Germfask Hostel is available for long term rentals.

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your current months are December, 2024 and January, 2025.
December 2024
January 2025

Photo gallery for Germfask Hostel is available for long term rentals.

Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Exterior
Interior
6 bedrooms, iron/ironing board, free WiFi, bed sheets
TV, DVD player, books, video library

Reviews

8.8 out of 10

Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Breakfast available
    Breakfast available
  • Parking available
    Parking available
  • Kitchen
    Kitchen
  • Free WiFi
    Free WiFi

Explore the area

Map
Germfask, MI
  • Seney National Wildlife Refuge
    8 min walk
  • Manistique River Roadside Park
    1 min drive
  • Kennedy Lake
    6 min drive

Room options

About this property

Germfask Hostel is available for long term rentals.

You'll be staying in the longest-standing and largest building in Germfask!

Although we are a hostel, you are able to rent the entire building or one of the two levels for your group.

We are currently renovating the property and we plan to re-launch with a limited, soft opening in 2026.

Our business model will cater to a neglected user group that is challenged with lodging options that suit their activity and lifestyle. We will not only offer creative lodging options, but we will provide services to this user group as well.

We will be the first hostel in the Upper Peninsula!

We are centrally located less than an hour's drive to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore! Centrally located in the Eastern Upper Peninsula.

Germfask is less than an hour from Pictured Rocks, minutes from Seney National Wildlife Refuge, and overlooks the Manistique River! Three bedrooms, two baths, spacious apartment with large kitchen, living and dining. Grill out on the deck, fish for trout, or paddle the Manistique, this is the perfect location for those exploring the eastern half of the Upper Peninsula! You are 90 minutes or less to the Soo Locks, Tahquamenon Falls, Kitchi iti kippi, Escanaba, Marquette, and Mackinaw City!

Owner & live in Manager is Tom Funke, Author of 50 Hikes in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and 50 Hikes on the North Country Trail. Feel free to tap into our knowledge of the area when planning your trip.

The Hostel has 6 bedrooms, four bathrooms, dorm accommodations, and several outdoor outfitter tents on platforms for an exquisite camping experience!

The Jolly Inn (Restaurant and Bar) is across the street and Kersh's Market (groceries and package liquor) is a few blocks North within walking distance.

Germfask is the starting point for Snowmobile Trail #43 linking you to Grand Marais, Tahquamenon, and more. It starts 100 yards from our front door at the blinker light.

We are equally distant from the western & eastern ends of the North Country Trail in Pictured Rocks.

Our customers tell us they enjoy the overall property condition at this hostel. During your stay, you're just a quick walk from Seney National Wildlife Refuge. Features include breakfast (surcharge) and concierge services.
  • Free WiFi
  • Breakfast is offered for a fee
  • Services include a concierge and limo or town car service
  • 8 minutes by foot from Seney National Wildlife Refuge and a 1-minute drive from Manistique River Roadside Park
As a guest of this hostel, you'll find barbecue grills, a garden, and concierge services. The front desk is open around the clock.

This Germfask hostel is smoke free.

Property manager

Tom Funke

Languages

English

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Internet access

Parking and public transport

  • Wheelchair-accessible parking and van parking available
  • On-site parking options include a garage
  • Limo/town car service

Food and drink

  • Breakfast available for a fee

Things to do

  • Bike parking
  • Bike storage
  • Kayaking

Guest services

  • Concierge services

Outdoors

  • BBQ grill(s)
  • Firepit
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture

Accessibility

  • If you have any requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • This property does not have any lifts
  • Handrails in stairwells
  • In-room accessibility
  • Smooth flooring in public areas
  • 1 steps to reach property
  • Tile flooring in public areas
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Well-lit path to entrance
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • 2 on-site accessible parking spaces
  • Wheelchair-accessible van parking

More

  • At least 80% of lighting from LEDs
  • Books
  • Comprehensive food waste policy
  • Comprehensive recycling policy
  • Double-glazed windows
  • Games
  • Local artist showcase
  • Local culture and ecosystem education
  • Locally owned and organised tours and activities
  • No plastic coffee stirrers
  • No plastic drinking straws
  • No plastic soft drinks bottles
  • No plastic water bottles
  • Reusable cups only
  • Reusable tableware only
  • Smoke-free property
  • Video library
  • Note from host: It is a violation of Michigan State law to smoke.

