Casa Escondita in Chimayo, New Mexico, is New Mexico at its essence. This bed and breakfast is as warm and welcoming a place that you’ll ever find. And it will make you feel right at home.||As you pull up to the buildings, you'll notice its traditional New Mexican architecture. The adobe walls and wooden porch are adorned with bunches of drying red chilis, which add a pop of color to the scene. The smell of roasting chilis and wood smoke wafts, making your mouth water in anticipation of the delicious breakfast to come.|Inside, the cozy atmosphere is perfect for relaxing and unwinding. The decor is a mix of vintage charm and modern style, with comfy furnishings and vibrant artwork. But what really makes Casa Escondita special is the people. The staff are warm and friendly, and they take the time to get to know each guest and make them feel at home.||The breakfasts at Casa Escondita are a highlight, with delicious meals made with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. You can expect to enjoy traditional New Mexican dishes like green chile stew and breakfast burritos, all made with love and care.|One of the best things about Casa Escondita is its ability to make you feel like you're experiencing the real New Mexico. It's not just a touristy spot, but a genuine, authentic place where you can connect with nature, culture, and community.|If you're looking for a place to stay that will make you feel welcome and at home, Casa Escondita is the perfect choice. It's a hidden emerald, a ruby, red and green thru and thru, in the heart of Chimayo, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique and unforgettable experience.||Also, here are a list of some of the places and experiences in and around Casa Escondida:||1. Sacred Pilgrimage: Santuario de Chimayo, a sanctuary steeped in history and spirituality, where the faithful seek solace and healing in its holy soil.||2. Culinary Delights: Chimayo's renowned red and green chile enchiladas cakk food enthusiasts, offering a taste of New Mexican fare that fire-dances on the palate.||3. Artisan Treasures: The art scene is captivates with galleries showcasing exquisite pottery, weaving, and paintings that reflect the rich cultural tapestry of the region.||4. Breathtaking Landscapes: Nature lovers are enchanted by the stunning vistas of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, where the interplay of light and shadow creates a breathtaking backdrop for outdoor adventures. ||5. Cultural Heritage: The town's deep-rooted traditions and festivals, such as the annual Chimayo Fiesta, invite visitors to immerse themselves in the vibrant local culture and celebrate its heritage.||6. Spiritual Retreat: Many seek the tranquil atmosphere of Chimayo for reflection and rejuvenation, finding peace in its serene surroundings and the gentle whispers of the wind.||7. Historical Significance: Historians are drawn to the narrative of Chimayo, where ancient adobe structures and historical landmarks tell tales of the past, preserving the essence of its storied legacy.||8. Outdoor Adventures: The surrounding landscapes offer a playground for outdoor enthusiasts, with hiking trails, fishing spots, and opportunities for birdwatching that invite exploration and adventure.||9. Warm Community Spirit: The locals creates a sense of belonging, where visitors are embraced by the warmth of the community and the stories shared over friendly conversations.||10. Healing Waters: The waters of Chimayo are believed to possess curative properties, drawing those in search the town's...
Read moreHere Goes: ||||POSITIVE aspects first: Setting is pastoral, beautiful and wild. Lots of birds, and nature sounds. Accommodations are rustic: stuccoed adobe buildings, a nice Southwest feel. Window air conditioners work great, hot water is plentiful. For the most part, Staff were friendly, accommodating and attentive. Parking is accessible. ||||JUST OK: Queen size bed was adequate for two. Mattress was very basic. Could benefit from a nice pillow top to add a nice feeling of luxury. Coffee was not available till around 7:30. In the common area, there was a nice selection of herbal teas, but no coffee until after the cook arrived. Host might include, at the very least a good quality instant coffee and cream for those early risers so they can help themselves.||||NEEDS IMPROVEMENT; Casa Escondida lives up to its name: There is no signage off the main road, and very difficult to find without directions. (I will explain) Host would do well to include in their instructions that Chimayo has very poor or non existent cell service. We spent the better part of an hour driving around before we found it. Members of my party had Verizon, AT@T: nobody had any service. Consequently, on arrival, to my dismay I could not access directions, or check in information. Fortunately another guest who had already checked in was able to help me log into WiFi, and I was able to load text messages that contained the information I needed. Due to the apparently non existent cell service, host would do well to make it clear in their confirmation information, that it is IMPERATIVE to load all directions, and check in information PRIOR to arrival in Chimayo, ||||THE BAD: Dietary needs were requested and honored. Food was nicely prepared and well presented. Here's the BAD: My request for additional maple syrup, and lemon curd was denied. Layla, the cook, informed me that she had 15 other guests to feed, and had to ration the maple syrup. She also rationed the lemon curd, pointing out that it was already included in the yogurt. Clearly the message was, "you may not help your self to more lemon curd." However, I was able to get her to allow me some extra butter. Both of these requests seemed reasonable to me. ||||SUGGESTIONS TO REMEDY THE SITUATION: Provide an adequately stocked kitchen so that cook does not have to ration/deny guest a simple request. Provide a self service bar that includes condiments such as butter, maple syrup, and honey in pourable Syrup containers to minimize waste, but would allow guests to help themselves to condiments of their choice. As an adult guest, I feel I should be able to decide how much if any maple syrup I would like on my pancakes. Instead, I felt like a 9 year old child who was reprimanded for taking more than their share and depriving the other guests. ||||WOULD I STAY AGAIN: There are not many choices in the area, but I believe in future I would consider ...
Read moreMy husband and I booked two nights for our one year wedding anniversary. We left before the first night because of the owner, Ernesto. Shortly after we arrived, Ernesto left the property for dinner and we explored the room and the courtyard. Our room had two doors in and out. We locked the deadbolt because we weren't comfortable with the keypad code, and we accidentally locked ourselves out through the back. It was a dumb mistake and not why we became upset. We waited the first hour on the porch because Ernesto said he would be back and we didn't want to disrupt his dinner. Then we texted him, no rush, but can someone let us back into our room. We got no response, so we tried calling. Every call and text went unanswered for two more hours, on any number on the website. When he finally responded, he said he was at dinner and 40 minutes away. When he arrived, he didn't even have a key to the bolt or back door. He had to have the door removed to get in. It took four hours to get back into our room. I tried to talk to Ernesto, it's not okay that it took that long to reach someone. What if there was an emergency? Ernesto repeatedly interrupted me, talked over me, and made excuses about why he wasn't available. He tried to say he was out of service range on his phone. But every call we placed rang and rang until voicemail picked up. If the phone were out of service range every call should have gone straight to voicemail without ringing, and his first response would not have been “I was at dinner”. Then told me “I don't have the energy to deal with you”. He lied to us and dismissed us like we were whining about our pancakes not having enough blueberries. He wouldn't even look me in the eye when I asked for a refund. The other low star reviews of this business report Ernesto being combative, unhelpful, makes excuses for everything, and being unreachable. He clearly does not respect his guests or value his business if he's leaving the property full of guests without any staff to contact for hours at a time. This is negligent at best and dangerous at worst. What if a pipe had burst, or one of us had a medical issue and couldn't get to our medications for hours, or if we had a little kid locked in the room who got hurt? This was the worst experience we've ever had in any hotel, restaurant, shop, anything, just because of the way the owner handled...
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