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Please see Albuquerque for other available Albuquerque hostels and accommodations.
Please see Albuquerque for other available Albuquerque hostels and accommodations.
The Hostelz.com Review
Sandia Mountain Hostel is nestled east of the Sandia Mountains and is a nice place to relax and hang out after skiing or hiking the nearby trails. It's a great place to meet people, as it's quite small with a very friendly atmosphere. The place looks like a chalet with wooden walls and cathedral ceiling and a wood burning stove in the middle for cool evenings. The staff are friendly and the hostel has five donkeys and a burro so you are more than welcome to save vegetable peelings and rest for them (it's the local recycling way).
The Location
Closeby are several local and rustic restaurants as well as a trendy one that does dinner with wine tasting, gas station, galleries, and a well stocked supermarket. There is a parking lot and the hostel is wheelchair accessible.
Rooms and Bathrooms
There is a door code at night on the main door and individual lockers. Two dorms (one for each gender) are in the main building with eight beds each (four bunks). Some private rooms are in another building further right and common area down there has a TV. Bathroom is equipped with a double sink -- toilets and shower. There is only one wide shower without curtain for privacy but still protected from other eyes.
Common Spaces
Common area has a well equipped kitchen, with fridge, stove, microwave, and sink (pots, pans, and cutlery are available). There is a huge wood table with benches so that everybody can sit together. A wood burning stove is just behind to warm up chilly evenings. There are reading lights. There are a lot of brochures and trail maps available. Quiet hours are from 11 p.m. until 7 a.m., as this is more a mountaineer's heaven than a party place.
Summary
The atmosphere there is friendly and relaxing and you can meet a lot of people with whom to exchange trail or road experience. In addition, this is only a twenty-minute drive from Albuquerque, so for those who want to avoid the city, this is the place. We are planning to stop by again on our way down from Taos to Lincoln.
The Location
Closeby are several local and rustic restaurants as well as a trendy one that does dinner with wine tasting, gas station, galleries, and a well stocked supermarket. There is a parking lot and the hostel is wheelchair accessible.
Rooms and Bathrooms
There is a door code at night on the main door and individual lockers. Two dorms (one for each gender) are in the main building with eight beds each (four bunks). Some private rooms are in another building further right and common area down there has a TV. Bathroom is equipped with a double sink -- toilets and shower. There is only one wide shower without curtain for privacy but still protected from other eyes.
Common Spaces
Common area has a well equipped kitchen, with fridge, stove, microwave, and sink (pots, pans, and cutlery are available). There is a huge wood table with benches so that everybody can sit together. A wood burning stove is just behind to warm up chilly evenings. There are reading lights. There are a lot of brochures and trail maps available. Quiet hours are from 11 p.m. until 7 a.m., as this is more a mountaineer's heaven than a party place.
