The hotel’s location is so good. Metro station 3 minutes walk and only 20 minute walk to the nearest hop on hop off bus stop. Staff friendly. Our room was spotlessly clean. It was small though. Would have been fine for two people but it was myself and my 2 adult children - wish we had booked a four person room and paid a little extra as with the extra bed in the double room there was zero floor space left for our belongings/suitcases. All in all a good stay. Le Camelia across the road had a lovely breakfast and we had a fab dinner and we’ll-priced cocktails at ZigZag Cafe 100m down the road.
I have tried to base my review on the factors which the hotel (hostel) does have control of and ignore the views of other guests. The staff we encountered were all friendly and helpful speaking fluent English. We got some free towels (normally chargeable) and a room to store our luggage on our last day. The public areas are clean and tidy with a classy uniform wallpaper design throughout. We didn’t take any food instead opting to use the nearby Lidl for croissants and baggets although I think it was an option. The rooms were small with a sink, blackout blind, opening window, functional bed and an uncontrollable vent. There were four showers and three toilets per floor for communal use. The flat roof outside the window was strewn with rubbish (condom packet one of the more unpleasant), the bed was comfortable without being anything more there was no mattress protector (so I can understand the basis for other reviews) and the vent was continuously noisy - good job we were tired! The showers were clean and powerful if not a little too hot, the toilets however were often reduced to one as they were blocked and unsanitary. The area outside is the bottom end of pooville (I can’t use other language) arriving my heart sank although I was aware the outskirts of Paris are often questionable for tourists, it isn’t an area I’d want to be alone in at night. The reason for us booking here was the availability of a car park. The parking is two basement levels immediately below the hostel (not clear on booking) accessible by foot through a number of (broken) QR code security doors with nobody answering the intercom. The car exit had a metal gate and the entry a barrier so overall I guess very secure! but it is disgusting which doesn’t give you a feeling of security. Leaking pipes and a stench of urine in the stairwell complemented with walls covered in I don’t want to know what! It’s not luxury, it’s functional. You are in an (expensive) capital city and you pretty much get what you pay for, you’ve got to adjust your expectations. It was a good base for our two day trip in the city via a twenty minute metro ride.