I had been travelling up through Europe after spending some months in Lesvos, Greece. I had stayed in hostels in Hungary and Germany - Lille was my last stop before home, and it was a genuine relief to have found a decent hostel. The others I had stayed in were so different, even for politeness of staff, a bit shockingly bad in Berlin as well. It was a relief to be served by genuinely welcoming and helpful staff, the room and bed was perfect and the atmosphere of the place made it better than a hotel, somewhere between a hostel and a hotel. Lille is a favourite city of mine, and this will be a place to recommend and stay in next time I am there.