El Monte Sagrado

Wow. What a fantastic resort. The lush grounds are magical, and the hotel rooms are a dream -- super comfortable bed. Had drinks and a delicious meal at the Anaconda bar, enjoyed the tropical pool/hot tub space, even took a complimentary yoga class the morning we left. Perfect place to stay in Taos!

From the prices, this is an upscale resort. Indeed, the grounds and architecture are spectacular: flower gardens, koi ponds, fountains, enormous trees (e.g. century-old cottonwoods), inviting dining rooms, etc. Other things are just love-em/hate-em odd, like the modern-sculpture sinks in public restrooms; if they weren’t in the women’s restrooms too, one might mistake them for strange urinals. Also unusual was that our shower had a single, giant, straight overhead shower head, with no other option for water; we were provided with just one shower cap (we understand that most rooms have tubs, not showers). Staffers seem to be instructed to say “hello” to every guest. However pleasant the staff are, they are – unfortunately – mostly untrained and/or incompetent. We drove down from Colorado for a week-long vacation stay in a “premier suite”. When we arrived, we told the valet/porter that we had about three cartloads of luggage, bags, and boxes. Unfortunately, he loaded everything onto just one cart towering about six feet high as we checked in; we met him when he was unloading at our suite. We later discovered that the cart must have tipped over. The grocery box containing our safely packed sharp knife, seven-part orange juice squeezer, etc. was totally disarranged; the squeezer parts were in seven different places and the handle smashed. The valet/porter never mentioned or apologized for the accident. Regarding “valet/porter”: One morning we came to retrieve our car, which was blocked by other cars in the valet section, and the sole valet wasn’t there. He was doing double-duty as a porter on the sprawling grounds of the resort. We waited about 20 minutes for him to return, by which time twelve other people were also waiting. This is not an OK way to run valet car service for guests. When we checked in, we requested “NO housekeeping” during our week. The next morning, someone yelling “housekeeping!” rattled our door “locked” by an inside chain. We complained to Reception. The next morning, we returned from breakfast to find the bed made and trash taken out, just as a housekeeper is supposed to do, unless they’ve been told to stay out. Again we complained. The third morning, housekeepers tried to come into our suite yet again. There appears to be zero effective communication between Reception and Housekeeping. The advertised bathrobes were not in our suite. When we asked for them, it took 4 hours for them to be brought. It was also advertised that there were 36-inch TV’s in premier suites, but ours was just 18-inch diagonal. We didn’t come to Taos to watch TV, but some people might like to watch a movie on a large screen during bad weather. Our courtyards were not swept or picked up. Not only was our patio table probably not cleaned for weeks, there were many cobwebs and trash (e.g. Q-tips, bottle caps), and blue painter’s tapes left around our window and door lock. Two highly flammable juniper trees (dying according to our plant app) in our back courtyard represent a fire hazard. Our worst problem was with the air-conditioner in our suite. We were visited by about 5 “engineers” about 7 times. Each time our A/C was fixed it went out again a few hours later. Most nights were uncomfortably warm. Finally, late on the afternoon of our final day (when it was 90 F outside and 84 inside), the thermostat was replaced and worked for our final night. The pool area is pleasant to look at but the pool is small. The “ice” water container with lemon had no ice and cups were not provided. Moreover the hot tub was actually a “lukewarm tub” probably 15 deg. F below normal temperatures and the jets were so weak that the maintenance guy couldn’t tell if they were even on and told us that he didn’t know how to fix the temperature or the jets. The map of the complex grounds was highly misleading. Pathways are shown in yellow. A particularly wide path is shown leading directly to Kit Carson Rd. at the northwestern corner of the property, closest to the Plaza, next to the words “0.4 miles to the Plaza”. However, instead of the path joining to the road, exit is blocked by a large pad-locked, rough-hewn wooden gate. We asked one of the nearby spa staffers where the nearest exit from the property was located and he replied, “it is just around corner, here I’ll show you.” Wrong! There was no gate there. He told us to wait while he walked a couple hundred feet away to what turned out to be another locked gate; then he walked still further on and beckoned to us from a distance. Using the actual exit, it is 2/3rds of a mile from our suite to the Plaza (measured on Google maps). The spa guy was typical of Sagrada staff, few of whom seemed to know anything about the property, many saying they were “new” in the last few weeks. We heard a rumor that the property was now under new management, which had fired most of the previous staff. The dining situation was better in the fancy dining rooms, though it was strange that they served only breakfast and dinner but not lunch. We didn’t care for the highly touted chiles rellenos. Staff were friendly and Esperanza was especially competent. We could find no public trash receptacles except in restrooms and we could see no clocks in public spaces at El Monte Sagrada. We arranged for a 45-minute discussion with the general manager, Tori, who took pages of notes. She said that she would arrange for a discount because of the poor service. But when we checked out there was no discount on our bill and nobody in Reception knew anything about our issues we had discussed with Tori. They finally gave us the same modest refund given to another couple checking out at the same time who complained about “the noise.” (The only noise we heard were the many muffler-less pick-ups and motorcycles roaring about outside the walls, which seems to be a Taos “thing”.) It is a shame that such a beautiful property in a fairly convenient location has become such a fixer-upper, at least in terms of guest services and maintenance. We will not be returning.

