Vacation Rentals by Owner

Peaceful. Beautiful. Quiet. Comfortable. Easy.

Guest: Lawrence (Austin, TX)
Date of Stay: 04/18/12 Review Submitted: 05/20/12

Spectacular! Seriously.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Touch the Stars

Guest: alice (albuquerque NM)
Date of Stay: 11/18/11 Review Submitted: 12/05/11

We arrived at the home on a wintery evening after a long car ride. The trip had been eventfull with a good stop at a fantastic mexican restaurant in espanola that serves the best local lamb dishes.When we got to the end of the dirt road and saw the welcoming lights and got out of the car,we became aware of an intense silence, a deafening kind of quiet, that most of us city dwellers have completely forgotten.As we walked towards the entry, my husband whispered: Look up, look! and above us spread out from horizon to horizon the most magnificent milky way ever seen,stars so bright and cold ,it seems one could touch them. Those were our strongest and most memorable experiences about this house, and of course, all the ameneties and comforts we experienced were all there. The cozy fireplace, the simple but highly elegant furniture, the comfortable bedding. Those brief moments of touching eternity will always be with us.

Owner response:It is the reason that they have named our beautiful state the land of enchantment. Its huge open heavens filled with stars has enchanted even the most hardened city dwellers. And the skies change so often with snow clouds and sun and rainbows. Our home has 62 windows to let it all in! Our simple restaurants have excellent New Mexican food--Angelinas in Espanola has wonderful food and Favios special is not to be missed. And the classic El Paragua has a wonderful atmosphere and sometimes live music. Comfort and beauty and spiritual awakenings await you at our home we like to call a 'retreat' or sometimes 'Rancho Romantico'! (ask the couples who have fallen in love there)

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, sightseeing.

Medanales Mesa- Great Location, beautiful property

Guest: deeppowder (Telluride, Co)
Date of Stay: 10/14/11 Review Submitted: 10/25/11

I stayed four nights at the Medanales Mesa retreat with my mom this past October. We were very lucky with spectacular weather. We were slightly nervous as we pulled into Medanales, which is a less then spectacular group of homes right off the highway. Luckily the retreat is located on the mesa above. The property is very pretty with large expansive views in every direction. We spent most of the time outside on the eastern portal of the house. The home itself is very well appointed and very comfortable. There were just two of us but certainly the house could sleep 6. Day trips were made to the nearby national forest, hot springs, Taos and the ghost ranch(great hiking trails). The owner of the retreat was wonderful from her first email reply to making sure everything was going smoothly while at the retreat. I certainly hope I will get a chance to come back, enjoy more time relaxing, drinking a cold beer and watching the sun set over the magnificent New Mexico landscape.

Owner response:Our guests from more prosperous states are sometimes surprised by the differences in Northern New Mexico. There are cultural as well as financial differences from other states which don't have the same ethnic mix that makes us proud and which lends New Mexico its uniqueness. And we have learned a lot from the older inhabitants of the land (native Americans camped on our property around 800 years ago) including adobe building, cooking with green chiles, and living comfortably in an extreme climate. All seasons have something special to offer in the high desert and all the cultures have combined in a beautiful way to add spice and interest. And the sunsets, viewed from our portal over the Sangre de Cristo mountains is spectacular in every season!!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

perfect getaway

Guest: jill (norman,ok usa)
Date of Stay: 10/05/11 Review Submitted: 10/14/11

We arrived just in time to hike amoung the aspens above Santa Fe at their peak! Our last two days were spent hiking the mesas and northern mountain trails in snow. What a gift! The house was perfect. At the end of a day of hiking there is nothing better than returning to a sauna and relaxing before the fire after enjoying a georgeous sunset.We enjoyed a terrific meal at El Farolito in El Rito. Great food!

