If atmosphere and comfort are important requirements of your stay at an inn in Taos, New Mexico, La Dona Luz delivers wonderfully. I've stayed in hotels, inns, B&Bs, etc., that range all over the spectrum in quality and price and found La Dona Luz Inn to be more than worth the price. With its proximity to Taos Plaza, you can just park your car and leave it for most of your stay. Each room is decorated differently with the ultimate goal of sensory pleasure. My daughter and I stayed in the "Madonna" room and were captivated by the many depictions in original artwork of mother and child shown in the room. Our suite had two queen-size beds with hand-embroidered coverlets and lots of comfy pillows. There was also a queen-size sofa in the sitting room to sleep more people if necessary. Two televisions and VCRs were also available, as well as a small fridge/freezer and coffeemaker. Other furniture included a desk in the sitting area and table and chairs in the bedroom.

A corner adobe fireplace was a nice addition, though we did not need extra warmth at the time of our visit in August 2002. The bathroom was well-lit with a skylight and the bathtub included a jacuzzi option for relaxing after walking around Taos and its environs all day.

The continental breakfast was wonderful; two options of cereal (granola or Basic4), muffins, juice, coffee, and delicious fresh fruit with yogurt. The fruit was my favorite part; very flavorful and very fresh. This was served in a delightfully decorated courtyard resplendent in flowers and color.

Part of the inn is the old trading post--El Rincon--part of which is still a store, and part of which is a museum that details the store's history. It's a great way to see what life was like back in the day.

The staff was wonderful and very down to earth; okay, so there were no mints on my pillows, but I knew if I needed anything, someone would be able to help with my request. Many thanks to those of you who were there during our stay.

Service and quick response are obviously considered very serious business at this Inn; when I first e-mailed the owners with initial questions, I was answered by Paul within 24 hours. That pretty much did it for me; other places I queried never responded.

The only problems I had with the Inn were the parking situation and the circular staircases leading to our room. It was easy to lose your parking space there, so if you get one, hold onto it. The staircases were okay as long as you weren't carrying anything; we decided to leave our larger luggage in the truck to avoid having to carry things up (though the staff would have helped out here, too).

Taos is a lovely place to visit and this was the last stop on our trip. The people in general are very friendly and helpful; we had many very nice conversations with storekeepers and the like. It was a fitting end to our first vacation in the American Southwest.

Recommended: Yes