I'm doing a section in Vermont and want to do a mail drop and night in Bennington. I was going to stay at the Kirkside but just found out it is being sold and is closing down. Does anyone else have any recommendations for accommodations and shuttles to and from town?
_Signagei_Bennington, VT - Appalachian Trail
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#1
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#2
Last year I sent a box to the Autumn Inn and it worked out OK. It's a bit of a dive, hikers stay there, it the closest to the trail and the owner will, it he can, give you a ride to the trail.
_Francis_
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#3
I stayed at the Autumn Inn in 2012 and urge you to avoid it at all costs. The owners refused to fix a broken toilet, I found an expired bottle of somebody's medication in the room, and used chewing gum in the shower.
Awful!
_Brian Yarvin_
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#4
In 2012 a lot of hikers were getting ripped off. They were told they could do the mail drop if they stayed. The rate was 75 bucks. Everyone I knew was upfront the number of people with them. THey held the rate on their credit cards. They'd get to the Autumn Inn and the rate would be $95. They already had their card numbers and told them they would charge them to cancel the room. The washer and dryer rates were double too. The dryer didn't have hot settings that worked.
We stayed down in the middle of town at the Catamount. It was a walk, but the owners INSISTED on doing our laundry for free and doing it for us and we had breakfast with them the next morning. I’d avoid the Autumn Inn.
_Sprinkles_
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#5
I stayed at the Autumn Inn in 2011 and am disappointed they are still in business. The owners really dislike hikers. They charged me the double rate (higher than my guidebook listed) even though I was a solo hiker. They repeatedly asked me if there was anyone else staying in the room with me even though I was alone. In the morning they called my room to tell me the checkout time had been moved up an hour and I needed to leave almost immediately. Not cool for a hiker trying to enjoy civilization for a few more moments before heading back to the trail.
A few friends who stayed there on a different night reported the staff stealing clothing off the outdoor railing where they had hung it to dry. If they have a policy against using the outdoor railings, why not say so instead of just removing it without notice?
The owners will give you a ride to the trail, but it isn’t included with your stay. Right after calling me to tell me to GTFO in the morning, they called me back to ask if I wanted to pay $10 for a ride to the trail. I’d already arranged for the $3 shuttle to pick me up so I said no. But even without the $3 shuttle I’d still have preferred to take my chances with hitching (even as a lone female) than give the Autumn Inn another dime of my money.
The motel is way too expensive for how much of a dump it is, and it sucks to be abused by someone you’re paying money to. Avoid it if you can.
_Yikes_