Summary:
Wake up to hot air balloons drifting over the valley at this 5-bedroom Sandia foothills retreat, minutes from Balloon Fiesta Park & Ride locations. Sleeping up to 9 adults, it offers room to gather, relax, and enjoy sweeping views from the shaded patio. During Balloon Fiesta, sip Breville espresso as balloons rise over the city, then explore nearby trails, play air hockey or Super Nintendo, and unwind at sunset.
The Space:
★ ALBUQUERQUE BALLOON FIESTA STAYS
Here for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta? You can start the experience before you even leave home. During Fiesta, step onto the patio at dawn to watch dozens of balloons drift over the valley below.
The home is less than 15 minutes from two official Balloon Fiesta Park & Ride locations and just over 20 minutes from Balloon Fiesta Park parking. Brew an espresso before your early-morning departure, then come home to plenty of room to relax, play, and watch the sunset over the Rio Grande valley.
★ VIEWS + OUTDOOR LIVING
Perched in Albuquerque’s Sandia foothills, Desert Skyline Getaway gets the best of both directions: Sandia Mountain views from the front and sweeping views across the Rio Grande valley from the back.
The large, shaded back patio is one of our favorite places in the house. Bring your coffee outside in the morning, settle into the hammock in the afternoon, or stay for one of Albuquerque’s beautiful high-desert sunsets.
Outside you’ll also find:
• Hammock
• Cornhole
• Giant Jenga
• Outdoor seating
• Room to relax and enjoy the view
★ 5 BEDROOMS | UP TO 9 ADULTS
The home has five comfortable bedrooms—including three king bedrooms—giving families and groups space to settle in without feeling on top of one another.
Primary Suite — King bed + ensuite bathroom with rainfall shower + large ventilated walk-in closet
Bedroom 2 — King bed
Bedroom 3 — King bed
Bedroom 4 — Two full-size beds, comfortable for adults or children
Bedroom 5 / Office — Twin daybed + dedicated workspace with desk, office chair and task lighting
A Pack ’n Play is also provided for families traveling with an infant.
The home has sleeping space for more, but occupancy is capped at 9 adults for everyone’s comfort with 2.5 bathrooms. Children under 12 are included in the reservation guest count but do not count toward the 9-adult maximum.
★ KITCHEN + DINING
The kitchen is one of the highlights of the home: spacious, beautifully appointed, and well stocked, with high-end appliances, generous prep space, a large granite island with bar seating, and beautiful views to enjoy while you cook.
Coffee people, we have you covered: there’s both a Breville espresso machine and a traditional drip coffee maker—perfect for fast caffeination before an early Balloon Fiesta departure. Tea drinkers haven’t been forgotten either; an electric kettle is ready for your morning cup.
The large wooden dining table seats up to 10, with room for the whole group to sit down together for dinner, games, or a leisurely meal.
★ ROOM TO GATHER, PLAY + RELAX
When you’re not out exploring Albuquerque, there’s plenty to do at home.
Two gas fireplaces create cozy gathering spaces, while entertainment for kids and adults includes:
• Air hockey
• Super Nintendo pre-loaded with games
• Board games
• Children’s toys
• Cornhole
• Giant Jenga
• Hammock
For movie nights, the main living area has a 55-inch TV with Roku, soundbar and subwoofer. Sign into your own streaming subscriptions and make yourself at home.
★ WORK FROM THE FOOTHILLS
Need to fit some work into your trip? Fast WiFi runs throughout the home, and the fifth bedroom doubles as a dedicated office with a desk, office chair and task lighting.
It’s a comfortable setup for remote work—and particularly handy for catching up between festival days or extending an Albuquerque stay.
★ THREE-CAR GARAGE + PARKING FOR 6
Guests have full use of the three-car garage, including a garage door opener, plus driveway parking for three additional vehicles.
That means up to six vehicles can park off-street—especially convenient for larger groups arriving separately.
Street parking is not permitted, so please keep all guest vehicles in the garage or driveway.
★ AN ALBUQUERQUE LOCATION MADE FOR EXPLORING
Desert Skyline Getaway sits in a quiet residential neighborhood in Albuquerque’s eastern foothills, close to the Sandia Mountain trail system and convenient to many of the city’s most popular destinations.
Hikers, runners and mountain bikers can take advantage of the nearby Sandia foothills trail network, while winter visitors can head into the mountains for snow play and sledding.
And film fans may recognize something familiar: our neighborhood even made a cameo in Stranger Things.
Guest Access:
You’ll receive a unique smart-lock code for the duration of your stay.
