Paris Hostel

Kathleen Crislip of Your Guide to Student Travel has compiled this Top Ten Guide by referencing comments left on the Hostelz.com Site. But it seems to be at least two years old. I've been back to take a look at the latest comments.

She says Paris hostels travellers like: Le Village, Peace and Love, Lucky Youth, Woodstock, Absolute, Le Montclair Montmartre, Young and Happy, Aloha, Three Ducks, Square Caulaincourt. Now I'm going to be visiting and reviewing these Paris hostels in the coming weeks. You might like to RSS this page if you're planning a trip to the "City of Dogshit...I mean Light".

1. Le Village

Dormitory: $30 (prices may vary)

20 Rue D'orsel, 75018 Paris, France

uh oh...the latest review from March 31 is pretty damning-

"Le Village hostel is absolutly disgusting and the staff very rude. When my girlfriend told them that we had bed bugs on our bedding (she showed the guy her legs full of bites), he told her: "Don't disturb me for nothing. We are spraying sometimes. There's nothing much to do". NO COMMENT. The only quality: this hostel is located in the area of Montmartre, which is the most gorgeous area in Paris. Montmartre is a safe area too, close to the Moulin Rouge and the sacre coeur."

2. Peace and Love

Hilarious name isn't it? Where do they get them from? Wouldn't you feel like a total dickhead saying "I'm staying at "Peace & Love"

Double and triple rooms (twin beds) and dorms; showers in all rooms - toilets in some.
Dormitory: $30 (rates may vary)

245 Rue La Fayette, 75010, Paris, France

To be fair...this isn't the latest comment but I couldn't resist it -

"Unless you are just looking for a place to pass out after you get trashed, do not stay here. We arranged for two nights and left after the first night, without a refund, because the place was so terrible. The hostel is located in a scummy part of town. the bedrooms and bathrooms are filthy -- the internet access is a joke (one very dirty, barely-functioning terminal). there is no lobby, only a bar where they don't want you sitting unless you're buying drinks, and no lockers or any safe place to keep your bags during the day. Moreover, you don't get your own key to your room. Forget sleeping -- the bar is insanely loud, and so is the noise from the street below; you also have to worry about drunken hostellers barging into your unlocked room at night and (as we heard) vomiting on your stuff. Add to that the fact that the place is downright dishonest -- they double booked one of our beds for our first night, and then tried to refuse us a refund when we told them we'd had to share a bed after paying for two."

3. Lucky Youth

Another cheesy name.

Shared apartments (up to eight people in bunk beds) with bathrooms.
Apartment: $36 (rates may vary)

26, Rue des Rigoles 75020 Paris, France

Bummer...I can't slip the knife into this one - everyone seems to like it. A lot. Like this -

"Lucky youth is great if you've been staying in regular hostels for two many weeks or months. I wanted somewhere to stay where I didn't have to keep all my stuff in a locker, where I could have a continuous hot shower without a thousand other girls lining up after me, have a leisurely breakfast that doesn't need to be eaten by 10 a.m. on the dot or and that doesn't cost a fortune. The apartment I'm staying in is old and seconds walk to the moulin rouge -- the whole area is lively and has a lot of character. You do have to remind yourself that it's not your own apartment and that you could probably never afford it normally! It gives you the chance to live like a parisienne, a lucky one at that with a chic, old apartment."

4. Woodstock

Ah Woodstock...free-love and reefers...naked hippies rolling in mud-baths - not quite.

Double rooms and dorms; communal baths.
Dormitory: $30 (rates may vary)

48 rue Rodier, 75009 Paris, France

This one runs hot and cold - like its showers -

"I stayed here for a few days in August 2006. The staff ranged from helpful to cynical, but they were very loose with the "no outside alcohol" rule and we often drank cheap wine in the courtyard till the late evening. The social scene is pretty lively here, which is great if you don't mind staying awake till late in the evening. The showers are all push-button operated, and don't get much hotter than lukewarm. The location is great, and it's a short walk to the closest supermarket, and even shorter if you just want to grab something at a corner store. There's an Internet cafe close by, a laundromat down the hill, and a great bakery right across the street. The closest Metro stop isn't very far away either. Just watch out for the lecherous men hanging around Pigalle (the nearby red-light district) in the evenings if you're a lady. My brother and I had to fend a drunk guy off from getting too close to a female friend we were walking with, so just be wary if you're approached by any men (shout, or even give a strong shove, if necessary)."