Owner response:We think that our sauna must be the most beautiful spot in northern New Mexico. It has hand plastered walls and all hand crafted furniture (by David of course who made most of the furniture in our house) a resting room with benches to sleep or talk or dream and a bright blue shower to cool down. We often sauna while our dinner cooks go back inside and make a fire and eat ! Seems as if Jill had it all figured out including El Farolito where we love to see if Dom has created any new paintings for our walls.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

A wonderful weekend in Medalanes

Guest: Robert V.
Date of Stay: 09/30/11 Review Submitted: 10/04/11

After stocking up at Trader Joe's in Santa Fe we arrived Friday afternoon at the house. What a wonderful surprise!. The late afternoon sun revealed the beauty of the house and surroundings nicely, we were stunned. We went on a hike to explore the mesa (climbed the fence near the nearby hill) and explored the dry river bed. Beautiful and soooo quiet!. We visited New Mexico with our visiting family from the Netherlands. The house is perfect for two couples as it provides privacy due to the placement of bedrooms, one on each side of the house. The adobe is absolutely gorgeous with an eye for detail. We cooked dinner at night and enjoyed in particular a clear starry night. In LA or in the Netherlands one cannot see this many stars anymore. We could clearly see the milky way. Fantastic. During our long weekend at the mesa we drove to Taos on Saturday and on Sunday we went to Santa Fe. My brother and sister in law visited the Taos Pueblo while we roamed the little streets of Taos. Unfortunately we had to leave this beautiful house and place behind on Monday late morning to catch our flights back to Burbank. We did not want to leave.... at all! We highly recommend this adobe to anyone who wants to leave urban craziness behind and enjoy the quiet life at the mesa. Lilyan, thanks for all the emails and interest in our trip. We felt at home! We will be back.

Owner response:We have often hosted visitors from other countries and they are very responsive to the beauty of the desert. The house is well planned for two couples which can have privacy because the ensuite bedrooms are divided by the great room. They can meet together in the great room to cook and share dinner cooked on our amazing Viking range. There are many soft couches to stretch out on at the end of the day (after long hikes on the mesa) and have a good read or a nap. We have left a supply of books in the house and hope that all guests can read them and will add to our small library.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Idyllic, Peaceful and Private

Guest: Cathy & Max Sturdivant (Dallas, TX)
Date of Stay: 09/18/11 Review Submitted: 10/03/11

If we could have designed our own perfect vacation home, this would be it. From the spectacular views from every side of the house to the beautiful architecture to the lovely personal touches throughout the inside of this home, it is indeed the perfect getaway. We wanted to "get away from it all" and this wonderful home was the ideal spot. There is nothing I would change at all. Our 2 standard poodles had a blast exploring, and we so much enjoyed the many places of interest with a short distance from the house. We hiked, we fly fished, we took hundreds of pictures, we visited friends in Taos, we saw history, we shopped! Honestly, it was better than expected, and we expected a lot. We have stayed in many VRBO homes before, and this one is by far the one we long to come back to. We are already imagining what it looks like in the different seasons.

Owner response:They had the keen eye of artists and we have hosted many such artists who appreciate the beautiful light in the desert, the spectacular sunsets, and the quiet to enjoy it all. We also always appreciated that our local architect framed each of the views from more than 60 of our windows so you you don't have to go outside to enjoy them! The house is carefully designed and beautifully hand crafted--from the hand plastered walls to the hand crafted furnishings of solid walnut we all tried to think of everything that matches the beauty of the landscape.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Mother and teenage son from Washington DC

Guest: DD (Washington DC)
Date of Stay: 08/01/11 Review Submitted: 08/29/11

We spent a delightful four weeks in this wonderful house on a mesa with views that go for miles and change with the changing colors of the day. Sunsets and clouds in the distance are spectacular. It is very private at the end of a dirt road adjacent to BLM land. No houses are visible and the house has the benefit of being right next preserved land which is wonderful for hiking/walking. The owner could not have been more helpful with information before and during out stay. the house appears exactly as it does in the photographs, which is a simply appointed adobe style house of Northern New Mexico with a good kitchen. The house was clean with flowers, when we arrived and easy to maintain during a holiday. I would definitely recommend the house to friends and relatives and look forward to another stay.

