Generator Hostel Paris review: A room with a private terrace for €100
There are so many things to love about Paris. Near the top of my list? The many affordable hotels in the center of the city.
During a trip in 2014, I booked a room at Hotel Tiquetonne, a cheap and charming treasure in the 2nd arrondissement that I absolutely adore. However, for my most recent visit in October, I decided to change it up and go for a room in one of the newest budget hostels in town — Generator Hostel Paris.
This stylish and cheap option close to the hip neighborhood of Canal Saint-Martin opened in 2015 with over 900 beds in both shared and private rooms. My interest was peaked the moment I read you can stay in a room with a private terrace. Usually, hotel perks like that cost a pretty penny in Paris, way beyond my budget.
But right after I booked my plane tickets to Europe on Norwegian Air, I started checking on prices for Generator Hostel. I quickly found a Premium Terrace Twin room for only €100.
Related: How to find a cheap hotel in Paris
Here’s how I did it: Generator only has a handful of terrace rooms, so plan ahead if you want to reserve one. I booked my room four months before my trip, that’s a lot earlier than I would normally book my accommodations. It was also during shoulder season in October when the summer sun doesn’t always shine as bright.
Tip: If you pay in advance for your room, you can save €10-15 per night. Check rates for rooms at Generator Paris.
Need a nap after you flight? Kick back in your own hammock! Photo: Craig Nelson
Generator Hostel Paris review
So what was it like to stay there? Here’s our quick take:
The hotel
Check-in was quick and friendly, but don’t expect a bellhop to help you with your luggage. The front desk staff did offer maps and told us about walking and bike tours you can book through the hotel. They also have a 24-hour doorman to welcome you at all hours.
Other than that, you’re own your own, unlike a typical hotel. There’s no reception to call if you need anything. For example, after getting wet during a rainy afternoon of sightseeing, we needed a few more towels to dry off in our room. But after I found out it was €5 to rent an extra one, I passed.
The guests were a more surprising mix then I expected. Yes, most were young travelers taking advantage of the cheap hostel beds, but there were also several guests in their 40’s and 50’s and a number of business travelers.
Related: The best 15 cheap hotels in Paris
The room
The Premium Terrace Twin room was simple and modern with Ikea-style furniture. We had to push the two twin beds together to make a double bed, and there’s no television or phone, so don’t expect to watch French news or call down to the front desk for a wake-up call.
The enormous bank of windows kept the room bright and airy. That came in handy, because even with the cloudy weather, the room was filled with natural light. The biggest surprise was the sleek bathroom that had a deep soaking tub and a stand-alone glass shower.
The private terrace
The main attraction lived up to the hype. Facing north overlooking Place Colonel Fabien, the terrace presented lovely views of the skyline with a mix of historic and modern buildings on the horizon. Plus, the outdoor terrace was much bigger than I expected.
The wide space included a cafe table with four chairs, three comfy deck chair for relaxing, and a full-size hammock. You could easily host an impromptu cocktail party out there! The terrace was a lovely place to sit with a cup of coffee or glass of wine and flip through my Paris guidebook to plan out the adventures for the day.
The terrace room comes with twin beds that you can push together. Photo: Craig Nelson
Amenities
Generator Hostel Paris has a casual restaurant called Cafe Fabien and a bar called Le Club with DJs every night. You can prepay for the breakfast buffet, but in Paris, I almost always opt for hitting a neighborhood cafe for a coffee and croissant.
They have a large common space with free Wi-Fi and plenty of couches to hang out on. But there was no need to sit there if you have a huge terrace to enjoy!
If you want to store your bags, they have lockers you can rent. It cost €3 for six hours for the largest size which easily fit two big pieces of luggage.
And even if you don’t score a room with a terrace, they have a lovely rooftop deck, called Le Rooftop of course, with views of Sacré-Cœur that’s open to all guests when the weather is cooperating.
So would I book a private terrace room again?
Absolutely. Although, I missed the extra perks you get with a normal hotel, stepping out onto the terrace in the morning and soaking in the view was worth every euro. In this case, splurging a bit above my normal budget paid off to enjoy an experience that usually costs a lot more.
A cloudy Paris is still beautiful from a terrace room at Generator Hostel. Photo: Craig Nelson
To reserve
To check rates for your dates at the Generator Hostel, click here. Or read all reviews of our favorite budget hotels in Paris.
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