Blue Swallow Motel♡

A Rt 66 Must

8.0

amazing service listen to the owner's story of the history of the place (he is a great guy as well) rooms are a Rt 66'ers dream (updated but accurate... if a bit small)

Setting the Standard for Retro Motels

10.0

There are certain hotels that hold a unique position in our culture. The Waldorf Astoria in New York. The Beverly Hills Hotel in California. Add to that the iconic Blue Swallow Motel on Route 66 in Tucumcari, New Mexico. Though there are many wonderful classic motels along the Mother Road, the Blue Swallow sets the gold standard for retro accommodations. Rooms are cozy, tidy, and outfitted with original 1939 fixtures and furnishings, all lovingly restored and maintained by proprietors Dawn and Robert. Book a night. Be amazed.

Historic Gem

10.0

Charming but don’t come here if you don’t like kitschy nostalgia. The place is adorable and iconic and Rob, the proprietor truly makes it a special experience. They are closed in January and February so don’t come them but a perfect Route 66 experience.

What a treasure!

10.0

This is a true classic motel that has been lovingly maintained for 85 years, with just the right updates to make it comfortable today without losing the 1940s/1950s feel. We have stayed in a number of the classic Route 66 motels and they are all fun, but this one is the best. It's hard to get into, for good reason, so book early!. Many of the furnishings are original, even down to a 1950s TV set (just decoration, there's a flat-panel unit on the wall if you really want to watch) and working dial telephone. Rob was a fabulous host, very welcoming and helpful. When my wife asked if they had hair dryers to loan, he said of course, and proceed to bring out a classic 1950s hair dryer, the same model my mother had I think. He was kidding, it was just for show; he gave us a more modern one to actually use. Some of the classic Route 66 motels have ok rooms, others have decent rooms but the hospitality is lacking. Only a few have both, and The Blue Swallow is one of them.

Another great nights stay at the Blue Swallow Motel!

10.0

I’ve stayed at the Blue Swallow Motel once before, about 10 years ago. I decided to stay again during my most recent Route 66 trip. There are 2 other motels I stay at in Tucumcari, Motel Safari and Roadrunner; I love them both! But honestly, who doesn’t love the Blue Swallow Motel?!? The lovely exterior of the motel with its beautiful neon, the magnificent iconic Blue Swallow Motel sign out front, illuminated with neon, the history of the property, the couple old cars displayed on the property, garages to park your car in, and the friendly owners…all are things to love! Besides those things, which are loved by Route 66ers as well as everyone else, let’s talk about the rooms! Before bringing in my belongings, I looked about the room and photographed it. It was adorable, well kept, and very clean! I checked out the bathroom and it was quaint and very clean. There were no problems with the room and everything was in good working order. I then unpacked my vehicle and parked in the attached garage beside my room. (You can only enter your room via the front door of your room, not the garage) The room I stayed in did not have a microwave, or refrigerator. However, there was a room two doors away from mine that had washer and dryer for the guests to use. Detergent/ and softener were available for purchase. There was a large older refrigerator and guest were allowed to put their items in the refrigerator to keep them cold. There is no breakfast of any type available at the Motel, but there are restaurants nearby and easy to get to. However, the owner keeps fresh coffee available in the office for guests during the morning hours.

An historic and interesting place to stay

8.0

We stayed at the historic Blue Swallow Motel during a road trip through Tucumcari. Upon arrival the owner gave us a tour of the hotel and explained its history. It is important to remember that the motel was built in the 1920’s and has had little to no remodeling since then. The rooms are small and have some original furnishings. The bathrooms are also small as is the garage beside each room. Remember cars were much small in the 1920’s. Outside the rooms are metal lawn chairs encouraging people to sit outside and enjoy meeting others, sharing Route 66 stories, and relaxing. All this said, the Blue Swallow Motel made for an interesting place to stay.