The reason why you need a vacation.
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA (Twenty-Two Minutes from Airport, 45 Minutes to Santa Fe.) View Map
Accommodations: House, 4 Bedrooms + No additional sleeping rooms avail, 2.5 Baths (Sleeps 6-8)
Keywords: House
We rent our once and future retirement home out by the week or month. The home is located at the foot of Sandia Mountain above Albuquerque. With a pool that commands both city and mountain views, our Casa is the perfect-size (four bedroom) and place to vacation. Relax or roam! We are minutes from the Sandia Tram and minutes from one of New Mexico's seven Wildlife Reserves.
There are mountain hiking trails (through the arroyos) a very available biking and jogging trail to to say nothing about being just ten minutes from a Starbucks, Barnes and Noble and great restaurants. We also have Trader Joes nearby and a Whole Foods in the area.The setting is high desert (eight to nine degrees cooler than Albuquerque), one hundred yards from the surrounding national park and Indiana lands. (The Pueblo of Sandia).
Quail, roadrunners, foxes and a vast array of songbirds can be heard in the deep silence. The Indiana lands enclose sacred sites (They also run a casino) Just 45 minutes from Santa Fe, Casa Griffin is 20 minutes from the Albuquerque airport and minutes from the Sandia Peak Tramway, the world's longest aerial tramway (skiing, spectacular setting, nice restaurants at the Peak) Albuquerque has Indian markets year round, and is host to hot air balloons, the University of New Mexico and other cultural attractions. It has also become one of the more popular golf destinations.
Besides visiting the many pueblos in the area,many day trips are available, such as visiting the natural wonders of Tent Rocks at Cochiti Lake (run by the Cochiti Pueblo) and Acoma America's Oldest Continually Inhabited City.
If you are travelling with children or grandchildren, Albuquerque has an amazing children's museum and aquarium (with a cafe that one can sip cokes and have grilled cheese or hamburgers while watching sharks and stingrays and many schools of fish! ) and an enchanting children's garden (complete with castle!) at their botanical garden.
The tramway up the mountain(Sandia Peak Tramway) is also an exciting trip for kids, unless it's balloon fest weekend, when the crowds make for one and two hour waits for the trip to the top. Good restaurant at the top. A fine Mexican restaurant below is a nice place to meet or wait for those taking the tram up the mountain.
Fully equipped including two mountain bikes, high speed internet access if you have a laptop. Guest account available for checking email on our computer. No pets. Pool available mid May-October. Please do not inquire for any period less than a week. It is a home to settle in if you are looking for a place to come home to after a day of adventures and activity.
Or it is a comfy place to relax and just be in nature.It is also a place that writers have rented to work on their next mystery! Although our home sleeps eight, our normal rental is four to six. Best for a family, two to three couples,three to four golfers! We have four bedrooms. Two bedrooms have queen beds, two bedrooms have two twin beds. Our ideal rental is four to six guests. Although we do have the ability to sleep eight, in reality and ideally your party will have an infant or a child! four singles or two to three couples! We now list our home as sleeping six, we have two queen beds, and four twin beds. Because of the footprint of our home, we can most easily accomodate six adults, and a couple of kids under nine.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Air Conditioning
- Linens Provided
- Washer
- Dryer
- Garage
- Wood Fireplace
- Beds
- Queen Bed
- Twin/Single Bed
- Entertainment
- Jetted Tub in Bath
- Cable/Satellite TV
- VCR
- Video Library
- CD Player
- Stereo System
- Private Pool
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Ice Maker
- Outdoor Features
- Charcoal BBQ Grill
- Deck/Patio
- Balcony
- View/Location
- Mountain View
- Communications
- Telephone
- Computer
- Broadband Internet
- WiFi (Wireless Internet)
- Other Amenities
- Cable TV (does not include all channels), Fully Equipped Including Two Mountain Bikes, High Speed Internet if you have a laptop, Guest account available for checking email on our computer
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities
- Golf
- Tennis
- Shopping
- Swimming
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Cross Country Skiing
- Downhill/Alpine Skiing
- Wildlife Viewing
- Fishing
- Hunting
- Live Theatre
- Miniature golf
- Horseback Riding
- Hot Air Ballooning
- Zoo/Wildlife Park
- Restaurants
- Rafting
- Sledding/Tubing
- Hiking
- Rock Climbing
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Museums
- Other Activities
- Visiting Indian Pueblos, day-trips to fascinating historical and natural sites,
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
$2000/week /$4600 a month We prefer wire transfers or check
We do take Visa/Maste Card through our Paypal account.
We rent by the week, even if you only stay four days!
We often book out a cleaning day along with the six night seven day rental.
Even though our calendar may look empty this does not mean dates are
available. We often come down for a few days during an opening!
We do not book our calendar until we have a signed contract.
