Red Elephant Inn

Don’t waste your time or money. The entrance was dangerously icy, with slush and snow underfoot, and the floors inside were even slicker. There was inches of dust on the ceiling fan and furniture in our room. The owner came in to fix the TV, then stood in our room with his butt crack exposed while trying to sort through four remotes. He never pulled up his pants. It was super creepy, and we left in under 20 minutes. This place should be condemned. Don’t book here.

We left and were lucky to get a room down the street at the Hampton Inn and Suites. The place looked nothing like the website pictures, and the exterior paint was peeling, the pool was overgrown with weeds, and the fence was falling apart. Inside, there was a dirty, musty smell and shag carpet that looked like it hadn’t been vacuumed in years. The kitchen was filthy, with greasy pots and pans on the stove and counters. I didn’t want this guy cooking breakfast for us. Rob greeted us, and when my husband asked to see the room, he aggressively asked whether we’d leave if we didn’t like it. Upstairs, I tried to talk myself into staying until I saw the filthy bathroom and two damp, crinkled facecloths hanging over the shower rod. I told my husband there was no way I was staying. He went back to ask Rob for a refund, but Rob refused, even when my husband offered to pay for one night. The place should be looked into by the board of health, chamber of commerce, and anyone else who loves North Conway. It doesn’t seem to meet the standards for a bed and breakfast. The pictures feel like fraudulent advertising.

The carpet was threadbare and the place looked like it hadn’t been properly cleaned in decades. When we reached our room, the toilet wouldn’t flush. We told the proprietor, who said he’d fix it while we went to dinner, but on our return it worked once and then broke again. The bathroom lights, fan, and outlets were out, too. When I politely asked about them, he exploded and yelled, "If you think you can get an electrician to come here, go ahead and try." Breakfast might have been good, but it wasn’t served until 8:30, so we left to go hiking, and given the rest of the place I suspect the kitchen wasn’t clean either. Reading the five star reviews makes me wonder where those people stayed. I suspect the health or fire department would condemn this place if they inspected it.

We stayed in the Hollywood Room for a couple’s weekend and loved how charming, cozy, clean, and really spacious it was. There’s a little DVD library just outside the door so you can watch movies in the room, a really cute touch. The location is convenient, under a five minute drive to North Conway Village and Walmart, yet it’s quiet and peaceful since it’s off the busy main road. Best of all, the hearty breakfasts were delicious and kept us full most of the day. We had a wonderful time at the Red Elephant and would love to stay again.