8 Best Hotels in Southwestern New Mexico, New Mexico

Unassuming from the outside, Blackstone has such a creative personality that visitors need simply turn the corner into the colorful midcentury-style courtyard—which echoes Blackstone's origins at a 1930s motor court—to be won over. With just the right dose of quirkiness, the very well-appointed accommodations reveal the owners' good humor: a tasteful assortment of Jetsons, Lucille Ball, and Twilight Zone memorabilia adorn the themed rooms. Each has its own private soaking tub for unlimited indulgence in the healing waters, and a kitchenette (no stove). The lush wet room ($25 per hour)—with plants, waterfalls, a shower, and hot pool—transports you somewhere far away from this desert locale. Two huge private tubs are available for $5 per half hour. The in-house coffee is a custom blend and it's fantastic. The staff is helpful and can offer savvy tips on local dining and sightseeing.

All the pools (five public and three private) at Riverbend are right on the Rio Grande, with sweeping views of Turtleback Mountain. With its days as a youth hostel well behind it, Riverbend now offers a smart balance of contemporary comfort with a touch of retro bohemian spirit. Beautiful stonework surrounds the tubs, and inspired stone mosaics line the spa's winding paths; a lovely open-slatted wooden pergola shades a fleet of chaise lounges, all facing riverside. Several styles of room are available—a few are set in cleverly camouflaged and vibrantly painted, single-wide mobile homes, and all have modern furnishings. A casita and several larger suites are ideal for families or groups. Private tubs at $15 an hour are a treat and a bargain. Massage treatments are available by appointment.

This getaway in the old mining ghost town of Kingston, along the Geronimo Trail Scenic Byway (NM 152), has sturdy log-beam ceilings, massive stone walls, an interesting history, and an informal, rustic atmosphere that makes it nice for families, but the charm here owes a lot to the care and tending, and presence, of the proprietors. It's not quite enough to describe this lodge as "historic." The "town" of Kingston—a bustling boomtown established around the turn of the 20th century and with a current population of about 30—and the surrounding area are fun to explore and fantastic by mountain bike, but keep in mind that Silver City is a full hour's drive west. Guests have access to Percha Creek and miles of hiking trails. The rooms on the north side of the main lodge have views of the mountains, and the south rooms look into the lovely greenhouse. One-bedroom suites have cozy, vine-wrapped balconies in addition to sitting areas. Breakfasts are healthy and hearty, and the kitchen is open for you to cook in if you bring your own food. There is also a studio apartment and a six-bedroom house.

The inexpensive rooms at the Charles are a favorite among artists and healers who espouse all sorts of interesting and unorthodox approaches to health. Various alternative therapies are practiced. Costs depend on the treatment and its length, but $5 will buy you an hour-long soak in one of the nine indoor soaking tubs fed from natural hot springs ($4 for a half hour). For $8 (and a reservation) you can soak in one of two outdoor Jacuzzis up on the roof. The huge (400-square-foot) guest rooms, many of which have kitchenettes, have so much extra space you can easily imagine settling in for months rather than days; in fact, excellent weekly rates are offered. There is a nice gift shop on the premises with locally made pottery and other goods.

The lodgings at this resort are a fun step back in time. The lodge was built in 1911 for the dam's administration and engineering offices. The "cabins" are quaint, neo-pueblo, stucco structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1940s. The resort has been established as an official historic district, and the restoration of the buildings is top-notch. The lodge operates as a B&B and is furnished with many period antiques. The spacious covered porch overlooks the marina. The cabins are an experience in retro-chic, and all have views of the lake, and kitchenettes (you must furnish utensils, plates, etc.) The bar-restaurant ($), open weekends only, serves steaks, seafood, and sandwiches—and some excellent margaritas. On Saturday nights between about Easter and Labor Day, dance bands play blues or rock on the outdoor patio, which also has a bar. Booking is done through the Dam Site Marina office.

New construction is rare for the area, and this 2008-built single-story stucco motel with a metal roof has rooms that are simple and comfortable and are just right to wash off the trail dust and get a good night's rest. The Largo has the best café in town, a busy little spot known for homemade corn tortillas and biscuits, gravy, and chicken-fried steak, and excellent red-and-green chile on Mexican food dishes. The Navajo tacos are famous. They serve "a real full plate," too. Above the spacious booths are mounted trophies (the owner is a hunting guide).

This grand two-story building was built in 1882 as a bank, but it was reinvented as a hotel in 1900. News accounts at the time touted the Palace as a first-class lodging with the intimacy of a small European hotel. The New Mexico Historical Preservation Office helped to restore and reopen the hotel in 1990, keeping much of the historical detail intact. Some rooms have Western-style furnishings, others have neo-Victorian decor such as ruffled pillow coverings and bed skirts. The upstairs room is a peaceful spot for playing board games or reading.

Color is the name of the game at this great little hotel-spa oriented around a rock courtyard and tucked behind a coyote fence right Downtown. Soaking tubs in private, serene spaces are reserved for guests only. Rooms are vibrantly colored and furnished with a mixture of contemporary and retro furniture; many have separate sitting areas and kitchens. Not all rooms are located on-site, but all are within minutes of the main building. The Aqua Room ($80) has an in-room soaking tub. The property also rents about 20 rooms located elsewhere around town.