| As a current property manager, real estate broker | | | | As a vacationer, the information about a vacation |
| investor and developer I am always fascinated at | | | | rental can be somewhat limited, especially in a "small" |
| how cities or communities develop both in form and | | | | village like Ruidoso or Alto--and this is probably why |
| function over time. Vacation areas are of particular | | | | many vacationers tend to book a room in a hotel or |
| interest to me, as they tend to attract such a wide | | | | motel instead. If your idea of a vacation in the |
| variety of vacationers with a wide variety of | | | | mountains doesn't involve a hotel or motel, a vacation |
| interests and expectations and tend to grow in | | | | rental is a great alternative, you just need to know a |
| spurts-and often in unexpected directions as demand | | | | handful of questions to ask to make sure that you |
| based on interests (such as shopping, certain | | | | get the right vacation rental for what you are |
| restaurants, etc.) can increase or decrease within a | | | | wanting. |
| relatively short period of time. | | | | Here are some questions to ask/points to consider if |
| Ruidoso, NM is a classic example of this, as it is home | | | | you are looking for lodging in Ruidoso: |
| to several thousand vacation rentals, hotel/motel | | | | 1. What is your cancellation policy? |
| rooms and RV and camping spots. The Village of | | | | 2. How many guests is your advertised room rate |
| Ruidoso has been a haven for Texans as soon as | | | | for? |
| they realized that temperatures in Ruidoso, NM don't | | | | 3. Who do we call if we need assistance-and do they |
| get over the mid 80s in the summer. Because of the | | | | stop answering their phone at a certain time? |
| great weather and the small town atmosphere, the | | | | 4. Where do we go to pick up and return the key? |
| first wave of steady tourism began about one | | | | 5. What time is check in/out? |
| hundred years ago to the Upper Canyon area of | | | | 6. Is there a fee for pets? |
| Ruidoso. This area became a hot spot for tourism as | | | | 7. How far is this rental from restaurants/gas stations |
| its proximity to town and the river as well as easily | | | | grocery store? |
| accessible streets appealed to more and more | | | | 8. How accessible is this vacation rental during the |
| tourists. The Upper Canyon area is now home to | | | | winter? Is 4 wheel drive or chains needed? |
| several hundred if not thousand vacation rentals and | | | | 9. Are their neighbors around or is the property |
| lodges and remains a popular destination area. | | | | secluded? |
| However, in the past ten years or so, more and | | | | ...And last but not least, if you can't easily tell from |
| more tourists have been requesting to have lodging | | | | the vacation rental owner or manager's website as |
| in Ruidoso that is more secluded and surrounded | | | | to whether or not the property suits your needs, |
| more by pine trees than by neighbors. This has | | | | ask for more pictures. Everyone's idea of the perfect |
| spawned the neighboring area of Alto, NM to begin | | | | vacation drastically differs from one person to the |
| to be developed. | | | | next. Try to avoid assuming anything about the |
| Alto, NM is best known for its ski area, Ski Apache, | | | | vacation rental that you are considering and instead |
| which is the closest ski area (guaranteed to be open) | | | | ask questions or ask for more photos. After all, this |
| during the winter from Texas. | | | | is your vacation and you want to enjoy it 100%! |