La Haute-Gaspésie Regional County Municipality accommodation from NZ$254

Our Concierge/ hotel manager was very friendly and able to communicate with me in English. The surroundings are beautiful, and we loved the ambience of the beautiful dining room looking out at the St. Lawrence River. The table lines and decor is upscale, the food was very good. Breakfast also met all expectations and was delicious.

I should have trusted my instincts. The exterior was immediately off-putting — peeling paint, moss on the siding, an abandoned truck in the yard, and a “For Sale” sign. Inside, the house smelled of mold and mildew. The dishes, cookware, and coffee maker were filthy. The back porch had no furniture, the BBQ was broken and grimy, and the fire pit didn’t exist. The fireplace was chained up, despite being listed as a feature.The host’s communication was unhelpful. When I asked about the missing TV remote, I was told to use the side buttons — but the TV didn’t work. A dining chair was broken, almost causing a fall. The front door didn’t lock properly, which was a serious concern.With no cell service or Wi-Fi, I had to use a café across the street for Internet. I left the house cleaner than I found it, yet was billed a cleaning fee. The host claimed a “manual” required me to wash and put away linens — but I never received one, and they couldn’t prove otherwise.This property was clearly not vetted.

Before booking know exactly what you are getting into. No phone connection or internet. 90 minute drive in a van from parking up the mountain to the lodge. All meals are eaten collectively, which is great for meeting interesting people. But guests are 90 percent Québécois and enjoy socialising in French. This is a place to do 2 hikes per day. Lots if variety for expert to advanced intermediate hikers. Less for less advanced hikers. Food is excellent. Guides are wonderful