I've succeed in getting reservations at two hostels - I need to choose one so I can liberate the reservation at the other. I'd appreciate some advice from those of you familiar with Paris. One hostel is the MJIE Fauconnier in the Marais (between Pont Marie and the St Paul metro). There have been some postings on Trip Advisor about bed bugs at one of the other MJIE locations and some very nasty posts about rigid thinking and being a bit run down.But Rick recommends it. The other is the Beautiful City Hostel out next to Belleville park and the Belleville metro. It seems to be quite new without very many reviews. The MJIE is about E10 cheaper per night. I'll be in Paris for 5 nights so that does add up. I'd appreciate any comments you can share.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
I know nothing about the hostels you mentioned. But the Marais is very central; you will be able to walk to many sights, and take short Metro rides to others. Belleville is near the edge of Paris, so you will be taking the Metro everywhere, and it will not be nearly as convenient if you want to return to your hotel in the middle of the day. Particularly for a first visit, the Marais is a far better location.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32201 posts
mruby,
I don't know anything about the Hostels you mentioned, but you could also look at HI Hostels in Paris. I've found that HI properties are generally clean and free of bedbugs, although any property can be affected by things like that.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Bed bugs can be anywhere.. really.. one star or five star.. tourists bring them with them!
I heard of a restaurant in Hawaii that had them.. in the upolstered seats!
I would choose the MIJE because of great location and I talked to a young Australian girl staying there and she loved it.
A young co worker stayed at the St Christophers by Canal Martin and she loved it too.. said ti was very clean etc.
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6498 posts
As others have noted, the Marais location is a lot more convenient than Beilleville for most of the places you're likely to want to see.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
I've stayed at one of the MIJE hostels and liked it very much. The location was excellent.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32732 posts
I don't know anything about the 2 hostels you mention, and I've never experienced bedbugs in Paris - or anywhere else for that matter - but I have stayed very happily at the Holiday Inn Express on the Canal St Martin and that hotel shared the building with the St Christopher hostel mentioned just above. From the outside, and the people coming and going, it looked pretty good. Very convenient to 3 Métro stations and the very frequent number 54 bus.