White Sands Vacation

White Sands Vacation. White sands national monument is an American park that can be found in New Mexico. It is an ideal place for a vacation or camping. You can see the white dunes with an entrance fee, go hiking and explore the park.

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Places to Stay Near the White Sands National Monument

You can’t camp in your vehicle, the only city with several hotels close to the white sands national monument is Alamogordo. Hotels in the city are 23 miles away from the white sands monument. There are a lot of properties in the area that offer timeshare ownership. But before you consider jumping on the bandwagon, take time to educate yourself on the things you need to know such as how to get out of a timeshare yourself. Doing this might just save you from all the troubles and will truly make your vacation a wonderful experience. Read on to find out the alternative places to stay near the White Sands National Monument.

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Alamogordo

Rated high
Offers free breakfast buffet
Offers free WiFi
It has an exercise room with a heated indoor swimming pool
Offers free parking
Pets aren’t allowed

Quality Inn & Suites Alamogordo

Rated average
Offers free breakfast buffet
Provides free WiFi
It has an exercise room with an outdoor swimming pool that is available during the summer
Offers free parking
Pets aren’t allowed

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Alamogordo

Rated very high
Offers free breakfast buffet
It has an exercise room with a heated indoor swimming pool
Offers free unlimited WiFi
Offers free parking
Pets aren’t allowed

Days Inn Alamogordo

Rated average
Offers free continental breakfast
It has an outdoor swimming pool that is available only during the summer
Offers free unlimited WiFi
Offers free parking
Pets aren’t allowed

Suburban Extended Stay Hotel Alamogordo

Rated average
There is a kitchen in every suite in the motel
It has an outdoor swimming pool that is available during the summer
Offers free unlimited WiFi
Offers free parking/truck parking
Allow pets that weigh up to 40 pounds; however, there must be one pet per room, a pet fee of $10 a night, plus an additional $25 if the pet stays in the motel for a week.

If you come from a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) country, you need to submit an ESTA application before visiting the U.S. The first step is to determine if you can visit with a Visa Waiver Program. This can be done using the ESTA visa check. ESTA, which means Electronic System for Travel Authorization, is an online system that decides if a national of a country under the VWP is eligible to visit the U.S. Having an ESTA authorization doesn’t mean you can enter the U.S. in some cases, the U.S. customs and border protection officers often determine who can enter the U.S. However, it is advised that you apply for ESTA when you begin to make travel plans or before buying a flight ticket.

This is to prevent a situation where your ESTA application will be denied after you have purchased a flight ticket. If you are granted access to the U.S. by ESTA authorization, you can visit the U.S. by sea or air. ESTA application for U.K. citizens is an online visa waiver that allows its owners to visit the U.S. without applying for a visa. When applying for ESTA, you are expected to provide information regarding your details, passport details and email address. You are also expected to answer some questions. U.K. citizens must have a valid British passport, a valid credit or debit card and a current email address before submitting an ESTA application form. After you have successfully registered, you need to wait 24 hours before your ESTA application status can be determined.

Camping White Sands

Although visitors can’t camp in their vehicles, backpackers can camp in the white sands national monument.

Camping rules:

You must be at your campsite by dark. This is to reduce the risk of getting lost when hiking at night.
Quiet hours are scheduled from 10 pm to 6 am, and you must respect other visitors’ solitude.
You must not play music at a loud volume or make noise.
The gates of the park are closed 1 hour before sunset. This means you won’t be able to leave the park till the next morning.
You are not allowed to make campfires, only camp stoves are allowed, and they must be 6 inches above the dunes. That is because the heat emitting from campfires and camp stoves has melted the dunes.
Do not camp on top of a dune.
Sleeping in your car isn’t allowed.

Things to bring:

You must fill up your container with at least 4 litres of water at the visitor’s center, which is 8 miles from the camping parking lot. This water must last through the day and night because you won’t be able to access water at night.
A park map, trail map, compass and GPS.
Sunscreen, sunglasses, wide-brimmed hat, long and light loose-fitting clothing. This to prevent you from being burnt by the sun.
A cell phone, portable charger, whistle, signal mirror and coloured bandana. These items will vary by your means of communication if you get lost in the dunes.
Bring a headlamp, flashlight and extra batteries.
Bring a first aid kit that will meet the needs of you and your fellow campers.
Bring snacks and easy-to-make foods.
Bring a variety of dresses that are suitable for all weather conditions.
You must set up your tent to provide shelter before it gets dark.

White Sands Entry Fee

The entrance fee allows you passage to the white sands national monument for up to 7 days after the purchase. Annual vehicle pass and park pass give you one-year of access to the white sand national monument.

For a vehicle: $20
For an individual: $15
For a motorcycle: $20
Annual vehicle pass: $45
Annual park pass: $80