11 rue de Fauconnier, Paris 75004 Métro Pont Marie, St Paul Tel (01) 42 74 23 45 Websitewww.mije.com
BUG Review
This hostel has beautiful presentation. Large carved wooden doors give way to beam ceilings, a grand staircase, and thick wooden furniture, creating a very cosy, old-world feel. The outside of the building is half covered in crawling ivy, and there is a quaint pathway winding behind the building. Dorm beds are comfortable, and the bathrooms are meticulously clean. However, there is no self-service kitchen, and despite the large common room at the entrance, the place is more relaxed than exciting. Location is hard to beat, down a quiet and picturesque side street between the Marais and the Seine.
Price Dorm bed €30.50-31.50 first night, €28-29 subsequent nights Single room €47.50 first night, €45 subsequent nights Double room €65 first night, €60 subsequent nights
Price includes breakfast Prices are in euro and are inclusive of all taxes.
Pros:
Fantastic location, clean, secure
Cons:
Finding it, breakfast always the same
jsf
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I thought this place was lovely. A really beautiful old building. It doesn't feel like a 'backpacker's' at all. Over just the few days I stayed there was a mix of people, backpackers, French students and an older French woman. The place is very nice and clean, proper wooden bunks, and a light for each bed (something I find very valuable for share accomodation!). There are no lifts so you have to climb the winding, wooden stairs quite a way, although the stairs are wide not the narrow winding type. There was a swipe card to get into your room which was always a bit tricky where you had to get the technique just right. We would always hear people outside struggling with it. In my dorm room there were two private showers which was excellent. There were also some bathrooms in the corridors so it's possible some rooms don't have bathrooms. They did move me into a different room for the last night which was differently set out; no bunks and just one bathroom, so I think the rooms will be different depending on what you get. It was a tricky place to find as it's not on the main street so I would say don't just take the instructions they send you, try to work out really well where you need to go (that it was near a supermarket was the most helpful thing for me but unfortunately I don't remember the name at the moment). Breakfast was very nice, however it is served as is to you on a tray, you get to choose between coffee or chocolate and although orange juice is meant to come with it sometimes you would have to ask for it or you wouldn't get it. It felt a little tense to ask for something extra, ie coffee and chocolate for example, but if you smile and be nice it seemed to be fine. There are lots of French students around. The internet is terrible, just a single one of those miserable kiosks where you don't have a proper mouse (just a roller ball) and it costs the earth. Luggage storage area was great, very secure. The staff aren't unpleasant they are just sort of restrained, ie: not casual relaxed 'friendly' backpacker types, but they were fairly nice overall.
5 of
5 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 699)
Very safe and secure, clean, neat rooms, ace location, August 13, 2006
Pros:
The rooms are excellent, like small hotel rooms
Cons:
No communal kitchen
David Goldsmith
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(4)
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I made a group booking for Le Fauconnier (6 rooms, 12 persons), including several single rooms, and everything was handled very professionally with good communications.One of my rellies objected to the 1am curfew and decided not to take a room (although it turned out that the night desk didn't mind adults pre-notifying late return). Another decided the windows (unrestricted opening) were unsafe for the kids and moved out after 3 days.The positives of this hostel are significant, though. Exceptionally clean (beds are even made daily), really quiet location, and rooms which all seem to have their own shower (I stayed in a single, and two different twins). The single room even had its own toilet. Beds are firm and good. Best bed linen I've found in a hostel. We stayed in August, when most hostellers were in small groups or independent.Breakfast (included) was coffee or hot chocolate, a small croissant, and a piece of baguette with butter and jam. The building has lots of historic character, and has converted really neatly into a hostel. Staff were friendly and efficient.The location is just two minutes walk from a really nice section of the river. It's a very quiet safe neighbourhood, with everything from the Notre Dame to the Louvre to the Pompidou Centre within a 10-20 minute walk.
3 of
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(Review ID: 2960)
like a prison, March 23, 2005
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n/a
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n/a
Anonymous
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(2)
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(2)
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(2)
both aesthetically and in the way it was run, this hostel was like a prison... the communal toilets on each floor were disgusting and smelly, the shower in each room had no SOAP, the curtains and blankets were made out of what i think were recycled potato sacks... plus, every day from 11 AM-3 PM we were kicked out of our rooms, and not allowed upstairs for any reason during that time, because "room service" had to clean our rooms - even if we requested that they not be cleaned, or if one was sick (as my friend was) and couldn't get out of bed comfortably. also, there was an enforced "silence" rule after 10 PM and, when my friends and I were not completely silent, we were treated to offensive anti-American sentiments from next-door. there's also a curfew of 1 AM which is enforced sporadically - some kids in my group left after 1 and when they came back later in the morning, were not allowed in, because from 1AM-6AM the doors are not supposed to be open...???? bad experience overall.
0 of
1 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 2961)
Very Nice, November 3, 2004
Reviewer:
canuck71
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n/a
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n/a
Imported Review
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(4)
This was a very nice hostel, i did not sleep all that well here though, ( not the hostels fault) beautiful old building in a nice area of Paris within wlking distance of many metro and RER stations. good security, my only negative on this place was the price although it is paris. The pillows here leave a lot to be desired other than that the staff was helpful and spoke decent english. Notre dame was a 10 min walk which is nice that you don't have to have the metro worries if you don't mind a brisk walk.
