Auberge La Petite École de Forillon

We enjoyed the stay, though it helps to keep expectations modest. It's a busy, unusual place, and several families arrived on our last night. The staff were good and understood English, which was helpful. The hotel is inside the national park, about a 25-minute drive from Gaspe. It can be hard to find at night, with very little signage and a narrow dirt road to the parking area. The cemetery and church are useful landmarks. The two rooms we had were small, each with just enough room for a queen bed, sink, and table or dresser. They were fairly comfortable and clean. Noise wasn't too bad, but voices, footsteps, and doors could easily be heard. The Wi-Fi was weak in the rooms and full strength in the common areas. It's basically a hostel setup, with a shared kitchen and bathrooms. We made two breakfasts and dinner during our two-night stay. There are three shared fridges where you label your groceries and find a space. Cooking alongside several other guests was fun, though we were all hunting around for utensils, a cutting board, pots, and pans. One stove had two burners that didn't heat, and we couldn't find any oil. The bathrooms were clean and well maintained. The men's shower stall was tiny, barely giving enough room to turn around, but there's another bathroom with a tub if you need more space. It was an enjoyable change of pace.

Once inside, it was amazing. The outside looks a little funny because it's an old school, but the rooms were spacious, and there was a huge kitchen and games room with pool, ping pong, and foosball. The staff were friendly and bilingual, and there were lots of washrooms. We booked at the last minute because it was cheap and were pleasantly surprised. I'd definitely stay again if I come back to the area.

All the signs are in French, which made things a bit tricky. The washrooms and showers are shared, as is the kitchen, but it's a great concept. The inn was clean and well kept, and I'd stay again. We arrived very late without a reservation and were welcomed by some of the friendliest guests I've met, all hanging out and chatting. I called from the reception phone to book a room, and the woman on the phone was very helpful.

Sharing a huge dorm room with strangers was a bad setup for us, especially since I was there with family and we couldn't easily stay together. There were no assigned beds, so it was a free-for-all. The dorm was full of flies and didn't seem hygienic. Some bathrooms weren't up to par, though there were a few good ones, so find those or you'll regret it. During COVID, sharing a bedroom with other guests is unthinkable to me, and even less acceptable than sharing a cafeteria or bathrooms. This shouldn't be allowed.