Taos On The Cheap

Save $150 on the Wintertime Romance and ski package at Hotel La Fonda de Taos between November 26 and December 18, 2009. The package includes two nights for two in a Hotel La Fonda Deluxe Plaza King room, four full day passes to ski at Taos Ski Valley (that’s two days of skiing each for you and your honey), a $100 gift card to dine at Joseph’s Table Restaurant located in the La Fonda, plus flowers, champagne, and choccies on arrival, a one-hour massage for each of you, and a private tour of D.H. Lawrence’s ‘Forbidden Art’ collection.
Regular package price through April 4, 2010 is $849 plus taxes. BUT there’s a $150 early season discount, between Nov 26 and Dec 18, bringing it down to (counting on all my fingers and thumbs) $699, making it a sweet deal for sweethearts. (Hey, even couples who don’t like each other that much will find plenty in the package to keep them busy ;-))
Check out the full Romance & Ski package details and conditions at the Hotel La Fonda de Taos which is right on Taos Plaza.

The Early Bird Special menu at Los Amigos in the Quality Inn offers bargain eats from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. 
Entree specials include all the fixings (mash potatoes, gravy, veggie, bread) plus soup, a salad bar, and a glass of wine, which make the $7.95 price tag extra tasty for Roast Beef, Chicken Breast, Pork Chop, Salisbury Steak, and Mexican Steak plates.  This is just to whet your appetite, there are other dishes on the Early Bird menu. Find the Quality Inn at 1043 Paseo Del Pueblo Sur, a little north of the Paseo del Cañon/Visitor Center Intersection.

A nice little $100 fall getaway package for two at the Quality Inn in Taos buys you a one night stay including cooked breakfast for two, a $28 gift certificate for the Inn’s Los Amigos restaurant,  a bottle of New Mexico wine in your room to share with your sweetie, and all taxes are included. Valid till December 17, 2009, with some blackout dates. 
The Quality Inn Thanksgiving Weekend Package at $290 includes room and breakfast for three nights, a Thanksgiving Day lunch or dinner buffet for two, and all taxes. I like the all taxes included idea – wish other hotels would follow suit so visitors know exactly what to expect without any surprises on the bill.
When they say “Must cancel 3-days prior to arrival” we assume that’s the cancellation policy – not an instruction 😉

Updating this ongoing deal: Daily Happy Hour 4-6 pm –  half-price beer, wines $3, burgers $1.25 and fries for $1. Natural Harris Ranch beef, no trans fats, and eco-friendly packaging for their drive-through service. Nice people too. One cold winter night my car broke down as I was passing, so I pulled in and they couldn’t have been more helpful. (Even though I leaked oil all over their parking lot, and I hadn’t even been a customer then.) Happy Hour at Five Star Burgers looks ongoing for now. 1032 Paseo del Pueblo Sur, Taos.

A free talk for foodies on the evening of Thursday Nov 12 explores Taos Traditional Foods – Chile vs. Chili with a guest panel of restaurateurs: Joseph Wrede (acclaimed head honcho at Joseph’s Table, Lambert’s and the OBL), Ben Sandoval (Tiwa Kitchen), and Adam Medina (Ranchos Plaza Grille).  Moderator is Taos News columnist, UNM Prof, and general expert on all things Taos – Larry Torres.  The hot stuff talk and Q&A starts at 7 p.m, with free entry, and refreshments will be served. (Mmm, can’t guarantee what refreshments you’ll get, but the last one of these talks I went to, the nibbles were great – kudos on the chocolate truffles!)
Sponsored by UNM-Taos and SMU, and held in the dining room of the historic SMU Fort Burgwin campus on NM Highway 518. (Turn east on 518 at the Ranchos Trading Post junction south of town. Fort Burgwin is approximately 8 miles on the right, after Mile Marker 67.) Further directions to SMU.

One of my favorite good value places to stay in Taos, within walking distance of the Plaza, the Indian Hills Inn offers an even better deal for veterans now through Nov 25. Vets receive 50% off the regular current rate of $69 – so that’s $34.50 for one person staying – plus $5 for each additional guest.
Over Veterans Day itself, Nov 11, the Indian Hills has an even better buy-one-get-one free deal, with a two night stay at 50% off the first night, and the second night FREE! That’s a two consecutive nights package totaling $34.50 for a single person, plus additional guest fee as above, valid for Nov 10 and 11, or Nov 11 and 12.  Rates include continental breakfast and WiFi access. Here are the 50% off and BOGO details.
Reminder: These Indian Hills Inn specials are for vets only, and the offer is valid from now through and including Nov 25, 2009. Direct reservations only – contact the Inn. Taxes are additional. No other discount applies…. but at this bargain rate, who’d expect it?