When backpacking around Europe in 2006, Paris was one of the last cities I visited so I already knew what to expect from cheap hostels when I arrived at Hostel Richard. Nothing, however prepared me for the experience ahead of me. On arriving at about 10pm my friend and I found the front door to the hostel blocked shut from the inside with a chair. After knocking on the door a man let us in, and in my opinion was rather rude! Throughout our check in he kept trying to look behind us to see the TV (which appeared to be showing some sort of porn!). The Hostel room was the dirtiest and most basic we had experienced whilst travelling and we simply daren't visit the communal shower room! We used our sleeping bags as the sheets were dirty too.
On our last night we were due to leave early in the morning - about 4pm to catch an early train. We were awake and getting ready at about 3am, when our bedroom door was unlocked from the outside, and the man from our check in experience entered our room. Obviously we were quite shocked to find a man entering our room at 3am! He then said 'Sorry I thought you were asleep!' - so does that mean he had intended to find us asleep in our room?! What was he planning to do!? Why was he entering our room without knocking in the middle of the night anyway!? Was it the first time he had done this or had he been entering our room on previous nights when we were asleep!?
- We don't know - but it's not very reassuring for 2 girls in their twenties to find an old french man in their room in the middle of the night! Now this may have been a mistake or a 'one-off' but personally I would not recommend staying in this hostel. It's only redeeming feature was that it was close to a nice bakery (good since they didn't offer any breakfast) and near to the subway station.
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In the heart of the 11th district, nearby 'Place de la République', hostel Richard offers ... more
a warm welcome. The reception is open from 8 am to 1 pm so if you intend to check in before or after these hours, please contact the hotel: they will make sure so...
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Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
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