We have read a lot of good reviews on this hostel. Have any of you stayed at this hostel? Anything you would like to share?
Someone has mentioned that you MUST CALL in the morning to re-confirm the booking otherwise your room would be canceled. Is this true? Or they accept emails as well??
My wife and I and our adult daughter stayed at Fourcy in 2005. We were well pleased. Both the Rick Steves and the Lonely Planet Paris guidebooks call the three MIJE hostels the best budget accommodations in Paris and both describe Maubuisson as the best of the three.
I don't know if they allow re-confirming by e-mail and we skipped re-confirming by phone. We arrived in Paris on an overnight train and went straight to Fourcy, dropped off our bags, and returned in the afternoon when we were allowed to check in. If I remember correctly, we would have had to re-confirm if we hadn't shown up in the morning.
Sonia: Search on MIJE in search box, upper right, and you'll get links to many discussions of the MIJE hostel(s) on this board.
Thanks Kent!
I have gone through all the posts, most people have commented on the location of the hostel and the "feel" of the hostel. However very little people have shared their "check-in" experience.
Our main concern is that we may get there later than expected and won't have the opportunity to contact MIJE as we will be on the train in the morning. If there is a "chance" that MIJE will give our room to other people, I probably will try to book an earlier train from London and get there before noon to secure the room. Or catch a later train, and give ourselves enough time to contact MIJE from London.
I thought MIJE looked great too, but when I read their website, they called themselves "three hotels for young people." I'm 27, but traveling with my mother who is 49 - so we decided to look elsewhere becuase I couldn't figure out if there was an age cap on this place...and wanted to play it safe. Does anyone know?
Jodi, There is no age cap at the MIJE hostels. One of the reasons they advertise themselves as "hotels for young people" is that a lot of school groups stay there, but they are open to anyone. My wife and I were 61 when we stayed there in 2005 and we certainly weren't the only ones who didn't fit the "young people" category.
Who mentioned this to you? If should is official policy, it would be on their website - plain and simple. If MIJE treated its potential guests with such contempt, I doubt they would be held in high esteem. A reservation is a reservation. They can only give your room away if you don't come. Of course, it wouldn't hurt to confirm the booking - but it isn't required.
If you reserve a room, you will be fine. If they give away your room, stay at another hostel, then give them a negative review when you return home.
