Paris · France
JO&JOE Paris - Gentilly
Suspicious-review evidence
≈389 possibly bought · 3273 top-rated reviews scanned
Explain how it works
We compare every 5★ review's word count against the global distribution. Hostels where unusually many top-rated reviews are suspiciously short — way under the typical length — start to look like the staff (or a boost-my-listing service) is padding the score with throwaway praise.
The detector flags reviews that are both top-rated and below a length threshold, then estimates how many of them statistically shouldn't exist. For this hostel we scanned 3273 top-rated reviews and 0% were suspiciously short.
Length z-score: 14.18. A z-score measures how far this hostel's distribution of 5★ review lengths sits from the global average, in standard deviations. 0 = perfectly typical. 1–2 = slightly unusual but within normal noise. 3–5 = strongly anomalous. Anything 10+ means the pattern is so far from the global norm that it's effectively impossible to get there organically.
This is a heuristic, not a verdict — it surfaces hostels worth a second look, not proof of fraud. Read the actual reviews below and judge for yourself.
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Confirmed paidSignal trace
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Reward tied to a review
paying to 5 star reviews, don't trust in any review
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Review-authenticity complaint
don't trust in any review
This place are paying to 5 star reviews, don't trust in any review posted here!
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Reward tied to a review
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Confirmed paidSignal trace
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Reward tied to a review
reviews, they give you a free shot
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Review-authenticity complaint
don’t trust all reviews
Would leave a lower review if possible Ac, lights and blinds did not work when we checked into our room. Place is stuffy and dirty. Staff is okay at best. Also don’t trust all reviews, they give you a free shot if you provide a five star review. No place has to do this unless they are a garbage place.
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Reward tied to a review
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Confirmed paidSignal trace
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Reward tied to a review
5 star review in exchange for a free drink
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Pressure to leave a review
asked me to give the hotel a 5 star review
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Review-authenticity complaint
reviews are fake
The reviews are fake! The bartender literally asked me to give the hotel a 5 star review in exchange for a free drink. It’s the middle of August and the AC didn’t work in my room and their solution was a fan. There were stains on the sheets and I found a bug on my pillow. I found other accommodations because I didn’t feel safe, the neighborhood is grimy and shady. The hallways are dark. The front desk sells $1 condoms - seems more like a sex motel to me.
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Reward tied to a review
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Confirmed paidSignal trace
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Reward tied to a review
5 star review for a free shot
Left a 5 star review for a free shot. Everything else is tbd
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Reward tied to a review
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Confirmed paidSignal trace
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Reward tied to a review
refund, which is incredibly frustrating
Unfortunately I got over charged, was not offered an apology and still have not received a refund. There was a mix up with my friend who was staying in the same room but checked out a day before. They told me I was also meant to be checking out, even though I said "are you sure it's not my friend's room?" Because I then thought I needed another room and was very stressed about not having a room and checking out early, I paid an additional 56 euros for a new room. It was only when I double checked with another receptionist that they realised their mistake, but then could not refund me "because their manager wasn't there on the weekend". I was told I'd be refunded Monday 23rd, once I'd left Paris. I have emailed them twice and not received a response or refund, which is incredibly frustrating. All of this is such a shame because it was my birthday trip. Otherwise it's a good hostel, although there is a vinyl cover on all the mattresses which makes sleeping quite sweaty.
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Reward tied to a review
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Suspiciously shortSignal trace
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Pressure to leave a review
asked by an unknown number on Telegram to give a 5-star review
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Review-authenticity complaint
fake reviews
I was asked by an unknown number on Telegram to give a 5-star review of this hotel, although I have never visited this hotel. As these fake reviews are very bad practice, I leave a 1-star review.
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Pressure to leave a review
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Suspiciously shortSignal trace
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Pressure to leave a review
asked to review
Nothing was good at all I have been stolen in hotel, and when i asked for help from the staff, the reception guy was very silly, i asked to review cameras, first he said, it is ot working, then with some pressure, eh said, he can not review it, you have to check it with police, Ok lets call them, he said no, you have to go, they will not show up, and they are far away, and usually it takes days to check. in other means, he was trying to tell me, do nothing and go drink from the sea water. hostel is not safe. far location, i was just surprised that Gentilly is a different zone from Paris, just knew when arrived, this made allot of troubles going to and from Paris, you have to purchase for special tickets at metro, as my card didn't work outside Paris zone, you have to transfer 2 or 3 metros to get to Paris. I had cabin room, it was very very narrow, almost you have to turn your body around in room, not to even walk. room door was squeaking and very noisy, i felt shy when opening or closing as i am causing noise to others. when i arrived, the bed was not ready, they just put the bed cover and you do it to get your bed ready. The reception staff are very silly, when i arrived, they did not check me in for just one hour early, although they let others do. and no luggage storage service unless paid. When i asked the reception about the laundry service, he replied it is in the 7th floor only, when i went up, i was surprised, it is only working with coins that you only get from reception, so why did not this smart guy tell me then, so i had to go down again, to get the coins . sometimes, the staff talk in low voice in French during conversation, so this gives you a feeling that they insult you in French. terrible hotel experience , i do not recommend at all.
Kuwait -
Pressure to leave a review
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Suspiciously short
Gros
France -
Suspiciously short
Incroyable
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Suspiciously short
Tutto
Italy -
Suspiciously short
Good
Germany -
Suspiciously short
公共区域十分干净
China -
Suspiciously short
Todo
Chile -
Suspiciously short
No
China -
Suspiciously short
Frumos
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Suspiciously short
Daje
Italy -
Suspiciously short
Parfait
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Suspiciously short
Super
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Suspiciously short
Fantastique
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Suspiciously short
Bien
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Suspiciously short
這邊環境很舒服，想特別感謝櫃檯人員每一位都很友善，盡力幫我解決問題，謝謝你們，讓我有愉快的假期，推薦！
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Suspiciously short
Bonnnn
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Suspiciously short
Bien
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Suspiciously short
Non
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Suspiciously short
Excellent
HostelPunk native reviews
First-party field notes
No first-party HostelPunk reviews yet. Be the first signal.
Vibe Analysis
JO&JOE Paris - Gentilly is a budget pick by Gentilly RER B, with quick links toward central Paris and the airport when the line is behaving. The downstairs setup is the strongest part: a modern lobby, round bar, restaurant, courtyard/garden space, and sometimes a social, party-leaning mood. The private cabins are the most distinctive feature. They give visual privacy inside shared rooms, but they are closer to small wooden pods than full private rooms, with weak sound isolation, hard vinyl-style mattresses, loud doors, limited storage, and ventilation that can get rough fast. This is not a clean little sleep lab. Rooms, bathrooms, showers, and the shared kitchen can be dirty or under-maintained, and there are repeated bed bug problems across recent months. AC and ventilation are a major risk in warm weather, with cabins and upper bunks especially prone to turning into sweat boxes. Best use case: a short, cheap Paris crash pad near transit, with a bar downstairs and low expectations upstairs. For solid sleep, reliable hygiene, or real privacy, the risk profile is spiky.
Signals to check
- AC and ventilation may be weak or broken, especially in cabins and upper bunks during warm weather.
- Bed bugs have been a recurring problem; check the bed before settling in.
- Bathrooms, showers, rooms, and the shared kitchen can be dirty or under-maintained.
- Cabins are noisy, hot, small, and not fully private.
- Some basics may cost extra, including towels, lockers, or luggage storage.
- Staff helpfulness varies, and check-in or room assignment can be messy.