Cheap lodging near Black or Attitash?

[JasonE]

My wife and I are taking a ski vacation mid-January and are looking for a place to stay somewhere within an hour's drive of Black or Attitash. Our RSNE passes give us free tickets to Black, and we got a free ticket at Attitash when we went to the Boston Ski Expo, so we thought we'd hit both mountains at the same time.

Any suggestions would be welcome. Looking for something clean, non-smoking. Other than that, we're not fussy (we just need a comfortable place to crash after a day of skiing). Budget is the biggest factor.

Thanks,

Jason

 

[OppositeGeorge]

A lot, obviously, is going to depend on whether you can swing mid-week. Most of these places really boost their rates Fri/Sat. Also, what's your upper price limit?

We've touched, if briefly on this part of NH a couple times here (shameless self-plug) and here. Not a lot to go on but maybe it's a start. Obviously the Room$aver rates are "walk-in" but nothing's keeping you from calling the place direct (avoid national reservation lines -- the managers always have more bargaining power) and asking them to match or beat that rate for an advance res. The worst they can say is "no."

I'm only going to discuss places I've stayed. There are tons of motels in the area and other folks'll hopefully have more to suggest.

My old Franconia Notch budget standby, Parker's Motel, is probably a bit too far. Same goes for Lincoln and Littleton (too far.) Within an hour, I'd say your best bets would be in Gorham or North Conway. Obviously Jackson and Intervale would be the closest but I don't know enough about lodging there to comment.

In Gorham, I've had good luck at the Town & Country Motor Inn (probably the village's nicest motel -- more like a hotel really) and the Mt. Madison Motel (when the owner is in a good mood -- see previous thread.) Note the Mt. Madison is right on a snowmobile trail, so if you're sensitive to noise, you probably want to cross it off your list. Don't waste your time with the Joe Dodge Lodge @ Pinkham Notch -- I love the place as a single but since they charge by the person the rates for two are ridiculous, and even if you get a private room it's still hostel-style (no TV or phone, shared bathroom/shower.) In North Conway, I've really only stayed at the North Conway Grand Hotel -- mid-week Room$aver rate was, I think, $69 and well worth it. tripadvisor.com is pretty good for reviews/narrowing down candidates from the several Room$aver options usually available in N. Conway.

In general, if you don't mind living dangerously, you can get the best rate by waiting until the last minute and bargaining with the desk as a walk-in -- the later in the day the better. Make sure they know you want the absolute best rate they can give you -- if you're flexible sometimes you can do really well (one time a motel gave me a room they save for tour bus drivers -- really tiny, probably too tiny to rent otherwise, really but dirt cheap.) Also, there's the added benefit of letting you check out a room before you give them your CC#. This strategy only works if you are perfectly willing to walk away from the deal. Obviously, you don't want to do this during busy periods, so a lot depends on what kind of week it is but there are a LOT of motels in North Conway.

Good luck!

 

[RISkier]

You might check out the Red Apple Inn. It's in either Glen or Bartlett and just down the road from Attitash. Their rates vary quite a bit depending on day of week and time of year. They also own the Bernerhof Inn right next door. We've eaten at the Bernerhof a couple of times. The food was amazing though the service was somewhat slow.

 

[riverc0il]

Almost anything in Gorham is pretty cheap if you don't mind driving through the notch.

 

[severine]

We stayed at The Village House in Jackson maybe....5?... years ago. Pet-friendly (if that matters). It used to be self-serve, but I'm not so sure it is anymore. Very close to Black. I didn't even know Black was there (I wasn't a skier then) and we were just cruising the "neighborhood" and happened upon it. Nice, clean rooms. Nice property. Right near a cross-country trail, too, if you're interested in that sort of thing.

ETA: It was also summer when we stayed there, so I can't say much about how it is in the winter. But the Plymouth room is really nice.

 

[spooner]

I've stayed at the T&C a number of times. It's a little on the pricier side for a motel, but it's consistently clean and should fit within what you're looking for.

 

[orsonab]

I've stayed here (http://www.north-conway.com) it's quite nice and reasonable with a breakfast thrown in. Gorham is probably cheaper than North Conway and I know a lot of hikers who stay at the Colonial Fort Inn (http://www.hikersparadise.com/colonialfortinn.htm). I get the impression it's clean and cheap. Let us know what you find!