grande Gorge

Before you know, however, it'll be time to pop up and gain altitude to get a magnificent view not only of that incredible rift, but of the towering Sangre de Christo Mountains of the Southern Rocky Mountain Chain.

Flying Above the Rio Grande Gorge

La Posada de Taos' Hot Air Balloon Adventure Package offers you a deal you can't get anywhere else:  4 Nights in a Premium Room at Taos' Top-Ranked B&B, all the amenities we offer plus a once-in-a-lifetime Hot Air Balloon Ride through the Rio Grande Gorge.  Because this is a Package Deal, you save over $250 by booking it directly with us.

Give Innkeeper Brad Malone a call to book your Adventure today:  (800) 645-4803.

Don't Be Fooled: Book Your Rooms Directly With La Posada de Taos

The Message:  if you want the most accurate information about availability at La Posada de Taos with the best pricing we offer, give us a call at (800) 645-4803 or visit our website at laposadadetaos.com.

La Posada de Taos Late Afternoon in Winter

 
Expedia.com, hotels.com, travelocity.com, kayak, and hotwire.com all claim to have the most comprehensive listings and the best priced lodging on the Internet.  Then why do they tell those surfing their sites that La Posada de Taos has nothing available when we have open room nights?  

Simply put, we provide services to our guests.  We care about the quality of each and every form of that service we provide.  The booking sites sell "products" that mean only dollar signs to them.

In recent years various online booking "portals" have been created for folks to make lodging reservations just about anywhere in the world.  These sites claim to have all of the information you need to allow you to make discount reservations in places such as Taos, New Mexico.

The problem is that these sites don't even begin to offer all that's out there -- especially at small B&B's or boutique Inns such as ours.  

Until recently, La Posada de Taos participated directly with these online reservation sites, allowing guests to find us at hotels.com, expedia.com, travelocity, and others.  These sites were all linked into information we provided to BedandBreakfast.com.  

Our research indicated that guests who found us through those sites typically went ahead and looked directly at our website or called us.  They sometimes booked through the larger company, but most people found that the best deals were offered directly through us -- not through a 3rd party reseller.

We frequently visited those sites ourselves and found the information they had posted about La Posada de Taos contained critical errors and omissions, often to the detriment of the guests themselves.  For example, stating that breakfast was not included in the price of the rooms (we're a bed and BREAKFAST, so the price includes the full, multi-course breakfast) or that the rooms did not contain features that are standard here at La Posada.  Guests were confused about check-in and check-out times or they did not know that there were specific limitations on the number of guests that each room can safely and comfortably accommodate.

We and all the others using these 3rd party resellers, had to pay hefty commissions.  By the time we discounted their commission off of our rate, the real savings for guests was negligible or non-existent.  

Their inventory systems did not match up with ours and we sometimes ended up with double bookings.  In each case, we and we alone offered the guest a goodwill gesture of arranging upgraded accommodations for them at another local B&B.

When we left this system about a month ago, we joined a new network known as "GDS" that we hope will offer up-to-date and accurate information for anyone wishing to book rooms with La Posada deTaos.  That system should be up and running in a few weeks.  In the meantime, visit our online booking portal or call us directly, please.

If you visit one of these monster online 3rd-party companies and look for La Posada de Taos, they will tell you that we have no availability.  That's nice information but it is dead wrong.  In fact, it's deliberately false information designed to get you to book with a hotel or B&B that's paying the 25 or 30% commission to that 3rd party.  David v. Goliath.

La Posada de Taos Offers Homemade Fare Each Morning

So, give us a call, won't you?  We'll offer you competitive rates based on the value of the services we offer:  full, professionally-prepared, multi-course, gourmet breakfast; 600-thread-count sheets; concierge services, DVD collection, jetted tubs in premium rooms; privacy; close-in access to all the amenties offered by Taos itself; free parking; free wi-fi; free waters, sodas and teas.  All in one price that you won't find anywhere else through any online re-seller.