Owner response:We think our home is a perfect spot for the artist that lurks in all of us. The moonrise over the Sangre de Cristo mountains which sometimes appropriately glow blood red at sunset has to be experienced from our beautiful eastern portale. Monsoons in August bring us rainbows (sometimes even two at a time). The Cottonwoods go golden in October all along the Chama River. The snow in December drifting slowly across the fields from the mountains. And this summer the trumpet vines were splendid calling loudly for all the hummingbirds on the mesa. Quiet and serene it is time to write your novel or perhaps just read a good book on the soft sofas from our ready supply. And who wouldn't like a turkey at thanksgiving from our Viking stove or perhaps to roast some Hatch chiles on the top? Forget your work, eat and enjoy the views on this beautiful mesa.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Beautiful and airy retreat

Guest: Jeff (Lexington, KY)
Date of Stay: 06/01/11 Review Submitted: 08/03/11

My partner and I stayed in this beautiful property for the month of June, 2011. I can only add to the other glowing reviews on this website, but will try to add some more specific information for potential renters. Location: The property sits a mile or two off the highway between Santa Fe and Abiquiu on a mesa above the village of Medanales (which stretches along the river). The last half mile or so of the route is a gravel road leading up to the mesa and to the homes there. Medanales itself is largely an eclectic collection of homes and trailers with a tiny post office and a beautiful little adobe church. The mesa consists of less than a dozen upscale homes separated by large lots covered in sagebrush, cacti, and other desert plants. The Locals: The neighbors proved to be wonderful. The nearest neighbor is an artist who emigrated from Germany decades ago and knows the area well. The local organic gardener, another interesting and friendly local character, described our German artist as the "mayor of the mesa" and she was indeed a wealth of information and a pleasure to know. Marcie, the "lettuce lady", does gardening at the retreat house for the owner. She and her mother have a huge garden on the road through Medanales and sell their organic produce surplus to locals -including me while there. Emma Sue, the local post mistress, also is a friendly focal point for the outlying areas and added to the sense of small town community provided me and my partner by the locals. As with most places, the people of Medanales brought this beautiful and remote place alive to what living there year-round is like. The Owner: I cannot emphasize enough what a gracious host the owner Lilyan proved to be with her frequent and eloquent emails answering questions from where to find the wine glasses to what local restaurants she recommended. All her dining and shopping recommendations proved on target. We loved Angelina's in Espanola. The House: The house is large and airy. There is no a/c but even in late June we did not usually miss it with temps in the afternoon around 97 F. There are ceiling fans. The house wifi worked well, and we were able to get a cell phone signal well in certain parts of the house. We recommend hiking down into the arroyo and over to the river and ruins on the opposite mesa. The property is a wonderful place for people wishing to have a retreat in privacy amid NM's stark beauty.

Owner response:We did have a hard drought filled summer this year and I appreciated that our tiny flower garden was so thoughtfully tended by not only our gardener (who is so filled with wisdom about the desert) but by our generous guests--who understand the beauty of being able to water a desert garden at sunset. While watering we all happily watch the hummingbirds who love the trumpet vines, the bunnies hiding from the coyotes and the birds building nests in the rafters in the portale which faces the Sangre de Cristo mountains which go blood red at sunset. Our neighbors are an eclectic crew of hardy individuals who appreciate natures beauty and love to share their knowledge. And there are many local restaurants to try--all listed in the house book. Bodes chile cheese burgers, Gabriels perfect guackamole, Angelina's Favios special, and of course El Farolito for its atmosphere.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Abiquiu Adventure

Guest: Travelers from Tennessee (Nashville, Tennessee)
Date of Stay: 05/08/11 Review Submitted: 05/22/11

We had a great stay in Abiquiu. The house could not have been more perfect for the four of us. The setting was gorgeous! We took day trips each day in a different direction. We loved the tour of Georgia O’Keefe’s house in Abiquiu. After the tour, we visited her ‘white place’ which was nearby and really amazing. We probably would have missed that if our guide had not told us how to get there. Another favorite was the visit to Puye. I love the piece of black pottery that we bought in Santa Clara Pueblo.

