HO36 Avignon

The kitchen was a bit disappointing, and the lift is small and a little dodgy. Still, the staff were really friendly, the rooms were quiet, and there's a nice shared bar area. You can walk to plenty of nearby places, including maccas, supermarkets, and patisseries. There’s also a cool balcony for people watching, plus a library and a pool table.

The hostel's location is good and its layout is nice, but I can't recommend taking the risk of staying here. I read the reviews and thought it wouldn't happen to me, but after three nights I found bed bug bites all over my arms and legs and on parts of my back. I only started noticing them on my last night. When you arrive, you have to put on the sheet yourself. Until you do, the blanket and pillow touch the mattress, which I think raises the chance of getting bitten. It might help to put the sheets on in advance, use anti-bug sheets, or replace the mattresses. With so many complaints about bites, management needs to do something. This was my first hostel stay where I got bitten by bed bugs, and I regret booking it.

It's a decent place to set out from each day, about a 10-minute walk from the main train and bus station. I found the people in my room adequate at best, though, so I'd rate the hostel a 4 if it weren't for that. The beds are in a separate room and a bit on the small side. There's a good open common area where you can relax, have a drink, and meet people. Bring your own lock.

The main street noise came straight through the windows, and the blanket smelled rotten. The shower on our floor was out of order and being cleaned, so I had to use one on another floor. Bed bugs showed up on the first night. I caught five, but the office was closed when I wanted an employee to move me, so I spent the night in a chair. They changed my room in the morning, yet bed bugs appeared again that night and the office was closed again. At 2 AM I got angry and moved to a nearby hotel. On my last day I asked for a full refund, but they only returned the first night's money because I had stayed at the hostel that first day, in a chair. They refused any more of the refund for a ridiculous reason. If you want a party with bed bugs, I'd recommend pop hostel.