Am I the only one who booked a hostel in Paris and ended up paying more than a hotel?

I was in Paris two months ago and thought I was being smart by booking a 10-bed dorm for 35 euros a night. But they charged me 5 euros for a towel, 3 for locker rental, and breakfast was another 8. I did the math on day three and realized I could have gotten a private room at a budget hotel for barely more. Has anyone else been hit with surprise hostel fees that made it not worth it?

3 comments

3 Comments

blair_webb5d ago

Paris really knows how to nickel and dime you into submission huh. 35 euros a night but suddenly you're paying for the privilege of drying your face and locking up your passport. I had a place near Montmartre that charged me 2 euros just to leave my bag for 3 hours after checkout like they were storing a Faberge egg or something. Next time I'm just sleeping in the park and using the Seine for a shower, way cheaper.

lucasschmidt4d ago

oh man the bag storage thing is such a classic Paris trap. I learned the hard way too, now I just look up train station lockers before I even book anything. Gare de Lyon has some that are like 5 euros for a whole day, way less than what hostels or cafes charge. And honestly I never check in to a place without asking about extra fees first, cause last time I got hit with a "city tax" I didn't know about and a charge for using the safe. Next time I'm just carrying my own locks and hiding my stuff in my pillowcase, feels like a game at this point.

river_allen5d ago

Agree the bag storage thing is a total scam, like charging for air at this point. But honestly Paris knows tourists will pay it so they just keep adding fees. Still beats sleeping by the Seine though, that water smells worse than my hostel mattress.