Hostel Name: Hotel Altair
Address: 10 rue de Suisse, Nice, France
I stayed at the Hotel Altair, a hostel in Nice, France. I booked online and paid $29.74 USD for a bed in a 6-bed dorm. I booked it for is proximity to the train station as I was leaving early the next day.
My checkin experience got off to a poor start with a grumpy receptionist. There is a 30 Euro key deposit here, which is the highest deposit I can remember paying. I read about it in the reviews though so I was prepared.
At the reception there was a sign saying that reception opens at 8am. I mentioned that I would be leaving at 6am so how do I get my deposit back. The man poked the sign with his finger to emphasise that reception is open at 8am. “Ok, so how do I get me deposit back?” He was so grumpy with me for asking before finally conceding that I can get my deposit back by returning the key before going to bed, before 11pm. Great, that’s all I needed to know. Surely they get this question every day from someone who is leaving early.
My dorm was small and consisted to two triple bunks. I was in the top bunk which was a hassle to get up and down. The room was tidy and there was an air conditioner, but there was barely enough space to pass someone in the corridor if they were walking through. There were power outlets for each bed.
The room had its own bathroom which was clean and tidy, but again, a very small space and nowhere to hang clothes and towels.
The hostel has a common area with public computers and a bar. There is also a separate kitchen.
The hostel location was ideal, being in a side street near the Notre Dame cathedral and about 5 minutes walk to the main train station. This is the view from the hostel balcony.
The wifi was patchy during my stay. Couldn’t get it in the dorm and only managed to connect by sitting in the hallway.
Overall the experience of the pissy customer service at the checkin left a sour feeling for my stay, and I was glad to be leaving early. Luckily I got a nicer person in the evening when I got my deposit back. Look for other hotels in Nice here.
