Hikers Paradise

Hikers Paradise is convenient and cheap. You get what you pay for with odor and beds, but the food's good and the people are lively. This one is an either love-it-or-hate-it kind of place, so don't expect more than what you're paying and you'll be happy.

The Location

It is conveniently located in Gorham, New Hampshire, deep in the White Mountains, complete with breathtaking views and great hikes on a variety of trails. Gorham is one of the larger towns, providing additional amenities some surrounding areas can not provide. Peak bagging can be done very easily from this hostel with Mt. Washington and the Presidential Range right out the front door.

Rooms and Bathrooms

The furniture is a collection of mismatched odds and ends that we swear came out of a junkyard and the room is filthy -- really, really dirty. We used one of our old shirts to dry our face when we washed up rather than use their towels! The filthy indoor-outdoor carpet is there to cover the rotting/missing floor boards underneath -- one of which caught an associate's foot, causing them to fall and bash their knee (the bruise lasted for weeks!).

The headboards are hung on nails, one of which had fallen out, leaving the headboard dangling at an angle. We lifted the other end off and rested it on the floor in fear of it falling in the night. The refrigerator is standing on a homemade plywood and 2x4 "table." And the smell in the room -- we don't even want to know what the smell was all about.

The bathroom is so small that you could barely fit between the sink and the wall to use the toilet. The linens are soiled and have red marks (blood?) on them. The most alarming thing of all is the quantity of hair that is scattered around the room. Bed is bad and TV's no good.

Common Spaces

The hostel section accommodates Appalachian Trail through hikers, who are always fun to meet and talk with. There is a restaurant on-site -- we went in for the breakfast. It's really reasonably priced and delicious. The restaurant has a very laid back attitude. We enjoy it, but we also think that "Dick's" down in Boston is fun. The man who served us (who probably also owns the place) was a typical grumpy old man. When he brought us ketchup, he said "Here's ketchup, to ruin the taste of your food." So basically if you don't take grumpy waiters seriously, go there for yummy, cheap breakfast. But if grumpy service staff insult you, stay away from this local hotspot. They also provide Wi-Fi on campus.

Summary

Hikers and the budget-minded will find this motel meets all basic needs at a modest price. Individual units have showers that function well, comfortable beds, AC, and a refrigerator. We suspect that this motel dates from the 1950s, and it certainly has not been updated much over the years. Room appointments, towels, and toilets are well worn but serviceable. While fine for hikers and the budget-minded, this is not a motel for those looking for a motel with a modern, immaculate interior appearance. Finally, the motel offers a full breakfast menu starting at 7 a.m., which is really handy for hikers wanting to hit the trail early. This is a very convenient place to stay when hiking the Presidential Range northward.