St Christopher's Inn Gare Du Nord - Hostel

The location by "Gare do Nord" may work for some people and not others, and the hostel does feel like a commercial chain with a big SEO and social media team promoting it, rather than a small independent place. Two of the four WCs were broken, too. Still, it’s exceptionally clean for a hostel, well organized, and has a great atmosphere. The rooms are large, even the 10-bed dorm, and the staff are friendly. I liked having the pub/sports bar connected to it. It’s way ahead of most budget hotels.

I’d probably try another hostel next time, mainly because of the neighborhood and the general vibe. Gare du Nord is handy for getting around the city and using public transport, but it’s not one of the nicest parts of Paris. I didn’t see anything bad happen, though I’d be more careful walking around there. My four-bed room and the toilet were clean, and the experience was just average, neither great nor terrible. The men’s shower on my floor was broken, so I had to use one on another floor. Only the bedroom door locked, while the rest of the hostel doors were open without access control.

I wouldn’t recommend this hostel. The luggage charge was a real disappointment: even after booking and staying there, you still have to pay 8€ for 24 hours or 2€ per hour to leave your bags. Getting up and down can be a gamble because the elevator sometimes works, but when you want to go down it’s basically luck. I often had to climb to the 4th floor. The shared bathroom for the whole floor has just one toilet and one shower, with very weak water pressure and water that’s technically warm but feels colder than hot. The beds are comfortable, but the pillows are so thin they offer almost no support.

The location was the main plus for me, about a five-minute walk from the main train station. Having the 3rd floor reserved for women also felt safer, and the curtains on each bed gave good privacy. There isn’t much common space: an outdoor smoking spot, reception seating for around 10 people, and a combined laundry and dining area. That room has just one microwave and no heating, so it gets very cold in winter. The female floor has only four toilets and four showers, and one shower was out of order. Water pressure was weak, the water wasn’t hot enough, and there was no heating. I stayed in late December and showering was freezing. Luggage storage is available, but it costs money and is cash only. A large locker is €8 a day. It’s a good choice for a short stay if location is your main priority, but the facilities, especially the heating and bathrooms, need work in winter.