DealDetective

The Pathways program has eliminated the 15% room discount, but continues to discount the spa, dining and logo apparel. As a free program, there's no reason not to sign up!

Dear Pathways Member,

Greetings from Tamaya! We hope you're having a wonderful summer and that you've had the chance to visit us this season.

There have been some changes to the Pathways program that we wanted to make you aware of. Effective immediately, the 15% room discount is no longer a benefit of the Pathways program. We encourage you to join Hyatt Gold Passport Rewards to start enjoying exclusive benefits and free nights with no blackout dates at any Hyatt worldwide. Visit www.hyatt.com to become a Gold Passport member.

Your Pathways membership still includes 15% off spa treatments and salon services, 15% off dining at Corn Maiden, Santa Ana Café and Rio Grande Lounge, and 15% off logo apparel at the Trading Post and Twin Warriors Golf Club.

And now, weekdays in August and September, enjoy a Tamaya Weekday Escape! In August and September only, book any full-priced 50-minute or longer service at Tamaya Mist Spa and Salon Monday through Friday and receive complimentary access to the resort pools for the day!*

Thank you for being a Pathways member and we hope to see you at Tamaya soon!

*Treatment must be valued at $100 or more. Valid weekdays only, excluding Labor Day. Pool Access Pass valid for guest receiving spa service only. Nontransferable. Expires 9/30/15.

DealDetective

I don't think I've written a review since our first stay 5 years ago, so I thought I'd give an update based on our stay last week. Unlike our previous stays as Diamonds, we were only Platinum this time, so we reserved a Mountain View room, which is exactly what we got. On previous stays, we have had either junior suites or a VIP suite, but the location and view of this particular room (2121) was one of the best we've had, and made up for the lack of extra space. We didn't miss the Regency Club either, enjoying breakfast al fresco on the expanded Santa Ana Cafe patio. (We noted very few people dining inside, as it was so nice outside, even in August.) The breakfast buffet was only offered on the weekend, when they were busiest. They have moved the omelet station outside, freeing up the inside buffet area for better circulation. The breakfast menu offers a wide variety of regional options. At dinner, they also offered a nice buffet option.

We really enjoyed the live music offered most evenings on the Santa Ana Cafe and Rio Grande Lounge patios. One evening we even heard music drifting softly from the wedding pavilion in the bosque.

Our balcony facing the Sandia Mountains was our favorite spot to enjoy our morning coffee or sip wine while watching the sunset. It was such a quiet and peaceful place! One thing we noticed each morning that we had not observed on previous stays was droppings on the table and floor of the balcony. We initially thought they were rodent droppings, but the staff member who arrived to clean it up explained that the brown bats like to hang out on the balconies at night. All part of the natural setting. I think I scared one off when I went out to watch the sunrise one morning! In addition to the bats, we observed several bunnies and a rafter of 9 wild turkeys from this balcony. The resort offers a nature walk each morning and evening, but we saw much more wildlife from our balcony than we did on the walk!

We had another great stay and will probably return next year.

catsassy

A quick update.
Stayed here for 2 nights this month.
We had a view of the mountains on the Regency Club floor. Didn't ask for any upgrade as space wasn't important and we enjoyed the balcony briefly.

The Regency Club was closed but we were given the extra points at check in and had breakfast in the Corn Maiden which was very good.

At check out the charges hadn't been removed from the bill so the desk clerk removed them but left the gratuity. Usually I let this go but having to ask to have the breakfast charges removed made me cranky I had to pull up the diamond benefits on my phone to show the clerk as he had never heard of this benefit....

Otherwise a very good stay. The pool was heated to 83F so it was warm enough to enjoy even in February and one day it was actually 70F+
Had free access to the spa and had the whirlpool to myself for an hour but it was lightly snowing at the time (I hadn't realised it was an outdoor whirlpool). It was very relaxing provided I kept my shoulders submerged.

ung1

Made a reservation here to use up an expiring DSU, while also dropping from diamond to plat.

Then emailed the hotel to check re RC access (since it wasn't mentioned in the Suite description) and they replied that there is an extra charge.

I find it very strange, since a Club upgrade is normally 3000 points, and a suite upgrade 6000, so one tends to assume that the higher category or tier includes all the benefits of a lower tier plus more.

Just wanted to check what experience others have had with this, and is it worth staying at the property if "only" having Plat status and basically not receiving any benefits.

peteropny

Normally in domestic US properties, staying in a suite does not grant you club access unlike internationally - this is just a general observation - could vary by property.

I'm a Diamond but my opinion is you're only missing out on the club access and breakfast as a platinum confirmed in a suite. It is a very nice property - FWIW I've never been in a suite at this property.

