Luther_Brenda

I am trying to plan a surprise first visit vacation to Paris for my wife and me. I have been researching hotels in Paris for June 5 2008 to June 11 2008. I find the price range vast to say the least. My question would be. Are the hotel rooms I have found for 50 Euro per night good enough to stay in? Or do I need to pay closer to 100 Euros? I have such a limited budget to work with but I want this visit to be unforgetable too. I think I have about 1000 Euros ($1,575.00) for 6 nights that need to include... food,hotels,drinks,sights and transportation while in Paris and the area around it if possible. What do you suggest? Thank You.

seafox

Wow - good for you and I am sure your wife will be thrilled. Do dome searching on this board with key words like "inexpensive paris hotels". There are a few good ones out there. I would caution you to keep an eye on location. You are going to want to see the sights and do not want to have a long Metro ride to get anywhere. Although first timers usually do not use apartments, you may be able to locate a studio right in the heart of the city. WWW.rentparis.com has studio #23 available for 75EU/night. It's right in the Marais and looks nice. It would allow you save some money on food as well, Breakfast at the apartment and eat a few (romantic) dinners in the apartment. It's great fun shopping for food in the markets and small grocers. You won't have daily maid service, but you'll feel like a Parisan in your own apartment..... needless to say I gave up on hotels years ago!

tod

The answer is 'yes' - the 50euro a night hotels are perfectly fine and the majority won't be any less in room size or decor BUT, they will be out of the really touristy areas or not near the famous sights like Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower or Blvd.St.Germain.
We are due to be in Paris Middle May and are staying in three different hotels:

THE IBIS at La Defense(Fri,Sat,Sun special offer) 49euros for a double en-suite.
This is where the 'La Grand Arche' is situated and a business discrict hence the drop in hotel rate from about 126euros to 49 over the weekend. It's a 10 minute Metro ride to the Arc de Triomphe and Champs Elysees.

The Torcy's Hotel situated in the 15th Arrondisement for 52euros. For that we get a deluxe room en-suite.

Finally we really splash out for the last 2 nights and move into Hotel Des Grandes Ecoles on Rue Cardinal Lemoine in the 5th Arr., or better known as The Latin Quarter. Double room en-suite 128euros per night.

I don't go for any "shared" facilities like loos down the hall.
Those room rates can be as low as 35euros.

Luther_Brenda

Thank you for your suggestion. I am looking into apartments too but I am finding they require a deposit of like 400 to 600 Euros plus the rent. I don't think I can swing all of that at the same time. I found this hotel.. Hotel St-Pierre
4 rue de l'Ecole-de-Medecine 75006 Paris for 86 Euro per night not including breakfast. I looked on a map and it seems to be in the middle of the tourist area. I sent them an email requesting a reservation . I hope I get it. That will leave me with about 485 Euros for 6 nights in Paris. I have a new credit card I can use but it only has a $400.00 limit (Our first credit card). Hopfully I can save more money by then and I think my parents are going to give us a cash gift? so I don't have to use it. Anyways I am keeping my fingers crossed about this hotel.

Luther_Brenda

Thank you for the Ibis and The Torcy's Hotel tip. I looked into them but they are even more then the Hotel St-Pierre for my dates.

Travelnut

Hotel St Pierre is a very good central location. Your next largest expenditure will be meals, so look for ideas on inexpensive restaurants, how to picnic, etc.

ira

Hi L,

The Hotel Picpus is a business traveler's hotel that has been recommended by another poster.

It is close to Pl Nation, and two metro lines.

www.france-hotel-guide.com/h75012lux.htm

dbls from 49E.

seafox

On the apartment front, check with rentparis, as I recall they don't actually charge your cedit card. They take an imprint at check in and have the slip available should they need it. The slip is returned to you when you leave.

basingstoke2

If you are looking at apartments, Vacationinparis.com has the prices in dollars and does not require a very large deposit up front. I believe it is something like 1/3 to reserve and the balance 60 days in advance. When you reserve, the price in dollars is locked in so the falling dollar will no longer be a concern as far as apartment costs go. Unlike some other places, you can pay by credit card. We did that just for the frequent flier miles.

