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Gale River Motel and Cottages

1 Main St, Franconia, NH 03580
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Ranked #1 of 5 hotels in Franconia
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167 reviews from our community

Traveler rating
    127
    29
    8
    2
    1
See reviews for
Families
47
 
Couples
56
 
Solo
11
 
Business
3
 
Rating summary
  • Location
    5 of 5 stars
  • Sleep Quality
    4.5 of 5 stars
  • Rooms
    4.5 of 5 stars
  • Service
    5 of 5 stars
  • Value
    5 of 5 stars
  • Cleanliness
    4.5 of 5 stars
Date Rating
New York City, New York
Contributor
17 reviews 17 reviews
17 hotel reviews
Reviews in 14 cities Reviews in 14 cities
18 helpful votes 18 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed June 4, 2013

I stayed here for 3 nights with my parents over Memorial Day weekend. It sounded like any typical motel, but we were all very pleasantly surprised. The room was clean and sufficient but the best part of our stay was the service. The manager (owner?) thought of every little detail, including a welcome basket in the room and free homemade... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 2
boston
Contributor
17 reviews 17 reviews
10 hotel reviews
Reviews in 8 cities Reviews in 8 cities
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed April 27, 2013

Have stayed here several times. Always impeccably clean. Nothing fancy but comfortable with good beds, good tv and wireless, good lighting complementary water and snack bars. Very nice view of the notch. Owner is always accommodating, friendly.

Was this review helpful? Yes 3
See 2 more reviews by Amosboston for Franconia
Las Vegas, NV
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 21, 2013

Only stayed a night, but we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves at this motel. First of all, it was very clean, and had a very comfortable mattress and set of pillows. Beautiful view of mountains and ski trails from our window. The owner here is the real deal, an old-fashioned innkeeper who cares about his property, cares about his customers, and makes... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 1
Milford, NJ
1 review
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed December 29, 2012

In a pinch, needed a place to stay - Gale River Motel was recommended. What a heavenly, down to earth place to stay! AND, such reasonable rates! Gale River Motel is down to earth, in such a home-town friendly location. You can walk to town - the views are just so spectacular! Kevin, the owner, soooo accomodating, so helpful and... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 2
Bar Harbor, Maine
Senior Contributor
29 reviews 29 reviews
10 hotel reviews
Reviews in 14 cities Reviews in 14 cities
16 helpful votes 16 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed November 13, 2012

After a long drive on 2-lane backroads, I was glad to stop for the night at the Gale River Motel. The owner was very helpful in giving directions for nearby shopping & dining, even let me know a short-cut to reach my destination for the following day (which worked out perfectly). Rooms are clean, quiet & comfortable, though not fancy... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 1
London, England, United Kingdom
1 review
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
4 of 5 stars Reviewed November 1, 2012

Possibly the world's friendliest and most helpful innkeeper - nothing was too much to ask. There were lots of maps on offer and helpful suggestions about where to go and what to do locally (even where to find the cheapest gas). Though basic, the rooms are clean and comfy and it's excellent value. There are infinite amounts of cookies at... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 1
Iowa
Top Contributor
73 reviews 73 reviews
19 hotel reviews
Reviews in 33 cities Reviews in 33 cities
31 helpful votes 31 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed October 14, 2012

This place is basically clean and comfortable, but a little rough around the edges. The owner is very chatty and appears to be operating it as a one man operation. The location is sort of remote at the edge of town, left behind on the old highway once the interstate bypassed.Franconia. Your first impression when you drive up - have... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 1
Boston, Massachusetts
2 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed October 4, 2012

This is a frill-free but clean place to stay in a very attractive location near Franconia State Park in New Hampshire. The location was a major selling point for me, as was the fact that the motel is pet-friendly (we brought our dog). Even with other pets and families present, it was also a very quiet place, which we enjoyed.... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 3
Ottawa
Reviewer
5 reviews 5 reviews
4 hotel reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
7 helpful votes 7 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed September 29, 2012

Stopped here on way back from 5 nights camping in Maine before heading back into Canada. It was quaint. Loved that there was a jacuzzi in the outdoor pool area; it was nice to sit and unwind the muscles after 6 hours of driving. It was a place to stay overnight on the way home; we did choose it with... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 1
Reading, Pennsylvania
Top Contributor
111 reviews 111 reviews
25 hotel reviews
Reviews in 48 cities Reviews in 48 cities
98 helpful votes 98 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed September 25, 2012

This is an average motel in a small town with close access to the Franconia Notch. Nothing really bad, but nothing really great either. The room was clean and large. The fixtures were a bit old. You have to go to the desk to obtain ice and are only given a small amount due to past guests filling their coolers... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 1
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Hotel Summarization (Beta)

What travelers say

  • Chocolate chip cookies(9)
  • White Mountains(7)
  • Very clean(4)
  • Hot tub(3)
  • Blueberry muffins(3)

Additional Information about Gale River Motel and Cottages

Address: 1 Main St, Franconia, NH 03580
Region: United States > New Hampshire > White Mountains > Franconia
Amenities:
Business Center Free High-Speed Internet Free Parking Pets Allowed Room Service Swimming Pool
Hotel Style:
Ranked #1 of 5 hotels in Franconia
Price Range: $
Official Description (provided by the hotel):
Breathtaking mountain views from every room. #1 Eco-Friendly Motel in New Hampshire. Recognized as an Environmental Champion by NH Sustainable Lodging Program. Spacious rooms with two full-sized beds, refrigerator, coffee-maker, A/C, and Complimentary Wi-Fi access in all rooms. Heated outdoor pool, indoor and outdoor hot tubs, playground, picnic area with grill. Cottages sleep up to six guests with full kitchen facilities. Pet-Friendly. ... more   less 
Also Known As:
Gale River Motel And Cottages Hotel Franconia
Gale River Motel And Cottages Hotel
Gale River Motel
Gale River Hotel
Gale River Motel And Cottages Franconia, NH - White Mountains

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