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Just got it!!!! Santa Fe

shagnut

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Came home and the answering machine was blinking. It was Spence from Trading Places. Got a check in (Oct6) at Villas of Santa Fe which is the start of the hot air balloon festival in Albequerqe (sp) I am HAPPY!!!! The only bad is I only got a 1br instead of a 2. They said they don't get 2br's. so I took it. I gave them a 3br from St George, Utah.
 

susieq

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Good for you!!! So happy for ya ~ back to that little corner of heaven!...I envy you!! (Got room for a stow away?!? :eek: ) :clap:
 

DaveNV

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That's great news! Have fun! You'll have to let me know how the Balloon Fiesta is. We'll be there next year for the Fiesta, but we're staying at Las Brisas. :clap:

Dave
 

dougp26364

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FWIW, Villa's De Santa Fe has very few two bedroom units. Even with access through DRI's THE Club, 2 bedrooms are hard to come by. We managed to get one last May and after looking over the building unit layout map on the back of the door realized there was only a couple per building.

I have pictures of the resort on our Smugmug page if you want to get an idea of the resort and what a unit looks like. You can access our timeshare albums by clicking the link in my signature below.
 

Luanne

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We stayed in a one bedroom at the Villas last May. We're staying there again this May. Since it's just the two of us a one bedroom is fine. We traded through Platinum Interchange. I have a request for a two bedroom there for Thanksgiving week. I've seen one bedrooms come and go, but we really need the two. Oh well, if it doesn't come through we can always stay with the inlaws. :D
 

jumpercat

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las brias

How are the Las Brias timeshares vs Villas?

Which do you think are better...Las Brias or Villas?
 
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Luanne

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How are the Las Brias timeshares vs Villas?

Which do you think are better...Las Brias or Villas?

Las Brisas are older than the Villas. There are no "ammenities" in the lobby area, where the Villas have the computers, and printer free for use and always have coffee and hot water available.

Las Brisas unit was bigger, and there was a washer/dryer in the unit. The Villas have a pay washer/dryer in the main building. The two bedroom we stayed at Las Brisas was a two-story with the master bedroom and bathroom, along with the washer/dryer on the second floor.

I would say Las Brisas is a little bit closer to the plaza than the Villas, but I'm not 100% sure. Both are walkable to the plaza. The Villas has a courtesy van that will take you into town, I don't think Las Brisas did. We didn't use the van as we prefer to walk.

I would stay at either.
 

flexible

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Came home and the answering machine was blinking. It was Spence from Trading Places. Got a check in (Oct6) at Villas of Santa Fe which is the start of the hot air balloon festival in Albequerqe (sp) I am HAPPY!!!! The only bad is I only got a 1br instead of a 2. They said they don't get 2br's. so I took it. I gave them a 3br from St George, Utah.

Shaggy, have you been to the area/resort before?
The RESORT shuttle is GREAT! You can even call them on your cell phone, tell them where you are nearby and they will pick you up. Lots to do in Sante Fe.

IF this is your first time at a ABQ Balloon Fiesta, if memory serves me many TUGgers and others online have great photos & advice. Particularly when to leave Sante Fe/where to park for the balloon park and other logistical considerations that would be nice to know in advance.

In October 2010, we spent Friday night in top floor suite at closest Marriott to the balloon park watching balloons in front of our window WHILE also hearing/watching the coverage on ABQ TV.

then Sat-Sat @ Villas de Sante Fe using our VI contract
We drove back to ABQ 2 or 3 days
You MUST leave VERY EARLY in the dark
If you have a GPS it wouldn't be a bad idea to have it with you
The ONLY possible confusion is getting from Villas de Sante Fe to the Freeway onramp
Eventually (about an hour later) the traffic for the exit lane will line up
Lots of officials directing you to the right parking lot

We also went to something like a skyrail one of the afternoons

We checked out on Saturday and saw lots of balloons in the air over ABQ as we drove South to Carlsbad Caverns
 
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cmh

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I have ALWAYS wanted to go to the Balloon Festival! In fact New Mexico is the only state I've never visited......one day I'll get there.

Congrats & enjoy!
 

shagnut

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I haven't been this excited about any trip since my trip to the Canadian Rockies. I am stoked!!! Do you think I need to spend the night in Abq to avoid the drive early in the morning? I am planning on going to the shapes!!!

I have never been to this area so will take any info and tips I can get..
What the devil is this green chile I keep reading about that they put on cheesburgers?

shaggy
 

shagnut

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FWIW, Villa's De Santa Fe has very few two bedroom units. Even with access through DRI's THE Club, 2 bedrooms are hard to come by. We managed to get one last May and after looking over the building unit layout map on the back of the door realized there was only a couple per building.

I have pictures of the resort on our Smugmug page if you want to get an idea of the resort and what a unit looks like. You can access our timeshare albums by clicking the link in my signature below.



Doug, thanx for the pics. I looked at them a long time ago so it was good to refresh . It looks perferct for me & Kelli. I Can't wait!!
 

falmouth3

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We missed the shapes event when we were at the Balloon Fiesta. But we were there for one of the mass ascensions. We did spend the night before in ABQ. I highly recommend it because it's a pretty long drive from Santa Fe and you need to be there pretty early. And the traffic jams for the mass ascensions can also be pretty bad, from what I saw on TV. We got there early enough on the 2nd day to miss the traffic.
 
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