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bed sheets
  • Heating
  • Sofa bed

Bathroom

  • 3 bathrooms
  • Bath or shower
  • Shampoo
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels

Entertainment

  • TV/satellite channels
  • DVD player
  • TV

Food and drink

  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware/dishes/utensils
  • Dining room
  • Dining table
  • Electric kettle
  • Kitchen
  • Kitchen island
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Fridge
  • Spices
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

More

  • Composting
  • Dryer
  • Eco-friendly cleaning products provided
  • Energy-saving switches
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Recycling

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Note from host: We have extra twin beds/cots

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: We allow small conferences & outdoor events.
This property uses solar energy, plus eco-friendly cleaning products
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions. You will also receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account which will enable you to manage your booking.

Property is also known as

Gateway Pictured Rocks Lodge Centrally Located Eastern UP
Gateway Pictured Rocks Germfask. Centrally Located Eastern UP
Gateway Pictured Rocks Centrally Located Eastern UP
Gateway Pictured Rocks Lodge Centrally Located Eastern UP
Gateway Pictured Rocks Germfask. Centrally Located Eastern UP
Gateway Pictured Rocks Lodge Centrally Located Eastern UP
Gateway Pictured Rocks Germfask. Centrally Located Eastern UP
Gateway Pictured Rocks Centrally Located Eastern UP

Germfask Hostel is available for long term rentals. Reviews

Reviews

8.8

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 51 out of 93 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 31 out of 93 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 9 out of 93 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 93 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 93 reviews" "

8.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Staff & service

9.0/10

Amenities

9.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Holly P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Exactly what we needed
This is our second time staying at this property. We love the size of the home and 2 bathrooms! I have teenagers so it’s enough space for Us all to relax after a busy day of hiking and seeing the sites. The host is always easy to communicate with. The Jolly Inn is always a treat for dinner. One great thing about this home is it’s location. It’s in the middle of everything to see this side of the UP. Since we do a lot of hiking, we get dirty and the washer and dryer is a huge help after a fun filled day. We are a family of woman and all feel very safe in this home. We will always stay here when we travel up north! Thanks for a wonderful, safe home for Us to stay and enjoy nature.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

4/10 Poor

Ellen C., Whiteland IN, USA

Disliked: Cleanliness
Not what we expected at all
I'm unsure where to start but want to give an honest review so others know what to expect. We weren't expecting perfection but we were pretty shocked to find how dirty/run down it was. Starting with the good: Great location. Jolly Inn had great food! Seney Natl. Wildlife Preserve is just down the road and is awesome. Living room furniture and beds pretty comfortable; showers pretty good. Now for the need-to-know: This place was filthy dirty. Had to buy some cleaner and do it ourselves to stay. Fridge/freezer had old, part-used foods & leftovers- some moldy. Towels in linen closet were damp and stunk! Had to wash and dry them again. Stiff, wadded up used cloths found on dryer and in the linen closet. Broken stuff everywhere- windows, cabinets, doors, blinds, lampshades etc. Floors so dirty around edges & corners- sooo many dead bugs and cobwebs and dirt. Front bedroom infested with spiders!!! I killed at least 15 spiders in there! Dead, dried up smashed bugs were all over the walls in that room also. The "breezeway" into the house was dirty like an old garage- step into house very unsafe/unsteady and tipped if you didn't step on it right. I tried contacting the host twice but got no reply. I know he got the message because he had answered a previous message before we got there. I did contact VRBO and did not request my money back for the stay as we chose to stay, but I did request the "housekeeping fee" back as we had to clean our place to stay there!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

8/10 Good

brigid a.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fit our needs
First impression was a little dreary, but the place grew on us. Mostly used as a good spot for all-day trips to pictured rocks, Tahquamenon Falls and then rafting on menominee river on the way home. Easy to find since on a main road, but that made it kind of noisy (for the UP). Beds, kitchen, 2 bathrooms were all functional for a 3 night stay. Enjoyed fire pit, watched shooting stars at night. Internet did not work for us, calls/texts very spotty and DVD collection was limited/damaged. A place to go and make your own fun. Which is what we were looking for. Overall good value for the $.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

6/10 Okay

Denise C.

