Hostel Coeur de Cité

Really good location and customer service. Only sheets were provided, with a few flat pillows, so bring your own pillows and blanket.

The staff were friendly and accommodating, and my room had the convenience of its own sink and shower. Sheets cost extra to rent, breakfast is available for a fee, and the wifi didn't work in my room. Even so, this spacious hostel is wonderful and right in the heart of medieval Carcassonne. Restaurants, shops and the entrance to the ramparts are just outside. I'd highly recommend it and hope I can stay again.

I felt unsafe in the women's dorm. I came back around midnight to find a man sleeping there. I didn't want to wake him, and I had to be up at 6am for checkout, so I went to bed feeling very uncomfortable. Earlier, I'd arrived early and returned late, and everything had seemed fine in person, including the nice staff. At checkout I said there'd been a booking mistake and that I'd message them. I did, but they now just blame me and haven't offered a refund or apology. It's a new hostel, so a mistake like that isn't great, but the lack of an apology is worse.

The location is fantastic, but the facilities were frustrating. Our family room had a shower and sink but no toilet, and the toilet rooms downstairs had no seats. On the first floor, one toilet was sauna-hot from a radiator running full blast, while the other usually had no toilet paper. There were no towels, and the beds weren't made up with sheets when we arrived, so we had to ask for them. The room had no air conditioner for cooking, and it was hot even in April, so I can't imagine summer. The shared kitchen had dishes, cutlery and a sink, but no refrigerator. Our room key card only worked some of the time.