Hostel of Maine Justin and Melanie Steele AKA Steele Hostels LLC NOT HIKER FRIENDLY Carrabassett Valley Maine

I landed here in late summer hiking the Appalachian Trail. It was a pit stop for a shower and a bed. If you live in the woods, you know what I mean. A hot meal, a hot shower and clean clothes goes a long way to renew the soul.

I think it was a bed and breakfast before these owners bought it. They turned it into a 'hostel' to make money off of the AT through hikers but they aren't set up like any hostel on the AT I know of. 

Firstly, this place is pricier than most hiker hostels so save your money. They sell craft beer for $7? For real? That's crazy ridiculous. I thought it came out of one those taps but it was a cold can of beer for $7.

Secondly, you CAN'T use their kitchen! When I wrote the reviews, got a snooty response back from Justin saying that Maine food code doesn't allow for kitchen use. He equated his kitchen to that of a restaurant saying that I wouldn't be able to use a restaurant kitchen to prepare meals. It was the dumbest response I ever did see! A restaurant SELLS food they prepare in their kitchen.

This hostel doesn't. It isn't a commercial kitchen. There's no food being produced to sell to the public. It was the most retarded response EVER! I got a hotplate on a crowded counter in the dining room to prepare and cook my meals but yet they want everybody to clean up after themselves so yep they allow you to use their sink IN THE KITCHEN!

Third, the hostel was operating since 2018. That shouldn't matter, true, but these owners don't know what they are doing. Their response time to phone calls was like FORGET IT you have to keep calling them. 

Fourth, they were completely NOT flexible on trail shuttle times. I think they only drove you one way once each day. Through hikers are not programed to show up at the same time or depart at the same time. I ended up hitching back to trail.