Albuquerque's BEST-KEPT Secret: Hawthorn Suites Unveiled!
Albuquerque's Best-Kept Secret…OR IS IT?! Hawthorn Suites Unveiled (and My Possibly Biased Opinion)
Okay, alright, listen up, travel bugs and Albuquerque adventurers! I'm about to spill the beans on a place that's become a…well, a thing for me. Hawthorn Suites, yeah, the one that usually sits pretty low on the list, right? Wrong! I've been meaning to review this place for ages, but life, you know, gets in the way (and sometimes involves massive burrito consumption). But now, I’m ready to go all-in. Buckle up, because this ain't your average, dry review. This is real talk.
Metadata Alert! (because, you know, SEO needs are real too, even if I'm being a little bit dramatic about it all…)
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Okay, metadata done. Deep breath. Let's go.
Accessibility…My Brain Kind of Explodes with Excitement!
This is a HUGE plus, people. Accessibility. I'm not just talking about, "Yeah, we have a ramp." No, Hawthorn Suites gets it. Wheelchair accessible everywhere – from the lobby to the pool (which, let's be honest, is a HUGE deal). Facilities for disabled guests are genuinely well-thought-out. The rooms themselves are spacious and easy to navigate. The elevator? Smooth. (Seriously, I've been in some elevators that felt like they were about to launch into space. Not here.) It's a relief to find a place that actually makes an effort. I can’t emphasize this enough. Just…thank you, Hawthorn Suites. Thank you.
Rambling and the Internet, Oh MY!
Internet access is key, right? Especially if you're a remote worker (guilty!). Yes, Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! (and Wi-Fi in public areas, for those who like to lounge in the lobby with their laptops). I’m a total Wi-Fi hog, and even I was happy with the speed. And hey, sometimes the Internet [LAN] is a good choice, too. I'm a bit of a Luddite, I still don't fully understand the difference, but it's there! Internet services are, well, there. I got some work done, I watched some movies…you know the drill. I’ll say it again, free Wi-Fi is a life saver. But, and here’s a little confession, because I’m being honest, sometimes the Wi-Fi did seem to hiccup during peak hours. Not a dealbreaker, but worth noting. Still, a small price to pay for the privilege of not having to pay extra for it.
Things to do…and Ways to Relax…Or at Least Try to…
Okay, let’s talk about "relaxing"…
- Pool with view is on the list, and it is lovely. Not literally overlooking the Grand Canyon, but the pool area is nice, clean. It's outside, Swimming pool [outdoor] is the name of the game. Swimming pool is on the list, too. I’m assuming it is the same, but I didn't want to take chances. I'm more a floater than a swimmer, personally.
- Spa/sauna – Okay, I'm going to be brutally honest here. There is a spa/sauna mentioned, but…I didn't get to use it. Life, kids, work…you know. But the idea of it? Fantastic! I envision myself, all relaxed and zen, a Body scrub, Body wrap…Maybe next time. Maybe. This time it was a total miss, but I'm a believer!
- They have a Fitness center, Gym/fitness. I only ever saw the gym…from a distance. I'm more of a "stroll around the hotel room and call it a workout" kind of person. I did think about a Foot bath, but… priorities, people!
- Massage! Okay, that might just be my personal nirvana, but this wasn't available. Disappointment.
- Steamroom I'm sure there is one, but maybe it was just wishful thinking. I still don't know. Next time?
Cleanliness and Safety…Because, You Know, 2024…
They actually seem to care about keeping things clean, and that’s huge in my book. Anti-viral cleaning products? Check. Daily disinfection in common areas? Double check. Hand sanitizer everywhere you turn? Yep. Rooms sanitized between stays? Sounds good to me! Staff trained in safety protocol? Hopefully! Cleanliness and safety get an A from me. Frankly, I'm always a little suss about hotel cleanliness, but Hawthorn Suites earns full marks in this department. First aid kit on hand. Fire extinguisher, smoke alarms, and security features are a must, and they are all there. In the times we live in, one can never be too careful.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking…Or, My Stomach's Personal Diary…
Let’s be real, one of the best parts of staying at a hotel is the food.
- Breakfast [buffet]: It's a buffet, people! And a decent one. The usual suspects are at hand: eggs, bacon (sometimes!), waffles, cereal, fruit, etc. I’m a sucker for hotel breakfast, and I was rarely disappointed.
- Breakfast service: This is usually one of the highlights of any stay!
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: All day long. Excellent.
- Coffee shop: Available.
- Room service [24-hour]: YES. I'm not shy about ordering room service. Especially those late-night snack attacks.
