Hello, I will backpacking for a month in July. My first destination will be Paris. It is just me and my friend. We are college students, so we're trying to find the cheapest places to stay at. I don't know anyone who has done something like this, so I figured I'd ask here. We do have an unlimited eurail pass. What I was thinking is finding a hostel outside of Paris, but in a city close by. That way we spend less and just travel to Paris as soon as we wake up. If there's a site that can help me out with finding hostels, that'd be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
I strongly suggest that you rethink this plan. While your pass will cover your train rides between a neighboring city and Paris, you will waste a lot of time traveling back and forth. And it will not cover your transportation in Paris itself. It's purely a guess, but I don't think any savings on a room in a hostel outside of Paris will amount to much.
I heartily recommend any of the three MIJE hostels in the Marais district in Paris. They are renovated 17th-century private mansions and both Rick Steves and Lonely Planet call them "the best budget accommodations in Paris." They are centrally located, close to Metro stations, and within walking distance of some major sights (like the Notre Dame cathedral).
One of the best hostel sites is hostelz.com. Their reviews are unbiased.
Posted by
Long Beach, California, USA
3391 posts
You may also want to try airbnb.com. There are some really cheap lodging options in the Paris suburbs.
If you're feeling really adventuresome you can also try couchsurfing Couchsurfing Website. You'll probably get people on here that are extremely skeptical of something like this but I have experienced travel like this in my distant past as a backpacker in Europe and had great luck and met really wonderful people. Just as you would with any site that matches travelers with lodging, you should always read the reviews, contact the people who wrote the reviews via email, and verify.
One of the things my husband and I used to do also is camp in Europe. Big cities have campgrounds that are nothing like the campgrounds we have here in the U.S. You are usually sleeping on a grassy lawn, there is often a restaurant and/or store, and there are clean, well-scrubbed showers. It is a great way to meet people. There are quite a few campgrounds near Paris - we always used to stay in one that was just west of the main part of town on an island in the Seine.
Good luck and have fun!
Posted by
San Francisco
14500 posts
Hi,
I would suggest staying in a hostel in Paris itself, not outside the city. There is one hostel located between the 9th and 10th arrond. (districts) , ca 10-15 mins as you exit from Gare du Nord on Rue de Dunkerque. The place is Vintage hostel, haven't stayed myself but have checked it out....decent, not bad. From this hostel it's a short (ca. 10 mins) distance to Montmartre.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
I would not want to lose any Paris time to unnecessary transportation and agree that staying in the city is best. Book ahead so you'll know how much to budget for the MIJE Hostel, or Air B& B, or other budget option. Last time I was paying, I stayed at Hotel Jean Bart, in RS France/Paris books, near Luxembourg Garden, double without bath about 61 euros, pay for shower down the hall, cash only, email hotel.jean.bart@gmail.com.
Posted by
Gulf Coast, usa
1157 posts
My son stayed here last year http://www.artyparis.fr/ and really enjoyed it - check it out - he enjoyed mingling with people his own age.