Auberge de Fréjus Saint-Raphael - Hostel

There’s no Wi-Fi here, and you have to walk 1.4 km to the city center to get a connection. Food was stolen, the showers were dirty, and I got sick for a day after drinking the tap water. I checked out early and asked for a refund for the unused days, but didn’t get one. I’d say it beats being homeless, but after staying here I realized paying a bit more for somewhere better is worth it. Quality over quantity, really.

The people were the best part for me. Guests of different ages were friendly with one another, and the staff were great to talk to, especially Gilbert. There were comfortable indoor lounge areas, and outside there was a shaded, breezy picnic spot beside a large wooded park. It felt far from the city, and a goat would sometimes wander by. There was also a campsite linked to the hostel on the hillside. I was in a six-bed dorm with only two other roommates. They were quiet, nice, and respectful, and the room was fine with three of us. I think it would have felt cramped with four, and definitely with five or six. I visited during a pretty intense heat wave. The room wasn’t cool, but it was bearable: the windows mostly faced north and got some shade, and the hill brought a steady breeze during my three nights there. A fan in the rooms would have been nice, though I knew that wasn’t usual for hostels in Provence. I’d brought a tiny USB fan that ran off a spare phone battery, and it was enough for me even though I don’t sleep well in the heat. Breakfast was typical hostel fare, cereal, juice, tartines, and instant coffee. There was also a kitchen you could use to prepare your own food. The one inconvenience was reception being closed from 12h to 17h30, so you had to wait to check in if you arrived then. The hostel itself stayed open, so you could wait inside. I’d been a little unsure after reading mixed reviews, especially complaints about cleanliness, but I had no cleanliness problems and thought it was pretty good for a hostel. It is a hostel rather than a luxury hotel, so the standards are a bit lower.

A short, pleasant stay, with a nice host and a great atmosphere. I missed the reception hours, which end at noon and start again at 17:30, though the website does mention them. The beds also move whenever you do.

The room wasn’t available, and the owner agreed with Booking.com to cancel for free. Even so, nearly 40 EUR was charged to my card for nothing. I have screenshots. He messaged me on WhatsApp saying he’d refund it, but never did. After I contacted him again and waited weeks, he blocked me on WhatsApp. This person is a SHAME! The location was awful, with no buses, and about an hour from the beach or center. There were no sheets, towels, or soap, and everything was very dirty. It looked like a place for homeless people. The doors had no keys and there were no lockers, so anyone from outside could come in at any time. This is the worst place I’ve ever seen. The owner replies to bad reviews by blaming guests, and to me it’s obvious he’s a liar and a cheater who just steals your money. NEVER go there. You’ll really regret it.