- Restaurants: There's no actual restaurant. But there are a few good ones a short drive away. Like real, actual restaurants.
- Poolside bar: Unfortunately, there's no poolside bar.
- Snack bar: Nope.
- A la carte in restaurant, Alternative meal arrangement, Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Bar, Bottle of water, Buffet in restaurant, Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour, International cuisine in restaurant, Salad in restaurant, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant: These were not available.
Services and Conveniences…The Little Things That Make a Difference
- Air conditioning in public area makes my life happy.
- Concierge is a nice touch.
- Cash withdrawal, Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Essential condiments, Food delivery, Ironing service, Luggage storage, Safety deposit boxes, Smoking area, Terrace, Xerox/fax in business center are all good and available.
- On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events: Not sure about these.
- Airport transfer - they have that!
For the Kids…(and the Kid in Me)
- Family/child friendly: Definitely!
- Babysitting service: I didn't need it, but it's good to know it's there. I have a feeling I might need it soon…
- Kids meal: Nope.
Access, Etc. (The Boring Bits…But Still Important!)
- Check-in/out [express], Check-in/out [private]: Easy peasy.
- CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Fire extinguisher, Front desk [24-hour], Non-smoking rooms, Proposal spot, Safety/security feature, Security [24-hour], Smoke alarms, Soundproof rooms, Soundproofing, and other security features are there.
Getting Around…(Because You Gotta Leave the Hotel Sometime!)
- Airport transfer, Bicycle parking, Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging station, Taxi service, Valet parking: All available.
Available in All Rooms…The Nitty Gritty…
- **Additional toilet, Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing
Okay, buckle up, buttercup. This ain't your average itinerary. This is my itinerary, fueled by lukewarm coffee and the existential dread of being in Albuquerque. Here goes… (And yeah, I’m staying at the Hawthorn Suites. Don’t judge. It’s got free breakfast, okay?)
Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Albuquerque: A Week of Questionable Choices (And Maybe Some Chili)
Day 1: Arrival & The Great Bed-Making Debacle
- 1:00 PM: Arrive at Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ). Landed. Survived. The flight attendant looked at me like I was smuggling a small herd of cats. I’m pretty sure my carry-on is heavier than I am. Pick up the rental car – a slightly depressing beige sedan. Pray it has air conditioning that actually works because, hello, New Mexico desert heat.
- 2:00 PM: Check into the Hawthorn Suites. It… looks exactly like every other Hawthorn Suites. Beige, blessedly air-conditioned, and smelling faintly of chlorine and… dreams? (Okay, maybe just cleaning solution). The check-in lady was super friendly though, bless her heart.
- 2:30 PM: The first (and most crucial) test: Making the bed. I swear, hotel beds are designed to defeat even the most seasoned traveler. I’m currently wrestling with a comforter that has a mind of its own, and the fitted sheet is staging a full-blown escape. After 20 minutes and a minor existential crisis, I surrender and just mostly cover the bed. Close enough.
- 3:00 PM: Unpack. Or, you know, start to unpack. Discover I’ve forgotten my phone charger. Internal scream. Okay, deep breaths. Free breakfast, right? At least there's that.
- 3:30 PM: Reconnaissance Mission: Explore the hotel grounds. I’m already scouting the breakfast situation (more on that later). The pool looks… inviting, in a slightly-murky kind of way. Consider briefly that I might want to use it.
- 4:00 PM: Snack. I have a bag of chips and a diet coke from a gas station. I go to Walmart the next day for supplies.
Day 2: Old Town Charm & Taco Regret
- 9:00 AM: Free Breakfast! The moment of truth. The waffles look… edible? Success! They are edible. The coffee, however, tastes like sadness. Load up on the carbs.
- 10:00 AM: Head to Old Town Albuquerque. This is where it gets touristy. The adobe buildings are pretty, but I’m already getting that “I-might-accidentally-buy-a-turquoise-thing-I-don’t-need” feeling.
- 11:00 AM: Wander through the shops, try not to spend all my money. One particularly pushy saleswoman with a silver bracelet stand tried to hook me in by the throat. I escaped.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch at a highly-rated local taco place. The tacos were so good, the salsa was hot, the atmosphere was vibrant and alive. I ate four. Fast forward to 3:00 PM and… let's just say I regretted that decision intensely. The next few hours were spent curled up in a fetal position in my hotel room, regretting all life choices.
- 6:00 PM: Forced myself to get some air. Managed a painfully slow walk to the hotel pool. Didn't get in, but I did sit and stare at it, judging the people actually swimming.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner: Ordered takeout from a place that promised “authentic New Mexican cuisine.” It… wasn’t terrible, but my stomach is still a little wary. Ordered a bottle of wine.
