Alter'hostel

The rooms were nice and clean, and there’s a good kitchen, shared areas, and bathrooms. The hostel itself is great, but the Wi-Fi works terribly and it’s a little far from the city center. There are still good bus connections, though.

I felt really unsafe and won’t go back. I’d only booked one night and expected an ordinary stay, having had good experiences in other hostels. A man was bothering the women in our room, saying he was looking for a key and staring at people in their beds. He came to my bed three times, then left when he saw I was awake. Another woman was asleep, and he started messing with her bed. She woke up screaming and crying. I recognized him as the same man who’d been trying to bother me, and I had already reported him to reception. I told the receptionist what he’d done to me; she spoke to him and apologized. After he did it to the other woman, I said I wouldn’t sleep in that room because I didn’t feel safe with him there. She moved me to a different room, where I managed to get some sleep. Nothing like this has ever happened to me at another hostel.

I left my crystal necklace in the shower, and the cleaners found it and gave it to reception, which was great. The beds were comfy, there were no bed bugs, and the chill areas had plenty of board games. It’s an open bar, so people who aren’t staying there can come in for drinks, and Friday night had a bit of a vibe. The rooms don’t have locks, though. A key card system would help guests feel safer. Decent stay for two nights.

It was easy to get a good night's sleep here since the hostel is quiet, and the location is handy for public transport, restaurants, and bars. The place is clean and well looked after. Curtains on every bed are a genius idea, I’d never had that in a hostel before, and they give you some privacy in the dorm. The staff are really friendly and helpful, too. They have information about things to do in Lyon and good tips for local food and grocery shops.