You cannot go wrong with the margaritas here, the spicy jalapeño is great! So was the Sangria. Go early for happy hour between 4 and 5 pm. The tacos are also to die for.

The best! This is a beautiful property, but what makes it special is its staff. From the moment we arrived we were welcomed like family. Everyone, from the valets, to the front desk clerks, to the restaurant staff, to the gift shop attendants and spa employees could not do enough to make us feel at home. Just a quick phone call or text, and anything you need is instantly and happily arranged, whether it be a spa treatment, dinner reservations, or a shuttle into town. There is no attitude, only a sincere desire to make your stay as comfortable and relaxing as possible. That is so refreshing in this day and age, when so much service can feel impersonal and is often delegated to AI bots. The property is an absolute Eden, with breathtaking trees, winding pathways, a great lawn, and even a koi pond that runs outside the rooms (try to get one which has a patio that opens onto the pond.). It’s also perfectly quiet and perfect for meditative walks. Our room, a Native American Suite, was comfortable and luxuriously appointed, with a king sized bed, huge shower, and sofa bed in the living room where our daughter slept. Everything is so quiet and restful, and we all had the best nights’ sleep! The spa is fantastic, with excellent and relaxing facilities. We also used the pool area which was lovely, and the gym which was state of the art. The restaurant was fantastic, we had the best dinner there one night, and delicious breakfasts each morning. The bar is beautiful as well, and the drinks are great. The place is full of special little touches, like a little area at reception where you can fill little sachets with lavender or bath salts to have in your room. The reception itself isn’t a big desk, but rather a cozy room with individual chairs and tables where you are welcomed personally by an employee who explains everything and makes sure your needs are taken care of. There’s a convenient shuttle service to take you into town, and just a text brings them back to pick you up, with a smile. Your friendly driver is quick with a recommendation for restaurants and excursion, as well. Victor, our driver, recommended a hike along the Rio Grande Gorge, which did not disappoint. Though we hated to leave, our sadness was tempered by a heartfelt goodbye from Everett, the valet captain, who had gotten to know our family, including our dog, and made us feel like honored guests. I cannot recommend this hotel enough. It’s an experience not to be missed, and what makes it so is the fantastic and welcoming staff. We will be back!

Nestled among a beautiful natural setting with trees, squirrels, and a raccoon or two, everything about this property added to a peaceful and wonderful stay! Our king room was on the first floor, which opened out into a serene courtyard but was tucked into the trees, making it perfect for a private morning cup of coffee outside. The fireplace in the room was a delightful added touch, providing warmth and additional ambiance to the room. Our only disappointment was that the water pressure in the shower was a little weak. The real stars of El Monte Sagrado are the staff and the location. Every staff member we encountered made a concerted effort to ensure both an enjoyable stay at their property and a successful initial visit to Taos. The location is within a 10-minute walk along a paved sidewalk to reach shopping and dining. If we didn’t want to walk, they also had a shuttle available to take us and pick us up anywhere within a 3-mile radius. We were only there for two nights and didn't have the chance to take advantage of many of the amenities, such as the pool or spa, but they too seemed to share the calming nature of the property.