Paradise Inn

The rooms are tiny, but the atmosphere is beautiful and the staff were great, especially Riddle. We had an unusual reservation situation, and the manager took her time helping us check in. She was patient and stayed focused on us until everything was sorted out. The dining staff were attentive and kind as well. Parking is lousy, though that’s expected at this location.

The location is hard to beat, and even with summer rates being high, I’d stay again. The rooms are small and simple, but I knew that going in. They’re functional, not luxurious, and I have no complaints about them. We booked several rooms and were given unnumbered keys, so we had to ask staff to label them with Post-its. Not sure why they hadn’t thought of that. Dining choices are very limited. We brought a pizza box from the city, and someone seemed like they wanted to buy it from us. Service was adequate.

The park and building are beautiful, which makes it frustrating that the hotel is so poorly managed. Since it’s open to the public, hikers overrun the place. The main lobby feels like a train station, full of people, and nobody clears away the trash hikers leave behind. Outdoor seating is limited and gets taken by people who aren’t staying there. There’s no lobby coffee, no bar or cocktail service, and breakfast is a cold buffet at $32 a plate. I made that mistake once. Rooms are too cramped to open a suitcase on the floor. It could be a premier hotel with better management. Stay in Ashford.

The lobby is lovely, and the location is the reason to stay here. You can start hiking right outside, though the area gets crowded, so it’s better to head out early to beat the hoards. Every employee we met was polite and helpful. We had a room with 2 twins and a shared bathroom, and I wouldn’t pick that setup again. I’d rather have a bathroom in the room. It was so tight that squeezing past the end of one bed to reach the other bed and closet was difficult. A bunk bed turned 90 degrees might have worked better. They supplied robes, which helped for walking down the hall to shower. There are 4 shower rooms, but the showers are tiny and have no ventilation. The shared restrooms also lack ventilation and get stinky. Food choices are sparse: the Paradise dining room has a very limited, pricey menu, while the “cafe” has pre-packaged food. There’s also a food court in the nearby visitor center, still pricey but cheaper than the dining room. There’s no parking reserved for inn guests, so you need a plan before leaving your spot. When it’s busy, finding another one can be hard.