HI - Blois - Les Grouet Hostel

HI - Blois - Les Grouet Hostel is the best place to stay if you'd like to try out how it feels to live in monastery. It's pretty clean and quiet but atmosphere is very strict. Doors close at 10 p.m. and hostel does not give you keys or code to get in later. Toilet and shower are situated in separate building and it's very confusing in terms of closing doors. There are no cafes or even food shops around, so if you have no food with you, be ready to go to bed without dinner. It's quite far from Blois, but there is a bus link nearby.

The Location

The hostel is situated quite far from Blois center, about five kilometers away. Although it has a bus stop nearby, the buses are not frequent (on weekends there are just two buses in a day -- one in the morning and one in the afternoon). There is a small parking in front of the house for about five cars.

Rooms and Bathrooms

There are two dorms in the hostel, separated by gender. All dorms are on the ground floor. There are about ten two-tier beds in each room. Bed linen is included in the price. Rooms are pretty clean and tidy, but there is no storage place and no personal lockers.

Toilet and bathroom (also gender-segregated) are outside the building. It's quite confusing because doors close at 10 p.m. In the room you'll find a few sinks and a few shower cabins.

Common Spaces

Atmosphere in this hostel is very strict and although there were other guests at the time of our stay, we haven't seen anyone in kitchen or sitting room. Kitchen and sitting room are on the first floor near the caretaker room. Kitchen is very clean and has all facilities you need.

Summary

All in all, if you need to sleep without any noise and communication -- this hostel is your choice! It's a nice hostel if you're looking for place to sleep and have a rest. There's no boozing and no fun in and around it!

— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
October 2008