#23820 Trial Member
Desert Mountain Retreat
House • Albuquerque NM United States
Exchange types accepted
Statistics
Listed August 2023
Views 705
General overview
Thank you for considering my home for your trip to New Mexico! Desert Mountain Retreat is a contemporary southwestern home nestled in the foothills of the Sandia & Manzano Mountains. Recently renovated, Desert Mountain is at once modern yet traditional, reflecting the deep history of New Mexican architecture & style, with contemporary design elements.
There are three spacious bedrooms, a large master bathroom, private office perfect for remote work, open floor plan common area, and a craft cocktail bar setup, all with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and a view into the city as well.
Outside are multiple sitting areas overlooking the mountains surrounding the house, including a fire pit (stocked with local piñon wood), patio with outdoor sofa chairs, and Adirondack chairs with a 70 mile view into the Rio Grande Valley. Catch a sunset or watch monsoon thunderstorms roll across the city below, or enjoy the stars in the dark night sky above.
While a stay at my place could work for a variety of reasons, I'd highlight a few solid bets: First: The "work from home" situation is top notch, with the private office, plentiful views, and strong/consistent WiFi. Second: A relaxing retreat from city life ("cabin in the mountains" vibe). It would be hard to find an area (and house) better balanced between convenience (close to an airport, breweries, grocery stores) and nature/peacefulness.
See more information below.
Guest access
Everything is on one floor, and there are no stairs between and parts of the house, with the exception of a small half-step up into the front door.
Notes
I am new here (August 2023), so thanks for your patience as I learn the ropes! As I'll be traveling quite a bit in the coming months, I'll have a good amount of availability, so hope to have some reviews come in before too long.
Other info about the house:
All areas of the house are well stocked - quality kitchen gear & spices/oils, choice of multiple pillow types, shampoo/soap, & other bed/bath extras, etc.
The house is gated with plenty of parking out front.
The house is conveniently located 15 minutes from the airport. Ubers are readily available to and from, and run around $20-25. The house is also right off of I-40, so you can be anywhere in the city (or in the mountains) in no time - go west and you're immediately in the city; go east and it's rural all the way to Amarillo. There is almost never (stopped/rush hour) traffic in ABQ, so your typical big city restrictions on mobility don't apply.
There are numerous hiking/biking trails within a 10 minute drive of the house, and several right off the backyard and up the street.
Wifi is strong, and has recently measured 200+ mbps down. The UPS store is down the street for those needing it for remote work/Amazon returns.
Each room (including back patio) has at least one smart speaker, which are all connected and fully accessible via Spotify (or other music services) for easy access once connected to wifi.
Older children will be considered upon request, but the house may not be fully childproof for the younger ones (i.e., there are things to break).
Hot tub: Due to water restrictions in the area, we are unable to drain & refill the hot tub with the regularity needed to keep it sanitary between each guest. As a result, the hot tub is only available by advance request, and is accompanied by an additional fee to cover added utility costs and cleaning. The hot tub is otherwise kept in "maintenance mode" (locked, low temp, higher chemicals) and is unfortunately not available for use.
During your stay, I'll likely be traveling, but I have several neighbor friends who know the house and should be available to help if anything comes up. I'm also very happy to provide any tips or insight into your trip before or during your stay - good restaurants, things to do, etc.
Features
Washer
Dishwasher
Clothes dryer
Oven
Coffee machine
Fridge
Iron
Hair dryer
Heating
Air conditioning
TV
WiFi
High Speed Internet
Bathtub
Smoke alarms
Bed sheets
Towels
Workspace
Fireplace
BBQ
Garden / yard
Deck / patio / courtyard / terrace
Covered porch / verandah
House rules
Suitable for infants under 2
Suitable for children ages 2-12
Pets not allowed
No smoking
Allergens
Cat free
Dog free
Smoke free
Dates of Availability
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Neighbourhood
Nestled in the foothills of the mountains along historic Route 66, yet only 15 minutes from the airport and 5 minutes from modern amenities (Sprouts, breweries), this contemporary southwestern retreat leaves you close to everything you'd want to do in the area, yet tempted to just stay behind and relax.
More specifically, Desert Mountain Retreat is in the hills of the Tijeras Canyon, a “high desert” valley winding between the Sandia & Manzano mountains. Hiking trails in the neighborhood are plentiful (beyond the backyard is wilderness extending many miles), and access to the alpine forests of the Sandias is just up the road, all while being 10 minutes from the museums, restaurants, & cultural attractions in town. Santa Fe is an easy drive via the Turquoise Trail, one of the most scenic roads in the country - just a few miles away.
The neighborhood itself is small - around 20 houses - all good neighbors who look out for each other and take care of their property. We're also part of what historically has been the Carnuel land grant, an arrangement dating back almost 300 years when the Spanish granted settlers in the area rights to the land in exchange for protection of the then-Spanish settlement.
If you're unfamiliar, New Mexico is one of the hidden gems in the US in terms of climate, outdoor recreation, & food & culture. We have 4 distinct seasons, each with its own advantages, yet none that are extreme. We get snow in the winter, but rarely does it stick around. It gets warm in the summer, but higher elevation outdoors activities (hiking, etc.) make it easy to cool off when needed, and (unlike what people think when they think of the desert) we're in the "high desert," so the average high temperature never reaches above 87 - all with no humidity. In July & August, monsoon also brings brief yet intense thunderstorms which are gorgeous to watch from the front porch, and which make July & August significantly cooler than many parts of the country, making for a perfect escape from the heat.
Albuquerque itself is even more of a hidden gem, often overlooked for Santa Fe & Taos. While both of those cities are wonderful in their own respects, Albuquerque has perhaps the most "real" feeling of all of them, from art to dining. As bigger cities like Denver, Phoenix, & Austin have become discovered (and then expensive and a bit over-commercialized), ABQ is still a "real" place. Albuquerque is certainly less walkable than downtown Santa Fe, but I'd argue that - if you know where you're going - you'll find better restaurants, art, cocktails & beer, etc. here, and all for (generally) much less money. For those wanting to explore beyond ABQ, my house makes a great home base - you get all of the natural beauty you'd find in other parts of the state, but are still close to the airport and ABQ amenities, while Santa Fe & Taos are easy day trips & beautiful drives.
Getting to my home
Conveniently located just off I-40 & Route 66, 15 minutes from the ABQ airport.
Nearest airport
ABQ - 15 minutes
Getting around
The house is very close to grocery stores and other conveniences, but is mostly accessible by car. There are 4 bikes available for use, which could easily be used to get to the grocery, but this is primarily a car transport area. Uber is easily available, but there is no public transportation.
Map of Approximate Location
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Feedback
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Trial Member
Trey
New home exchanger trying to make good use of my often empty home because of work travel, which also means I have a good amount of availability for non-reciprocal/globe exchanges. I travel frequently to Latin American for nonprofit work, but am looking forward to exploring the rest of the world too!
Travelling group
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Open to any destination
Can travel at any time
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