- 8:00 PM: Watched a random movie on TV and tried to forget the taco incident.
Day 3: Breaking Bad & The "Is It Actually Hot Air?" Dilemma
- 9:00 AM: Free Breakfast. More waffles. More coffee. The cycle continues.
- 10:00 AM: Breaking Bad tour. YES. This is what I came for. I’m a huge fan. The tour was… fine. It showed me the house. I saw the car wash. And the tour guide was so incredibly happy to be doing this, and I found myself getting caught up in his infectious energy.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch near the ABQ studios. I have a burger. It was a great burger.
- 1:00 PM: Attempt to visit the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. It was closed for a private event. "Oh well." I thought. "I can't plan for things I don't plan."
- 3:00 PM: Thinking about the "Is it actually hot air?" situation. You know, like with hot air balloons. Then googling it.
- 4:00 PM: I made a quick run to the grocery store and got myself some snacks.
- 5:00 PM: Back to the hotel. Ordered pizza.
Day 4: The Sandia Peak Tramway Ascent & Altitude-Induced Existentialism
- 9:00 AM: Free Breakfast, again.
- 10:00 AM: Head to the Sandia Peak Tramway. The ascent is terrifying and, let's be honest, I have a fear of heights. But the views… Holy. Cow. The world just stretches out below you, all craggy mountains and dusty desert. It's absolutely breathtaking and it's also making me question everything.
- 11:00 AM: At the top of Sandia Peak. Briefly considered throwing myself off the edge because the altitude is making my brain do weird things. I resisted. There was a small cafe.
- 12:30 PM: Forced myself to eat again.
- 1:00 PM: Back on the tramway. The descent was somehow even more nerve-wracking.
- 2:00 PM: Back at the hotel. I spent the afternoon staring at the ceiling, contemplating the meaning of life, the universe, and everything. And the price of the coffee.
- 7:00 PM: Taco Bell. I didn't overeat.
Day 5: Route 66 & The Problem with Souvenir Shops
- 9:00 AM: Free Breakfast.
- 10:00 AM: Route 66! The classic American road trip experience (or, at least, a tiny sliver of it). Drive along Central Avenue, soaking up the vintage neon signs and the general air of faded glory.
- 11:00 AM: Stop at a souvenir shop. Battle the urge to purchase a license plate that says "I <3 Albuquerque" (I didn't.) I did buy a t-shirt that says "Breaking Bad"
- 12:00 PM: Drive around the neighborhood.
- 1:00 PM: In the hotel room again.
- 3:00 PM: Went to a "spa" at the hotel, which was a gym and hot tub.
- 5:00 PM: Head back to the hotel.
- 7:00 PM: Got some take out noodles
Day 6: Final Day & The Great Escape (from the Comforter)
- 9:00 AM: Free Breakfast. This is the last time. I savored every lukewarm waffle.
- 10:00 AM: Final packing. This time, I'm prepared to leave!
- 11:00 AM: Check out of Hawthorn Suites. Farewell, you beige bastion of mediocrity! Farewell, bed-making challenges!
- 12:00 PM: Head to the airport.
- 1:00 PM: The flight.
- 3:00 PM: Home.
Post-Trip Assessment:
Albuquerque. It was… an experience. The Hawthorn Suites was… exactly what I expected. Maybe I'll come back someday. Maybe I won't. At least I survived, and now I have a story or two. Now I need a nap. Good grief.
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Albuquerque's BEST-KEPT Secret: Hawthorn Suites Unveiled! (Maybe? Let's See...)
Okay, Okay... What's the Big Deal About This Hawthorn Suites Thing Anyway? Is It REALLY Albuquerque's Best-Kept Secret? (And Should I Care?)
Alright, deep breaths. "Best-kept secret" is a *strong* claim, I admit. Look, I stumbled upon this place – Hawthorn Suites in Albuquerque, specifically the one near, uh, *somewhere* – purely by accident. Flight got delayed, needed a bed ASAP, and BAM, there it was. Honestly? At first, I was picturing… well, let’s just say my expectations were LOW. Think faded floral wallpaper and a lingering scent of stale coffee. But… then something happened. I'm talking a *genuine* surprise. It felt… different. Less like a soul-crushing airport hotel and more like… a little… oasis? (Hold the phone, I’m getting ahead of myself here…)
Is it the *best*? Probably depends on your definition of "best." It's not luxury. It's not the Four Seasons. But... for the price, for the location (convenient to *stuff* once you figure out the ABQ map), and especially for the, and I'm reaching here, *vibe*... Yeah. It's a solid contender for "surprisingly pleasant secret spot." You should care if you're tired of the cookie-cutter hotel experience and want something a little… different. If you’re on a budget and want more space than a shoebox. If you need a decent (and free!) breakfast. And if you, like me, enjoy a little bit of unexpected joy in your travels.