White Water Rafting: Just One Reason We Settled Here

My first white water experience was over 20 years ago on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, just outside Salmon, Idaho.  It was a short half-day trip that launched just outside town and followed the river along some Class I and II rapids, but culminating in a wonderful Class III+ rapid where everyone got wet and then we pulled out of the river.

Five years later, I was invited to go on a trip down the Wild and Scenic Wilderness section of the Chama River in Northern New Mexico.  I was hooked!  

A View from Alongside the Rio Chama by Brad Malone

Shortly after moving to New Mexico permanently in 2005, Michael and I were invited on a trip down the Chama in mid-April.  Spring weather being what it is in Northern New Mexico, we started out on a beautiful sunny day, set up camp alongside the river as the skies turned overcast and woke up the next morning with about 8" of snow on the ground.

Being old hands at back-country camping, Michael and I had the right clothing and the right tent and sleeping bags.  The friends who had invited us along for this first trip had all the rest of the gear, including a portable kitchen and shelter for breakfast.  

That first morning alongside the Rio Chama, high in the back country, Michael sprung a surprise on our hosts.  He produced all the ingredients for an amazing gourmet breakfast and then proceeded to shoo us all away while he made blueberry buttermilk pancakes, bacon and sausage, along with fresh fruits and juices.  I was jokingly told by one friend that Michael would always be welcome on their white water trips, but I was another story.  Only after I completely cleaned up and put everything away did I earn my right to future invitations.

Since that time, we've spent a lot of time on the Chama River.  If you want an extended white water adventure, that is one of the destinations you can book from the outfitters here in Taos.  The drive over to the "put-in" is about an hour west of us.  The river flows south through an ever-deepening canyon that becomes a gorge lined with sandstone walls.  After about 30 miles or so, you suddenly come upon the amazing Christ of the Desert Monastery, a Benedictine enclave alongside the river (and the subject of a future discussion in this blog).

Walls of the Piedre Lumbre by Brad Malone

 At the Monastery, the walls of the canyon begin to open up dramatically into what is now commonly called "O'Keefe Country" where Georgia O'Keefe lived and painted for so many years in the 20th Century.  Layers of red, orange, yellow and even green stone shine above the plain where the Chama River forms Class II and III rapids.

Skull Bridge Rapid on the Rio Chama by Brad Malone

 In my next entry, I'll write about the Taos Box along the Rio Grande and the trips you can take on that white water as part of the Adventure Package La Posada de Taos is offering this year.

What To Do In Taos: Downhill Skiing

For all entries in the "What To Do" Series, my personal and professional bias as an Innkeeper is clearly going to show through.  Please use the links in each individual category to get more comprehensive information. 

Taos Ski Valley Photo by Michael Carter, Chef and Innkeeper at La Posada de Taos in 2010

Downhill Skiing 

Taos Ski Valley is the grand-daddy of all ski resorts in the entire State of New Mexico.  It is the only ski destination in the state that is routinely listed in rankings of the nation's top ski resorts.including rankings by skiers themselves in Ski Magazine.  There are two primary places to start for complete information: 

Taos Ski Valley
Taos Ski Valley Chamber of Commerce 

The ski season at TSV typically runs from Thanksgiving Day through the first weekend of April.  Although the opening day may be delayed due to snow conditions, the closing day is never beyond that first Sunday of April. 

La Posada de Taos offers various Ski Packages during the season for our guests -- all of them involve lifts or ski schools for Taos Ski Valley only.  For example, this year our Lifts and Lodging Package offers guests 3 nights in a premium room (king bed, whirlpool-style bathtub, and wood-burning fireplace) plus 2 each 2-day lift tickets to TSV for $240 per night, double occupancy.  We also will be participating in the final discounted ski week package promoted by TSV.  In that program, if you book six nights with us, you'll get six days (that's right, 6 days!) of ski lessons at TSV for FREE!  This last promotional package is only available during the last week of March 2011.