4 of
4 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 2962)
Great place & location, June 20, 2004
Reviewer:
AlanO
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n/a
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n/a
Imported Review
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(4)
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(4)
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(4)
I stayed here twice during my backpacking tour, for three nights at the end of May and for two more nights in mid-June before flying home. The hostel is close to two metro stations on two different lines (St. Paul and Pont Marie) so you can get anywhere in the city very easily. Located in a nice part of the Marais, the building is beautiful and not far from some of the major attractions.The bathrooms are very clean and the showers are not the push-button variety, which is nice. Beds are very comfortable and arranged in a way that gives everyone a bit more privacy than the conventional rows of bunk beds found in most hostels. Not much atmosphere, but my roommates were great. There were a few school groups but they were well behaved and not a problem.Beds are expensive, but you're not going to find many cheap places in Paris, and this hostel is worth the money.
5 of
5 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 2963)
More like a cheap hotel than a hostel, March 26, 2004
Reviewer:
Sarah Karlis
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n/a
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n/a
Imported Review
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Maintenance
(4)
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(4)
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(4)
If you are looking for a cheap hotel this is the place. It is perfectly clean and kept up. Each room has its own shower and sink. Bathrooms are down the hall. The bathrooms and showers were cleaned every day during lock out, which was between noon and 3pm.If, however, you are looking for a hostel atmosphere and to meet people; this is not the place. I was traveling alone and the only people I met were other girls who happened to be staying in my room (it was a 4 bed dorm room).There is a common area on the ground floor with large tables and chairs, but no one is down there expect for breakfast. There is also a courtyard, but I travelled there during March and no one was ever outside. Perhaps its more social during the summer, but early spring it was not.The staff was very friendly and helpful. They provide sheets free of charge which are changed daily.Also, there were many school groups there every night. They were all polite, and not a distubance. However, this added to the problem of not being able to meet other people. There didn't seem to be an overwhelming amount of backpackers there, because the groups took up most of the rooms.But as I said earlier: its very clean, staff is friendly, and the location is amazing. So it all depends on what you are looking for in a hostel.
6 of
6 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 2964)
Excellent - Highly Recommended, January 27, 2004
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n/a
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Anonymous
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Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
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(5)
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(5)
Quality of the facility - location, cleanliness, ambience and quaintness of the building, attendant service - excellent. No elevators. Half a block from the Seine, 10-15 minutes walk to Notre Dame, Latin Qrtr across the bridge over the Seine. Located in historic district . Cas station, trains nearby. Would definitely stay here again.I took an AirFrance Bus from CDG to Gare Du Lyon, then took a cab to La Fouconnier (as I had a lot of luggage I couldn't take a train) 2-3 miles drive. The booking is valid from after the curfew hours , 3pm onwards, for the day you arrive so that's a little inconvenient if you are jet lagged. They allow you to keep your luggage in the luggage room, though. The attendant was extremely courteous and allowed me to use a room for a short while to shower and freshen up as I'd arrived at 10 am.The attendents are extremely friendly, helpful and courteous. There are doubles and singles available if you are willing to pay the price and book in advance. For 1-2 people those would be worth staying in as you can get disturbed with roommates coming in or departing late at night. It would be 50-55 Euros per room then, still cheaper than what you would pay for a hotel in the same location.
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(Review ID: 2965)
Hotel standard but hostel price, January 23, 2004
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Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
Positives - located in a lovely ivy covered building about 2 minutes walk from the nearest Metro; rooms are very large with only 6/8 beds; 2 showers attached to the rooms; all facilities very clean; breakfast included (croissant, baguette, juice & optional (recommended) hot chocolate); staff very helpful (all staff at reception speak English); luggage storage available; very close to the river and within walking distance of the major tourist attractions; very quiet neighbourhood.Negatives - it is quite expensive (27 Euros a night); the hostel is used at times by school groups.
5 of
5 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 2966)
Clean and quiet, great location, friendly staff, October 10, 2003
Reviewer:
Minghao Chu
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n/a
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n/a
Imported Review
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Maintenance
(5)
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(5)
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(5)
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(5)
Great location and staff! 5 min walking from St. Paul metro station, a bit longer if you don't take the shortcut (a narrow, smelly alley). Pretty safe and quiet neighborhood at night.I stayed at room 36 - a very spacious room for four with nice view.... the in-room shower/sink was new and clean. The bed was comfortable and some has a reading light next to the bed. The shared restroom was clean and has a blow dryer. Internet access has a hard to use interface... avoid using it if possible.Sometimes the cardkey won't work in the morning, so might want to ask the staff to verify/validate it for you to save you a trip walking up and down the stairs.The curfew is 1 am but you can stay in the dinning hall as long as you want writing postcards or to read.Post office is right across the bridge (pont Marie), where you can exchange money too. This post office is less known so there is hardly a line. (told by Mije staff and it was true) Great service at the post office too. They even told me how to save on the postage for postcards :) (which was to use their prepaid envelopes) The view from the bridge was beautiful in the morning!Lots of restaurants open until midnight around rue de la Verrerie, which is a short walk from Fauconnier (maybe 10 min?).Consider safety and convenience the price is not bad, especially if you travel alone.
7 of
7 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 2967)
a fabulous place to stay, centrally located, September 9, 2003
Reviewer:
Zudachi
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(5)
This was the last hostel I stayed at after over a month of travelling in Europe and it was easily the best hostel I stayed in during my entire trip. It was expensive, but so is EVERY hostel in Paris. If you're going to pay 25 euro a night, you might as well stay somewhere with clean, quaint rooms. The hostel is in a beautiful area of Paris, very close to St. Germain and Notre Dame in a nice neighborhood close to two Metro stations and some delicious little restaurants and lots of falafel stands. The exterior is lovely and the interior is very cozy, with a relaxing feel and exceptionally clean interior. The rooms have sturdy beds and get cleaned daily (including made beds- it was like staying in a hotel). The shower and sink bathroom in my room was very clean, too. Le Faucconier is a superb hostel and I will definitely return if I get back to Paris soon.
