El Monte Sagrado, Autograph Collection

Totally underwhelmed.
While the property is supposedly 5 star, we did not have a 5 star experience at all. Check in really set the tone. There were lots of people around reception, lots of desks and computers and only 1 person who could /​would actually check us in. He took his very sweet time checking in someone before us, making conversation unrelated to the check in process while the line formed behind us. It took over 30 minutes to check us in, even though there were tons of people around who could have opened another desk.
The room was dark and dingy.
The restaurant was not good at all. Thankfully we only ate there once for breakfast. The food was not good, very low quality ingredients and the service was slow (although the hotel was virtually empty). It also seemed dingy and dirty. Not appealing what so ever.
Valet parking is a racket — you can pay $ 35 per night to have someone drive your car 10 ft to the parking lot OR you can pay $ 25 per day to drive your own car 10 ft to the parking lot and risk it being parked in by the valet. We chose the former just so we could get our car out very early when we had to checkout to get our flight back from Santa Fe.
I give this review a 2-​star because the property itself is set on nice grounds and is quiet. I would never go back to this property again, however.

Highly, highly recommend. The grounds are spectacular, the service, the food. Walking distance to downtown. Definitely will be back.

ASSAULT ON PROPERTY AND MANAGEMENT COULD CARE LESS
Family member was assaulted and experienced and attempted mugging on this property. During the process he was screaming and no one came to help, thankfully another guest drove into the property and scared off the assailants or it would have been way worse. My cousin now has a fractured rib and bruised face.
The staffs response was amazing ridiculous, they offered us two free drinks, no questions about health nor well being, add to that the assistant manager was rude, brash and evasive when I asked questions about their accountability and the HR manager tried to get us to sign legal documents in the middle of the night. When I brought this incident up to the Regional GM, his response was that it was ‘unfortunate’.
Then after all that they charged me for the room twice, once when i prepaid and once when i checked out…
If you care about the safety of your person and your family and expect to be treated with dignity by staff in a resort, this is not the place for you.

The wife and I took a road trip from Denver to Taos and Santa Fe two weeks ago to «break in» the new car. We spent two nights at the «El Monte». What a wonderful experience. The rooms were amazing and the bar was great. The grounds are quiet and restful although «Old downtown» is only four blocks away. Service was first class. They have a conference center and tropical garden by the pool. This looks like a great place to have a business meeting or an upscale wedding. Thanks for a great getaway El Monte Sagrado!

I was surprised by the quality of this place. The check in is bit weird, but the room was nice. They have strange parking rules, but the bar is big and new. The food in the restaurant was Meh… but the grounds were very pretty and they have a nice fire pit, a baby grand, and a everything is ground floor.

This is a beautiful property, with nice dining and spa facilities to recommend it. There are service issues that detract from the overall experience. Minor stuff: on-​demand did not work for in-​room viewing and the maid consistently failed to replace tea in the beverage tray. More importantly: our room service order was not picked up which I discovered by checking the door when food failed to arrive. The result was a hastily eaten breakfast for $ 48 delivered 50 minutes late. To add to the insult, on checkout we discovered that self-​parking was charged at $ 15 per day. Surprise!
I do have to say that Jessie’s hot rock massage was the best I’ve had.
Our 3 stars could easily be 4 ½ with a heightened service mentality and better communication.

My husband and I just had our wedding ceremony and reception here this weekend and there are no words to describe how beautiful and amazing it was. We had a lot of out of town guests and having everyone in one place on such a beautiful property was wonderful. The staff went above and beyond to ensure our day was perfect. Everything from incorporating our mother who passed into our reception display, to the food stations we choose were amazing and beautifully presented for our guests. Everyone raved about the prime rib, turkey, pasta, and seafood stations! And the cake was not only elegant but delicious!
A special thank you to Kevin and Deborah for their orchestration of our day, we couldn’t have asked for anything more. It was PERFECT! :)

Great room at a more than reasonable price! The property is very nicely kept up, at least on the side in which I stayed. The room was quite spacious and had a lot of nice design touches. The beds were also more comfortable than most hotels I’ve visited. The tub is also very deep, so you can really have a nice soak in there while you watch TV through the window (an odd touch if you’re staying with others).
They advertise it as a walking distance hotel to the center of Taos, but I’d say that it’s on the very edge of walkability. However, as parking looked sparse (there was a wedding that weekend), I was reticent to take the car out of the lot and lose one of the precious self parking spaces I had.
All in all, a very nice stay! Major thanks to the great people who work here, including the man who checked me in on April 11 around 3 or 4 PM, and Kirk, who checked me out. The service here is impeccable!