Luther_Brenda

Thank you everyone for the suggestions. I received an email from the hotel St-Pierre telling me I have a reservation. They changed the price to 92 Euros a night but that's Ok. I had to send my CC # just to hold the room but I pay at the hotel on check out. I now need to research this site for ideas on how to dine on the cheapo. Are there things like discount coupons for food and attractions in Paris? Again, Thank you.

Michel_Paris

LB,
There are not coupons that I have heard of for food. I know that there is a coupon for the Vedettes du Pont Neuf Seine cruise at their web site.

To save money, take the RER train from the airport to your hotel. Ticket includes transfer on to the Metro system.

Walking is probabyl best way to see Paris and the public transit system is widespread and efficient. So skip taxis. I'd buy a carnet of Metro tickets (10 tcikets) It should get one person almost through your whole visit.

I'd doublecheck before taking breakfast at hotel. You may find it cheaper (and more intersting)to go to a local cafe.

I save my big meal for dinner. I eat breakfast at cafe, grab a fresh sandwich/sweet/drink at local shop, and then a sit down dinner. For dinner, restaurants will post their menu outside their door, so you will have a chance to chekc out the pricing. A value way of eating is to choose from their 'menu'. A menu is a "pre-packaged" meal, at a certain price range. So for a certain price, you will have choice of appetizer, entre,dessert. They will often have menus at different prices.

I'd also do a search here. I know this topic comes up often. There are a couple of books, Cheap Eats in Paris by Sandra Gustafson and Adrian Leeds' Cheap Eats in Paris. Adrian says she can eat out at 20 euro or less including wine, per person.

More to come

tod

Luther- Cheap cheap food:-
A fellow Fodorite living in Paris has put forward these fantastic cheap eats:
Metro;Max Dormoy. 2 Rue de la Chapelle - Au Roi du Cafe, meals for less than 10euros.
or
Boulangerie de Mogador, 10 rue Chapelle.

94bis Rue Riquet, Indian restaurant with set meal 7.50euros-18euros.

You like Chinese food?

Rue Torcy is the main restaurant street of the local Chinatown.

La Locomotive, 25 Rue Torcy has huge meals for 8euros.
Across the street, Thai San @ no.44 or Hanouman, no.36 has set menu 10, 12 & 13 euros.

35 Rue de Torcy is Shin Juku with meals @ 9euros or La Maison Thai, 2 rue de l'Evangile ( only 2 tables)where you can eat well for 5 euros!!!

I, me, myself, can't wait to get there as I absolutely adore Eastern food!
Hope you try some too!

Luther_Brenda

Thank you tod. We love all kinds of foods. Your recommendations are splendid.

Belledame

Why limit yourself to the touristy areas? That can be a bit much. Comforting on one hand, but also annoying. Last year I heard a woman shout "I did all my gift shopping for 8 Euros and I'm done!" That dims the Paris experience a bit for me.

The Metro is an experience in itself (I say this as a New Yorker.) Be brave!

Luther_Brenda

I never said we were just staying in the tourist areas. With 6 nights I hope to see as much of Paris as possible. I am looking into getting transportation passes before we go. I don't know why you thought that was my plan?

" Last year I heard a woman shout "I did all my gift shopping for 8 Euros and I'm done!" Dang, she didn't buy very much.

KateIP

I'll be staying at the Hotel Cluny Sorbonne next month. I originally booked a room thru the Venere service, which required no money down. I've just rebooked the room directly with the hotel and saved 15 euro a night (now it's 80 euro a night). However, the hotel itself does require a 25% deposit~but for ethe 60 euro total savings, it's worth it.

For cheap eating check out the Monoprix markets~it's a department store chain with food. Also, 'street' food is a great bargain, such as a panini or crepe. Yum!

StCirq

Luther:

Don't get any type of pass - museum, transportation, or anything else - before you leave. I don't even think you CAN get transportation passes in advance, but in any case, you will pay a hefty fee over what you'd pay buying them once in Paris.

Luther_Brenda

I can buy the Paris Visite pass online then pick it up in Paris. It includes discounts on museums and some other things. There are no extra fees or charges unless i have it mailed to me.

Sammie

bookmark

sheri_lp

Wow you guys have the best information it always blows me away to see how nice Fodorites are to each other! I'm not even planning a return trip to Paris but now you have me thinking!! thanks.