Hostel Flamingo Nîmes Centre Gare

I wasn't staying there, but needed Wi-Fi. I bought a coffee and they let me sit and work on their connection all afternoon without any trouble. Really nice place.

The staff were really nice, and the location is great. Kémil was especially welcoming and did his best to help me. Still, unfortunately, the hostel wasn't what I expected. I tried two different six-bed dorms for men and it was clear some guests were there long term, basically living in the rooms. In the first, I sat on my bed and saw an older man, who unfortunately seemed homeless, eating peanut butter with a spoon he'd just picked up off the floor and farting. He didn't look very clean, and the empty bed nearby had wet underwear dripping water. I felt uncomfortable and asked to move. The second room wasn't much better. A guy who seemed to live there had his things spread everywhere and was snoring loudly at 5 PM, almost like he'd set up camp. The bed I was given had a brown stain. I didn't check what it was because I didn't want to know. The bathroom was rough too: underwear and socks all over, a toilet left unflushed with paper still hanging out, and what looked like blood stains on the sink. I left and found a three-star hotel down the road, Hotel Majestic. For a private room with a private toilet, it cost just 20 euros more than Hostel Flamingo. Maybe putting long-term guests in one room and short-stay travelers in another would make a big difference for everyone.

I missed my train to Barcelona by six minutes at my third stop. Apparently, there are only two trains a day from Nimes to Barcelona on a Tuesday. Booking was easy, and getting to my room was straightforward. The beds looked clean, and the rooms were reasonably clean too.

The city is amazing, and this place has a cool rooftop bar. It's right outside the train station, but the rooms are quiet. They're simple, have AC, and the staff are helpful and accommodating. Only thing I'd add is some hand soap in the bathrooms.