4 Best Hotels in Truth or Consequences, Southwestern 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.

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.

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.