Motels in New Mexico
Blue Swallow Motel Tucumcari, NM. Quite simply, the best lodgings of any kind I've ever stayed in anywhere. The Blue Swallow has everything a Route 66 motel should have: Friendly owners, immaculate rooms, beautiful decor, attached garages, pink stucco walls, a small gift shop in the lobby, architectural neon everywhere, and a world-famous neon sign out front. On top of all that, it's got vintage rotary-dial phones in all the rooms and real towels -- the big, fluffy kind like you have at home -- in the bathrooms. At night, when the neon is lit up, there's nothing more beautiful than the Blue Swallow ... except maybe the sun setting over nearby Tucumcari Mountain. Do not, under any circumstances, pass through Tucumcari without stopping for a night at the Swallow. To make reservations, call (505) 461-9849. (During the winter months, the Blue Swallow closes, and the phone is shut off, but the proprietors still take reservations online.)
Monterey Non-Smokers Motel Albuquerque, NM. Gorgeous neon sign, clean rooms, and wonderful showers. Amenities include refrigerators and microwaves, in-room coffee, heated pool, and on-site laundry. Discounts offered for National Route 66 Federation members. All rooms designated nonsmoking. Wonderful place to stay. For reservations, call (505) 243-3554.
El Rancho Hotel and Motel Gallup, NM. A Route 66 institution, the El Rancho bills itself as the "Home of the Stars" because of all the movie stars who stayed there while shooting Westerns on location in the Gallup area. Pets allowed. Amenities include a pool, lounge, gift shop and on-site restaurant. Hotel rooms are named after the celebrities who once stayed in them. The neon sign on the front of the building advertises the "Charm of yesterday, convenience of tomorrow." A must-stop. For reservations, call (800) 543-6351.