My cousins are backpacking through Europe and will be arriving in France via Beauvais airport. They can take a shuttle to Porte Maillot station in Paris. They are looking for a decent hostel in Paris that is close to the trains and close to some of the major attractions. Any suggestions?

It's been years since I've done that, but even then, for Paris, we picked some cheap hotels in the sixth that were just fine in terms of price and comfort, all with sinks in the room, but toilets/bath down the hall.

What I would recommend, however, is going to the Let's Go Paris website, click on "accommodations" on the left hand side (NOT the "hotels" above the website, or you'll get into Orbitz), then click on "by neighborhood". Then open up each arrondisement, and you'll come up with some really good hostels.

We used Let's Go extensively during our back pack days. They are generally really up to date and accurate in graphic detail as to cost and what to expect.

This is not a hostel but a 2 star little hotel in a great location-just at the edge of the Marais near the Beaubourg Modern art museum.

It is called the Hotel Du Sejour Beaubourg http://hotelsejourbeaubourg.com/

They have a rate of 65 euros if you stay at least 3 nights and that beats a lot of the hostel prices (if you are splitting a room) in Paris from what I have seen, and I like being able to actually have the added privacy of a hotel. The location is great and the hotel used to be really old but was recently renovated and really looks great now-simple but good.

36, rue Grenier Saint Lazare
75003 PARIS
Tél. 01 48 87 40 36
Email. [email protected]

I could recommend a couple but my info is a little out of date. Some boards specialize in that and they would be the place to look for reviews (eg, www.eurotrip.com and www.hostels.com, I think).

However, these do have excellent locations (a lot of hostels don't, due to wanting cheaper real estate, so they aren't always central):
http://www.youngandhappy.fr/
http://www.mije.com

thank you everyone.. great suggestions and websites...

After you find a couple of places, do a tripadvisor websearch for the latest feedback.

I found it interesting (although not surprising)that this absolute DUMP I stayed in as a solo female traveler in the early '70's in Amsterdam's red light district STILL EXISTS and it's still a DUMP. In fact, when I was in Amsterdam last time, I checked it out -- no longer had the purple psychadelic walls, but still, uh, unique. That place was on the recommendation of a friend, not Let's Go. The places I stayed at from Let's Go (in particular, Vienna and places in Denmark & Norway) were crazy good.

pammy68

My daughter recently stayed at Oooops Hostel in the 14th and loved it. She regularly used www.hostelworld.com and they have been excellent at finding great spots. They're policies are good, too. During the recent volcano problems they refunded, re-scheduled many stays hassle-free. Highly recommend.

Also, my daughter's last time in Paris was last week. She was able to snag an apartment (studio) of 38 sq m., sleeping 2-3 people. Very nice apartment in the 10th, neighborhood feel, about 30 min walk to Marais, Notre Dame, Louvre. She got it for 360 euro for the week. The owner, Paul, was so nice, speaks English well too. Brought her and her friend patisserie and cafe upon arrival. Helped with luggage. Called taxi. Great stay! I used the website www.homelidays.com for many apartments in Europe this past year - all with great results.