Over the years with all my work travel, ive become a bit of a travel snob with hotels… Beautiful hotel and really nice rooms. Beautiful grounds. A bit strange the bathroom tub opens into the room… But overall really nice. Only negative (and it really isn’t a negative) is the check in area is a bit odd. No reception desk, you actually go into a room and sit across from a person at a desk. I’m sure it’s part of this concierge service, and the luxury of the hotel etc… Just a little cumbersome and I didn’t feel like sitting across from someone added any additional value.

Lovely property that deserves more of a stay than just two nights as we mostly used it as a base to walk to the main tourist areas in Taos.
Our room was quiet and comfortable with a huge bathtub that has enough room for two. Lovely patio looks out over a green space.
The room was mostly quiet. The cleaning staff in the morning made a lot of noise with vacuums and slamming toilet seats as they cleaned the neighboring rooms. As well, a few families seemed to forget that they were in the presence of others as they slammed doors and shouted down the hallway.
Free wifi was a bit slow.
We did not try the dining or the spa or the ballroom areas.
In eight years of traveling that I have been at the Platinum level of Marriott’s elite rewards program, this is the only hotel that’s ever taken a deposit at booking. And while I can earn and burn Marriott Rewards here, this property didn’t seem to be very «Marriott» with no Marriott logos or signage to be seen.
This is review #4500 and my first in New Mexico!

First time in Taos and was super impressed by the El Monte. I hadn’t done any research prior to coming so I was no expecting what I arrived to! Its a stunning property with some beautiful views and a well kept property. The rooms were amazing tubs, huge beds, great fireplace. I was on the second floor in the 400 building and the room was the best part of the stay. I loved that they had robes in the room. Great coffee and a beautiful balcony. I went to the spa to use their steam room and sauna (FREE) and it was great. The rooms are small but I was the only one there so it was great. The swimming area was great as well. I had breakfast everyday and it was very tasty. Service was a little slow– the breakfast doesn’t open till 7 so if you have to get to work early its a little difficult. They have a great bar and I enjoyed several drinks there. I also ordered room service and one point that was delivered quickly. I haven’t been to many places in Taos but if I am in the area again I would stay here for sure!

We celebrated our new year in Taos. We used our Marriott points for this vacation. It was a beautiful boutique resort. We had our own little adobe cabin equipped with a fireplace, back and front yard with gates, 10″ feathertop bed with 1000 count sheets, bathroom built like a spa and the use of spa amenities. We were across the spa which made it convenient for our 7pm sauna rendezvous. It was a perfect end to our active day at Taos Ski Valley.
The restaurant has good food and comfortable chairs. We both got the salmon Oscar. The salmon was fried. Placed over a stack of risotto topped with crab meat. It was served with asparagus and a lemon caper white sauce. The mayo sauce had bits of pickled lemon peel and capers. Every bite was a burst of flavorful deliciousness!
The front desk and porters were helpful and made our stay comfortable. We recommend this place when visiting Taos.

Wow, came here for our 7^th anniversary. We were married in Taos. A little scared at first when making the reservation they didn’t seem very nice. We asked for a Casita received a room in the Native American Section — which is ok because they are very nice comfy rooms, a little old fashion with certain items but they are trying and it shows. Me personally would add a large covered structure outside with a warm coffee or cocoa bar /​along with a beer and wine bar outside. There is a place in Texas that has heater/​cooler vents in each corner for the different types of weather and when its cold they roll these huge clear (not sure what to call them) shades down to keep the heat in, very cool to see (this surrounds the outdoor bar). For the rooms I personally would like to have the bed in the back area not by the front door and huge front window.
The enitre staff since arrival has gone above and beyond to make sure every little need was met, the valet staff the best I have seen anywhere.
Deloris that seats us every morning for breakfast the loveliest woman you have ever can hope to meet. Melissa that waits on us each morning rough around the edges but awesome always has great reccomendations. IF you haven’t notice a pattern their breakfast is that good why go anywhere else.
First night here we ordered room service my husband had the chili and I had the tumbleweed cobb salad. The young lady that took our room service order was the first to not be nice. My salad the lettuce had a dirt taste my husbands chili was pretty bad so you can imagine how we were afraid to eat in the dining room on Christmas Eve for our Anniversary.
WHAT a Turnaround the ribeye cooked to perfection, the cucumber and shrimp delicius, the crab cakes to die for, the bread oh my goodness the best I have had since Trulucks in Texas. My salmon ceasar very good but again the lettuce has that little dirt flavor maybe not washed very well.
The Anaconda Bar is very interesting pretty good staff, very comfortable seating actually all the dining areas are very comfortable.
Again some of the friendliest staff around. We highly suggest everyone try this place, just make sure you are clear you want the Casita that is the only thing I feel left out on but who can complain we used our Marriott points and sometimes those things happen when you cash in on the points.

