When did Paris become so expensive!

Hi JR,

Looking at the big picture, you saved money on the flights. Going elsewhere will cost train fare & time. If you want a less expensive location, I would go there for your initial two nights while you’re getting over jet lag & save Paris for your last 5 nights.

Did a quick check mid-March. Check out Hotel De Suez. Rated an 8.8, and a triple room for three nights mid-March is $709 & the single room is &560.. Plus it’s in the 5th arr, so you’re close to sites.

Yes, prices keeping creeping up. And the better rates are booked up months in advance.

If you're still interested in Paris, take a look at another area. Perhaps an aparthotel. Check availability at Citadines. The Trocadero location has 2 bedroom apartments available mid March for around $500usd/night. Perhaps they have your dates available.

Have you looked at Hotel Des Nations Saint Germain located on Rue Monge? They should be around $450 per night for a quad room which I think would work for the three of you and give you a bit more space than a triple.

I’ve noticed some hotels including Relais Bosquet hike prices when there are just a few rooms left in a category. I’m booked for Relais Bosquet the end of April in an ET view room and paying 280E - 297E depending on the day. This is one that can be a triple with an additional bed.

If you’re just now booking for a month away I think it’s because it’s a kind of last minute booking.

Prices have never gone all the way back down to pre-Olympic levels. They came down some but not to that level.

In 2025 when I was booking our July trip to Paris the first reservations were made in March at one exchange rate, and by the time we arrived the cost had gone up more than 10% because of the fall in value of the dollar alone, not counting for any increase in their costs. In 2022 the the exchange rate was .95 Euro per dollar and now it is .83-.85 Euro per dollar...

This fall we had 5 nights in Paris after a sidetrip to Metz after being in an apartment for a month. The apartment was not cheap but we paid over 200 E a night for an apart hotel which had all the space and charm of a failing hostel -- and no amenities. It was awful. I often stay in aparthotels for short stays and they are usually adequately comfortable and good value -- this. was not. And our old standby hotel was about 400 a night. Prices of food are also about double what we once paid. So yeah expensive. we are now paying for premium economy airline seats what we once could get business seats for.

JR,
I am guessing that you are only finding high priced rooms because anything with a better price was booked some time ago. Last minute booking is never easy on the pocketbook. Try some other arrondissements, perhaps, or an aparthotel, as others mentioned.
Good luck!

Thanks all. I will look in to the suggestions. @jeanm - we looked in to the Citadines and thought it a good fit but they are only offering a non-refundable rate which I am skeptical to do, paying it all up front. @Pam - That 280€ rate is what I was used to paying, so I was completely shocked when my fave Relais Bosquet wanted 700! Just couldn't do it. I would have stayed the entire trip there if the rate had been reasonable. We ended up with Beaugency for now for the first two nights, but then they are booked the third. Thus, looking to stay a couple nights then head out. Just where is the question. I know it is last minute, and usually we plan further in advance. But, I jumped at the chance to go never thinking it would be so crazy!

Hotel rates in Paris can more than double between January and July. They retrench a bit in August, before reaching their September peaks. When you visit depends greatly up what you pay. 150€ rooms in January will cost 300€+ in September, and you'll need to book early.

Not that long ago, many restaurants offered an entrée/plat/dessert diner for 30€ - 35€. Now you'll pay 40€ to 50€ for an entrée/plat. Crêperies have held costs rather well and can be a good alternative. Dining in the double digit arrondissements can save a lot of money.

If you pay in USD's, economic policies over the last year have caused the dollar to fall noticeably, making travel all the more expensive.

One strategy to economize on hotels is to avoid the tourist ghettos of St Germain, the Latin Quarter, and the Marais. Consider hotels in Oberkampf, such as the top rated Grand Hotel Français or Le Général Hotel. Check the 14th for hotels such as Léopold Hotel or Les Artistes Hotel. Most of these hotels offer significant discounts for booking directly through their websites.

I am always very surprised by the number of tourists who take Uber, Bolt, or FreeNow rather than the métro, which is not only much faster, but costs a fraction of the price. Even better, walking is the best way to see Paris.

Just a few suggestions to save money. Yes, Paris can be expensive but I think it is worth it.

A big part of what you're seeing is due to the devaluation of the dollar vs. the Euro. That alone has raised prices over 20% in the past 18 months. Add inflation into that (which our guy in charge says doesn't exist) and yes, things have gotten expensive. I pay pretty much the same amount of euro as before, but when converting it it's very noticeable. As of yesterday 300 euro cost $365 US. Two years ago the cost was $307.

The good news is that it makes other French cities seem like such a good deal!

If you want reasonable, look at Ibis. We have stayed in many. I think they are E150/night in July. Not 4 star but clean.

