Does anyone know anything about Hotel Darcet (4 Rue Darcet) and Grand Hotel Republique (62 Rue Oberkampf)? I've compared what I've been able to find for reviews, and at this point it basically comes down to location. Any ideas as to which is a better local? Thanks.

Hotel Darcet is right next to Metro Place de Clichy which you would have to take as not much is walkable.The Grand Hotel Republique is a more central and preferable location, IMO.

Are you looking at these two particular hotels because they are part of some package deal?? If not, there are better neighborhoods you might consider if this is a first trip.

I found these hotels independently. I'm basically looking for a cheap double room, as its a friend and I that are traveling, its my first time there. I am arriving early in the morning, staying 2 nights, and leaving early in the morning so its a short trip. Location is key, but so is price. I'm really looking forward to mom & pop shops, street markets, cafes, people watching, etc. but also want to see the touristy bit.

what is your budget and what time of year?

You can find lots of budget hotles in the 5th and the 4th which are better areas.

Look at www.eurocheapo.com www.jack-travel.com as well as doing a search here at Fodor's where budget paris hotels has been discussed extensively.

I'm going to be there mid june, and i don't want to spend more than $150-$170 total for two people two nights.

I'd prefer the Oberkampf location myself for several reasons. It's a popular, trendy area, also, and plenty of cafes and people-watching. There is a good street market on Lenoir, but it's not every day. There are other places you can look for that, though, if you have time (more permanent market streets).

that is a pretty tight budget, if you mean total over both nights -- you mean $75-85 per night for a double room? (which is only about 60-65 euro). It can be done, of course. Do check out the resources mentioned above, Eurocheapo and this list:

http://www.jack-travel.com/Paris/Par...e_hotels_p.htm

Someone on here, indytravel, stayed at the Tiquetonne listed in there and said it was fine for that level hotel. It's a good central location and right near a great street market.

do a search here and at tripadvisor also on the Dhely's hotel
I haven't stayed there, but I read that it has been recommended as a budget place, and I think it would still come out to under $100 per night for a double

The Frugal Traveler column in yesterday's NYT Travel section mentioned The Hotel Wallace for $92 for double, not far from Ecole Militaire. (Assume it's in the 7th?)
She says it's a 3 star (kinda hard to believe for that $$, bur who knows?) with minibar, cable TV, in-room safe, extra pillows, and renovated bathroom. Room was tiny; the "almost-double bed took up most of it."

89 rue Fondary (33-1)45 78 83 30
www.escapade-paris.com

Wallace is a 3* hotel according to the Paris Tourist Office website, which lists the official ratings. It's not $92, though, doubles are 105-125 euro. Singles aren't even that cheap.

This one is a little over the budget... I looked at some others but the comments on Tripadvisor made me cringe.

HOTEL PLESSIS
70€ / $91 per night / Twin room
25 Rue du Grand Prieure, Paris 75011
Metro: Oberkampf
http://www.cybevasion.com/hotels/fra...essis_768.html
http://www.hotel-plessis-paris.feder...page_en_2.html

One review on Tripadvisor: (2005)
"...Stayed at this hotel while in Paris a couple of times and would highly recommend it. In a very nice location just a short walk from the metro. the staff is very friendly and helpful. The rooms are comfortalbe and very clean. they are not spacious but room to walk around in and have a couple of big bags. Would gladly stay at again. Try the mussel place around the corner or the crepe place on the same block...."

We stayed at Hotel Muget last July. Lovely little place a block off Rue Cler. Truly a gem. All rooms are air conditioned and were a nice size for Paris. Price is comparable to Champs du Mar.

Sorry--Hotel Muguet.

Christina, I was just repeating what I'd read; the author chose it for 1 night b/c it was less expensive than the room she'd booked on the top floor of the Hotel Dieu.

I know, I wasn't blaming you.

Thanks for all the help, I've got a good, new, list to look through now.

The Hotel Cosmos, at 35 rue Jean Pierre Timbaud, 01.43.57.25.88, has double rooms at 55 euros per night. Jean Pierre Timbaud runs east-west, one block from the east-west rue Oberkampf. Less trendy than Oberkampf, and it does not extend into the Marais on its western end, as Oberkampf does. The Richard Lenoir market mentioned by Christina is very close by, and the Republic, Oberkampf, Parmentier and Goncourt Metro stations can all be reaced by foot. The Hotel Cosmos is a small, family-run hotel that does quite a bit of business with European tour groups. Nothing fancy but quite good enough. It has been renovated on the last 19 years. Rooms rero-fitted with bathrooms. The elevator runs to the fifth floor and there are rooms on the 6th and last floor. The windows are sound-proofed but a higher room is better if you want or need to crack open a window. You won't find the hotel on the familiar hotel booking sites but it is on at least one French booking site.

A good budget hotel is Résidence les Gobelins. It has double or twin rooms for 63E-76E per night. I've stayed there last September and liked it a lot - good area, nice staff, clean, tastefully decorated rooms.
http://www.hotelgobelins.com/

Hotel Pacific in the 15th is a budget hotel which gets mostly great reviews on tripadvisor.com. It has a double for 64E and the location is good, too.
http://au-pacific-hotel.com/

If you happen to be in Paris on the weekend, you could check out the 3-star Hotel Verlain, it's in the same neighbourhood of the Grand Hotel République, offers 50% reduction on weekends and is recommended by Rough Guides, which I trust.
http://www.verlain.fr/index.html