Guests are welcome to enjoy the entire home except for one locked hallway storage closet, locked storage cabinets in the garage, and the basement beneath the back patio.
You’ll also have full access to the three-car garage and driveway, with off-street parking for up to six vehicles.
The Neighborhood:
The Sandia foothills offer a quieter home base with easy access to both outdoor adventures and Albuquerque’s cultural attractions.
A few favorites to put on your list:
• Sandia Peak Tramway — Ride above the canyons to Sandia Peak for extraordinary views across Albuquerque and the Rio Grande valley.
• Old Town Albuquerque — Explore historic adobe architecture, museums, galleries, shops and New Mexican restaurants.
• Indian Pueblo Cultural Center — Learn about the history, culture and living traditions of New Mexico’s 19 Pueblos.
• Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum — A natural addition to a Balloon Fiesta trip and a fascinating look at the history and science of ballooning.
• Petroglyph National Monument — Hike among thousands of images carved into volcanic rock by Indigenous peoples and Spanish settlers.
• ABQ BioPark — A favorite for families, with the zoo, aquarium and botanic garden.
• Explora — More than 250 hands-on science, technology, engineering, art and math exhibits for curious kids and adults.
Nearby dining includes Tako Ten, The Burrow Café, Boxing Bear Brewing Co., The Paleta Bar, Duke City BBQ, Smash & Shake and Sushiya.
For groceries and trip essentials, Smith’s, Albertsons and Sprouts Farmers Market are conveniently nearby.
Getting Around:
Getting around is a breeze, whether you have a personal vehicle, utilize rideshare services like Uber and Lyft.
Approximate drive times:
• Less than 15 minutes to two official Balloon Fiesta Park & Ride locations
• Just over 20 minutes to Balloon Fiesta Park parking
• Under 15 minutes to Uptown
• About 20 minutes to Old Town
• About 20 minutes to Downtown
Other Things to Note:
Please observe the house rules, including no local guests booking within 25 miles, a minimum age requirement of 25 for booking, no pets, and no street parking. Quiet hours are from 10 pm to 7 am, and smoking, vaping, and consuming illegal substances are strictly prohibited on the property.
Please review the house rules before booking:
• Booking guest must be at least 25 years old
• No bookings from local guests residing within 25 miles
• No pets
• No parties or events
• No street parking
• Quiet hours: 10 PM–7 AM
• No smoking or vaping on the property
• No illegal substances
• Please do not move furniture or appliances
OCCUPANCY
The home sleeps up to 9 adults. Children under 12 must be included in your reservation guest count and are subject to applicable fees, but they do not count toward the 9-adult limit.
The home has sleeping space for more, but occupancy is capped at 9 adults for everyone’s comfort with 2.5 bathrooms.
ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE PROTECTION
Every stay at Irvie Homes includes up to $3,000 in accidental damage protection, subject to underwriter approval.
Coverage is intended for accidental damage to furniture, fixtures and appliances. It does not cover intentional damage, smoking or pet damage, landscaping damage, house-rule violations, or losses exceeding the $3,000 limit.
Additional exclusions include motor vehicles, aircraft, watercraft, guests’ personal belongings, credit cards, money, firearms, precious metals, business property and electronic data. Losses resulting from gross negligence or criminal acts are also excluded.
Guests remain responsible for damage that falls outside the protection or exceeds the coverage limit.
SAFETY + HOME SYSTEMS
Your safety matters. The property may use a Ring doorbell, exterior security cameras and a NoiseAware anti-party monitoring device or similar technology. There are no interior security cameras.
As with many homes in New Mexico, wildlife may occasionally be present on or near the property. Children should be supervised outdoors.
The home uses an evaporative cooler during the warmer months and forced-air heat during winter. The evaporative cooler typically operates from approximately mid-April through late September or early October.
Additional information about cooling, plumbing and waste disposal is provided in the Home Guide.
GUEST VERIFICATION
After booking, you’ll receive a link to complete our Terms & Conditions agreement and guest verification. Please complete it within 24 hours of reservation confirmation or before check-in, whichever comes first.
GETTING AROUND
A personal vehicle is the easiest way to explore Albuquerque from the foothills. Uber and Lyft operate throughout the city, and ABQ RIDE provides public transit service.
CHECK-IN + CHECKOUT
Check-in: 4:00 PM
Check-out: 10:00 AM
Whether you’re coming for Balloon Fiesta, a family getaway, mountain adventures, or a few days exploring Albuquerque, Desert Skyline Getaway gives your group room to be together—and room to spread out—with the Sandias in one direction and the Rio Grande valley in the other.
Interaction with Guests:
This home has a dedicated home host Danielle to help answer any questions during your stay.