Owner response:OH yes the shopping is great! especially as our neighborhood is chock full of artisans, artists and local craftspeople who make beautiful things to bring home. A visit to the pueblos is a must and most of them have community centers selling beautiful handcrafted items. And of course Santa Fe is bursting with beautiful things to buy. There are also weaving galleries (my favorite is in Los Ojos) and our neighborhood is perfect for the artist in all of us. Plaza Blanca, the Mosque, the Abiquiu Lake, Lake Heron, Ghost Ranch on and on and on-- all hold splendors for the painter poet photog in all of us. Book early for the tour of Georgia O'Keefe house so you can see how she saw our world in Northern New Mexico and was transfixed by its beauty.

Recommended for:Age 55+, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Are you prepared to rest, recharge and feel like you have gone to the planet Peaceful?

Guest: Dr.K (la)
Date of Stay: 05/02/11 Review Submitted: 05/05/11

Then this is the place....I loved the look of the photos on this site and booked a week at this Authentic adobe retreat. I knew i needed to get out of the city and needed to change my pace. The Mendanales Mesa Retreat is on a mesa where the sky never stops...forget television, which they have, just sit on the patio and watch the sky like I did. Time stood still but not the sky. Clouds danced on the mountains and were both entertaining and sometimes comical. I went there ostensibly to finish a book I am writing..well that was just a little part of it....I love to cook..the kitchen is a dream and everything a picky cook could want is there. Top of the line.. When i didn't want to cook...just check the notebook of suggestions that these folks have prepared..first rate dinners within a short hop in the car away or as a treat a 40 minute jaunt to Santa Fe and the world of the gourmet is open to you whether you want to spent the big bucks or eat on a budget. Now about the air on the mesa...i realized i had forgotten what real clean air was like...amazing...when you are there be sure to use the sauna..I choose a sunset ritual before dinner...shower and a robe and i was good to go...dinner...then a good read and to bed in the most charming bedroom where i slept like a happy child... I had some guests i for dinner one night, picked up some local and amazing lamb down the road and the dinner, candle light and the fireplace made true magic.... And you have to drive up the road where the mountains and valleys are out of a painting that you would say couldn't be real..they are! I know know what re-treat means...a treat that repeats over and over... I WILL BE BACK....this place is magical, spiritual and a work of New Mexican art. Dr. K

Owner response:The air fragrant with pinon is also very thin! Remember to drink lots of our cold fresh well water when you hike down the old arroyo to the Chama River. We have landscape lovliness that is hard to believe, especially if once you can catch the full moon rising huge over the Sangre des Christo Mountains---which like their name sometimes turn bright red with the sunset. Yes and our local lamb can't be beat. In Los Ojos there is a beautiful sheep ranch run by the pueblo--they shear the sheep for the rugs they naturally dye and sometimes you can buy one of those unbelievably delicate lambs to roast. and our friend living below us has a farm now where in the summer you can buy fresh organic produce. what a life!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

far views, privacy, pleasant home, well appointed

Guest: M & R (Europe)
Date of Stay: 04/12/11 Review Submitted: 12/03/11

My husband and I stayed for a week in April 2011. We very much enjoyed dining under the covered terrace overlooking the mesa with in the evening a family of scaled quails paying us a visit. The house is very spacious and brings in the views, it is ideal to relax, work, paint and a good base to explore the area as it is an easy drive to Sante Fe but also very close to sites like the Ghost ranch. The house is well appointed and clean. We would certainly recommend this place.

Owner response:This is one of our favorite spots in our home--the eastern portal with a view of the mountains also has an open fire place in case it gets nippy or you want to bbq. David ,our local cabinet maker, designed and made our outdoor furniture so we could our meals al fresco. Its wonderful in the morning watching the birds and the wildlife and in the evening watching the mountains turn red. We often go up north to Chama or Los Ojos (a wonderful weaving gallery there) past Ghost Ranch and sometimes to Cuba for a fabulous meal. And a 32 mile ride to Santa Fe is not a problem. Lots of guide books in the house to show you the way. Or wifi to look it all up for yourself!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, romantic getaway.

