Carcassonne train & airport

if you arrive by train you'll likely walk into the town before you climb up to the castle. i think there is a youth hostel in the walled city but don't have the contact info. if you don't want to carry your luggage up the hill to the castle you can find a hotel in the town very easily. i don't recall any really good ones - they're about the same basic clean places and about equal distance to the train station and castle.

We stayed at Notre Dame de l'Abbaye, a functioning abbey with many guest rooms which was located just outside the old city walls - a great location. And probably the best budget deal around - rooms clean and basic (no TV). It's a step above a hostel. Free parking within the compound, communal breakfast. Details in RS' book. The airport is a 10-15 minute drive outside the new town. The Hertz desk was very helpful.

Hi Karen I stayed within the old city walls of Carcassonne at Hotel Donjon (see Rick's book for details). Cars are not permitted within the old walls of the town so might consider getting the car when you leave Carcassonne. It was reasonable especially considering the location. www.hotel-donjon.fr/

Where are you planning to go when leaving Carcassonne? You really don't need a car in Carcassonee.

We loved the Mercure. It was an easy 5 min walk to the old town gate. I don't remember which gate though. Dinner in this hotel was heavenly.
I just checked a random date in Feb and the rate for a single was $109, not euros. I'm not sure where the price for a 2 star falls, so it might be more than you want to spend. But throughout our entire trip, this hotel had the cleanest and newest rooms with the best food.