mmyk72

I've done some preliminary browsing for small hotels in Paris and after getting over the sticker shock, the next thing I noticed was that most hotels don't look very nice in pictures. On top of that, most reviews are mixed (for each hotel, a handful of reviews say small but clean followed by a few others saying avoid, bedbugs, dirty, etc.)

Do you guys have an recommendations on B&B, apartments, etc. suitable for 1 person. I don't mind taking the subway for say an extra ~15 min if it means finding a decently clean hotel for US $100 or less.

I plan to visit Paris for 3 nights minimum but can stay longer if I can find a decent place that won't bankrupt me. This will be my 1st time in Paris, so whatever touristy sites there are will be where I'm hitting.

TIA

jamikins

Try www.eurocheapo.com or maybe cosmos hotel where we have stayed a few times...no charm but cheap and clean.

Surfergirl

There really are quite a few places around that, but you do without certain amenities like an elevator or ensuite bathroom. Not always, but sometimes.

A few years ago the NY Times ran an article on places that were under $150/night -- and most listed seemed well below that. So you might want to check out that article:

http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/10/11.../hotparis.html

Rastaguytoday

It all depends on your taste. I use www.venere.com to find hotels. Go to Paris, set your price, and you will find over 250 hotels in that price range. You should have a decent selection in your price range. Decide where you want to stay, and you can filter that as well.

Here are two examples of 3 star hotels with decent reviews that are in your price range. Look for 3 star hotels, though I've stayed in a lot of very nice 2 star hotels.

http://www.venere.com/hotels/paris/h...pre/#-Overview

http://www.venere.com/hotels/paris/h...dia/#-Overview

KayF

We stayed at Hotel de Nice once, it's in a good location, single rooms are 80-130 euro. Not sure what that is in American dollars but it seems very reasonble.

http://www.hoteldenice.com/en/

Kay

mmyk72

Thanks so much for your help on these leads. I'll check out these websites.

nytraveler

KayF -

Sorry the OP is looking for hotels with a room less than 70 euros per night.

I'm sure there are decent places available for that - but it might not have all the desired amenities (private bath, elevator, AC) - or be especially charming versus serviceable.

ekscrunchy

I have not stayed there in years, but the Esmeralda was once my favorite budget hotel in the city and the location is among the best you could imagine...

janisj

OK - maybe a slight reality check might be in order. You are talking about Paris. You could not find a $100 room w/ amenities in NYC or San Francisco or London either. $100 is more what you'd pay in small-town America.

What you will mostly find in the middle of Paris are modern/expensive, historic/expensive, or old-ish more budget friendly properties. The more budget-friendly the less amenities.

On the outskirts of Paris there are some inexpensive 'motel-type' chains. But they are a loooooong way from any sites.

There are MANY good, budget hotels in central Paris -- but you need to have realistic expectations.

basingstoke2

We rented studio #176 "Cozy Right Bank" from vacationinparis.com and it was very nice. Nothing fancy but clean and comfortable, good bath, on the top floor, so it is quiet, in an excellent elevator building well located for transportation and under a five minute walk to Rue Montorguiel, a terrific market street with good restaurants. It is renting now for $109. The washer dryer is a plus and it has air conditioning. The photos on the website are accurate.

Pepper_von_snoot

Hotel College de France on Rue Thenard--90 E a night.

Hotel is in fabulous location right off of Blvd. St. Germain.

I have stayed here.

Pepper aka Thin

mmyk72

basingstoke2 - thanks for your reco on Apt 176. That's exactly the type of place I'm looking for - seems very clean, fairly spacious for 1 person, perks like AC, internet, kitchen and washer. The website says FREE US CALLS - is that true?

I love it! It's $120 for June, but to me seems worth the extra few bucks considering it's so clean! I'll try booking it.

mmyk72

basingstoke2 - BTW, do you remember if the AC works? I'd imagine it'll be really hot in June with the skylights and perhaps being on the top floor by the way the slanted wall looks.

kerouac

The modern Etap Hôtel at Laumière is less than 60€ a night.

PatrickLondon

Etaps are simple, functional and perfectly OK, though somewhat impersonal, if the one I stayed at in Berlin is anything to go by. Laumiêre/Villette is quite a nice location, not central, but with good metro connection. There are places of interest in the area, such as the Parc de la Villette, the Canal St Martin and the 104.