I make a lot of quick weekend trips to Paris. The 4-star hotels I usually go to have gone up 25-30% this year; I book and pay in euros. Add another 10% for the dollar change if you are paying in dollars. My next two trips to Paris are booked in 3-star hotels, consequently.

One of the trips, we are staying in an Ibis we've used many times for 185 euros a night without breakfast. I was surprised it was available for March when so many others were already full.

Elizabeth: The extra charge for the dollar is now about $.2 - higher than $.1. We were last in Europe in 2022, with euro-dollar parity. Wow.

It's just a little increase. Wine prices are 1/2-1/3 of the US. Cheese is so much better (we are in Bretagne near Quimper). Cider is great, both non-alcoholic and hard. I do note that pork is far more expensive here.

Even with the dollar in its deplorable present state, I can still get a single room in Paris at 2 star hotels in Paris Nord and Paris Est areas for under 110 Euro.

Last summer with the dollar much more favourable ( I kept all the exchange receipts from BofA re: converting over 3 thousand dollars total) , for those rooms in the same 2 star hotels in the summer went for 70 to 85 Euro, provided I paid cash....gladly at that price. Likewise in Metz in a 3 star hotel, where I spent close to 3 weeks.

https://www.paris-hotel-yllen-eiffel.com/fr/

This place is my go to for triples and quads. I’ve stayed there 3 times. My quick look sees march triples in the low 300s.

One of my faves, too Mart. Would take students there back when it was a 3 star.

If I compare Paris to other top Western cultural hubs such as London, New York and Los Angeles, it comes off as being pretty inexpensive. It's all a matter of comparison.

What jphbucks said!

As a matter of comparison you might read this done by the Post Office in the UK. https://www.postoffice.co.uk/travel-money/guides/city-costs-barometer To see the specifics, including Paris, you have to open the actual report: https://www.postoffice.co.uk/dam6/jcr:97b50114-ee4d-46e6-ae16-4bcd98304004/city-cost-barometer-2025.pdf

But there are so many variables in a real world application of this sort of thing, all you can use if for is maybe a rough idea give or take 20% or just an indication of the order of magnatude. The hotel prices shown are:

Two-night accommodation prices were sourced from Hotels.com and based
on an average of the 10 cheapest available three-star city centre
accommodation for two adults sharing a double/twin ensuite room
between 6-8 June 2025.

Thanks all for the replies and suggestions. I have looked at every one. Some were already booked. I really appreciate this forum and all the wonderful input shared on here. We will continue to keep monitoring everything and see where the prices take us. We did put on hold a place - not ideal- but can cancel if we find something that works for us. Otherwise we will stick with what we have. We did book a place for our final night (we arrive and stay two nights, leave for 5 - still undetermined where, and return for one night before departure) and thank Mardee for the suggestion and her review. That's what I love about this forum. I learn so much from others here, and sharing your experiences, advice, knowledge and kindness is what makes me continue to rely on this forum's guidance and all your wisdom!

"...it comes off as pretty inexpensive." How utterly true ! Add SF to that list.

Bottom line here...go to Paris.

When I go to LA now by train or bus combination or just the train, , i stay near the AmTrak Station, (Union Station), yes, pros and cons to that but you make do.

"*@Pam - That 280€ rate is what I was used to paying, so I was completely shocked when my fave Relais Bosquet wanted 700! *"

I'll add this to the mix which has happened over the last 2 days. While I'm staying at the Relais Bosquet for the last 10 nights, I'm staying at Hotel Muguet for the 1st 10 nights. To begin with, when I booked in January for April I could not get the 1st 3 nights at Muguet but went ahead and booked nights 4-10 there. I booked the 1st 3 nights at the nearby l'Empereur (owned by the Malone Collection that owns Relais Bosquet). I have had a Muguet "tab" up on my browser and have checked every day since early January to see if something opened. All the prices were ridiculous...3000E (YES! Three Thousand!) for a regular room or more for their top floor suite. So finally on Thursday, nights opened for nights 2 and 3 at Muguet so I grabbed them. Then yesterday, amazingly, night 1 popped open.

SO....if you are at Beaugency I'd check every day to see if there is an opening for the nights you need! I did look to book there but they have changed some policies with the new ownership and for their 3-night stay you have to pay the 1st night as a non-refundable deposit which I did not want to do.

I'd also check every day for Bosquet to see if something reasonable pops.

I have often used this strategy with the Yellowstone National Park in park lodging as there is a lot of movement but have never had a concerted effort for a Paris hotel. I was actually surprised this worked out for me for Paris.

AND the last room I booked at Muguet was their classic double and was less expensive than any of the other nights.

Good luck!