Medanales Mesa a Must Retreat!! Heaven at Abiquiu!!!

Guest: Tina (Missouri)
Date of Stay: 10/04/10 Review Submitted: 10/12/10

This home is fabulous!!!!! Our first time to rent from VROB and this will be hard to beat. Beautiful retreat home with everything you need and more. Owner was delightful and very helpful in making our last minute reservation work. Don't miss the sunrise over the mesa and after a day of enjoying this magical land, you should build a fire on the patio and enjoy the sunset. The home is situated where you have complete privacy and endless views. Life doesn't get any better than this! Even the Sauna has windows and million dollar views. We loved the location, close to Ghost Ranch for hiking and peace, and just 10 minutes from town for groceries The kitchen has everything you need, we choose to cook and stay home in this lovely Adobe. A romantic get away for us! Thank you for sharing your beautiful home, we had an escape we will never forget. We will be back! Tina and Mike

Owner response:We love our sauna! we heat it up before dinner and watch the sunset with candle light in the resting room next to the sauna with a shower to take that last soapy bath before bed. And in the winter we walk outside to cool down. In the summer we sleep in the sun. We have a massage table and can call Susan to come up and give us a private massage next to the fireplace. very romantic very healthy and very private.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Spacious Retreat ~ inside and out

Guest: skygazer (san francisco)
Date of Stay: 08/24/10 Review Submitted: 08/29/10

A heavenly retreat -- space, stillness and wild beauty. Restorative and inspiring. A wonderful place to write. I especially loved sitting on the bench on the eastern portale and watching the light change. One morning -- three coyotes chasing three hares at the same time. A rush of tan furred wind across the silver green sage mesa. A fourth coyote limped behind with a hurt paw -- trusting, I suppose, that his friends would be generous. I hope so! Thank you to Lilyan and Chris for creating such a haven and sharing it. It was a privilege to be there, falling asleep to crickets and coyotes -- full moon, soft air. No need to even leave the property ~

Owner response:We are proud that our Medanales Mesa Retreat is just that-- a quiet inspirational space happily shared with writers artists poets or just those of us who want to be creative. And its not a problem for a woman to be alone on our beautiful mesa. We have many like minded neighbors--women who live to make their art. Painters, writers and crafts women. I am so glad our skygazer enjoyed the huge new mexico sky and the rainbows after the august monsoons. She wrote that she also loved the sauna and its peaceful space with beautiful views. And everyone at every age loves the 700 sq ft eastern Portale in all seasons! even in the winter with its outdoor fireplace.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Tranquil Get Away at Mesa Medanales Retreat

Guest: Grace (Houston, TX USA)
Date of Stay: 08/05/10 Review Submitted: 09/07/10

We stayed at this wonderful property for one week in the beginning of August 2010 and would highly recommend it. The peace and tranquility of this house is quite exceptional. It has a bright, airy, calming white interior and the light is constantly changing. The interior is very spacious and beautifully laid out. The sun rise/ sets were stunning. If you really want to escape a big city or are just looking for a complete change of pace you will not be disappointed. It is about 45 minutes from Santa Fe and an excellent location for exploring the surrounding countryside.

Owner response:our home was designed by a local architect who made sure he took advantage of the beautiful views and placed the house so that we would have good solar gain in the winter and cooling in the summer. He also made the ceiling exceptionally high and opened up the great room to its best advantage to the outside. Our contractor was also local and he had built many poured pumice homes in Abiquiu as well as the stunningly beautiful mosque. Local artisans completed all the work with hand made walnut furniture, smooth plastered walls and hand made cabinet work. All in the all the experience of building our desert retreat was so wonderful that we cried when it was completed. Enjoy!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

wonderful holiday at Medanales Mesa Retreat

Guest: Beate (Hamburg, Germany)
Date of Stay: 07/18/10 Review Submitted: 08/08/10