Taos Ski Valley is known as a "Skiers Mountain."  To me this means that the resort is focused solely on the skiing experience.  Although there are shops and clubs where you can enjoy apres ski activities, they are not the focus of what is offered.

Being a Skiers Mountain also means that the Ski and Snowboard Schools at TSV are among the best.  The Children's Learning Center is one of the largest buildings at TSV and the adult and teen schools are simply incredible.  If you bring your children to Taos to learn, they will be able to enjoy the sport anywhere in the world.  The schools really are that good!

However, being a Skiers Mountain does NOT mean that TSV isn't a great place to snowboard.  Since the resort allowed boarders for the first time just a few short years ago, the mountain has become home to many who love to shred.  All the hoopla about folks not getting along simply has not come to pass.  In fact, because the average age of the snowboard crowd continues to climb each year, the mountain tends to be populate with lots of 30-something boarders but even younger skiers. 

There is a myth that Taos is "too hard" to ski for the novice.  Not true.  I finally learned to ski at TSV in January.   The amount of beginner terrain that I haven't even seen yet is unbelievable.  There is a lot of terrain and the green (beginner) and blue (intermediate) runs are extensive.  The ski-able terrain is simply massive and the wonderful easier runs wind back and forth down the contours of the mountain.

The black (expert) and double-black (insane) runs at TSV are also extensive and are the reason why so many folks are intimidated by the resort.  It's true that the blacks and double-blacks at TSV are challenging, but that's what their rating implies.  These more difficult runs are really why Taos is famous in the Ski World.  Only Jackson Hole has more vertical drop than TSV.  It's where the hard-core skier can come and really test their mettle.

With an average of 305"  of powdery white snow each season, TSV will still get close to 200" in a "bad" year.  In other words, unless you're looking to jump off one of the double-blacks, there's always going to be lots and lots of greens, blues and blacks available to ski.

I realize that I've completely ignored the other ski destination in our area and I promise that I will try to get back to describing them next season.  Each has its own merits and each is a place you should look into for an easy-going Family Trip.  Here are the links.

Angel Fire
Red River
Sipapu
Ski Santa Fe
Pajarito (Los Alamos)

Angel Fire, Red River and Sipapu are all within 45 minutes of the Town of Taos.  Pajarito Ski Basin is above Los Alamos while Ski Santa Fe is 18 miles above Santa Fe proper, thus making it the farthest drive.

What to do in Taos

A proper answer to the question originates from two key pieces of information:  how long are you here and what are you most interested in.

In this first entry I'm simply going to list things and provide links.  If you need more information, please search the blog by keyword for later entries or please contact me directly via telephone (800) 645-4803, e-mail or our Ask the Innkeeper feature from our website.

One Night:
Because La Posada de Taos has only six guest rooms, we cannot take advance reservations for one-night stays.  We understand that you might not be able to stay more than one night and we really wish that we could be included in your advance planning.  

We do take single-night stays, but they are only if an available room is booked within a day or two of the actual stay.  We recommend that you read the reviews of various places on TripAdvisor.com for Taos County and that you then pick ONE thing from the lists below.

Two Nights or More:
1. Arrive in the early afternoon and visit the Taos Pueblo.  Be sure to call ahead to confirm they are open.  The Taos Pueblo Tourism Office phone number is (575) 758-1028.

2. Arrive at La Posada de Taos during check-in time between 4 and 6 pm.  If you haven't already made dinner reservations, be sure to ask me about the menus and our recommendations for choices in and immediately around Taos Plaza.  If it's a holiday weekend, you'll need to do this BEFORE coming to Taos.

3.  Stroll over to Taos Plaza and visit shops and galleries and find your dinner destination. We don't recommend that you drive on your first night -- just relax and stay close to home.  There are at least two venues that feature live music each night within a 5 minute stroll of La Posada.