JHK…I appreciate your Hotel Des Nations Sainte Germain recommendation! I have it booked in July for large family group. It was reasonable compaired to most and offered those quad rooms! I sure hope we like it! Good area, good reviews and dont need fancy/lux lodging. It is crazy expensive for 3 nights for 11 people in Paris!!!
I am glad you have worked out some places JR! You have sure tried! And do agree…I am someone that checks often on cancelations! Esp our National Park lodges! Also…yes…these forums offer the best info and advice! Enjoy your Paris!

I'm sorry that I don't know how to gift the article, but Saturdays Wall Street Journal has an article about saving money in Paris. It recommends the CitizenM Paris Gare de Lyon hotel as being inexpensive($440 for two nights) and in a good location, 5 minutes walk from the train and 15 minutes walk to the 11th and the Marais. The hotel was basic and the room small, so OP would need two rooms rather than a triple. Just another possibility to consider.

I find Strasbourg over priced, very expensive, was also told likewise by a hotel employee, who verified my own findings on Strasbourg.

That is one reason I much prefer staying in Metz instead. These aren't the only places to avoid over priced hotels in the region,

There is Nancy, Luneville, Thionville....all historical sites should you be interested in that and relatively cheaper for the same type of accommodations.

I find Strasbourg over priced, very expensive, was also told likewise by a hotel employee, who verified my own findings on Strasbourg.

Whereas I found Strasbourg to be fairly priced and absolutely gorgeous, while I found Metz to be an enormous disappointment (relatively speaking). Great if your primary interest is in churches, but not so much otherwise. Whereas Strasbourg is as beautiful, diverse and cosmopolitan a place as I've visited.

It's always interesting to me that different travelers can have such very different reactions to the places they visit! It's one of many fascinating things about this forum: the diversity of viewpoints.

Last year I stayed at the CitizenM hotel in Washington DC. It was a "New Age" self service automated ...... and nothing worked the way it was supposed to. You check yourself in, you check yourself out (didnt work), you use an IPad in the tiny, tiny room to turn on the lights and the TV (took forever to figure out), you order online at the bar (really whats wrong with talking to people). It served its purpose I guess but not a place I want to go back to.

For Fred...Just some good places to eat (good prices, not fancy) near Union Station in LA.......Phillipes (inventor of French dip...been in same family operation for over 100 years now, clientele from politicians, showfolk, movers and shakers, everyday people, locals from the lower income neighborhoods nearby); HomeGirlCafe (Jesuit Fr. Greg Boyle's cafe run by people who have left the gang life, with good food and a great bakery); Chinatown (LA's place for restaurants in the original area settled by the Chinese.....most live in Monterey Park now, but lots of long-time eateries under the same owners in old Chinatown); Olvera Street (Mexican fare at several locations there) and LA's birthplace. All within walking distance from the lovely Art Deco Union Station.

Glad you find lodging in the area. We drive from Long Beach often to have a meal and revisit the neighborhood.

Sorry to deviate from the OP's question.

My comments on Metz and Strasbourg were focused only on the price of hotel accommodations, comparing like with like, say 3 star hotels and their respective prices. I focus more travelling in Lorraine than Alsace because of the poignant historical events involved prior to WW2 , lots of salient sights in Lorraine, not only the most horrific one , ie Verdun.

@Pam. Today I went to the Muguet's page to check on two nights, and sheesh! They wanted $5000 for a family room, 2400 for a triple and $1600 for a single. That's insane! But I guess someone will pay that.

Don't sacrifice your dreams. If the hotel that calls you is $500 a night and your dream dinner is $200 a head. Do it. But instead of 9 nights in Paris do 4. For the other 5 nights explore the world for new love. But more afordable love. Maybe you will discover that that other capital is indeed more beautiful than Paris, or 5 nights in that Balkan 5 star resort, you know, the one where the Dutch playwright hangs out, has your lifestyle written all over it for half the cost of Paris. Or the arts? A cheap seat in Paris or a VIP box, you know where, with an attendant to introduce you at intermission.

@ Judy....thanks for the tips regarding the immediate area around Union Station. They are well known to me. That present site was the original Chinatown of LA until ca. 1937 (can't recall the exact year), an exhibition inside Union Station on this topic was there 2 years ago. Very interesting , culturally, sociologically, and obviously, historically.

I like those places (Olvera Street, opposite of Chinatown plus Little Tokyo is ca. 17 mins. walk or one can take the Metro line. you mentioned, culturally interesting , diverse, much history to be learned, good food, Philippes is also a good breakfast spot. I go only by public transport, no driving at all or ride share. The Metro line gets me to Sana Monica, plus USC with its great university library.

Fred,
Over by USC is Exposition Park with great museums....Natural History, California Space Center (with the actual shuttle Endeavor) and the Califoinia African Anmerican Museum......just a thought, Also adjoining the park is the original Coliseum (the one from the 1932 and 1984 Olympics, and featured in countless movies).

Once again, sorry for usurping the thread. I will stop now.