St Christopher's Inns The Canal Hostel

I had a really nice stay at this hostel. It’s close to the canal, which is a great location, and the staff were friendly and helpful. My flight was cancelled because of the war situation, so I was glad the hostel price was very good. It also had all the facilities we needed.

The staff were the best part of my stay. Both women I dealt with at the front desk were kind, check-in was easy, and they let my friend leave her luggage there even though she wasn’t staying because she had a flight later that day. The rooms were basic bunk rooms with roomy storage underneath, and the bathrooms were clean. Cleaners did a thorough job on the whole floor every day. But I didn’t feel safe there. The handle on my room door had come off and was hanging loose, leaving the lock sticking out and the door propped open so anyone could get in. I told the front desk, and someone came to fix it straight away. Still, the front door key card scanner didn’t work, and neither did the one for the elevator. There was a guard at the entrance, though I couldn’t tell if that was usual or because the scanners were broken. I gave up my last night and found a hotel instead. If security isn’t a big concern for you, you might be fine here, but I’d suggest looking elsewhere if you want somewhere more secure. My stars are only for the staff, who would have earned five if I were rating just those interactions.

The good parts were the clean rooms, bathrooms, and toilets, the friendly staff, and a great bar and food downstairs. The bar closes food early, though, and there’s nowhere comfortable to eat what you bring. There are just two tables, usually occupied, and the bar won’t let you eat at its tables even when its kitchen is closed and you’re ordering drinks. Eating in the room isn’t very comfortable either. They should add tables instead of darts. The Wi-Fi was the worst I’ve ever dealt with. Around ten times a day I had to reconnect through a pop-up, confirm my email and date of birth, then forget the network and reload the PC. It was the same on PC and iPhone. That’s why I wouldn’t return.

The bar by the canal gets lively at night, and there are games to play. I also enjoyed the view over St. Martin Canal with breakfast or coffee. The hostel is in the 19th Arrondissement, near Crimee Station, and the staff were consistently friendly and helpful. Breakfast is the best value if you buy the ticket ahead of time. I felt safe during my time in Paris, and the dorm price seemed typical. Booking directly on their website is about 20% cheaper. I was happy with my stay and would visit again. The showers could use more cleaning. The toilet overflowed and left water everywhere, but it had been cleaned by morning, and I was glad the washroom hadn’t been closed.