Paris Hotels

January 2, 2006 5:22 PM

ParisFilter: My husband-to-be and I are going to Paris for our honeymoon. We've noted the great suggestions for things to see and do in previous MeFi threads [here, here, here and here], but were looking for suggestions for inexpensive hotels. Anyone have any recommendations? Comments about why you recommend that particular hotel would also be appreciated.
posted by nyxie to travel & transportation (17 comments total)

Cliquez ici et ici.
posted by rob511 at 5:49 PM on January 2, 2006

When in Paris in April I stayed at the Hotel Leveque. Then we left Paris, came back, and made reservations with them again. I liked it because

they are in a lovely neighborhood but aren't far from the rest of the city's important sights or transport links

the rooms are very clean, and included no-smoking options. many of them have a great view of the street, which is pedestrian only. They are a little cozy, but in a European way, and wouldn't you want that on a honeymoon?

the staff is very friendly, speaks English, and really know their stuff.

there is a tight stairwell and a tiny elevator: very Paris!
All of this for pretty good rates. If you want western style with pools and California King beds, this isn't it. But if you want lively modern Paris, at a good price, this is it.

(One of my other favorite reasons for staying there are their neighbors. They are about one block from the nearest LeNôtre pastry shop (heavenly!), are directly above a fromagerie, across the street from a fruit market, and a couple blocks away from a great store that sells gourmet foods from all over France, whose name I'm blanking on, but it's on their map at the front desk.)

posted by whatzit at 5:50 PM on January 2, 2006

(Also I don't know how the Canadian dollar is facing the Euro, but you may want to specify what you mean by inexpensive, and what you're willing to sacrfice for cost. The above post is a good value for the heart of the city, though.)
posted by whatzit at 5:54 PM on January 2, 2006

I can't remember the cheapish hotel we stayed at, but we did find some great places to eat from Cheap Eats in Paris, but if you're on your Honeymoon, you might be going big. We had some great three course meals in places the book suggested.
posted by jonah at 6:25 PM on January 2, 2006

I would highly recommend finding an apartment rather than wasting your money on a cheap hotel. Any cheap hotel in Paris is a gamble due to the high staff turnover and general inconsistency that comes with these establishments. If there are "hidden gem" hotels in Paris which offer a consistently good service at a low price then I am yet to find them. I have stayed in a few good cheap hotels, but I would hesistate to recommend them here, mainly due to the mixed reviews they receive on Tripadvisor.com. While I had a good time, it really appears I got lucky, often. And as someone else said, the rooms are tiny. This seems to be a major culture shock to non-Europeans...small can sometimes mean 2ft of floorspace on each side of a double bed.

I have been to Paris several times, and would now never stay anywhere other than an apartment. They offer far greater freedom, and are as affordable as a cheap hotel room, if not cheaper in a lot of cases. You can sound them out by speaking to the owner.

There are hundreds of apartment listings in all areas and of all different prices here. From my own experience these people are particularly good - staying with them will almost guarantee a flawless experience - take a look at the customer comments on each apartment. A little more expensive, but worth it, and incredible value compared to the slightly cheaper russian roulette experience of a hotel.
posted by fire&wings at 6:30 PM on January 2, 2006

We found the Michelet Odéon to be very nice. Walking distance to nice Latin Quarter restaurants and the river... subway everywhere else.

Very nice staff. Quiet. Skip their breakfast and hit a bakery near the river for some pastries... preferably near Notre Dame!
posted by starman at 6:32 PM on January 2, 2006

rob511 : thanks, but that thread you linked about hotels will be two years old by the time we head off to Paris. Since things in the travel industry can change a lot in that amount of time, I was really hoping for more recent recommendations.

Regarding Apartments: While I appreciate they may be cheaper, we really do want a hotel.

We aren't sure what's a 'reasonable cost' for a hotel that is at least near a Metro station. However, if it helps, all we need is a place with a double (or larger) bed to sleep at night, with a non-shared shower and toilet. If the room is very small, that's completely fine, we don't plan to spend much time there.

To be more clear: I really am looking for recommendations from people who have stayed at hotels in Paris. I have spent time looking on Tripadvisor and various hotel booking websites, but personal testimonial is always nice.
posted by nyxie at 7:00 PM on January 2, 2006

Nyxie,

I highly, highly recommend the Central Paris in Montparnasse. Last time I was in Paris, I booked a room there through Venere, and based on the extremely low price had muted expectations. I was completely wrong: the hotel is excellent. My room was clean and non-smoking, well furnished, and boasted nearly new appliances and (by French standards) a spacious bathroom. While the Central can't compete with bigger ones or chains on some amenities, everything you get is very high quality.