Summary
The atmosphere there is friendly and relaxing and you can meet a lot of people with whom to exchange trail or road experience. In addition, this is only a twenty-minute drive from Albuquerque, so for those who want to avoid the city, this is the place. We are planning to stop by again on our way down from Taos to Lincoln.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
March 2009
Their Description
Sandia Mountain Hostel Details
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Location/Contact| Address | 12234 Highway 14 North, Albuquerque (Cedar Crest), New Mexico, USA |
| Location | |
| Website | None (if you know the URL of their website, tell us and we'll add it) |
| Telephone | +1 (505) 281-4117 |
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Hostelz.com Guest Reviews
I Liked It! I stayed there some years back, traveling back from New York. When I was there, everything was clean, it was set in the mountains and I loved waking up that morning. Very nice. I will be back in Albuquerque soon and I will be staying there again if they're still in operation. I just loved the place. — Dayvid Franke , US/Russian (2011-09-23) Five Star I was there in 2000 for about a month. I had a really good time there. The view of the mountain and plateau is beautiful. The staff were very nice and all the amenities were there. I may be back this year. I'm considering leaving Atlanta Georgia and moving back to New Mexico. — David Ward , USA (2010-08-14) NEEDS SERIOUS CLEANING -- VERY Neglected place I have stayed at this hostel 3 or 4 times I think over the past 6 years. I think it's gone through some management changes and other changes during the times I've been there. Recently, the owners have sold the building that is pictured on this website, and this building (in the pictures on this page) is now a preschool. They bought a house across the street and are presently converting it into a hostel. I'm moved to make a post about this, which I rarely do this kind of thing, because my experience was so negative. I have pretty severe Chemical Injury, so traveling is quite challenging for me, as it is for most of those with this condition, b/c of all the chemical cleaners, perfumes that are used in most normal lodging places. Even hostels. I was advised this would be a "safe" place for people that are sensitive to chemicals to stay, by someone who used to work there and knows the owners. It was actually one of the dirtiest, most neglected hostels I've ever stayed in. Even though I was being charged $30/night for a private room, I couldn't use the bathroom b/c of all the perfume chemicals, that some previous user had left or used in there. The owners/ managers new of my ‘special needs' and assured me that ‘everything would be ok.' But when I got there, there was bottle of Febreeze (very toxic) under the bathroom sink, and who knows what had been sprayed in there, other than that. He could have at least checked to air out the place. But didn't. It's very difficult to try to navigate through life with this condition; I have to wear a HazMat suit, think "Bubble Boy" to go into most public places. So I go to great lengths to be clear with people about my needs before I travel. Everything related to travel is way more complicated, and time-consuming to prepare for a trip. So, it's a real drag when one takes the time and effort to attempt to clear communication, and is depending on honest feedback from others, only to receive very inconsiderate, even dismissive response. The kitchen sink looked like it had not been cleaned in a year. Or more. The hand towel in the kitchen was so dirty, it has a brown, greasy sheen on it, from what looks to be about a 5 year build-up of use, without washing. I was just nauseated by how dirty that place was. I've stayed at hostels all over the country and it's probably one of the dirtiest, most neglected one's I've ever been at. I took photos, in case anyone would like to see what the place actually looks like. The ‘old hostel' that I had stayed at before, and is now a Pre-School was nice and decent, when I was there. Average on a rating scale to most hostels. But that "private room' building is disgusting. Someone needs to go in there and do some SERIOUS cleaning. Overall, the feeling is that it is a neglected dump. The owner parks an old dead truck right at the entry way where one can't even get their luggage in and out easily, blocking the flow. Bad feng-shui. Then everywhere one looks, there is just piles of dirty, old, neglected crap. Dead cars everywhere. Literally, it is a junk yard of old dead trucks and cars. I guess some people see this as rustic or quaint, and sometimes I see that, too. But there is just so much other piles of junk everywhere there, it goes from quaint to junkyard. Just not good energy. I think they may be putting their energy into the new place across the street. And that one may be better, but please be aware of the condition of ‘old' building, if that is offered. On the positive side, it's really NICE and QUIET there. And the air is CLEAN. That is REALLY nice for folks like me. So once I was able to get the place mostly aired out after the first 1.5 days, the fresh air was great!!! And very quiet at night. Lovely. If you have really loose standards for cleanliness, I think this place may be great. But for those that desire a relatively clean place, I would think twice. I don't