Sandia Mountain Hostel

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.

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!

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.

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.

This hostel was good but not the greatest.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.