Our historic compound in Old Town, Albuqerque features 3 historic adobe (dirt brick) buildings with 6 newly remodeled vacation rental suites. In the common area there is a large communal garden with a hot tub, cowboy pool, lounge seating areas, outdoor dining tables, and outdoor games. We also have a shared laundry room and two parking areas - all securely surrounded by a 6+ foot wall.

All of our suites are fully stocked vacation rentals - completely private, with a full bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and dining space (some also have separate living spaces). Each suite has its own outdoor patio space on the property as well.

The Desert Compass is an independent family-run property. We operate the way you would expect with a vacation rental - we do not have a front desk, and our suites are all self check-in. However, we are always available by text or phone if you have any questions or concerns during your stay. Most of our guests prefer to experience the property independently, but might check in if they have a question about something in their suite, or want advice for things to see and do nearby.

The Desert Compass property is fully enclosed by a 6+ ft wall with keypad access, making it secure for our guests. The front pedestrian gate is also secured with a keypad.

We have 1 standard sized parking space available per suite, and street parking is available for additional vehicles. Unfortunately due to limited space we cannot accommodate large vehicles such as U-Hauls or trucks with trailers (anything larger than a Sprinter Van or similar). The entrance to our property is 10 feet wide, and we cannot accommodate vehicles that exceed this size.

There is free street parking available outside the property for any additional vehicles.

We have a hot tub that is open year-round, 24 hours a day, and a cowboy pool (an 8ft wide x 3 ft deep stock tank pool that is perfect for dipping your toes, lazily floating, or sitting in to cool off) that is open from May - September (sometimes a bit longer, depending on the weather).

We know that pets are a part of the family, and we have two pet-friendly suites available to well behaved pets and their responsible owners with a pet fee.

For the safety of you and your pet, and out of consideration for our other guests, we ask that you follow our pet rules during your stay:

• Pets must be leashed and supervised at all times while on the property outside of private areas. Pets are never allowed in the pool or hot tub.
  • Pet waste must be cleaned up right away and disposed of in the dumpster on the street at the front of the property. A $50 clean-up fee will be charged for pet waste left on the property.
  • Pets are not allowed on the furniture. Any damage or excessive noise caused by pets may result in additional fees or removal from the property.
  • Guest agrees to be fully responsible and liable for the actions of their pets while at The Desert Compass, and acknowledges that they will be charged for any and all damages caused by pets to furniture, furnishings, or grounds.
  • We welcome certified service animals who are trained to perform a specific task. Emotional Support Animals are considered pets and are subject to pet fees and rules. Service animals may not be left unattended in the suites, and are subject to all of the above pet policies.

• Children under 12 are welcomed to stay in our family friendly suites (Cowgirl, Rattlesnake and Coyote Suites), with the understanding that our spaces are not designed to be specifically “child friendly” (our suites have custom artwork, antique furnishings, plants, and vintage items within reach of small hands), and you may need to keep a close eye on children and move things out of reach during your stay. We ask that you be the judge of whether this is an appropriate space for your individual child to stay, as you'll be responsible for any damages.

There is a wonderful playground directly across the street at Tiguex Park, as well as several children’s museums within walking distance from the property!

No, a car is not necessary to enjoy your stay at The Desert Compass! Our location in the heart of Old Town Albuquerque offers plenty to see and do within a short walking distance (including restaurants and a small convenience grocery). Many of our guests stay without vehicles and explore the area by foot, or using public transportation.

We only recommend a car if you plan to explore the Sandia mountains, do a lot of outdoor activities, or want to explore the surrounding area (day trips around Albuquerque).

The Desert Compass is an independent hospitality experience with self check-in, so you are welcome to check-in any time of day or night (after check-in time). We leave the outdoor lights on all night so that you can find your way to your room even after dark. We just ask that you be quiet and considerate of our other guests if you are checking-in at a late hour, especially if you’re staying in the main building.

We can usually accommodate earlier check-in or later check-out (based on availability) for a fee.

If you would like to add early check-in or late check-out to your reservation, please add it when making your reservation, or notify us at least 24 hours in advance.

We offer complimentary self-serve luggage storage on-site. If your flight arrives before check-in time, or departs late in the day, please contact us for access instructions if you would like to use our luggage storage during the day.

Our reservation calendar is typically open for individual suite reservations 1 year in advance.

There are different nightly minimum stay requirements that depend on how far in advance you are making a reservation. Please contact us if you have any questions about availability for far-out bookings.

Because our rentals are entire suites with full kitchens, living and dining areas, rather than small hotel rooms, we charge a cleaning fee on top of the nightly rate, which is standard practice for vacation rentals. A cleaning fee is charged for each stay, whether it is 1 night or 7.

Our cleaners work extremely hard to prepare your suite to be sparkling clean, and it is important to us that they are paid well for their work! You’re always welcome to leave them an additional tip if you feel inclined, though it is not expected.

The Desert Compass is located 10 minutes from the Albuquerque Sunport.

Taxi services are readily available, and Uber and Lyft rides are also typically available, depending on the time of day:

zTrip (formerly Yellow Cab Company) (505) 247-8888

ABQ Green Cab Company (505) 243-6800

The Desert Compass is located right in the heart of the historic Old Town neighborhood. History and architecture lovers will love wandering through the neighborhood and seeing the unique adobe buildings, and visiting historic Old Town plaza, which is home to many art galleries, shops, restaurants, wineries and taprooms, and more.

We are also located in the heart of the museum district. The Albuquerque Museum, Explora Science Museum, and the Museum of Natural History and Science are all a stone’s throw away.

Lush and beautiful Tiguex park is right outside our doorstep - a bustling park with space to enjoy activities, read a book in the shade, walk your dog, and an excellent playground.

The newly developed Sawmill District is also a block away. Centered around the Sawmill Market, a hip food court with beautiful design and a range of delicious food and drink offerings, this area has some very cool shops and attractions as well.

BUS: The Desert Compass is a 5 minute walk to the Albuquerque Rapid Transit (ART) Bus Line, with the nearest station located on Central Ave near San Felipe St NW. This line runs every 8-15 minutes, and will take you directly through Old Town, Downtown Albuquerque, University of New Mexico area, Nob Hill, and Uptown. It is a great way to access many of Albuquerque’s best neighborhoods and areas.

TRAIN: The Rail Runner train line runs daily between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. It is a great way to enjoy the beautiful scenery of northern New Mexico, and to go for a day trip to visit Santa Fe. The nearest Rapid Ride station is downtown, and can be accessed easily with the ART Bus line. We recommend getting off at the Santa Fe Depot stop, which has a weekend farmers market, restaurants and cafés, tourist attractions, galleries, and a range of retail offerings all within walking distance.