Hotel Andaluz voted among the best hotels in the world by readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine.

We just received some exciting news and it is all because of you! Hotel Andaluz was awarded a “Reader’s Choice Award” by Conde Nast Traveler. The 2012 awards were rated by a record 46,476 readers voting on hotels, resorts, and cruise lines around the world. The Hotel Andaluz team is thrilled to receive this recognition and we are so thankful that our guests took the time to share their experiences with Conde Nast Traveler. In addition to being named among the world’s best hotels, Conde Nast Traveler recognized Hotel Andaluz as one of the Top 25 Hotels in the Southwest.

Here are a few examples of some of the guest feedback that helped us win this award:

“This was an amazing find! Beautifully redone… green, comfortable, everything you could possibly think of to make one’s stay as comfortable as possible. The lobby sitting area is magnificent and the restaurant graciously served us after a late arrival. Staff was excellent and went out of their way to be friendly.”

“Andaluz is a luxurious escape in the heart of downtown Albuquerque. Ultimate comfort near bustling nightlife, great shopping, and wonderful restaurants. I don’t ever want to stay anywhere else in this city!”

A full list of winners can be viewed here.

Started in 1972, the first Balloon Fiesta was a small gathering of 13 balloons. Forty years later, the tradition lives on with pilots representing more than 20 counties and upwards of 800,000 spectators. On weekend mornings during Fiesta, mass balloon ascensions include as many as 700 balloons filling the sky, which is one of the many reasons Balloon Fiesta is the most photographed event in the world.

In addition to the mass ascensions, other photo-worthy moments of the eight day festival include the night time Balloon Glow, where pilots fire their burners simultaneously, lighting up the night in a spectacular display. The Glow was created by Albuquerque balloonists in 1979 as a Christmas Eve thank you to local residents. It’s now one of the most popular events, second only to the Special Shapes Rodeo which showcases more than 100 balloons of interesting incarnations, like a family of bees, a pair of cowboy boots, and even pop culture icons, like Darth Vader and Mr. Peanut.

Shapes and mass launches are relatively new to hot air ballooning, which first took flight in 18th century France. The world’s first hot air balloon was made of sackcloth with three thin layers of paper inside. It was held together by 1,800 buttons with the outside of the envelope reinforced by fishnet. The envelope itself could contain nearly 28,000 cubic feet of air and weighed about 500 pounds. French papermakers, Etienne and Joseph Montgolfier publicly debuted their invention in an unmanned test flight at Annonay on June 4, 1783. The inaugural flight covered 1.2 miles and lasted 10 minutes, reaching altitudes of about 5,200-6,600 feet.

Hot air balloons and the sport of ballooning have come a long way since that famous first flight. Today, the envelope is made from nylon fabric and the mouth of the balloon, the part closest to the flame, is made from fire resistant material. While new materials have made balloons sturdier and safer, pilots still rely on good, old-fashioned wind currents to move their balloons, and this makes Albuquerque’s location in the Rio Grande Valley ideal. Our cool nights and warm October days help create what is known in balloon parlance as the “box effect.” The box effect is a predictable wind pattern that helps pilots “steer” their balloons. Low elevation winds tend to blow from the south, while higher elevation winds tend to be northerly. Balloonists use these winds to navigate in a vertical box: ascending slightly to move south, then ascending further to move north, descending again and repeating the box, or landing close to their original launch site.

Albuquerque’s box effect, as well as our 40 year love affair with ballooning make it the quintessential destination for hot air balloon culture. Our annual celebration brings out the best in the city and its people, while the crisp October air makes it the perfect time to visit the Land of Enchantment. If you haven’t been to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, my only question is: what are you waiting for? Come stay in one of our guest rooms and don’t miss your turn to get up, up, and away in Albuquerque.

We all know that Albuquerque has some of the best weather anywhere, which is why we personally can’t wait to starting enjoying starry nights in the great outdoors once again. Luckily, we’re re-opening the Ibiza rooftop just in time for days filled with glorious sunshine and nights perfect for lingering outside with a cocktail and good conversation.

Of course, no re-opening would be complete without a party, so we’re throwing one to celebrate our reemergence. Join us on May 4 and let us spoil you with samples from our brand new tapas menu and demos from our brand new resident mixologist. We’ll also be introducing a bevy of new craft beers to the bar and will provide samples so you can become better acquainted. Since nothing is complete without a good soundtrack for the evening, we’ll have live entertainment as well.

Dress to impress

To RSVP, hit us up on the Hotel Andaluz Facebook page. If you RSVP, you’ll be automatically entered to win a rooftop party for 10!

$39 adults
$30 seniors
$15 kids 6-10
FREE kids 5 & under

Reservations:

Phone: 505.923.9080
Not crazy about talking on the phone? We’ve got you covered: OpenTable.com

Easter Brunch at Hotel Andaluz is as much a tradition as chocolate bunnies and hiding baskets. Bring the family and settle in for a relaxing brunch while enjoying our special Easter menu. Selections are as varied as colored Easter eggs…chilled seafood display, salad station, carved entrees and pasta dishes will all be available to delight your palate. Oh, and dessert. Did we mention dessert? Triple chocolate layered mousse, dried Bing cherry brioche bread pudding and white chocolate quesadillas, to name a few. And for those that like a little fire on a Sunday morning? Live Bananas Foster station.

Call to make reservations while there is still room at this often sold-out holiday.

Only one and it’s us.

Many people don’t know that Hotel Andaluz was actually built by Conrad Hilton, a New Mexico native. In fact, it was the fourth hotel he ever built. At the time (1939), it was the tallest building in New Mexico and the first building in the state to have air conditioning. After Hilton built his state-of-the-art hotel, he was a frequent guest, bringing with him a slew of notable friends and family. It’s fitting that he would choose the hotel as the honeymoon location for his second wife. And, while the marriage didn’t last, the room they stayed in did.

Today, the Zsa Zsa Suite is one of our most popular Hotel Andaluz suites.

One of the elements that makes our hotel so green is mostly hidden from view, unless you’re lucky enough to get a behind-the-scenes tour of the hotel.  Although not visible from the street, we have a 73-panel solar thermal system tucked away on the roof. This system generates about 60% of our domestic hot water, which is used in guest rooms, laundry facilities and in the kitchens. In essence, the hotel developed a system whereby the heat from the solar panels is transferred to a 4,000-gallon tank, which is situated on the 10^th floor and is original to the old hotel.

How’s that for environmentally proactive? To learn about some of the other cool stuff happening in our green initiatives, check this out.