Vintage Paris Gare du Nord

The Vintage Hostel is housed in a cream-colored building with wrought-iron Juliette balconies. Inside, the vibe is unmistakably young and hip, with a front desk made up of reflective red squares and chalkboard walls sporting colorful graffiti with information on local attractions and museum hours. The lobby lounge and breakfast room has a more subdued style, with wooden tables, dark floors, and tan walls, though some tables and chairs are orange and yellow. Hallways have a funky vibe with slanted walls, purple or blue wallpaper with geometric patterns, and neon-blue floor lighting. The hostel creates an atmosphere for young, solo budget travelers or groups of backpackers to meet and mingle with other guests with hosted activities during the week. Though most guests appreciate the social and boisterous atmosphere, some complain that music in the lobby can be loud and bothersome. 

The Vintage Hostel is located on Paris's Right Bank, between the 9th and 10th Arrondissements. While considered generally safe, the area can feel sketchy to some, especially at night. Still, it’s well-located for travelers to walk to some attractions or use the metro. It’s an eight-minute walk to the Gare du Nord, from where the Eurostar departs and arrives, or a three-minute walk to the Avers metro station. A walk to the Louvre takes over half an hour, or it's 22 minute via the metro. There’s a variety of restaurants on surrounding streets, and Moulin Rouge, the famous dinner theater, is a 10-minute walk away. Montmartre takes 11 minutes on foot to reach. Charles de Gaulle Airport is a minimum half hour drive away, but it's much cheaper and easier to catch the RER B from the Gare du Nord, which goes directly to the airport. 

Rooms either come in dorm-style configurations with bunk beds for three to 10 people and shared bathrooms or private rooms for up to two, each with a private bathroom. There are female-only dorm-style rooms, but most are mixed. Styles differ among rooms, but all sport funky, bold colors. Bunk-bed rooms have yellow plaid bedding, wooden floors, and brightly colored walls, while individual rooms have brown bedding and cream or purple walls. Don’t expect a lot of space in either type of room, nor many electrical outlets. There are lockable bins beneath the bunk beds for storage, though travelers must provide their own locks. All rooms are air-conditioned, and private rooms have flat-screen TVs. Some dorm-style rooms have balconies, each with two chairs and a table.  Bathrooms are small and differ in style as some are newer than others. Rust stains are visible in many of the showers. Housekeeping is free, however, towels costs a fee.

For a budget property, The Vintage Hostel has a fair amount of extras. The property has a small fitness center with three cardio machines and a weight lifting machine. There’s a free breakfast each morning, though items are limited and it runs out quickly. The kitchen can be used by guests throughout the day. A small lobby bar serves local brews, and the foosball table, flat-screen TV, board games, and public computers in the lobby encourage camaraderie. There’s a laundry room with a single washer and dryer, but it's expensive. The hostel has a luggage storing room, a safe behind the front desk for small items, plus lockers for rent. There’s free Wi-Fi throughout the property, but using the Internet on the public computers costs a fee.