Grounds are amazing and thematic rooms a but overkill but worth it as an escape from it all while remaining within quick access to downtown Taos. The rooms are creative no matter your choice and casitas are incredible so splurge and get as much space as you can for it will pay off in magical privacy inside and outside your actual accommodation.
The big surprise was the a alt water pool and spa facilities for they were truly transporting and daily infused waters along with a massive crystal hanging from the ceiling in the lobby put this as the most unusual Marriott I’ve ever stayed in! Even the restaurant options are worthy because loyalty point members get perks at every turn here.

–Rooms: My family and I had room, number 24 «Morocco». So beautiful!!! Nothing like you would expect! It had 2 rooms, 2 beds plus a pull out couch, 2 bathrooms, a livingroom, a backyard and a hot tub! It was all clean with plenty of towels and the beds were so comfortable.
–Scenery: The scenery as you walk to your room is breath taking and my family and I loved the green grass, trees and koi ponds.
–Restaurant: My dad doesn’t usually like steak, but he loved theirs! They cooked it to perfection and had amazing creamy potatoes with it! Me and my brother each got the Ceasar Salad and we both enjoyed it alot!
–Spa: My mother and I went to the spa (my first time), she got the seaweed wrap and I got the Living Spa Experience Package. I can honestly say it was the best part of my vacation so far! The staff was so nice and explained everything without talking too much, the area was clean and relaxing, and the music was so serene.
–Conclusion: Definately coming back sometime when I’m back in town! Highly recommended!

The premises are beautiful but the staff is rude — specifically Chris, who answers the phones. I called to inquire about an additional charge on my bill and she couldn’t be bothered. She even patronizingly called me «sweetheart» when I told her she was being rude.
Taos has way better to offer.

OMG! Amazing place! Beautiful grounds, awesome rooms, super helpful staff.
Food? It is, has been, and probably always will be, some of the best food in town!
About the parking complaints? None here, we used valet the whole time we were there. But I see that the parking lot is designed around the expansive and beautiful buildings and grounds. And since it appears that most of the guests also valet, they do keep those up front. There is often only one valet guy and seems that it would be more inconvenient to arrive to find no one because he’s had to run to the back of the building to retrieve someone else’s car. You can check in and then park in the back, with easy access to your rooms from either parking lot.
And besides, you paid how much to stay at this beautiful resort? Just use the damn valet.

