If it were closer and/or a different time of year I would go. If for no other reason than the tons of LQS in ABQ. What a great city. As to hotel...we've stayed at the Howard Johnson several times during balloon fiesta (read high rates) and it was very reasonable and very clean. Amenities, not so much but we were just looking for clean beds and reasonable traveling distance to fiesta and it has worked well for us. NAYY.