We stayed here for the first time five years ago. Our main reason was the cost and close proximity to Old Town. For the most part, things went well during that visit, but we were a little surprised to find the place locked at 4 pm when we tried to check in. Also, the laundry was locked until I asked to have it opened. During our recent stay, we showed up about 5:30 PM and the door was unlocked and Henry remembered us! I found him to be much more relaxed this time. Although there are still some run-down places nearby, the area seems greatly improved in terms of urban blight over the past five years.

For a middle-aged traveler looking for something different, this place was ideal. Room was clean and affordable, place had a quaint, route 66 retro-vibe, easy 2 block walk to old town, convenient to bus service for easy access to all of albuquerque.

The Best! Certainly the best value for money on our trip! Once you survive the interview with the Polish owner regarding smoking and pets, the rooms are all you could want. Clean, fresh, well appointed. There is a pool, laundry, microwave, and excellent air conditioning in the room. We loved the bushes and flowers growing outside our room. If we ever come back to Albuquerque - this is definitely the place we would stay.

This is a classic Route 66 motel, very well-maintained and with a few interesting surprises. If you're expecting the Hyatt, stop now. That's a different experience. The rooms are decorated in Midcentury Mishmosh, there's no room service, and it's right on Central Avenue. But I stayed here for five nights on a personal writing vacation, and had a wonderful time. To start with, they are careful about guests, so it was blissfully quiet both day and night. The rooms are immaculate -- I could have used my room for an operating theater. The bathroom was very impressive: clean, new-ish, no grotty grout, and nice and big. The pool is surprisingly large for a motel, and again, is wonderfully clean. Everything worked, and if you've ever spent a vacation asking for new lightbulbs or TV repairpeople or remote-control batteries, you know what I mean. Plus when I needed breaks I just popped in my car and went to Old Town. Not only that, but right next door is Casa Grande, which doesn't look like much on the outside but inside is a marvelous New Mexican restaurant, perfect for lunch. After my first night I asked if I could move to a room toward the back, because I had heard a tiny bit of road noise (though it didn't keep me up), and they explained that because I had specified wifi in my reservation, they had given me the best room for wifi reception. I was very impressed that they were so attentive to my needs. For such a long stay, the fridge was a real plus. Regarding the host and hostess, the "Mr." on the property is a little grumpy, but the "Mrs." isn't. (Gustav, the dachsund, is a cranky old fellow, but sweet in his own right.) I would definitely stay here again. It was a relaxing, replenishing stay, and I felt safe and well-cared-for.

This was like opening a door to the past. On numerous 1950's era road trips with my family, we stayed in countless rooms just like those at the Monterey. It was like finding an old pair of shoes in the back of the closet and remembering the dance you wore them to. It is clean, comfortable, quiet, convenient to Old Town, and you can't beat the price. The owner handles all the business in a very perfunctory manner, but ask him a question, any question, and he is very helpful. I am not sure I would want to spend a whole vacation here, but, just like it was in 50's, Monterey is a perfectly good place to spend a couple of nights while you are on the road.