like to dwell on the negative, but I also believe problems don't get resolved by ignoring them. Obviously, this was a big deal for me. — Anonymous , USA (2010-06-02) Great Experience! What a great little place off the beaten path about ten minutes east of Albuquerque! The accommodations were very clean, the caretakers extremely friendly, and the donkeys even friendlier. This is the place to stay if you are traveling through Albuquerque, it is well worth the short drive from town. — Benjamin Burns , USA (2009-06-27) Quiet and comfortable hostel with friendly hosts Enjoyed my time here. It was very quiet and was a good place to chill out for a couple days and have some time to myself. Helps if you have a car so you can see some of the surrounding attractions like Sandia Crest, but I believe many people visit here without a car. the hostel owners are welcoming and friendly. the donkeys are cool. Not a party hostel, but it is a great place to relax. — te quila , australia (2008-12-20) I thought this hostel was excellent. The manager was very friendly and hospitable. The accommodations were the expected hostel type. The cleanliness of the kitchen could have been a bit spruced up but other than that it was wonderful. The horse Maria was hilarious. She was a horse with a dog's personality. It was a quiet time of year when I stayed so there was just myself and two others in the hostel. I recommend staying here. There is a great thrift shop down the road to pick up a good book at a bargain to fill your spare time. — Wendy , USA (2007-04-21) Fond memories! Recommended for those interested in getting about a half-hour out of the city and into the mountains (for hiking, fresh air, views). We stayed in a building separate from the main hostel, in a cool, quiet, private room with door to sunny back porch facing the hillside and donkey/burro stomping grounds, surrounded by many unique sculptures in the shape of old cars (which don't seem to rust due to the arid mountain air.) Clean facilities, excellent use of limited energy/water resources. Kind fellow travellers, and both the owner and David the innkeeper, who lives his nights by candlelight, gave us a most hearty welcome. Very pleasant experience staying here, overall! — L (2006-05-08) I highly encourage anyone to stay here instead of in Albuquerque. The views are spectacular, it's cooler in temperature and it's a cute little community. It's also the scenic route to Santa Fe with many funky interesting towns along the way. I lived in Cedar Crest ten years ago and this hostel has not changed since then. It's still wonderful. I stayed here Sept. 2005. I was the only one in the female dorm room and there was one man staying in private quarters but I never saw him. It's very clean and beautiful with all the natural wood. The women's shower room is very spacious! I was greeted very warmly by the male manager, the owner (and the beautiful donkeys!). The manager was very accommodating and allowed me to come bother him at seven a.m. the night I stayed, he invited me to go with his friends to a performance and we had a wonderful night. — sd (2006-04-26) One of my favorite hostels in New Mexico (and I've been to ALL of them). It has a very relaxed and super-friendly atmosphere in a beautiful location that invites you to take various hikes in the Sandias. Dave is one of the most welcoming and most friendly managers of all the NM hostels, and he makes you feel right at home. It's the alternative to the downtown Albuquerque hostel, if you have a car to get there. I will keep coming back for sure, even if it's just to marvel at the beautiful artwork that decorates the walls of the common room/kitchen. — Julia (2005-10-02) This hostel was good but not the greatest. — Anonymous (2005-04-14) I stayed here most of 2003 while working on a contract job. It has the best of locations and it's a natural meeting place for interesting travelers. I had a terrific time, and I am certain that most others do here also. Most travelers were sad to leave when it came time. — Jon Williams (2004-11-29) I have been here twice and I enjoyed it. It has been a good place to stay, and very quiet. Also, I met some nice people here. — Robert Seamons (2004-10-26) A relaxing atmosphere with plenty of exploring opportunities in the beautiful surrounding Sandia Mountains. I stayed there frequently one summer when I was working a job, and was always readily welcomed by the kind people and quiet expanse of the hostel. — Rachel Tarpey (2004-06-23) I stayed here back in 1993 on a cross country trip. It's the best youth hostel I have ever stayed at, and I've been to quite a few. — Jeff Sciortino (2004-05-14) Cool, refreshing breezes blow gently through the windows of the Sandia Mountain Hostel. Large comfortable sturdy bunks, crispy clean sheets, and fresh air make sleeping here a dream! In the morning you can have breakfast at the rustic long wood table in the immaculate kitchen or sit outside under the tree and have a cup of coffee with fellow hostellers and/or the hostel manager/owner. Make sure to close your car window so the curious and friendly resident burro's "Chiquita & Matilda" don't empty your front seat! The surefooted burro's are adept at carrying passengers up through the mountains. The Sandia hostel is also a good place to stay if you would like to take a few day trips to Santa Fe, Los Alamos, and Chimayo. — Lynn Lipari (2003-12-25)