Conveniently located between Blanche and Abbesse metro stations in the 18th arrondissement, Plug-Inn Hostel is the Ritz of hostels.
Plug-Inn’s reception area is a mix of form-meets-function and edgy coolness.
I chose to stay at Plug-Inn Hostel during my last trip to Paris for a variety of reasons: the price was right, it offered free Wi-Fi and computer use in their lobby, a free breakfast, and it was very close to two metro stations. I also admit I was taken by the beautiful photographs on their website. I will return because it was incredibly clean and the staff was super-friendly.
They have a huge, purple banner outside their door, so you can’t miss it. With a 24-hour check-in, arriving there at 11:30 P.M. was not a problem. After paying for my stay I was in bed within minutes.
A typical dorm room in Plug-Inn Hostel.
I stayed in several rooms, mostly in all-female dorms, all of which had their own bathroom. Rooms are nicely, if sparsely, furnished, as space is tight, but remember, you’re IN PARIS and not paying very much, all things considered. Their interior designer knew how to make the most of a small space using color and amenities, such as a spiral staircase. (Note: Their lift, or elevator, is one of the smallest I’ve ever seen. But then I live in the United States where elevators are often twice as big as a walk-in closet.) Plug-Inn offers so much: besides the things I’ve already mentioned, included in your room fee are towels and bedding, self-locking lockers for your personal valuables, and showers for early arrivals (if you arrive before the room is ready). They also have large screen TVs in their private rooms, and a large screen TV in a common area, which is always locked or under the watchful eye of the front desk person. Guests often leave their luggage here instead of taking up space in their dorm room.
Moulin Rouge is a short walk from Plug-Inn Hostel and even closer to Blanche metro and a bus stop.
You’re right in the middle of Montmartre here, the 18th arrondissement, which has a bohemian or village feel to it; you’re close to Moulin Rouge and Sacre-Coeur (in different directions). You’re also close to Montmartre’s hill, with bakeries, vegetable and seafood stands, clothes and trinket shops, and even a small grocery store and dry cleaner nearby. A short walk from the hostel, I discovered Le Basilic, a French restaurant on rue Lepic that was so good I ate there five or six times. I also ate or grabbed take-away numerous times at a near-by Asian restaurant on rue Lepic near the bottom of Montmartre’s hill.
Not all cab drivers know of Plug-Inn Hostel, however. I showed my cab driver the written address and he said he “thought” he knew where it was. It was a 50 euro cab ride to the hostel from Charles de Gaulle Airport. Sure, I could have taken the metro, but I was very tired and had landed late at night. Better to be safe and take a cab.
Plug-Inn’s value and customer service are hard to beat. I highly recommend it.
Plug-Inn Boutique Hostel
7 rue Aristide Bruant
75018 Paris France
+ 33 (0)1 42 58 42 58
http://plug-inn.fr/
Click here for how to get to Plug-Inn Hostel.
Au revoir!
Images of Plug-Inn Hostel from their website. Image of Moulin Rouge by Elsa L. Fridl.