5. Absolute Hostel

I misread this at first - I thought it said Absolut and I was imagining a hostel made from ice like those Vodka bars that are spreading all over the globe. That'd be cool wouldn't it? The slogan could be Give it your best shot. Groan.

Single, double & triple rooms and dorms; private bath in rooms.
Dormitory: $29 (rates may vary)

1 Rue de la Fontaine au Roi, 75011 Paris, France

This one seems to be the absolute pits as far as their staff goes, anyway. This comment was fairly typical of the ones I've read. Although it is a year old. Perhaps the grumpy staff have left?

"The bathrooms are the best thing about this hostel. Breakfast and location are good as well. But the rooms are tiny. And the staff is horrible! They did not help us with anything. One bed was broken and they suggested to the girl to look up in other rooms to find herself a bed. For free you'll get just one sheet and the blanket is really dirty. For the second sheet you'll have to pay two EUR per night. We met three guys behind the front desk and two of them did not give us a single smile during the four days. The youngest, Idir, was nice and friendly -- the only friendly person in this hotel we had chance to meet. Generally I have stayed at worse hostels but I've never met worse staff!"

6. Le Montclair Montmartre

Comes with hot and cold running hookers.

Double and twin rooms and dorms; shower and toilet in rooms.
Dormitory: $29 (rates may vary)

62 Rue Ramey, 75018 Paris, France

Well maybe not hookers but its had some slathing reviews. Like this unhappy camper -

"This Hostel is the most horrible Hostel I have ever been to. It stinks. The breakfast is just not enough (shit, really shit!). There is a lady in the back of the breakfast balcony that just won't let you take two (tiny) cups of (horrible) orange juice! The rooms are small, and they don't have any kind of lockers. So you leave your things there, and may God help you, because many people have already reported thefts and burglaries there. The bathrooms are also bad. The staff is horrible -- very impolite and not very patient, although I speak french. Only the brazilians that work there were nice to me. Horrible. Stay away from this."

7. Young and Happy

OK now we really have hit hostel name rock bottom - Young and Happy - what the fuck? It's in the heart of the Latin Quarter - the students district - so its gets some street cred in spite of the ridiculous name. There are heaps of bars and restaurants in that area.

Double rooms and dorms; communal bath.
Dormitory: $29 (rates may vary)

80 rue Mouffetard, 75005 Paris, France

Hmmm...don't know about this. The comments seem to be "selective" (read edited). I'll have to research more. Found this recent comment -

"This hostel was disgusting. From the minute we walked in the staff was obnoxious. First off, we had to pay for our stay in cash and we were not informed of this beforehand. Next, we were put in a six person room when we wanted a four person room, but there was nothing that could be done. The people we were put with were dirty and strange and the room was unisex so even if you felt uncomfortable, you were stuck with a guy in your room. The room smelled, you were not given sheets (they were 2.50 euro extra). The bathrooms were graffitied and the showers were dirty. The breakfast was [--] and overall the place was falling apart. At night you could hear the noise from the bars across the street so it was hard to fall asleep. If you dont care about clean bathrooms, sanitation, and helpful staff, go right ahead and stay here. I would recommend spending the extra 50 bucks a night and booking a hotel in Paris."

8. Aloha

Oh c'mon - Aloha? For a Paris hostel name? What next - Gidday Mate!?

