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The Bishop's Lodge Resort & Spa
P O Box 2367, Bishop's Lodge Road
Santa Fe, NM 87501
Tue 2/1/2005 12:34 AM
The Bishops Lodge
Santa Fe, NM
Date of stay: July 2004, 5 nights, with a group of friends
Date of review: January 2005
Paid: $279/room through the hotel with a group rate
Very nice property with friendly staff made this a great place for a bunch of friends to get together
with their kids.
The Lodge is really a cluster of various buildings about 20 minutes out of downtown Santa Fe (and 35
minutes from the Santa Fe Opera). Rooms vary from pretty luxurious suites to small rooms with a
decidedly more rustic feel. However, pricing also varies with the room, so everyone in our 6 couple
party felt they got value for their money. Our room was a large single room with a large bathroom
(bath and shower separate, and separate room for the toilet), a fireplace (gas), small "Juliette" porch,
and an in-room refrigerator. Acoustic isolation between rooms was good. Heating and cooling were
good, as was cleanliness and maid service.
Front desk staff were helpful and authentic (gave great, crisp directions; when one of our party (me)
left golf stuff at one of the courses, the one of the staff called, had them hold it, and picked it up
on his way home and had it for me the next morning; wouldn't take the tip...)
Gift shop seemed to run out of the usual suspects quickly (New York Times) so we all shared a copy.
Pool area shines. Enclosed, so that little kids can't wander away, lots of tables and chairs,
shaded area with more chairs and tables, adjoins air conditioned exercise rooms and yoga rooms.
Of note, the "life changing" massage in a tepee isn't; but, according to three women in the group,
it's still really nice! The pool side cafe was a bit too casual sometimes (forgetting orders once),
but no one really seemed bent out of shape about it. There is also a swing and gym set area outside
away from the pool (and in an area not conveniently over watched by any particular hotel room).
The friendly horses in the corral were selected for their docility; great for the 4 kids, a little
boring for the adults, but that's OK. The kids loved them and the riding instructor.
Hotel restaurant was good but expensive. Breakfast buffet on the deck presented a constant challenge
in getting the coffee to the table (who knows why), but once there, it was hot and black. Odd note
about the deck; the bees sometimes like to come around, even in the morning; and given the altitude
and the thin air, mornings can be brisk, while even the setting sun presents a sun burn hazard...
Pros: Friendly staff, good food, great pool area, good work out rooms, trails for hiking around.
Cons: You are out of the town (Santa Fe) and will have to drive to get there. This can mean that
Nannies and kids are pinned on site if you only rent one car...Of course, with the pool, that seems
OK.
We'd stay again, and in fact, we might just do that.
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