4. Next Day: Pick One . . . or Two . . . or More

Museums and the Arts: We always recommend that you visit members of the Museum Association of Taos where you can buy a single pass that will get you into all of them.  But, if you only have time to get to one museum, pick one of these three:  The Harwood Museum of Art, The Taos Art Museum or the Millicent Rogers Museum. 

Eco-Tourism:  If museums aren't your thing, then there are more eco-adventures here than you can possibly complete in a week:

Downhill Skiing  -- there are 4 ski resorts close by
Cross-Country Skiing -- both public and private areas open
White Water Rafting -- there are a dozen whitewater outfitters here
Horseback Riding -- there are several horse outfitters here
Llama Trekking - National Geographic Magazine's Bucket List
Hiking -- easy to difficult
Hot Air Ballooning -- there are several ballooning companies here
Mountain Biking -- miles and miles of world-class trails
Golfing -- Taos Country Club or in Angel Fire

Driving Tours:  if you want to see some beautiful scenery, we have two of the country's most scenic drives right here.

The High Road to Taos
The Enchanted Circle

Shopping:  Taos has lots of small shops and galleries where local artists and artisans have their world-class creations on sale.  Almost all of these businesses are within an easy walk of La Posada de Taos.

Workshops and Classes:  Taos has a thriving community of Master Artists, including painters, sculptors, potters, jewelry makers, and chefs who teach their craft.  Although we're working on making a single clearinghouse for these classes available to our guests, we recommend that you contact galleries directly for art classes. 

Spas:  There are dozens of businesses in Taos dedicated to top-notch spa services.  We recommend that you start with the Taos Vacation Guide listing as a reference of what' available.

During 2011, La Posada de Taos will be offering Cooking Classes to its guests upon Request.  Costs will vary based upon themes and number of students.

Special Events, Festivals, Openings, Etc.: there are whole calanders full of things such as this weekend's Taos Shortz Film Festival or Independent Films at the Taos Community Auditorium or any number of incredible winter events at the world-class Taos Ski Valley Resort.

Complete Listings:  You can find the best listings of things to do and special events at the Taos County Chamber of Commerce and the Taos Vacation Guide.  The Taos Ski Valley Chamber of Commerce also works hard to provide up-to-date information. 



5.  Repeat to Your Heart's Content or as Time Allows

6.  Come back on work on the list a little more.

Observations On Time

I'll be 49 this Sunday.  I've got time on my mind.  Taos Time, that is.  Others have noticed well before me --notably D.H. Lawrence -- that time moves differently here.

Locals in Taos seem to barely accept the measures of time that the world at large has adopted.  Watches are virtually never worn here.  Business hours of the shops and galleries in town rarely seem to be according to any kind of schedule.  In fact, it's common to see a sign on the door saying what the hours "might be" with an explanation that the shopkeeper is out _______________ (fill in the blank). 

Around these parts, we sometimes like to say "Carpe Manana."  It's not a complete disregard of the standards of time.  The time to do something will eventually arrive, but it's probably not right now.  It's more like an acknowledgment that perhaps we all need to slow down a little.  In other cases it's just another way of saying "No."

I've noticed that many of us in Taos have set our body clocks to the cycles that nature provides.  We rise with the sun, for example.  Who would want to miss that glorious sunrise over the foothills of the Sangre de Christos on the outskirts of town each morning?  The middle of the day involves running errands and performing chores while the sun is high in the sky.  

Fact is, I rely upon a natural rhythm to do my job well.  Working 7-days a week as an Innkeeper, sometimes 12 to 16 hours a day, I'm best when I'm "in the rhythm of Taos."  It may be next week that I get a day off or it may be 3 months from now, so a natural cyclic rhythm is essential.  

I have to admit that it's no small help that I love my job.  It's just that if I measured the hours or the days. . . let's just say it wouldn't work.

But let's take a less concrete perspective.  I encourage you to jump into the realm of the abstract with me.  

