Camping Hostel Auberge Bagatelle

Bagatelle is a hostel, campground, and a hotel. It includes a restaurant, cafeteria, and an expensive supermarket. The hostel itself is located in a building to the right after entering the Bagatelle ground. The reception for the hostel is in the cafeteria which is straight ahead when you enter Bagatelle. The location is great -- situated on the Ile de Piot, just across the big bridge, it is away from traffic and noise.

The rooms are basic and do not expect them to be too clean. Dorms come with four to eight beds and private and double rooms are also available. Some of the dorms have a balcony with a nice view across the Rhone River towards the old part of Avignon. You will have to pay for sheets and a pillowcase. Don't place your backpack under the beds -- last time the space there saw cleaning was during the French Revolution. Big minus -- there are no lockers and you can't lock the doors of the rooms. The reception will keep your passport.

Bathrooms are on each floor and cleaned twice a day, but you will have a hard time having a nice, hot shower. Real hot water you'll only get in the bathrooms of the campground.

Breakfast is included in the price and consists of a hot drink, a cup of orange juice, a croissant and a bread roll, some jam and butter. The supermarket covers the basic needs for a high price, so do the shopping in town. The cafeteria offers small menus, pizza, pasta, and drinks and it is nice to sit on the terrace and have a glass of wine while meeting other travelers.

Wi-fi is offered for a charge. Time counts from the start, even if you log off. Internet doesn't work most of the time. Check in starts at 11 a.m. Reception/cafeteria is closed 2 to 5 p.m., as is the hostel, so you cannot get into the dorms at all.

Staff are friendly, but after being open so many years, they should have placed a proper reception sign at the entrance -- many backpacks walk around the campground looking for the check-in while the staff watches. Overall, it is a place to stay, and the owners know that people come to stay cheap, so why change?

-- Exclusive Hostelz.com Review