Gleich der erste Eindruck ist vielversprechend: ein Haus am Ende des Schotterweges, der Blick geht über die Ebene bis zu den Bergen. Pflanzen und Terrassen bezeugen schon von außen die liebevolle Pflege der Eigentümer. Auch innen ist alles tip top gepflegt und liebevoll gestaltet. Ein Architektenhaus! Wir fühlten uns sofort willkommen. Die Ausstattung der Küche, die hübschen Bäder, wifi, Sauna alles war vom Feinsten. Wir hatten eine wundervolle Woche zu viert: Vater Mutter und und zwei Töchter (13 und 17). Und keiner von uns konnte am Ende sagen, was das Schönste war: Die Ausflüge zu heißen Quellen zu den berühmten Pueblos in Taos, nach Santa Fe ode die Mußestunden in dem schönen Haus mit dem fantastischen Rundumblick auf die weite Ebene und die fernen Berge. We had such a wonderful stay at the Medanales Mesa Retreat. Father, mother and two teenage daughters couldn't even say by the end of the week what was more delightful: the excursions to hot springs, the famous Taos Pueblo or Santa Fe or just stay in the perfectly furnished house. Everything was right there for us: wifi, Sauna, very well equiped kitchen and beautiful bathrooms. We spent hours relaxing and enjoying the fantastic view from every room and terrace: the mesa and the mountains. It was completely quiet and close to nature. I loved the changing lights on the mesa. I'm sure that it's wonderful any time of the year.

Owner response:We had two different German families staying at our home this summer. Amazingly they both found us on VRBO in Germany. They both loved the house and the beautiful differences in landscape from their lush green homeland. The Germans also appreciated the ecological approach we try to maintain living on the mesa--no AC no pools no hot tubs careful irrigation and KEEP TO THE TRAILS!! They loved their walks along the arroyo down to Chama River and took many photos which I am now sharing on VRBO. The Europeans seem to have an even greater appreciation for our carefully constructed home our beautiful landscapes and our wild untouched natural beauty than most Americans. It was wonderful having these very well mannered family as guests. I know they will be back! and thank them for writing in German!!!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Birthday Retreat

Guest: Lupe (Albuquerque, NM USA)
Date of Stay: 06/25/10 Review Submitted: 06/28/10

I certainly recommend this wonderful mesa retreat to any and everyone! We spent 2 nights in celebration of my birthday; by far the best birthday in 27 years! Me and my husband took our 10 month old son and he absolutely loved EVERYTHING at the house. Medanales Mesa was child and baby friendly (My baby climbed his first steps at this wonderful haven). On Saturday while the husbands were cooking dinner me and one of my great friends walked along the dry arroyo. We collected rocks, one for each of us. We got back to the hideaway and we wrote a name on each rock symbolizing us and our stay at this beautiful residence. We will most certainly return and when we do, we will stay a lot longer! This house is and was amazing and will forever be a beautiful sketch in my memory for years and years to come.

Owner response:We know that our home is the perfect place for a celebration--we had many there including the wedding of my niece on Christmas eve with our house lit by candlelight including silver candles on our Christmas tree. And she named our home Rancho Romantico as it was where she had fallen in love the year before. We have also hosted many a child--babies and kids and teens and we have been able to find something that everyone at any age can enjoy. When my niece returned to the mesa with her one and half year old daughter little Tess was wonderfully entertained by the bunny in the woodpile(who was about two months old). And we even entertained my 90 year old mother in law who enjoyed beading our bedroom curtain sitting comfortably at sunset on the east portale watching the moonrise over the Sangre des Cristo Mountains. A retreat for everyone indeed!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Delightful stay at Medanales Mesa Retreat

