July 28th, 2018, Carrabassett Valley, Maine
The Hostel of Maine
Justin and Melanie have been running this “adventure hostel” for just six months. It’s a nice, newish building that was formerly a B&B. They plan to stay open all year due to their location near hiking and biking trails as well as the entrance to Sugarloaf Ski Area. As such, they aren’t specifically a “hiker hostel” but seem to recognize hikers as an important summer customer. So, here is my review, from the perspective of a thru hiker.
The building is spotlessly clean and furnished at a much higher level than traditional hiker hostels. They have a few rules that are designed to keep it this way: no packs or gear inside the building. Trail shoes must be kept outside. You essentially will be barefoot or in clean socks inside. And a shower must be the first stop. So your gear should not come indoors at all—and should be left in a ski-type locker outside across the parking area.
There is no place or provision yet for cleaning and drying your gear but I made that recommendation to Justin. In the meantime, you’ll need to inquire about how to get that done. For example, I came in off a rain day and had mud, leaf trash, etc. all over my shoes and legs. And much of my gear was damp. It wasn’t clear what I should do about this, but I was reluctant to go inside even barefoot without hosing off a little first. Also, if you have cool or humid weather, your shoes won’t dry well, if at all, outside. There is no shoe drying equipment on hand but that would be easy to add and make a big difference. I asked and was told I could put my shoes in the boiler room overnight, so there is a work around if you ask. When I departed after a two night stay, the rest of my pack and gear was still damp and in the same condition as I arrived.
They have a decent and growing short term resupply in the basement. It is effectively open by appointment once in the morning and once around 8pm. During my stay there was no alcohol fuel available but Justin mentioned they may get some to sell by the ounce. He also went out of his way to buy a small bottle from a gas station to give me what I needed prior to my departure. Also, prices aren’t yet marked on resupply items but Justin tallies it up—and can give you a total later.
The bunks are built in with light, power, and USB ports in each—a fantastic touch. The beds are comfortable. And the bunk rooms are carpeted(!) which was unexpected and probably geared more to the former B&B and winter sport crowd. I myself would prefer a hard surface floor to ease some cleaning concerns but must say the carpet was nice to walk on.
The $39 price includes trail shuttles and an ample continental breakfast with some homemade items. They also offer $10 laundry which can be split with another person or two (staff does the laundry). They do provide other shuttles and slackpacking for a fee.
You are expected to do your own dishes and clean up after yourself, which is fine. But if the hostel were crowded, I doubt this system would work well, especially after breakfast. Breakfast starts at 7am and the trail shuttle departs at 7:30, which isn’t a leisurely meal if you need to wait in line for one sink in the kitchen. I expect it should work well at all other times.
They also offer a good selection of beer and wine. The good news is that this is all in house. The bad news is, for those that might want to, there are signs saying no outside alcohol may be consumed in the common areas or stored in the guest refrigerator. So you have a nice selection but will pay $5+ for a can of beer, if desired. This is not a selling point to me, your humble thru hiker, and I think a lower price point may be in order for customers who serve and clean up after themselves.
The hostel also offers a nightly shuttle to an area restaurant. Plus they provide a small selection of reasonably priced convenience foods, frozen pizzas, etc. which the staff will prepare on request. This is a nice service for tired hikers.
There is a small grocery store about 0.8 miles away, which is walkable, unless you’re resting an injury. In that case I’m confident you could get a ride from the crew when they weren’t busy or were already driving out for another reason. And the library is right next to the grocery but has limited hours (wasn’t open when I was there). But the WiFi and charging options at the hostel were excellent so I never needed to go back to the library.
Also, the six person bunk room and the four-person bunk room each has a big well-appointed bathroom with excellent shower. There were free earplugs, body wash, shampoo, and conditioner provided. Very nice. And there are a number of private rooms available upstairs but I didn’t get a look at those.
All in all it is a beautiful and unusual hostel. This has been my third hostel experience on the AT and was the most comfortable in terms of personal amenities. But I’ve spoken to numerous thru hikers about their hostel experiences—the good, bad, ugly, and downright creepy. This one is easily among the very “good” experiences, even though it is still a new operation.
Justin and Melanie are not long distance hikers and are considering how to develop hiker friendly amenities. This is not much different than the many other general lodging options elsewhere that don’t exclusively cater to the hiking crowd. But here, facility appearance and cleanliness are top priorities. And I get it. The place is beautiful and new. It’s the kind of place you’d be proud to visit with non-hiking family and friends. In other words, it is a classy place. And they are still working on the balance between the different types of customers.
I did relay to Justin the need for long distance hikers to have some way to take care of gear cleanliness, maintenance, and care. There may be ways for our dirty, wet, and/or damaged gear to get worked on without upsetting the cleanliness and aesthetic of the place.
But, I don’t think you can beat the Hostel of Maine for overall comfort and value. And if they figure out how to accommodate the “hiker needs” mentioned above, I doubt they will have a peer in their niche.
And, finally, the hostel is home to a dog, Zoe, who is kind of also in training. She’s a smart dog but hasn’t really learned her job at the hostel yet: she barks at most everyone who comes and goes. And sometimes she just runs around outside barking for the fun of it. It’s entertaining but can break the intentionally quiet and relaxing feel of the place.
The owners care and want you to have a good stay. And where else are you going to hang out on comfy new furniture and walk barefoot on handmade oriental rugs during your time off trail? Nowhere for $39, that’s for sure. And Justin and Melanie are sharp proprietors. I’m confident the hostel will just get better and smoother as they go. If they choose to make long distance hikers a customer of focus they will crack the code and find the right balance. For now, just be aware that your gear is an afterthought and, if it arrives wet and dirty it might depart in the same condition. In the meantime, it is still the one place I’d like to return to for a chill and relaxing stay while day hiking around the area. I look forward to seeing what this place grows into.
