TDY Gouge - New Mexico

Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque NM - After being told we were not able to get on base TLF for a 3 month TDY, we checked into the Southwest Suites. They are fully furnished corporate apartment suites. They do offer a military discount. Very nice apartments with maid service and very nice complexes. Call Joyce Row 1-800-342-3820 local 505-294-7632. The Candlewood Suites hotel specializes in long term stays. It has efficiency and one bedroom apartments available at the government rates. They include stoves and full size fridge as well as full cable TV. The also have a separate line for the internet. Its about 15-20 minutes from the base and there are numerous restaurants in the immediate area. Weight room and wash room on the premises. Marriott (on Louisiana St.) had gorgeous rooms. Good location in relation to restaurants. The bar is top notch. They have no problem giving out free drinks when you start drinking enough. Bar closes at midnight, but Bennigans is stumbling distance outside of hotel doors. This hotel is highly recommended. Never tried to work any special deals with the sales department. However, it seems as though they really appreciate military customers, and would be amenable. At the Old Town Sheraton - decent might be a stretch, but the rooms were decently decorated. The front desk personnel were pretty incompetent. They lost my first reservations. Luckily, I called before we left to make additional reservations. Once there though, they didn't have keys for us. Then, on checkout, they mixed up the rooms and bills. Nice feature is a 25 meter outdoor heated pool. Laps are a bit difficult to do because shallow end is maybe 2 ft deep. There is a Lotaburger (McDonald's imitation) right out doors, and a Starbuck's coffee shop 1/4 mile north on Rio Grande (great for waking up in morning). Other than that, no good bars or restaurants in walking distance. Kind of a dumpy part of town. Only 13 minutes to base. Radison Hotel @ Convention Center(Carlisle Ave) 505-888-3311 is a great hotel with a FULL service fitness center. Great bar/pub with Guinness and numerous great brews. If you call Debbie (Sales Mgr) you can obtain a TWO floor suite (downstairs/living room (for planning) and upstairs/bedroom at Govt contract rate. Near Central (Route 66) party locations, within 1 mile of two major malls, plenty of great places to eat. This is where the commercial flight crews (read stewardess go to). Sales manager: 505-889-4906. At the Ramada Inn Mountainview (Hotel Circle NE), we had people with bloodstained bed sheets, no heat (in January), and some soothing highway noise 24 hours/day. Recommend you avoid any hotel in this area. Uptown Sheraton was not bad, but below average for a sheraton, (505)881-0000, corner of Lousianna & Maneaul. "Contract" rate was $65/night. Small bar downstairs off the lobby. Quiet, doesn't stay open very late though. Didn't use the restaurant. Best deal is Assets Grill, a brew-pub with great southwestern food, up Lousianna to the north a mile or so, then just to the left on Montgomery. Bennigan's south of the hotel about 1/2 mile on the left. ~Try Kelly's. It is a Microbrew/restaurant Near the University of New Mexico. Average food, average price but the 24 microbrews on tap that are made on site are worth the trip. If you like to sip on good micros, then this place is a must. Go out the Wyoming gate and down two or three lights to old Rt. 66, make a left. Kelly's is on the left about 2 miles or so down the road. Great Mexican for lunch or dinner plus great drinks all at a reasonable price- Cervantes. Go out the Gibson gate, about three blocks on the right. The bartenders take good care of the Air Force guys. ~Don't get suckered into the La Quinta trap if you do not HAVE to be 5 min from base. Look up JFTR section on selecting alternative lodging as long as it is equal to or less than that chosen by Billeting. Call SouthWest Suites and make a reservation for a 2 bedroom apt up in the NorthEast (the nice, driveby-free part of ABQ) and pay the SAME as a La Quinta. The drive to base is about 22min once you know where you are going (long TDY) and 30 if you are just taking the easy way. The nice (and hot) SouthWest Suites lady will cough up 50 bones as a headhunter fee so if you have buds coming down tell them to call you by name and make sure she knows where to send the check. Oh yeah, you get 2x week maid service too.

~Raddison was a dump. They were in the process of remodeling into a Holiday inn & Conference center. The staff was ignorant as how to handle a multiple room reservation under a single credit card. resulted in a double bill on my GTC. Had hot water once during my 7 day stay. Multiple water leaks in front of my door. Staff used 3 buckets to "catch" the water. Overall poor service included. ~More info on the Hawthorn Suites, what a dump! Billeting loves to send Military here and they won't take it off the contract list. Security doors don't work and the staff doesn't care. Bums panhandle and cruise the parking lot after dark looking for money and cars to break into. Not a nice area! ~MCM Elegante was a dump. Don't be fooled by the fancy web site or the (seemingly) hot voice on the phone. The place is a hole and should be avoided unless you like moldy showers, broken elevators and 1970's style.

~University Inn is a dump! The University Inn used to be the Ramada (changed name). Now, it's a hell hole where the rooms smell like mold and the maids steal your clothes. Avoid this dump. ~Southwest Suites (800) 342-3820 was a Palace! Just a quick update on KIKR and the ABQ area: If you're coming for a long TDY (AFSOC initial qual), absolutely give Southwest Suites a call. Lori will take very good care of you - I'm TDY Enroute from overseas with my wife and 3 cats.. No Problem! 1Bdrm, 1Bath, Huge Walk-In Closet, Lvrm w/ gas logs, cable tv, DVD player, Dining room, Nice kitchen w/ pantry and laundry area (In the apartment!), garage, 24hr gym & pool... GREAT Mountain View! All furnished incl. the kitchen stuff and linens. Weekly maid service to boot! If you need a car, don't go for one of the airport locations.. call Enterprise Month-N-More.. get a nicer car at a better rate.. and your spouse can drive w/o fee. Chilacas (Burritos), El Vicino's (Pizza and Micro Brewery), and Scarpas (Pizza, Pasta, Salad) are excellent food choices (Do a search on Yahoo Local). Coming here during Late Sept / Early Oct? Hit The Balloon Fiesta!!! - www.balloonfiesta.com - You won't regret it or forget it.

~Kirtland Inn, (505)8469652 is a pretty good deal, depending on what building they put you in. When you check in, and you are an E-5 or above, ask for building 22002 first. These rooms are suites and newly remodeled (living room, kitchenette, bathroom, and bedroom). If unavailable, try for buildings 22001 and then 22003 next. If you are here for a short stay, building 22018 is the brand new building and is really nice (standard hotel room, microwave, fridge). They now have wireless internet available in all the rooms free of charge. If they put you on the west side of off the Maxwell gate, keep bugging billeting to move you to the east side where the nice buildings are. Tucano's Brazilian Grill is a must if you are staying in Albuquerque, even for one night. This dining experience is simply amazing. Visit their website for hours, menu, and directions. It is downtown on 1st and Central. www.tucanos.com Enjoy!

Holloman AFB, NM - For those going to the fuge (my only experience at Holloman)...first off your base will probably allot you $70 for a shuttle from El Paso to Holloman. Instead, rent a car for the 3 days (will cost you < $70 for a mid-size), then just file "Transportation" under your additional charges section on the travel voucher (under $75 does not require a receipt). Secondly, Alamogordo sucks...I suggest going about 45 min up the road to the Casino (Inn of the Mountain Gods or something like that) the night after your done w/ the fuge. It's a pretty nice place...good food, booze and gambling, what more could you want? If you want you can stay up there, but the AF will only cover up to $37 of the room cost...so splitting a room is really not that much out of pocket. Either that or have a bro who's willing to drive back at 3am when you're all hammered. If you do stay in town, there's the standard Chilis, Quiznos, etc.