«Welcome to El Monte Sagrado. May I assist you with a luggage cart?»
«No, thanks.»
«Okay. Would you like to use our valet service today?»
«Ah, no, I don’t think so, thanks.»
«Alright, you can go ahead and park in the back by the wall, I think we have some spots there for you.»
This exchange was essentially word-​for-​word my earliest interaction with this impressive property. You know what they say about first impressions: once they’re made, they’re hard to change. My wife and I found ourselves reflecting on this policy throughout our weekend stay, endlessly. We simply couldn’t comprehend why they rewarded their non-​valet-​paying customers with a parking spot in the very back of the lot. It’s offensive and amounts to a big pain when you’re schlepping a family around Taos. And as we would soon learn, this wasn’t the only wonky policy in the house.
I peeped the reviews during my initial hours in our absolutely lovely room and identified three basic complaints of previous reviewers:
1) Parking: addressed.
2) Extra cost for Wi-​fi: This is especially weird, and again offensive. In your room, you’ll find a little stand-​up card that states something like, «Connecting to Wi-​fi is easy! Simply select El Monte Sagrado from your internet options and go!» I did this, and I was led to a screen that told me it would cost $ 10, per day, for access. Wow, how misleading.
3) Room Service cost: $ 5 charge for delivery plus 22% tip, obligatory.
Apparently, none of these policies have recently changed. I had a frank discussion with one of the employees who admitted that, were it his decision, these additions would be part of an inclusive package per room. He dealt with these complaints on a daily basis.
And that’s a dear shame, because the property is absolutely gorgeous. The lush and inspired swim/​hot tub area is almost tropical. One of the pools reaches 10 feet deep, easy, it’s a great family space. The Sacred Circle: so magical. About the property, a wide array of flowers and trees kiss the earth and rejuvenate the New Mexican soul. Water, water everywhere, especially close on the lower floors. Simply divine.
So why the nickel-​and-​dime policies, El Monte? You have a perfect property, here, but you budge on wi-​fi? Here’s a hint: the very wealthy pinch pennies. That’s how they get rich in the first place. So stop your pinching, or they’ll go somewhere else.

Our experience with Monte was a bit of a mixed bag. The resort grounds and room were great, the lacking service not so much.
We were off to a rough start right from the beginning. The older guy that checked us in was not on top of anything and it set the tone for our entire stay. A few months prior to our visit my wife had called to request a room preference. Neither of the global suites that she wanted were available to us. When she mentioned her request we were given some song and dance that we should have called ahead and that there was a very large group at the resort and a few of those guests wanted adjoining rooms and took the ones we had our eyes on. So, we were pretty much out of luck. Now, I’m fully aware that things sometimes don’t work out. What really got my goat here was the poor way it was handled. The guy mentioned seeing our request in the notes. What’s the point of those then? It’s like the Seinfeld bit about car rentals. Also no acknowledgment of loyalty membership. We were given a room in that same pricey category with sort of a take it or leave it attitude. No confirmation of our spa appointments. Instead we got an overview of their spa and some info brochure. Sensing our dissatisfaction, a younger guy working reception attempted to step in and help out. I wish he had helped us from the start. Sadly, the damage was done. Hardly the warm welcome we expected from a place billing itself as a luxury resort and billing heavily for it.
Our suite was very nice. It had two king bedrooms and two full baths with a lounge, fireplace, dining room and outdoor patio and hot tub. Our Morocco themed suite would have been large enough for two couples or a family with kids. The décor was different, but I liked the theme. Though we found the upholstery on the couch a bit rough and we had to cover it to sit on it.
The grounds are beautiful and well maintained. There is a well equipped gym and pool on site. We loved the spa and I had one of the best massages I’ve ever had there. Location is just a short walk from the center of Taos and the plaza. They have a shuttle that we used to go to a few restaurants and those guys were helpful and fun.
I’d agree with the other reviews about feeling nickle and dimed. Seems things like wifi and parking should be comped at this price.
Maybe we expected too much from Monte. They sure need to step up on the service end. Didn’t even get so much as a «Hope you had a great stay» or «Thanks for your visit, come back and see us» at checkout. It’s a bad sign when the valet guys are the best ones we dealt with. Thank goodness we were off to the Inn of Five Graces.

This was our second stay here, and the property is as lovely as ever. But there were problems galore:
* HBO wasn’t working despite the fact it’s promoted on Marriott’s website. We were told the «modulator» was out. Also, the property has no channel guide so finding stations is difficult. Especially since they aren’t displayed numerically on the TV.
* The room service menu was not present in the property binder. When it was delivered, it indicates that a 20% gratuity and $ 3.00 fee is added. But you actually charge 22% and $ 5.00.
* The toilet had issues.
* The light in the closet flickered and only worked when we squeezed the electrical tape holding the wires together.
And then there was the bartender who laid all this on us:
* They cut your entertainment budget so the place is «dead» since there is no live music.
* They can’t afford fish for the big bar aquarium and were supposed to get more fish in February but that «never happened».
* Joking about all the suicides off the gorge bridge.
* He told a customer next to us he had inadvertently had sex with a second cousin at a party and now it’s a «family joke».
Lastly, know that this run by KESSLER, not Marriott. They have a marketing partnership so there may be less accountability.
The valet folks were really great as was the breakfast staff.