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Basically, planning to spend a weekend in Albuquerque with myself and another 20-something female. I've been looking at a hotel on Central Ave near 8th St. (by Robinson park). We plan to hit up the bars in Old Town and would probably be walking back to the hotel around bar closing time. It appears to be a 5-6 block walk.
I keep getting mixed reviews about how "safe" this area is and would like an insider perspective. I realize nothing is ever a guarantee, just wondering if this is something locals would advise against. For the record, we're both pretty street savvy and are from the Detroit area... so I'm not going to be acting like an idiot.
Also, any better recommendations if this is unwise?
Location: northern Vermont - previously NM, WA, & MA
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I feel perfectly safe walking around Old Town both day and night, just sticking to the immediate blocks around the plaza, and around Rio Grande Blvd. Central can get a little dicey going towards downtown but I wouldn't say it's dangerous. Just use common sense, stick together and you'll most likely be just fine.
If you can swing it, get a room at the Hotel Albuquerque which puts you in a better area and closer proximity to Old Town, plus they have a great lively bar right at the hotel itself. http://www.hotelabq.com/
Thank you for your quick response! I have been looking at the Hotel Albuquerque as well, only difference is the room at this other hotel is literally half the cost. Will have to discuss it with my traveling partner and make a decision. Thanks again!
Other opinions/suggestions are welcome as well if others have them.
zgz, Something that I learned from the NM culture is to relax and not sweat the small things. The Hotel Albuquerque is a fine, safe place to stay. Sometime, especially when it comes to hotels, you get what you pay for. Relax, pay what you consider to be moderate rates, and enjoy the Land of Enchantment.
Just returned from a walking my dog with my 4.5 year old son. I live near the corner of 16th and Lomas which is in Old Town. Walk down here every day/night.
Most bars in Old Town are in restaurants which mainly cater to 60-something tourists (maybe a -little- bit of an exaggeration).
If you and your friend are in your 20s, you will find the Downtown and University/Nob Hill bars more up to expectations. Downtown is rowdier and serves more of the 'younger' drinking scene while Nob Hill, despite its proximity to the University is a little bit more relaxed and even upscale as far as 'upscale' goes in Albuquerque.
There are good bars in both downtown and Nob Hill (despite the downsides of the predominating scenes) and both areas are on the same street (Central Ave./Rt.66) a couple of miles apart and served by bus. I would check out both. Another comparison, downtown bars tend to have bands and divey atmosphere, Nob Hill bars tend to have good food and are clean. Both are filled with bearded, tatooed, pierced freaks who are quite kind.
I used to live downtown. I avoided walking from Old Town to Downtown at night, especially late at night. I think I may have done it early evening on occasion, but I don't remember ever walking there late at night. There are some isolated stretches on Central, en route between those two destinations, that seem risky to me at night. While others seem to be very comfortable walking around Downtown, I had at least one bad experience when I felt threatened while walking late at night in the empty business/government office area north of Central. It didn't end up being a disaster, but I was accosted by two people in an interaction that felt potentially threatening.
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