Most of us think of time as the clock or the calendar -- in other words, a construct that people have invented to assist in commerce, mark religious observances or to otherwise organize their lives.  These measures of time, however, rely upon an element of faith that everyone else will observe the same rules of time as you.

Step back from the clock and calendar.  People are believed to have moved to Taos permanently about 1000 years ago.  A millennium ago.  They have farmed the land, built homes, lived and died here for centuries.  Each successive generation built where their ancestors lived and each passing season has brought the Story of Taos to the present.  

To be in Taos is to move both forward and backward across time.  D.H. Lawrence notwithstanding, as a first-time visitor you need to surrender to this aspect of Taos.  Take that watch off, please.

In the Native American tradition, time may be thought of as seasons and generations -- in most ways it is explained in their traditional stories.  There are no mentions of years or months.  If you think of time as a continuum composed of your ancestors, your understanding of the world around you shifts doesn't it?  If you think of time as successive seasons, you can understand it without trying to remember the name of the year or the month.  Time has more context than a date.

In Taos, time might be thought of as the ground you stand on.   Layers of life and of dirt, sand, and rock beneath you measure time.  In a place like Taos, the layers of life spanning back a thousand years might be just at the surface, or they may be buried under mankind's intentional efforts to cover over the past.  

In a place as old as Taos, digging in the dirt is tantamount to unearthing a time machine.   

I think you get my point:  let yourself experience a time shift in Taos.  Don't worry.  Those measures of time you left behind beyond the mountains will still be there when you get back.  It is our hope that after a few visits to Taos you'll never see time the same way again.

Culinary Destinations

Guests who come to B&B's in Taos expect something more than the "toaster breakfast" served at local motels.  It's a given.  

Those that stay at La Posada de Taos also tend to have very refined palettes.  When they eat away from home, for example, they frequent fine dining establishments.

It's also a given that the cost of that breakfast is included in the price of your room.  Not so everywhere in Taos.  One boutique Inn that TripAdvisor.com ranks among the tops in Taos charges extra if you want the Innkeeper to serve breakfast.  Of course, Trip Advisor doesn't know or care about that.  Guests are on their own to find out whether that B&B actually provides both "B's" as part of its inclusive services.

From the very beginning of our time here at La Posada de Taos, we decided that our guests deserved the best we could offer.  We immediately focused on both "B's:  the beds and the breakfasts.  I'll save the story of our incredible linens for later, but I just wanted to introduce you to a few of our culinary creations.

Breakfast at La Posada de Taos always begins with cut fresh fruit, organic yogurt and our signature housemade granola.  This simple beginning sets the stage for a wholesome, hearty breakfast.  The first course is always accompanied by a variety of fruit juices such as our favorite Blueberry Pomegranate juice or orange juice.

Fresh Cut Fruit with Organic Yogurt and Housemade Granola Begins Breakfast Each Day at La Posada de Taos

 But what is breakfast without something baked fresh in the oven each day?  We're not talking store-bought muffins here.  And we're definitely not talking about anything prepared from a mix.  Nope.  At La Posada de Taos our chefs had determined that the only way our guests are going to enjoy their breakfast from beginning to end is that the baked item be made completely from scratch.  The housemade delicacies vary from day to day, but typically include a housemade blueberry muffin or a made-from-scratch buttermilk biscuit.  Yum!

La Posada de Taos' Made-from-Scratch Buttermilk Bisquit with a Selection of Chili Jams

Michael Carter, our own "Breakfast Guru," next prepares an entree that our guests always find memorable.  The Breakfast Tostada pictured below is an example.  The photo pretty much shows the makings of the dish:  corn tortilla, black beans, cheese, poached egg, corn chip strips, and a small avocado and tomato side. It's hearty, it's healthy and it's just one part of the well-balanced meal that our chef will prepare each and every day for our guests.

The La Posada de Taos Breakfast Tostada

I'll focus more on the incredible entrees and baked items in future posts.  We hope you get to come and enjoy breakfast with us some day.  It's always a memorable meal.