I will be dropping my rental car at the ABQ airport at 5pm Mon and catching the SWC at noon next Tuesday. I am looking for an inexpensive motel that will be convenient to Amtrak and things to do on foot or by bus. I tend to carry too much luggage.
There is a downtown Econolodge at 8xx Central, that would be close to Amtrak and the Alvarado Transportation Center (safe walking distance?). It is very inexpensive. Is anyone familiar with this place or the neighborhood? Clean and quiet is enough for me.
Otherwise I might try somewhere further out Central east or along Yale Blvd by the airport on the 50 bus line. Any suggestions are welcome.
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
TwinStar,
I just booked a night here www.plazainnabq.com one night next month. I've never stayed there before but it comes recommended and looks interesting (plus with courtesy shuttle) The rooms are maybe a little more expensive than what you're hoping for but I found a suitable one for $69.00 before tax. Looks like it might be good value.
Posted by TwinStarRocket (Member # 2142) on :
Thanks David. The Plaza Inn looks very nice and is ideally located. The rates I am finding on their site and in the AAA book are higher than yours though. I will keep it in mind.
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
Hey TwinStar,
I see what you mean.....I played with their website a little and found Sun-Thu nights significantly higher than the Fri night I'll be there......
I should have thought of that.
Posted by Charles Reuben (Member # 2263) on :
The Econolodge seems like a nice place. I would stay there if I was going to rely on public transportation to get me around. You can take the 50 bus from the airport to Central ave. and jump on the Rapid Ride to the Tingley stop, by the river. Albuququerque Buses are reliable until about 8ish, check out http://www.cabq.gov/transit/tran.html for schedules.
This area is quickly becoming gentrified but if you are concerned about security, then I would probably get a room on the second floor. I think they have a nice pool and a jacuzzi, as well, so bring your swimsuit. Management is east Indian, I believe. Place is spotless.
Plaza Inn is also very nice. The problem with the Plaza Inn is that it is not as well situated for public transportation as is the Econolodge.
Please don't even think of walking from the Econolodge to the Amtrak station. It's a long, dreary walk and you might get lost.
Best of luck!
Chuck
Posted by TwinStarRocket (Member # 2142) on :
Mr. Rueben, your advice was right on, even though I didn't take all of it. Econolodge is well located and very clean. Public transit here in ABQ is superb. When I came in last Thursday I took the #50 bus to the airport and got my rental car in no time flat for $1.
Today I dropped the rental off and transferred from the #50 on Central. The first bus that came was the "Rapid Ride". As I just found out later from Mr. Rueben's website, "Rapid Ride" has one minor problem. It doesn't stop much. So after I sailed right on by my motel, I figured I would keep on going downtown and see if I could catch a Rail Runner for a joyride. But their evening schedule is too sparse to get me back to ABQ. Maybe tomorrow.
I then did some serious walking through downtown ABQ. The Alvarado Transportation Center and the new Greyhound Station are very nice buildings. Even better, they now hide one of the world's greatest eyesores, the Amshack. There are a lot of street people in this area, but I am a city kid and have learned to deal with panhandlers.
Downtown ABQ feels like a small town, but has bars, clubs, eateries, entertainment, etc. that look trendy and big city, at least for this hick from the midwest. Everywhere there are deliberate reminders of it's railroad and route 66 heritage.
Next I did what Mr. Reuben said I shouldn't even think of, and walked back to Econolodge. It was dreary as sightseeing, but for a winter weary Minnesotan nothing in this beautiful weather should be called dreary.