We're going to Paris!! Now I need to find a budget hotel.
 

Thanks for all the help so far fodorites, my sister and I have decided to go to Paris and I bought the plane tickets today. A bit expensive ($670 LAX-CDG for me and $700 for her from a remote airport in N. Michigan) but we actually managed to get on the same plane from DTW-CDG, which I figure is worth it since I'll be flying for so many hours and she could have customs hassles alone since she is a minor. But enough about my plane drama, now I'm on to the hotels. We are looking for an affordable hotel ($100 or less), hopefully with a little charm and definitely with a private bath. A/C probably won't be an issue since it will be April and I've done without it in Florida before (although that really wasn't pleasant!). We are willing to consider(and might actually prefer) a hotel outside the traditional tourist areas as long as the area still has a bit of charm (i.e. some greenery, cafes, etc.), public transit is accessible and it is safe. I'm thinking we could save money on both the hotel and local cafes by doing this?

I know there are a lot of "need Paris hotel" posts out there already and I am digging through them, but any suggestions that fit our particular criteria would be much appreciated!

I suggest you'll have a much better trip if you stay right in the center of things. It IS possible at your budget level. A good source is:
www-eurocheapo.com

One often recommended place that should meet your requirements is in the 4th:
Grand Hotel Jeanne d'Arc
3, rue de Jarente

~Liz

I used Priceline and got a 4 star hotel (The Novotel) just a few blocks from the Eiffel tower for 100 US per night earlier this year. It was a very nice hotel and the best price available at check in was 250Euro a night. This was a discoounted rate that the hotel was offering for last minute rooms booked directly.

Also, check out www.parisby.com. A lot of independents post there.
Alex

Check out the Hotel Louvre Richelieu <90€, with a great location, about midway between Opera and Louvre.

I was happy using Priceline for a 4* bid for the St. Germain - Latin Quarter - Montparnasse zone, and getting the Le Meridien Montparnasse. But I wouldn't recommend bidding in the Eiffel Tower - Grenelle - Montparnasse zone, although that luckily worked very well for kfusto. The reason is that bidders for that zone often end up with the Sofitel Porte de Sevres which is not even within Paris, but a couple blocks outside the Boulevard Peripherique, and based on reviews the area of that hotel is devoid of any amenities or interest.

I found a cheap rate last year at the Comfort Hotel Bastille, although I didn't stay there - various sites had it ranging from 65 Euros to 78 Euros per night for a twin room including breakfast.

A double room at the Hôtel de France on the Boulevard de la Tour Maubourg near les Invalides in the 7me is 72 € per night. www.hoteldefrance.com

I would encourage you to look into the hotel suggestions in the 4th, 5th, 6th, and maybe 7th arrondisement. You can easily find a nice 2/3-star in your price range. And still be very central in the city. Sure there's metro and busses, but I like to be able to walk to some of the main sites, monuments, museums, parks, etc.

Depending on what time of year you're going, you could stay within your budget at the Hotel du College de France (http://www.hotel-collegedefrance.com/accueil-us.html). A double room with private bath is 78€ (about $100) in low season, and 92€ (about $115) in tourist season.

The hotel is in the Latin Quarter, within walking distance of many tourist attractions, but it's on a quiet side street so you don't get a lot of street noise in the rooms. I felt very safe walking around the neighborhood. I wouldn't say the hotel has tons of charm, but it's definitely a notch above many hotels you'll find in that price range. The staff is friendly, the bathrooms are clean and modern, and there's even an elevator.

Hi AL,

These hotels have been recommended by other posters:

http://www.france-hotel-guide.com/h75005monge.htm

http://www.france-hotel-guide.com/h75005stjacques.htm

http://www.france-hotel-guide.com/h75005henri.htm

http://www.eurocheapo.com/paris/list...jeannedarc.asp

I would agree with Bree about the Hotel du College de France as I am staying there this month but the prices have gone up a bit, I will be paying 82 euros for just a single which I thought was a little high. The location is hard to beat, if that hotel is booked as it does book up quickly or is more than you wish to spend, I can suggest a 2 star just across the street which is larger hotel, might be a little cheaper as it just doesn't have quite the charm of College de France hotel. It's Hotel Le Home Latin,15 et 17 rue du Sommerard phone is 01.43.26.25.21. I stayed there with my daughter and three sisters and we had a wonderful trip. Staying near these hotels puts you within walking distance of Notre Dame, Cluny Museum, lots of night life and good cafes and restaurants and safe surroundings for any late night walking. Try to stay as close to the center of Paris, arrondissments 3,4,5,6,0r 7 as you can afford. Have fun planning your trip. Deborah

