El Monte Sagrado

If you just want a very comfortable place to sleep that is near Taos square, this is a good choice. But if you want a spa experience or high-end resort, this is not the answer. When I go to a nice spa, I hope that I can drop off the car, check in easily, then have free access to the pool, hot tub, sauna, steam room, etc. For example, this is what I get if I go to the relatively downscale Riverbend in Truth or Consequences. At Sagrada, everything required a different charge and membership; access to sauna and steam room was limited to the day we got massages and, even then, required a 20% charge on top of massage cost. The valet system does not work there. We were in the 600 building and it was easier to walk to our car than to the valet station. When we went to the valet to get our car one morning, no one was there so we had to prowl around to find someone to get our car when we could see it just a few feet away. One of the worst services I witnessed affected a different group from Oklahoma City. They had a tight timeline to make a reservation nearby, so they went to the valet desk indicating the urgency. The valet went to their car, drove it past the valet desk (where the Oklahomans called out, "We are here. Just bring it here!", then the valet drove the car out the electronic gate, out to the road, then back up the driveway. The Oklahomans were very upset as the valet gave them their key. As they got into the car, the valet had left with the cone still in front of the car and had left the valet station. To help them leave, I moved the cone out of their way. It was overall embarrassing and just silly. My takeaway from that was to decide that Sagrada is not a serious organization. The hot pool next to the pool was just lukewarm. We could not soak there for more than a few minutes before it felt cool.

We had a terrible stay at El Monte Sagrado. The staff was surly, the room needed maintenance, and they over charged us. First off at check-in the person was not friendly. She made us stand around for quite awhile (there is only one chair by the desks even though most check-ins will have two people). When we informed her that we would need to checkout at 6am and asked about breakfast, she said the restaurant wouldn’t be open. Room service? No. No offer to find some place nearby that would be open - like any good resort would offer. Just a curt no - it’s your problem. The resort has no self parking, only valet. Our car would be 10 feet from us. So easy to get in and drive away. But no, you are required to wait for the valet to drive around (off the resort and back in) for your car. And to make it worst, for effectively going 10 feet there is an expectation of a tip. Leaving at 6am before the valet is open, can I get my keys the night before? No, that’s against policy. You need to get resort security to get your car and move it 10 feet. We booked a junior suite. The room was okay - sort of dark - but the outside patio was quite nice. Unfortunately, one afternoon we came back to a strong odor of gas in the room. We immediately called the front desk to have them send maintenance. We opened both doors to air out the room and waited patiently for maintenance. He came after 20 minutes and agreed that there was still a strong odor, though his gas detector was negative. I asked him to inform the front desk we wanted to change rooms. After waiting 45 minutes with no call or visit, I trekked to the front desk. All 3 staff were checking people in. I stated that I wanted to change rooms and maintenance should have informed them. One of the staff said, yes he was informed but had been too busy to deal with my issue (even a phone call to tell me it would be an hour). After 10 minutes of waiting one of the other staff said she would help me. She checked bookings and said a suite wasn’t available but would be some time later. How long? Unknown. She did say a regular room was available immediately. I took that. She said I would be credited the difference in price between the rooms. This staff member was quite nice and showed us the new room. To finish up, the regular room was nicer than the suite - brighter and more cheerful. I never got the credit for the room difference even though at check-out the staff member said he put a note on the account. I had to call a week later to request the credit. I’m still waiting to see if it hits. Good luck if you stay here.

Very beautiful property. They have an onsite resturant, bar, spa, pool, shuttle service, and this library area. The experience is luxurious. Our room was spacious, a top floor balcony, fireplace, and jacuzzi tub. My only suggestion is check out room 525’s bathroom barn doors because you cannot close both the doors without it swinging open the jacuzzi tub’s barn doors. Other than that, the entire property is amazing and my family already wants to go back!

First and foremost, it always comes down to people making a difference, and the people working at El Monte Sagrado are spectacular! From the Valets to the Front Desk to the bar to the Maintenance crew - Friendly, helpful, attentive. Kudos! These people care! The food is really fun, inventive, mostly delicious. Catering to a celiac/ gluten free diet would be a plus. The Main buildings and grounds are spectacular! Beautiful, quiet, peaceful and serene really! Nicely done and seemingly cared for very well. Where my review takes a slight turn is when the property suffers the juxtaposition of the pricey room rate and the little things seemingly left uncared for. Beautiful rooms, great comfortable beds, but no hot water in either of the double sinks. In fact sinks that are disconnected and we're rented the room anyway. Then when moved to a different (and again beautiful, comfortable) room, theres no heat and a nice fireplace that doesn't work. Try as they might, the maintenance crew couldn't get the heat turned on or the fireplace running. Don't get me wrong, the great staff worked hard to make it right! Strolling about the place, you see clogged downspouts raining water as you dodge under doorways, a cloudy fish tank, structural issues evident in the breakfast dining room, all kinds of evidence of (maybe intentional, considered too costly) neglect? Whoever owns this place needs to stop looking at the bottom line, focus far more on the guest experience, hire a few more people to help what seems a harried staff attempting to make up for the property neglect and the bottom line will take care of itself.

I'm not one to complain. In fact, this is my first review. I had a lovely stay. Beautiful property. The staff is first rate...they were also empathetic to my questioning of.... The dead fish floating in the tank. Sure, fish die, but night 2 - another dead fish. Why? Night 3 - another dead fish in the tank. A child cried to his Mother -"Mommy, Mommy! That fish isn't swimming!" The tank is murky and clearly not cared for, the fish gray and listless, but places like this should pride themselves on the smallest details. It's not welcoming to be greeted by dead fish prior to having a meal. Y'all need to do a bit better. Seriously - we get pet fish to care for as small children. It’s the starting point of having a pet. How bizarre