Guest: Jo El (Dallas)
Date of Stay: 05/21/10 Review Submitted: 06/09/10

Lilyan, We had a wonderful time. My friend and I hiked during the day while our husbands painted with the SMU group. Then the guys came to the house for dinner and went back to the Abiquiu Inn for slide presentation lectures until 9:30pm. During that time Carol and I used the sauna. That was fabulous after a day of hiking. We cooked every night except the night that we grudgingly had to go to the Abiquiu Inn for dinner. We kept hoping for rain and for the arroyo to be flooded so we wouldn't have to leave the house for dinner that night. We also met Renata. She was really nice and let us go to her house and see her knitting machine and her studio that she was moving back into. I bought a couple of scarves, a short vest and a long vest. Renata was getting ready for the craft show that was in the park beside the cathedral last weekend. We saw her there also since we were spending the weekend with friends in Santa Fe. When we left Medanales the momma bird was still sitting on the eggs. She picked the perfect place for the nest, because the winds were fierce for a couple of days and she was protected. We also went on the Georgia O'Keefe studio tour and then we hiked in Ghost Ranch. A perfect day. We ate lunch one day at Margarita's Pizza and another day in El Rito at El Farito and enjoyed both. The house was perfect for 2 couples and the kitchen was plenty big enough for 3 cooks. We loved eating out on the kitchen portale watching the ever changing light on the mesa and surrounding mountains. We would love to return. Thanks again. Jo El

Owner response:Thank you Jo El. I love how you enjoyed all the features of the house that we think are so precious. the Eastern Portale with the huge hand made table and comfortable benches to watch the day begin or end.(all the furniture hand crafted by our neighbor) Our southern portale next to the serenely perfect bath house (also the work of the neighbor)--to lie privately in the sun or cool off after a sauna. inside or out. to cook dinners for your group on our fabulous Viking stove or bbq on the terrace. to enjoy the solitude and nature--our carefully landscaped desert garden and all the birds we have attracted there with water and branches to sit on. its a home to dream in.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Favorite Abiquiu Vacation Home

Guest: beagles (Madison, WI)
Date of Stay: 11/06/09 Review Submitted: 08/18/10

Of the many properties we've stayed at in New Mexico over the last ten years, the Medanales Retreat is one of the best . . . and now keeps bringing us back every November. The property is absolutely wonderful - with great access to hiking and terrific mountain vistas . . plus it's not far from the best New Mexican chile cheeseburgers at Bodes! Everything is well maintained with good instructions and easy owner contact. All the amenities are as promised - the kiva fireplace is great (no smoky fires). Highly recommended for everyone.

Owner response:I am so happy to see this great east coast couple back in our home for the third time. They are such a thoughtful couple and they certainly appreciate our architect's beautifully planned kiva fireplace which was hand built by a 78 year old mason master!. They are people after my own taste especially with knowing about those fabulous chile cheeseburgers at Bodes. But I wonder if they know about the pinon pine nut pancakes at the Abiquiu Inn? or the Flavios special at Angelina's in Espanola? and about the roasted Hatch chiles at Romeos? This time I hope they have a chance to try all the tastes of our region--opps don't forget El Farolito for its chile and the owner Dominick who is the wonderful artist who painted our two favorite paintings in the house.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, pet owners, sightseeing.

Lovely Retreat

Guest: Angelfire (Ithaca, NY, USA)
Date of Stay: 04/21/08 Review Submitted: 06/12/10

Some friends and I spent a week at the Mendanales Mesa Retreat, and found it even better than advertised: it was beautiful, clean, privately situated, well appointed with ample dinnerware and cookware. It was even stocked with spices and the usual staples necessary for enjoying a living situation away from home. The instructions left by the owner were clear and useful. The owner was available for few questions that developed. I have recommended this property to friends and would not hesitate to continue doing so.

Owner response:Thank you Carol that was very nice and so well written! I think this was the artist that created the incredible pastels from our portale which faces the east and the Sangre des Christo Mountains which turn red at certain glorious sunsets in the year. spectacular. We have the perfect home for a writer painter poet or romantic. Quiet and beautiful with amazing desert vistas! And I am so glad to hear she enjoyed our gourmet kitchen and those carefully thought out chiles!! best, Lilyan

Recommended for:Age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.