MSPeconomist

If a suite isn't located on the club level, you need to check the description to see whether it includes lounge access. It can go either way. I know of a new HR that does give lounge access to all junior and senior suites; in this case, the rules are buried in the way the property lists all suites as being club level even though there are suites located on every floor. In other Hyatts, I've noticed suites and club suites listed as separate room categories at different prices, where I would expect DSUs to book into the lowest suite category so that a use of a DSU would not imply lounge access for guests who are not Diamond.

ung1

Interesting, thanks for your feedback. What I noticed is that there is no Suite category which gives club access at this property. The hotel did reply to me saying that it would be possible to get that for extra points (I guess 3000 per night).

Would this be worth it? At a resort its nice having free evening drinks that can otherwise be expensive (although at some US GHs they make you pay for alcohol). I did read that pricing is reasonable - and I suppose one is unlikely to venture out of the property while staying there on a weekend.

MSPeconomist

You feel a bit isolated when staying at the hotel, with downtown restaurants being a long ride away, first on some small roads in the desert and then on the expressway/interstate. I remember the hotel having a free shuttle to the casino (owned by the same Indian tribe) where there are some additional restaurants.

During the day, if you have a rental car it's fun to do the Turquoise Trail and even goo beyond Santa Fe to Los Alimos. There's also an interesting museum focused on the atomic bomb on the air force base next to the airport; IIRC you must make a reservation in advance to be able to enter the base (show ID and potential security inspection of vehicle and its contents) to go to the museum. Unfortunately Sandia doesn't have a museum and isn't open to the public.

Before committing to spending points for lounge access, check whether there is a charge for alcohol there. It's not free in most USA properties, but is generally free at happy hour overseas.

DealDetective

I personally don't think the club here is worth 3,000 points/night. They do charge for alcohol at this RC. While it is reasonable, I prefer enjoying a glass of wine on my balcony with a view of the Sandia mountains, or having a drink on the Rio Grande Lounge patio, overlooking the bosque and Sandia Mountains. In fact, we really didn't miss the Regency Club on our last visit. The al fresco breakfasts and evening live music on the Santa Ana patio were much nicer than being inside the RC or on one of its small balconies.

Don't expect to be blown away by the DSU suite upgrade at this property. It is a regular room with a parlor connector of an equal size consisting of a living area and bathroom. We actually preferred our last stay in a Mountain view room to most of the junior suites we've had here.

While there is plenty to do at the resort, don't feel compelled to spend all your time there. The Prairie Star on the pueblo has a nice patio on the golf course with a mountain view. They often have live music; check the schedule. It's a nice place to enjoy dinner and cocktails while the sun sets. There are also some interesting wineries in the area. The Jemez Mountain Trail National Scenic Byway makes for a nice 1/2 day drive. We enjoyed it more than the Turquoise Trail.

Diamond or not, you will enjoy this property!

P.S. Join the free Pathways program at the property for 15% off at Santa Ana, Corn Maiden and Rio Grande Lounge.

jdawg

Got an email from the property that the Pathways program (currently 15% off of restaurants / gift shop) will be terminated on 3/31/16. It will be replaced on April 1st, with a spa-only program for NM residents only.

ung1

Thanks for your input. Reason for not wanting to venture too far is because this is a break in the middle of a road trip (chicago - LA) so it is nice having a couple of days in between without being on the road.

The plan is to continue on to Monument Valley and then on to Grand Canyon - and maybe some short excursions from the property.

MSPeconomist

BTW, don't miss the Indian museum at the hotel. With any luck, the staff member there will give you a bit of a private tour complete with stories. It's an unusual hotel experience.

dpb132

Just enjoyed a very pleasant 1-night stay here in January 2017. The Diamond treatment is excellent; in addition to full breakfast in the restaurant (lounge was closed), access to the spa is complimentary (otherwise $15) and I was provided with a $50 voucher to use at their "Trading Post" (aka, resort store and sundries shop). I was told at check-in that the latter is a new benefit they have only recently started offering to Diamond guests.

Service at the hotel is outstanding and the grounds and setting are quite lovely.

jayer

Back for the first time in several years.

Club is permanently closed. Not the best club ever, but a closed club anywhere makes a diminished experience.

Breakfast was subbed in and there are some unique local-flavor options on a revised menu.

The cottonwoods have grown up along the walking trail (which really improves it). Lots of new retirement subdivision housing south of 550, which has brought other development. Not a gourmet wonderland but you do have off-property options that were not there five years ago.

Still recommended for a short two, max three, night escape, but try and time it for less than a full hotel. First night there we overlapped a couple of conventions and it was all a bit overwhelmed. Way better after they all left.

schriste

Overall a pleasant resort. Nothing I can add that others have not already mentioned, except that rooms have very poor sound insulation between rooms. If you have a loud neighbor you will hear them even in a room without a connecting door.