Central Hostel

I slept well in the clean eight-person dorm. The main thing it needs is more shelves or hangers. There were maybe five hangers for eight people, and the lockers were on the floor, so clean clothes or a wet towel had nowhere separate from dirty luggage and shoes. The bathrooms have only a few small, useless hooks in the showers. I left my clothes on the shower floor by the door because I didn’t want them on my bed or to walk naked down the corridor. Shelves outside the showers would help. Bring soap, since the dispensers were empty or seemed to have been refilled with water, maybe very diluted soap. You’ll also need a locker lock. The showerhead was badly encrusted with limescale, brown in places. A good soak in vinegar or something similar might sort it out.

Inside, the hostel was fresh, tidy, and very well cared for, and the cleaning staff did a great job. The staff were kind and welcoming, and being right in the city centre made it easy to reach the sights and transport. The plaza outside was the uncomfortable part. Homeless people often stayed there, and once I saw human waste in the plaza. It wasn’t pleasant, though that’s part of the neighbourhood rather than the hostel’s fault. I’m a bit clumsy, and climbing the ladder to my bunk was tricky. I nearly slipped a couple of times, so having a lower bunk would have made things much easier and safer. I asked at the last minute and couldn’t get one. If you need a bottom bunk, request it well ahead of time. The stay was good overall, with a clean interior and a handy location, but the plaza can feel rough.

We came with 35 students on an educational trip, and the reception staff were very accommodating. The rooms were tiny but nice, and the bathrooms and showers were clean. The location is great. I’d recommend the hostel for a large group or for individual travellers too.

Reception was very helpful and let me check in an hour before the official time, which I appreciated. I only stayed one night in a private room, so I can’t comment on the hostel accommodation. The room on the fourth floor was cute, with a window overlooking Saint Projet square. It was clean, and the mattress, bed linen, and towels were good. But it smelled strongly of sewage, and opening the window didn’t clear it. The square is a gathering place for homeless people, and it got noisy as the night went on. The “rich breakfast” add-on was a disappointment. It was just one croissant or pain au chocolat, a glass of boxed juice, and coffee or tea. I wish I’d known what that meant before booking, since I’d have skipped it and gone elsewhere. I asked for fruit, but they didn’t have any. The place could work for a night or two in Bordeaux, but the restaurant and bar don’t serve food or a proper breakfast, so plan to find something elsewhere.