Please do NOT inquire for bookings less than a week.
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
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Credit Cards Accepted:
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Map & Owner's Profile
Year Purchased: 2005
Why the Owner Chose Albuquerque
At the time we purchased our home, one of us (known to friends as Dr. Barista) was traveling regularly for family business in Texas. He often flew into Albuquerque and visited and stayed with friends in Sandia Heights. After a couple of years, although their generosity would have been extended, one time when his friends were out of town, he wandered on his own in the area and found a perfect home. Too perfect not to put an offer on, even though I was in Sedona that week looking for a home that would be near our family on the West Coast. By summer, we had closed. It was bought, without me even seeing it. I loved it the moment I walked in..not the house as much as the space, the views, the mountains. We both, although we have always lived on water, love the Sandia Mountains.
The Unique Benefits at this House
Fantastic views. This last year we build a new porch along the four bedrooms so now we have quite literally views from all directions. Some friends have rented for a month at a time because they are looking to retire in the area.The area is very serene,our neighbors are very private but it's not a gated community, so its very much like a modern day pueblo. Incredible vistas, wonderful hikes, deep quiet. And yet, very close to Santa Fe and city life in Albuquerque. We do host a number of golfers (we like four) and we've had wonderful comments from most of our guests (our only complaint was that our refrigerator opened from the right and they thought it should open from the left)Dr. Griffin's secretary handles our contracts. We don't use the current guestbook because we started with an earlier company which sold to the current company. Someday we will post all the nice comments we have received on our website our favorite was from a young family that wrote "It's our last night in Casa Griffin and we don't want to leave!" and then went on to say they forgot to put out the garbage , oh well, their charming calligraphy note did the trick because thats how we feel,(and I although I have two masters degrees in Education, spent many years as a calligrapher) much as we love our Coop life on Lake Shore Drive life in Chicago and active life at the opera, symphony, theatre and restful weekends in the Indiana Dunes, there is nothing like the high desert and the mountains. We always feel so elated that we are coming home.....and it helps now that there's a Trader Joes and Whole Foods nearby! We have loads of reference books in our little sun room library, maps etc. a do your own concierge what to do and where to go spot and of course guests also add to our stash. It's a really simple city to fly into. We like Southwest, we travel a lot, Galapagos, Turkey, Guatemala and next Bhutan! we find Albuquerque's Sunport airport is one of the easiest.
Owner's Map of Albuquerque
Although we purchased our home as a retirement home, only one of us is actually retired. At the time we purchased our home, it was the perfect Southwest distance
between our two sons and their families, one in St. Louis and one in LA. The Sunport, Albuquerque's airport is an easy airport to get in and out of, in these days of heightened security lines, ease of arrival and departure is welcome. Here we are on a boat, The Fortuna in Turkey. One of us is a sailor. Both of us drink coffee.
Property Photos
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- The reason why you need a vacation. - Albuquerque, New Mexico Real Estate
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- Our pool is available mid-May through September. - Albuquerque, New Mexico Real Estate
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- The mountains and garden are available year round! - Albuquerque, New Mexico Real Estate
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- We have a city and a mountain view. Here is the mountain view.
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- Our home is perfect for a small group. Four is ideal.
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- Sometimes families with kids make it seven!
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- In summer and spring look out on the pool or garden.
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- The master bedroom and this guest bedroom have queen beds.
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- In winter and fall, sitting in front of the fire is fun after a day in Santa Fe!
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- Our other two bedroom have twin beds.
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- We provide a guest account for you to check your email.
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- Check out our many guide books and maps sitting in our sun room!
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- Our Back Garden-We Have Four Mountain Views
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- We have at least three outdoor spots to have a morning cuppa coffee or tea!
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- Feel Free To Feed Our Fish!
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- We Recently Added Another Outside Deck To Have A Bowl of Berries!
Traveler Reviews (9)
Lovely, comfortable home from home in Albuquerque
Guest: Tricia
(Austin, Tx)
Date of Stay: 07/04/11
Review Submitted: 08/15/11
We enjoyed a month's stay at Casa Griffin in July 2011. Everything was very clean and comfortable, the pool was refreshing and the views from the garden were beautiful.
Recommended for:Families with teenagers, age 55+, sightseeing.
Desert Diamond
Guest: Tino
(Brookfield,Il USA)
Date of Stay: 03/11/11
Review Submitted: 03/11/11
This will be our third straight year in returning to "Casa Griffin". The reason: it's all the answers to a "dream" vacation and getaway. Regrettably, there isn't enough room to write a review that gives "Casa Griffin" justice. So; just take our word for it that it has everything and more. Impeccable home, phenomenal views, a pool to die for, eventful activities nearby, great eating places, so on and so on. Amazingly with all of these amenities, you're still isolated enough to enjoy the utmost of privacy. We dearly hope the owners will allow us continually to rent on indefinitely.