In the same area, some Australians whose blog I read recommend this:
http://www.hotel-lelaumiere.com/index-gb.htm
http://daysontheclaise.blogspot.co.u...-of-paris.html

kappa1

> Sorry the OP is looking for hotels with a room less than 70 euros per night.

Exactly.

Budget hotels in Paris or France often can be, not clean clean, from my experience. Maybe charming though. If "Decently clean" is important,, I would start looking, as suggested above, from ETAP 1* and IBIS 2*, both are brands of ACCOR group. If you can get a good rate at IBIS that's better, with firm, nicer bed and over all better than ETAP. Of course more expensive but I have rarely paid more than €70 at IBIS that are near Gare de Lyon (there are about 5 IBIS there) and Montparnasse areas. Theose are more central than above mentioned Villette area.
http://www.ibishotel.com/fr/home/index.shtml
But the rates can vary a lot how far you book in advance and in which periode. They are chain hotels so somewhat impersonal as PLondon said so it's up to your priority. With IBIS, budget and clean room is usually garanteed (only from my experience with numerous stay at them ). I have stayed at only one ETAP for a few times and that's in Marseille. OK hotel but IBIS is better for cleanliness - good bed.

Jay_G

It's not near the main attractions (the metro is your friend) but Mama Shelter (http://www.mamashelter.com) has rooms that start at €79 a night.

The facilities are better than in many hotels where I've paid double that price and it regularly tops publications' lists of the 'hippest'/'best designed' hotels in the world. It's around the corner from Pere Lachaise cemetery, strolling distance to the Buttes Chaumont and Belleville parks and practically guarantees meeting some interesting people.

It also beats the hell out of Etap, Ibis and company.

kappa1

> (http://www.mamashelter.com) has rooms that start at €79 a night.

€79 for which periode? I took a look with an arbitrary May date. Single from €109 and double from € 139. For the same date, centrally located IBIS are from about €80 so higher than what I suggested but above mentioned ETAP Villette e.g. I see only at €57.00 again at a May date. Of course a different quality but if the price is right.

To OP, when are you travelling? July/August the rates will be lower.

kerouac

The 79€ rate at Mama Shelter was quite common at first, but as the hotel has grown increasingly popular, it is more of a myth now.

basingstoke2

mmyk- The AC is new - wasn't there when we stayed a couple of years ago. It was in early April, so not necessary then. We did not find the slanted wall restrictive because of how the place was laid out. It actually felt pretty roomy compared to a hotel room, particularly one in that price range. The Monoprix downstairs was handy and the best part was going down to the market in morning as it opened to pick up fresh breakfast. Having such a great market nearby will keep down costs and the restuarants in the market are pretty reasonable as well and quite good.

The following is what I wrote about the apartment in my trip report. I do see that I was mistaken in what I wrote above - it has a washer, but no dryer.

An RER transfer and quick metro ride and we easily find our vacioninparis apartment building. It is apartment #176 at 95 Rue Sebastopol just steps (88, I counted them) from the Reumur Sebastopol station. The code works and we are in, happily noting the soon to be visited Monoprix in the same building. Is that convenient or what? The neighborhood looks ok and actually a bit better than I expected. Up to the sixth floor and we guess at which may be the apartment since the number was not in sight. The key fits! thus no embarassing encounter with a neighbor wondering who is fiddling with his door. We enter.

The apartment looks pretty much like the pictures. A small studio about 24'X 12' in size and clean. It has a usable kitchen, small table with 2 mismatched chairs but nice dishes and utensils including a cork screw for our welcoming bottle of wine as advertised. The bathroom is of decent size with a shower THAT HAS A DOOR. My fondest hope realized. The bed is comfortable. There are only 2 sets of towels to last 5 nights. Using the included washing machine for the towels will not be practical because there is no dryer. VacationinParis told us this in advance so we were prepared. Did we bring our own towels? You bet. Were they bulky? No. We had bought a couple of microfleece towels at the auto department at Target. Much cheaper than the ones in the camping stores, light, not bulky, and they dry very quickly. All in all, the apartment is comfortable and a great value at what had become 64 Euro per night due to the declining dollar since VinP is paid in dollars in advance. Did I mention that the apartment also had wi-fi and free local and north american phone service?