“Albuquerque”
The hotel staff were nice and helpful. The room was clean and fresh. I would book this location again but would make sure I get an inside room. Our room on the 2nd floor faced Gibson St. which is a busy street and therefore, alot of traffic noise at night. Location is close to I25 which allowed easy access. The airport was minutes away - we were not bothered with any airplane noise at all. We stayed during the Balloon Fiesta and the although the hotel was completely booked, it was quiet as far as "people noise".
When to go
We visited Albuquerque specifically for the International Balloon Fiesta. Lots and lots of people, but a great time of year to be there.
Getting around
Although we had a rental car, Albuquerque has plenty of buses available. Easy access to I-25 and I-40. The interstates are really busy but flow very well. Coming from Florida, we were really impressed with the great condition of the roads and interstates within the city.
Must see
The annual Balloon Fiesta is a must-see!!! Our first visit and plan on returning. Thousands of people attend this annual event. Best thing to do is purchase advance tickets online to include a park and ride with admission to the Fiesta. The buses available at the park and rides get you to the Fiesta safely and quickly without the hassle of the traffic into the park. Old Town is another place to go. Plenty of small shops, places to eat and they even had entertainment!
We also had the opportunity to go up in a hot air balloon - definately a must do!
Family-friendly activities
Enjoyed the Albuquerque Bio Park. One admission fee will get you into the zoo, botanical gardens and the aquarium. All three were clean and well maintained. There is a train that will take you from the zoo to the botanical gardens and aquarium. Lots of fun for the kids!
Other
Our first visit to Albuquerque was fantastic. I'm really impressed at how clean the city is and how well the roads are maintained. Everyone we came in contact with was so nice!!! The Balloon Fiesta is a huge event and the city of Albuquerque handles the traffic very well - we did not have any problems. We did not stay long enough! There are plenty of things to see and do in this fine city.
