Auberge de jeunesse Ostal Brest

I had a terrible experience here. The room cost €30, plus €3 for a so-called one-year membership, and €0.88 tax, for a total of €34.88 for one night. They handed me a scrap of paper with my name on it as the membership card. The Wi-Fi only worked in the shared area, and there was just one power socket in the room, not one by each bed. There was no toilet paper either. The top bunk felt dangerous, with no guardrail or curtain, just two strings tied between the bed and ceiling. A roommate was afraid of heights, so I switched beds with her, but I still felt unsafe up there. They also charged €1 for card authorization, which had never happened to me before. When I questioned it, they denied charging it and told me to leave if I didn't like it. I asked Agoda, where I booked, and they said they don't hold card details, only the accommodation does, so any charge would have come from the accommodation. The staff still denied it. I can't speak French, and my French friend tried to help but gave up too, so it wasn't only a problem for a foreign guest, though it could be even worse for foreigners. Maybe €1, or even €4, doesn't seem like much to me, but I think they charge everyone and it adds up. And that reaction, telling me to get out, was unbelievable.

The food was awful, and even the glasses and cutlery were dirty. In the bedrooms, dust was everywhere and the sheets had stains. I'm allergic to dust, so this was a real problem and I struggled to breathe. The rooms were also very cold even with the windows shut.

The rooms are small, but each has its own sink, and everything was very clean. Staff were helpful, and breakfast was decent. If they run out of something, just ask for more.

A nice spot to stay, just two minutes from the water and beach.