Auberge de Jeunesse HI Genets

We had a really nice couple of evenings at Auberge de Jeunesse HI Genêts. The staff were friendly, and breakfast was simple but perfectly fine. Our room was clean and had what we needed. We did wish the beds could be pushed together, but it wasn’t a big deal. Thanks for a lovely stay!

There were only two toilets and two showers for more than 20 people in our section, so the bathroom facilities felt limited. The rooms were okay, mostly with single beds, but there weren’t enough power outlets.

The shared kitchen came in handy, and breakfast was filling and tasty. We were comfortable here, and the staff were helpful, giving us all the information we needed for a visit to le Mont Saint Michel.

The hostel was clean and had a kitchenette, but Wi-Fi didn’t work in the residential building, and I missed having a kettle. The directions to the pilgrimage departure point were clear. Staff didn’t seem to know where the buses left from, when they ran, or whether they went to the Mont, so we had to work it out ourselves. There was a morning bus to Avranches and one to Mt Michel at 9:30, then a bus at 5 pm. At €5 each way, that’s inconvenient and not cheap if you’re travelling on foot. The hostel is near the bus stop, but the lack of useful information was frustrating. Getting to Mont Saint Michel from Genets was the main problem. It’s far from everything, and crossing the bay meant booking a guide for at least €8 for the 13 km return trip. My guide didn’t speak any English, which made the walk unpleasant. We could spend up to an hour there, nowhere near enough time. There’s just one direct bus to the Mont, for €2.80. HI PONTORSON HOSTEL / AUBERGE is much cheaper at €12.83 a night including breakfast, closer to Mt Michel, with better bus connections and a huge supermarket nearby. Breakfast at Genets was basic compared with HI CANCALE. The manager watched the bread during breakfast and offered more after I’d finished, which wasn’t bad in itself, but I found it weird to be watched and have my baguette slices counted instead of being able to help myself. I wouldn’t recommend this hostel unless you’re travelling by car or bike.