If you tell someone you’re going to France they’ll instantly light up. Suddenly you will be bombarded with questions about where you’ll be staying and what you’ll be seeing. “Oh, you’ll fall in love!” they’ll exclaim as their eyes glaze over imagining all the picnics to be had under the Eiffel Tower. As soon as you mention you’rehostels going to be staying at a hostel, the best you’ll likely hear (at least this was my experience) is warnings about staying safe and tips on not getting communicable diseases from dirty linens.

 

Sure hostels have had a bad reputation in the past as being dodgy lodgings, but nowadays that isn’t always the case. Whether you’re looking to stay in the City of Lights or off the beaten track, you’ll be able to find clean lodgings and friendly service at a hostel price point. Don’’t believe me? Check out these lodgings from around France.

 

Paris

  • Le Village Hostel: Located in the heart of the historic Montmartre district, Le Village Hostel boasts a close proximity to some of Paris’ top attractions, including the Sacre Coeur and the Moulin Rouge. It’s received many favorable reviews online for its cleanliness, helpful staff members, and rustic décor.
    • Services and Amenities include: Free breakfast, internet connection, cafes and reading areas, luggage storage, souvenir shop, and kitchen.

 

  • St. Christopher’s Paris Hostel: If you’re looking for a more authentic experience in Paris, it’d be better to stay somewhere off the beaten track. Often praised for its cleanliness and atmosphere, St. Christopher’s is located on the Bassin de la Villette, an artificial lake in the northeastern part of Paris that was constructed at the start of the 19th century.
    •  Services and Amenities include: Free breakfast, free Wi-Fi, full bar and restaurant, bike rental service, tour booking services, and pub crawls

 

Nice

  • Villa Saint Exupery: Converted from a Carmelite monastery, the Villa Saint Exupery has held on to its old world charm with stone flooring and a chapel-turned-communal-area with its original stained glass windows intact.
    • Services and Amenities include: café, gym, free Wi-Fi, and laundry services

 

Marseille

  • Hello Marseille Hostel: Centrally located in the “Vieux Port” area of Marseille, this newcomer to the hostel scene is a renovated 19th century Haussmanian building, complete with a high molded roof. It has been favorably rated for its staff, cleanliness, and value, among other things. Luckily this place has bicycles for hire because the beach is just a 2 minute ride away.
    •  Services and Amenities include: bicycle rental service, kitchen, free breakfast, and free Wi-Fi.

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Lyon

  • Hotel Victoria Lyon Perrache Confluence: it’s no wonder this hotel has such incredibly high online ratings for its staff and atmosphere, it’s family owned. Located in the heart Lyon, this hotel offers two star rooms for the weary and budget conscious traveler.
    • Services and Amenities include: Free internet access, luggage storage, parking, and housekeeping.

 

why spend all your travel money on lodging when there are so many souvenirs just waiting for you to save them from their from their lonely existence and deliver them your grateful friends and family? Or better yet, use all the money you’ll be saving on extending your stay, or taking language lessons.

 

Have you stayed at a hostel before? If so, what was your experience like?