I 2nd Liz's suggestion of the Jeanne d'Arc.

www.hoteljeannedarc.com

Hi audreyleigh99,
Last month I stayed at the hotel Residence les Gobelins, and enjoyed it. It's a 2-star, basic, but clean and quiet, it has a metro stop very nearby and the owners and staff are very friendly. It's in the 13th arondissement, right on the edge of the 5th, the area is residential and quite nice (there's a lovely park, the square Rene LeGall, nearby) very safe, and you can walk for about 5 min. to reach the rue Mouffetard market (lots of cafes and restaurants over there). I think the location is great, not touristy yet close to the Latin quarter. I would prefer it anytime over the Marais, for example.
http://www.hotelgobelins.com/
They charge 73/76 E for a double or a twin.

I can recommend you an hotel called the Hotel Regent Montmartre...Ok, it is a little bit in a tourist area but in this are you will find so many things like as bars and restaurants with all the types of prices...And if you want an quarter with charm...do not hesitate..!! Montmartre is one of the paris quarter with the most of charm!!! Each time I go to Paris, I go through this area because there is really something special in Montmartre..I let you the website of this hotel in the case you want to look at: www.hotelregent-montmartre.com! Good trip in Paris with your sister!!

Thank you for all the replies! I have been digging through the long list of hotels I now have and am narrowing it down a bit. I found that quite a few of the suggested hotels are a little above our price range, I think because we are going in tourist season (April) and because rates are going up slightly for 2005. But I did find a couple that look like they might work and have a few more questions.

Hotel les Gobelins - the price is right (76 euros for a twin) and from the few pictures they have it looks cute. Two questions - is it actually cute and clean (there aren't very many pictures, this makes me a bit nervous)? And will it be a hassle to get into the center of Paris from this location (i.e. multiple transfers on metro)?

Hotel Jeanne d'Arc - am I correct that there are two Jeanne d'Arcs? Is everyone suggesting the one on rue de Jarente? Does this one have some charm? Again, there aren't very many pictures and I think I need a magnifying glass to look at the ones there are. Also, is a "double" with one bed really big enough for two people? (they want 80 euros for the "double" and 95 for the "twin")

I am also considering Hotel de la Porte Doree, which is a bit further out of the center. I know, I know, everyone is telling me to stay in the center but this hotel is so beautiful and cheap!

Thanks again for the help.

Audrey

If you want an out-of-center hotel, there are basically two things to consider:

1) Do you like to return to your hotel during the day?

2) How late at night will you be out? The metro stops somewhere around midnight or 1 AM.

I really recommend staying in the center, if possible. You can find nice hotels for E100 or less - several have been recommended here. You will spend less on transportation if you stay near the center where you can get many places by walking, thus absorbing the charm of Paris.

Sorry, I should have specified that Hotel Residence les Gobelins is located at 9, rue des Gobelins, apparenlty near Les Gobelins metro stop.

Everyone is different I guess but I would absolutely hate to have to depend on some form of transportation every time I wanted to go somewhere special (i.e., central parts of the city to see the sites, monuments, museums, shopping, etc.).

Being "walking distance" is my very favorite part of the charm of seeing Paris. No cute hotel could talk me into being tied to using Metro for everything each day. Just my opinion.

April in Paris

Is April high season?

I think there is another thing to consider in addition to the two Willtravel mentions -- the ambience of the area. Are you going to feel like you really had a wonderful Paris trip if the general neighborhood and ambience around your hotel is like Northridge. Maybe not. A lot of the outer areas are not that charming, although I know Audrey specified charm.

YOu might consider the Hotel Porte Doree which is on the very outer edge in the 12th, but I think might have the factors you want. I don't know it, but I've read a couple posts about it from folks who stayed there.

April is high season for hotel rates. My experience with Parisian hotels, with minor hotel-specific exceptions, is that high season for hotel rates is March through June (and into July sometimes 1-2 weeks, varis by hotel) and then September to end of November, and then Xmas/NewYears holidays. Some hotels also have high rates the entire Fall; others have slight reductions part of Nov or early Dec. It is not standard that all hotels have reductions in Jan-Feb, either. I've never seen a reduction in April.