So… What Exactly Does “Different” Mean? Like, Are We Talking Haunted Hotel Different? (Because I'm TERRIFIED of ghosts!)
Absolutely NOT haunted. (I hope! I’m a massive scaredy-cat when it comes to the supernatural, and believe me, I check EVERY shadow in a new hotel room). "Different" means… less corporate, somehow. The staff? Actually *pleasant*. I mean, like, *genuinely* helpful and friendly, not just robotically going through the motions. I checked in after a hellish travel day, and the person at the desk, I *think* her name was Maria (or maybe Margarita? Wine brain is real, people), actually *smiled*. And she didn't act like I was inconveniencing her by existing! Big points there.
The rooms? Suites, actually. Living area, separate bedroom. Which is a *lifesaver* if you're traveling with… well, anyone. My brother, whom I *love*, but who also snores with the power of a thousand freight trains, travels everywhere with me. The separation was a godsend. And the bathrooms… Okay, not the *most* luxurious, but clean, functional, and, crucially, the water pressure was *strong*. A small thing, maybe, but after several days of travel… a good shower is a *gift* from the gods.
What's the Deal with the Breakfast? Because Hotel Breakfasts are Usually a Disaster... And "Free Breakfast" Often Means Cardboard Waffles and Weak Coffee. BE HONEST!
Alright, brace yourselves for the TRUTH. The breakfast at Hawthorn Suites… is *good*. Not Michelin-star good, mind you. But solid. Surprisingly solid. They actually have real, honest-to-goodness *scrambled eggs*. And bacon! And sausage! And toast that *isn't* completely stale. Coffee? Drinkable. (Not great, but drinkable, and hey, it's free). They even had those little individual cartons of orange juice. Which, for me, screams "adulting."
The setting is... standard hotel breakfast room. But the food quality actually exceeded my expectations. One morning, I went back for seconds on the bacon. That's a *testament*, people. If the bacon's good, the hotel's doing *something* right. (Also, they had those little pre-packaged yogurts, which are just… *convenient*.)
Is the Location Actually Good? I Don't Want to Spend My Whole Trip Stuck in Traffic!
Okay, the location is… complicated. It's in Albuquerque, and Albuquerque traffic... let's just say it's "spirited." But it's a *central* location, which helps, somewhat. Close to the main roads. Near whatever the heck I was trying to get to. Once I had figured out that the 25 is a beast and the 40 is... slightly less beastly. (I'm still working on the ABQ navigation, give me a break!).
Here's a real-life anecdote. I was trying to get to a certain restaurant that everybody recommended. Which I should have checked the address before driving off! A misstep for a seasoned traveler, right? Well, while trying to regain my bearings, I found an awesome little coffee shop. Great pastries! And the drive there wasn’t a complete nightmare. Point is, the location isn't *perfect*, but it's definitely workable. And that's saying something in Albuquerque.
Pool? Gym? Because I Need to Offset All That Bacon!
Yes, to both! The pool is… fine. Standard hotel pool fare. Clean, but not exactly Instagram-worthy. I did see a couple splashing around happily. The gym? I didn't actually *use* it. (Don't judge me! I was on vacation!). But I peeked in, and it had treadmills and some weights. Looked… functional. Whether it's a *good* gym, I couldn't say because I am too lazy and would prefer the pool. But, hey, options, right?
Alright, Spill the Beans! REALLY, What’s Wrong With It? There’s Got to Be Something!
Okay, fine! Nothing's perfect. Here's the dirt. This is where that perfectly crafted travel review goes off the rails and gets REAL. One minor imperfection, which is more a personal gripe than a deal-breaker, is the lack of USB charging ports in the room. In this day and age, where's the USB, people? I had to dig out the old charger, which I nearly didn't find in my chaotic travel bag.
And, uh… the elevator? It could be… slow. Like, *really* slow. And sometimes a bit… temperamental. (I'm pretty sure it got "stuck" on me once, but I was also already running late, so my memory's fuzzy. Plus, I may have hit the wrong button. I’m not the best at elevators.) But hey, stairs are good for you, right? (I did take them a couple of times, in a bit of a huff, I confess.)
Would You REALLY Recommend This Place? Seriously?
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