Double rooms and dorms; communal bath.
Dormitory: $22 (rates may vary)

1 Rue Borromee, 75015 Paris, France

One things's for sure - Hawaii it aint. I've read a lot of negative reports on this place. This is typical -

"Was all bad. Does not accept credit card even though web site says it does. Paid 10 Euro for sheets -- three plus seven deposit. I lost my receipt so they would not give me my deposit back. Very rude unfriendly and unhelpful staff. Not that close to Eiffel Tower. Paper-thin walls. Lockout between 11 and 5 very stupid. Showers and toilets were gross. Supposed curfew of 2 but they let people check in at 3 a.m. into our room. Stay away."

9. Three Ducks

I presume when they say communal bath below they mean it's a shared bathroom not a free-for-all Turkish spa. Although you never know in this place.

Double rooms and dorms; communal bath.
Dormitory: $25(rates may vary)

6 Place Etienne Pernet, 75015 Paris, France

The Three Ducks is not for everyone. Half the comments are as damning as this one -

"Basic facilities, not very clean, noisy, and disrespectful staff. We stayed here for six days and I have a bit of advice for anyone coming. Bring earplugs unless you plan on getting drunk and passing out, which plenty of people do, and do not come here if you are older than twenty-five. If you are a grown-up, somebody from the staff will tell you that you don't belong in this place. They will not refund the money you have paid in advance and you will be harassed by an unfriendly employee. There is only one key for each room so you basically have to leave the room unlocked if you're sleeping and not everyone is there. I would absolutely not stay at this hostel again and would not recommend it to anyone."

10. Square Caulaincourt

Single, double, twin and triple rooms and dorms; some have private baths.
Dormitory: $29 (rates may vary)

2 Square Caulaincourt, 75018 Paris, France

I couldn't find one negative review of this place. This one was the only one to find fault -

"Upon arrival, take the elevator in the Metro stop. Do not take the stairs. Trust me. I reserved a bed in an eight-bed room, but got one in a four-bed room. I stayed upstairs, away from the remodeling. The cow in the stairwell startled me every time I went upstairs. Amusing. Room was not dirty. Locking doors on both the shower and wc, actual door on the shower stall, not just a curtain. Linen was free but you only get one sheet. TV in room was nice, helped me stay awake my first evening to beat jetlag. Having one key per room was not as bad as I or others thought it would be. Breakfast was good -- plenty to eat. (tip -- fill up on cereal, toast, and coffee or hot chocolate, then wrap your bread and croissant in a napkin for lunch along with some butter or preserves -- great for those on a smaller budget.) Internet was slow at times, and U.S. Google/gmail often did not load at all. One pay phone in lobby -- ridiculously priced. Use the phone booth across the street. Quiet neighborhood but not too remote. Some comments I gathered from other guests -- the bar is rarely if ever open. Some rooms do not have doors on their showers. The lock-out time is inconvenient. One staff member is quite rude. Hot water is not reliable. Every few minutes it goes cold. Many guests said they wanted to find another hostel, because it wasn't what was promised."

So there you have it. Most of the so-called Top Paris Hostels have copped a bad review at same point or another. But you need to keep this in perspective - you're not staying in The Ritz when you choose to book into a Paris hostel. You can expect basic accommodation with, for the most part, shared bedroom and bathroom facilities. Breakfast will usually be a baguette with butter and jam and orange juice and coffee. But what do you expect for around €20 in a popular and expensive destination like Paris? You know what a room in a Five Star Hotel goes for here? Try €400 a night. And whilst you can expect your hostel to be clean and safe, don't expect to get the personalised service that you would in a hotel. Margins are tight and often hostel staff are just fellow travellers who've elected to stay in this great city a bit longer. They're on minimal wage - what they call Smic here (the basic wage). And make no mistake - it's a hard gig - no matter how hard you try you can't please everybody. That being said...there are some absolute assholes working in these places. Don't let the odd nasty hostel worker ruin your stay. Keep in mind what you save on accommodation you can spend on attractions and food and beverage. This is, after all, still the gourmet capital of the world - fine dining was invented here.

Paris Hostel reviews