Hilltop Hacienda

The energy here is just right, the view spectacular, and we enjoyed the colorful hot air balloons floating up in the chill of the morning. Not too hard to find, yet a bit off the beaten track. Which is great. The grounds are about 20 acres with some lovely trails to walk. Super comfortable beds, great company at the breakfast table and the food is very good with ample portions. Teddi and Bob are truly kind spirits.

We were basing in Las Cruces for our visit to White Sands National Monument. It had been pretty challenging finding a non-​chain accommodation… the economy has definitely impacted this area forcing many privately owned inns to close. After silence in response to most of my email or telephone inquiries, I finally found this place… and, fortunately, it was perched atop a hill at the end of a long partially paved road away from Las Cruces’ most visually challenged areas.
Hilltop Hacienda definitely lived up to its name. A middle-​aged brick hacienda with views of New Mexico’s pastel mountains and lovingly tended, although temporarily frost damaged, grounds. Our hosts, Bob and Teddi, gave us free reign over a common living room (with a plasma TV and massive video library… that we tech-​challenged females never could get take advantage of), the consummate Southwestern mini-​dining room, a functional kitchen, one comfortable bedroom, a separate private two-​female sized bathroom (with a sink for each of us), and various exposed or protected outside places to sit and observe various local critters scurry or fly by. Breakfast was a treat… in setting (on a patio under a tree and mountains surrounding us), cuisine (a German delight known as «Dutch Babies», smothered in fresh berries and whipped cream and complimented by bacon, hot tea or coffee, and orange juice), and content (friendly conversation with Bob and our inn-​mates
This is not a fancy place… but, it has personality. I’ll take that any day over the blandness of a corporate chain…

We’ve stayed at many b&b’s and this was one of the best. Teddi and Bob go out of their way to provide a great experience. Room, bed, common sitting/​TV room, food, and outdoor areas all well done. We’re bird watchers and spent several hours just sitting and watching their feeders. (Garden suffered badly in last winter’s freeze; restoration will take some time.) Price very reasonable. Be prepared to drive on bumpy dirt roads for last few blocks to entrance — let that add to the allure!

the hilltop hacienda was the first b&b i’ve stayed at. i may not go to another because the bar has been set very, very high. our room (#2) was so comfortable that i found myself humming «the girl from ipanema» in my head. everything about our room, the common area, and the exterior had my girlfriend and i saying «oh this is nice.»
although there was great attention paid to how clean and orderly the hilltop hacienda was, everything was warmly appointed to make me feel at ease. if you’re in the area or passing through on a cross-​country pilgramage, the hilltop hacienda is an off the beaten path jewel.
we missed out on breakfast because of a dawn appointment with a bunch of rockets but according to the other guests it ranged from «great» to «awesome.»