AMC Joe Dodge Lodge at Pinkham Notch — Hotel in New England

This place is awesome and the people were great. If you are looking for a no-frills place to stay in the area, it's a good deal. You are also participating in a tradition of outdoorsmanship & conservation. My accommodations are similar to a pension you might stay in while traveling in Europe. There are bunk beds and a bathroom at the end of the hall. The entire place is clean and tidy to a fault. Everything is very woodsy with knotty pine paneling on the walls and natural wood furniture. There are dens with fireplaces and a baby grand piano, a library with a spiral staircase and vintage-looking Adirondack chairs with leather cushions. There's an information center for hikers and a store with gear. Dinner was included, and is served in a communal dining hall with a big granite fireplace, and someone showed a film about the history of conservation there later in the evening. There's a certain feeling of traveling companionship about the place, but it's very quiet and relaxed. In some ways it's definitely no-frills, but it also has certain perks that you would not find in a much more expensive hotel, and one of these is a sense of a particular kind of history that's conveyed by the environment, the staff, the atmosphere, and the surroundings. A unique place to stay and an experience I would definitely want...

2.17.23-2.20.23 This was my 1st time here, and I was told to expect simple lodging with incredible hiking opportunities. So with regards to reviewing the lodge, the parking lots fill up quickly with people coming to hike, so those of us paying to stay overnight couldn't find parking. It was very frustrating, and this could be an easy fix by assigning residents a spot...our room was simple but very clean, and it had clean sheets, towels, and extra blankets. The common areas were also clean and very comfy. There was self-serve tea and coffee. Breakfast and dinner were served in the adjacent building. Friday night, we had a wonderful dinner with plenty of fish, veggies, and pasta. The other nights, however, they ran out of food. One night, they ran out of meatballs, and there wasn't much else to eat. not much of anything. At dinner, they checked our names to see if we paid, but at breakfast, they didn't. I'm not sure why not. The location is perfect for skiers, hikers, and snowboarders as you're close to the trails. It's also within a 40-minute car drive of 2 breweries, vineyards, and outlets. We saw many kids, teens, and older folks. So basically, good for all. The lodge has a library with books, maps of the...

Staying at an AMC Lodge or Hut is like getting to sleep inside of the Disneyland gates with the Yeti on the Mammoth Mountain ride. What I mean is that sleeping and eating right on location of the trails and nature is a thrill in itself, better than leaving the national forest to go stay at a town hotel. There is a spirit of timeless camaraderie with fellow lodgers, as you all enjoy the same meal by the fireplace in the roomy dining hall. There is a genuineness to the building itself, which has stood for so many winters. The bunk rooms aren't fancy and that is an asset because it brings you back down to earth, to a frugal and simple place of appreciation of daily living. Any time of year is fun up here, even if you don't have a major expedition planned. I look forward to repeat trips to the Joe Dodge Lodge and Pinkham Notch.

The only reason I do not give it five stars is because if you do not have others staying with you, there is a "privacy fee" to stay in a room without other guests, regardless of whether they are crowded or not. If you like to meet new people and stay in a shared bunk room, it's great. But if you prefer your own room, the fee might end up being more than...