I want to thank the recent posters who gave us some idea of what to expect now at this resort. This was my 3rd time staying here (in more than a decade), and my first as a globalist. I like the hotel -- especially as a globalist. The "anything you want for breakfast" was fun, especially since you can basically get lunch instead if you want to. The food overall at the Santa Ana Cafe is good, but not great. The options are a bit limited, but if you ask nicely, you can get some variations. Like the menu only offers chicken enchiladas, but they'll do other meat fillings if you want (for a small upcharge, that you won't pay anyway). We always ordered an appetizer (like soup or chile strips) just to try these New Mexican dishes, but didn't do both juice and coffee because at $8 and $6 each, we didn't want to run up the tab too much (not that I think it would have been a problem, though).

The only problem with eating lunch food for breakfast is you run out of things to eat at the hotel restaurant for dinner (pretty much the same menu). We solved that problem by going to the Rt. 550 strip and getting some takeout, which we ate on the scenic patio of the still-closed Corn Maiden restaurant. The problem with this is that it takes awhile to drive to that congested street (almost 15 minutes), so it's not the most pleasant thing in the world. The best takeout food we found was at La Casita in Bernalillo (I'd recommend the stuffed sopapilla or Indian taco), but watch out -- they close early (a New Mexican thing, for sure).

The grounds of the hotel are very peaceful and nice: we also rode the complimentary bikes to the stables, and did the walk down to the Rio Grande a few times. Nice swimming pools, and the whirlpool, steam room and sauna at the spa are free for globalists.

They did not have a suite to upgrade me, so they simply gave us two connecting rooms when I asked for an upgrade (we had our daughter with us). I've never had a hotel do that for me before, and I thought it was quite nice (occupany of the resort was low in early September).

As far as planning goes, the hotel is basically in an exurb of Albuquerque (the Route 550 sprawl is the end of the northern sprawl, and the hotel's location is peaceful). You could certainly visit the sites of ABQ from the hotel if you wanted to, but ABQ probably isn't exactly what most tourists are looking to focus on. Santa Fe would be a doable day trip, but I think you're better off staying in Santa Fe to see that area. And then you probably also want to spend at least a couple days in Taos. For this reason, I'd recommend 2 and preferably 3 nights (and 2 full days) at the Tamaya resort (since there's not that much of interest outside of the hotel in the immediate area) and then move on.