Review
Needs to be cleaner and updated.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

2/10 Terrible

Jason P., Quincy

Disliked: Cleanliness
Renter beware
No pictures posted, keeping it classy. Not often is there time to write reviews. Always challenging to not be too wordy or not wordy enough. Not too witty but not too boring. However, the responses from this homeowner practically wrote the review so poignantly it made the review process effortless. We made a request for all or a partial refund in response to the countless dead bugs, live spiders and dirty floors encountered in this home; we left 2 hrs after arrival, painstakingly rearranging our entire vacation to accommodate. “That's why it's so cheap because folks know that sometimes it's not going to be perfect.“ “I have a very strict refund policy because my home is sometimes not what people expect from a VRBO even though I try to be very transparent in my home description.”
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

8/10 Good

James S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Spring Fishing
Great place to stay and good location for Fox River fishing .
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Clare J.

Liked: Cleanliness
snowmobile trip
Like any snowmobile trip the weather plays a big part. When there is good snow cover,can ride from place, trail about 1/2mi.,otherwise trailer to Seney 7mi, as alot of shoulder (pavement) riding to get Seney parking lot and pick up trails,this has nothing to do with the property. The place has all kind of room for a group. Full kitchen, washer/dryer if needed.Lot of history of the area in the house. Easy access to local bar,food right across the street. Grocery store 3blks away great selection.We try a new area in UP each, year lots of trails. Very center located.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2023

8/10 Good

james g.

Germfask 2023
Nice place to stay for 6 guy’s on a snowmobile trip. Plenty of parking spaces for truck and trailer. Place is old but has a lot up north appeal. Will be looking to stay here again next year
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2023

8/10 Good

Ed M.

Liked: Cleanliness
2023 Snowmobile Trip
The property was as defined online. The extra space was useful and the use of the garage was a great benefit.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Billy t.

Liked: Cleanliness
Mrs
We will be staying again
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023

8/10 Good

Elizabeth

Travelled with family, Travelled with partner
Liked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
It was in the middle of town, easy to find!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

8/10 Good

James S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Nort Woods Escape
Excellent spot
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Steve S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Unassuming and perfect!
Enjoyed our stay in this spacious place with lots of books in the little town of Germfask. Centrally located near so many great places!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Holly P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect lodge
I have 2 teens and this was just perfect for Us. We all had enough space to relax at the end of our busy days of site seeing. We also enjoyed dinner across the road at the Jolly Inn. The hosts were very quick to respond to any questions. Thank you for a wonderful place to stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

8/10 Good

Michelle L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Summer getaway
Property was a great location for us to day trip and see all the things we needed in the U.P.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Rachael W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Small little town in the middle of everything.
The lodge in Germfask is a great place in a cozy little town that was in the middle of everything we wanted to do. It was a great space to recoup after running around all day. There was enough room for cooking and hanging out. The restaurant across the street was awesome. We had a blast.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Tiffanie L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great stay!
Our stay in Germfask was great. The property owners were very quick and great with getting back to me on anything I had questions with. Everything was easy to find, very interesting, and comfortable! My family and i really enjoyed ourselves!!
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2022

8/10 Good

Jamie W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Good parking for trailer and plenty of room for 5 guys for snowmobile trip.
Good location for snowmobile trip.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Brooke P.

Great spot
Cool old building with interesting history. Worked just fine for our group on a snowmobile trip. Not too much road to get to the trail and it was fine for us since there was a lot of snow. Had pretty much everything we needed for our trip and super convenient having the Jolly Inn across the street. The owners were awesome with communication and kind enough to allow us in early. It was tidy but could just use a seasonal deep cleaning. No complaints!
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2022

10/10 Excellent

Zachary S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great place to stay for snowmobiling
Slight issue with furnace but was fixed same day. Lots of space , and beds to sleep
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2022

8/10 Good

Jeanette C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Comfortable
The property is a great place to stay, we had a group of 8 and were very comfortable. This property has easy access to the trails for both side by side and snowmoboles. The house was not stocked well with towels but I contacted the owner and towels were brought over .overall good place to stay
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

April B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Awesome family getaway
Rental was clean and roomy. Had everything we needed and then some. Check in was easy. We would definitely do it again.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021

8/10 Good

Erica C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Affordable central up place to stay
Fun adorable place to stay when exploring that aria of the Up. The masses are not the softest but definitely work. The only thing I would say is there is a lot of dust on the ceiling fans expecting in the medium bedroom. Other than that had everything we need. Thanks
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2021

8/10 Good

Kristan M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Centrally located
Property is spacious and was clean with everything needed linens, cookware, satellite TV, dads, etc.. Located centrally in the Eastern UP, making sightseeing day trips manageable. Property manager was easy to communicate with.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

ANIRBAN M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Overall had a good time
Just two things need attention: The entryway needs to be cleaned. The microwave oven has very low power.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2021