The hotel is in is great location if you know your way around the city a bit. It's about a two minute walk from the Air France buses from CDG, and about five minutes from Montparnasse, one of the biggest Métro stations in Paris. While slightly off the beaten path for tourist stuff, it's about 15 minutes to the Latin Quarter. In walking distance of the hotel is one of the best supermarkets in Paris, a twice-weekly farmer's market, great restaurants, pharmacies, and an excellent bakery.

The hotel staff speaks English and was generally quite friendly. They don't have Wifi or high speed Internet, but there's an Internet café about two blocks away.

More information on the hotel on Trip Advisor. I used to live two blocks away, so if you do stay in the area, let me know and I'll be happy to provide you with restaurants and practical information.

One sad caveat: I've heard second-hand that, because the hotel was featured about a year in U.S. News, rates have increased slightly.
posted by jed at 7:21 PM on January 2, 2006

I can't remember the specific names of the Hotels I've stayed in, but, I've had good luck finding clean, cheap hotels in the Le Marais area of Paris. It's a fun neighborhood with great eateries too.
posted by trbrts at 7:34 PM on January 2, 2006

Just realized that I posted the French link to the Central site. See also the English version.
posted by jed at 7:45 PM on January 2, 2006

I don't have a recommendation, but I do have a (negative) suggestion--stay out of La Defense (and ergo, the Paris Hilton (hur hur hur)) if you want to get the real "Parisian experience." The hotel was what you'd expect from a Hilton, but the area was awful.

La Defense is the skyscraper ghetto. I stayed there for three weeks in July 2003 and there was *nothing* there; you have to take the Metro in to Paris proper, so it was really hard to just have a whim to go wander off and get someplace. Also, La Defense is primarily a business area, so it was astoundingly dead on weekends. I don't know how it compares pricewise to anything else, but I would not recommend getting a room in any of the hotels there.
posted by fuzzbean at 8:33 PM on January 2, 2006

The Marais is a splendid area to stay in - highly recommended. Try by the Opera too (new).
posted by A189Nut at 9:04 PM on January 2, 2006

+ the Central Paris recommendation. Stayed there last January and was very pleased. Charming, pretty (though not fussy), large rooms by Parisian standards, efficient and friendly staff. Plenty of neighborhood places to eat and drink and plenty of crepe stands for late-night munchies. Two Metro stations very close by.
posted by desuetude at 9:12 PM on January 2, 2006

I've stayed at Hotel Chopin many times (the last time was in the fall of 2004) and have always been very pleased. I hope the charming woman at the front desk is still there. Being in a passage (covered arcade), it's very quiet since there is no street traffic. I've found the rooms quite comfortable - and some have nice views over the rooftops. (Others that don't are cheaper.)

It's pictured here: http://www.photo.net/philg/digiphotos/200101-d30-paris/hotel-chopin.half.jpg
posted by jeri at 10:11 PM on January 2, 2006

Whenever I'm in Paris I like to stay in a small town about 20 minutes (by Tram) outside of the City; Suresnes LongChamps.

It's pretty cheap and laid back compared to Paris proper (I usually head over there when I'm shot from work and need a break), they run a really nice street market in the mornings, and it has some very lovely and quiet small cafes and restaurants.

Best of all, there are a variety of hotels and B&Bs. A nice room usually runs about thirty euros or so per night.

Paris itself is very accessible, and you get a great view of the city as the tram makes it's way into town.
posted by Mutant at 12:07 AM on January 3, 2006

Seconding the Michelet Odeon. It's one block from the Jardin Luxembourg.
posted by rdc at 12:32 PM on January 3, 2006

We stay at the Tryp de Saxe whenever we go to Paris. The rooms are small but comfortable and spotlessly clean, and it's in a pleasant area near the Segur metro stop. If you pay the hotel's rack rate, you get a good solid deal, but you can frequently find special deals via the hotel's official website that let you stay there at budget prices.

My only complaint was that, in the morning, there is a faint smell of cooking grease that drifts up from the kitchen.
posted by yankeefog at 6:05 AM on January 4, 2006