Recommended for:Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children.
Guest: Golf New Mexico
(-)
Date of Stay: 05/17/09
Review Submitted: 03/11/11
Mark just called to see if I can get the four digit code for the garage opener. It apparently wasn't in the packet you mailed. Everything else was...maps and all, they are very happy with the accommodations, the weather is beautiful, and appear to be having a wonderful time. Thanks so much to you, your husband, and Linda. The golf outing was a success!!! They enjoyed your beautiful home very much
Recommended for:
Guest: Larry
(-)
Date of Stay: 07/27/10
Review Submitted: 03/11/11
Hello Dr. and Mrs. Griffin! Your Albuquerque home is beautiful, we are gracious for your extra hospitality. The views of the city lights, mountains and tram are spectacular, even to a native! We have encountered only one minor problem of which you should be aware. We have had very heavy rain for the last 3 days. Tonight we came back from Santa Fe and found the stovetop area covered in brown gooey fluid. It appears that water (from the roof?) had travelled down the space between the fume hood and cabinetry above the range carrying with it greasy material from the hood or vent area. It is all clean and dry now but inspection of bottom of the interior cabinet space (where the green pitcher and margerita glassware are stored) reveals possible previous water intrusion. No evidence of active or further water entry. The forecast is for more typical weather for the next few days and we will keep you advised of any further developments. I will attempt to send a picture from my cell phone tomorrow. Thanks again for the opportunity to use this fabulous property. Larry and Family
Recommended for:
Guest: Larry
(-)
Date of Stay: 08/02/10
Review Submitted: 03/11/11
Hello Dr. and Mrs. Griffin, Thank you very much for use of your spectacular Albuquerque home, we enjoyed our stay immensely. We had rainshowers everyday. Two more minor episodes of leakage from above the stove were noted. You may need your contractor or roof man to take a look. Other minor issues noted were that the front door is very difficult to close and open and seemed to worsen over the week. I am not sure if the door swelled with all the moisture or not. We eventually just used the garage entrance. The lock on sliding glass door in the master bedroom needs adjusting, it does not engage. The foot lock does, however.(A hinge of the seat cover to the master bath toilet broke. The house was perfect for our needs and we will recommend it to anyone wanting to get a full taste of New Mexico. Gracias again Larry
Recommended for:
Guest: Marc
(-)
Date of Stay: 10/25/10
Review Submitted: 03/11/11
Dear Griffins, Just a quick note to let you know Meredith and I are really enjoying your beautiful home in Albuquerque...it's lovely! We went to Santa Fe yesterday for their film festival and saw Catch 22 and then talked with Alan Arkin, Paula Prentiss and Richard Benjamin for over an hour. Will likely ride the tram today. We are actually leaving on Friday as we are going on to Phoenix for Meredith's mother's 80th Birthday celebration. When do you actually plan on coming out here? We wanted to send something to you so we'll send it here or back home depending on where you will be! Will return the entire package/keys as soon as I get back to Chicago. Again thanks and regards,
Recommended for:
Guest: Deborah
(-)
Date of Stay: 12/24/10
Review Submitted: 03/11/11
Good morning, Thank you for sharing your home. It was lovely. You had asked for suggestions, so here's a few my family have come up with. We found it was much easier and quicker to get to the house by turning left on White Oak, left on Whitetail, and then right on Juniper Hill. Your house is then the third house on the left. The mailbox doesn't have an American flag anymore as the directions indicate. It has a metal quail, which is very distinctive. My son also thought the seagull was a distinctive feature to help "find" the house. We also thought a drying rack would be useful for those laundry items that cannot be put in a dryer. And finally, I noticed that the dishwasher still had water in the bottom after a cleaning cycle sometimes. Thanks again. (we are grateful this renter told us about the dishwasher, we put a new one in!)
Recommended for:
A dream home!
Guest: Jim and Linn
(Chicago, IL )
Date of Stay: 07/04/10
Review Submitted: 09/21/10
We have nothing but fabulous things to say about our recent stay at this home. The the location is ideal! Being that close to everything allowed us to drive short distances to everywhere we wanted to go. The views are breathtaking and the home is top shelf awesome. Crisp clean lines describe the flow of the rooms. There are views from every room. The pictures and description are great, but the home is so much better in person! Every room was larger than we had expected. Casa Griffin is also beautifully decorated and makes you feel very comfortable and right at home. Our standards for cleanliness are very high, and again, we were not disappointed. There is ample room to spread out. Lots of patio space for relaxing. Transactions for payment, getting in/out of the home and security deposits were all flawless. There isn't anything we would change with our experience in this incredible home. Great location, great amenities, and great owner! The panoramic views do not get any better than this!
Recommended for:Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children.
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #52817
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