La Fonda On The Plaza in Santa Fe - a 7 Hotels In 7 Days Review
December 17, 2012
The La Fonda hotel is a classic property located on the famous central plaza of Santa Fe, New Mexico. It is important to note in this review that the hotel was established in 1929 and has been giving its guests a wonderful venue for visiting this beautiful city.
Room #319 is a large standard room with two beds in the historic section of the hotel. Vibrant colors and plenty of lamps provide a bright, whimsical atmosphere.
The room has a nice big bright bathroom with a shower/tub. Rooms, shapes and sizes vary around the property since sections are of different vintages. For more on the hotel visit their website.
The light fixtures, architectural details and room's furniture are very unique with a Southwestern artistic feel.
Not much of a view here but other rooms offer better ones. Keep in mind that this is classified as a "standard" room. Read more about Santa Fe.
In-room coffee, iron & board, hairdryer, empty refrigerator and complimentary water are in the room. The closet has an old-fashioned and oddly-shaped safe that uses a key, not an electronic code.
During my visit I had very poor WiFi in my room: 2 bars out of 5 in various spots I tested in the La Fonda's public areas. (Speed Down: 0.84mbps, Up:0.75mbps) I did find a spot in the lobby that gave me 3-4 bars out of 5. My tablet and phone showed similar issues. WiFi requires login authentication provided at check-in.
The lobby area of the La Fonda is very busy since the property is a bit of a tourist destination because of its historic nature. Locals also make the lobby bar a regular hangout. Years ago my Mother-In-Law met her Husband in the La Fonda bar. She was a local and he was a student at the military school in Roswell New Mexico. The hotel's main restaurant is excellent, reservations are suggested.
The Tower Bar is a great spot to enjoy the beautiful Santa Fe sunsets. One downside to staying in a historic property is that hotel guests will need to share their experiences with Santa Fe tourists who wander this historic hotel.
The La Fonda operates a parking structure that is attached to the hotel. There is an additional charge for parking. 12 Noon is checkout time.
A small pool is located in the center of the property, isolated and quiet. Nearby is a very small gym with basic cardio equipment. Massage services are also available.
The La Fonda Hotel also offers services for business meetings, weddings and other events.