I am definitely planning on staying in France for my 11 day trip, but wanted some in put on staying in hostels versus hotels. Can anyone recommend hotels they have been to in Paris, Rouen, Cannes, Nice that would accomodate two young guys (me and my bro). Obviously, a hotel should be on the inexpensive side. I have gotten a lot of opinions on hostels vs. hotels, but no really solid advice. Help appreciated.
Posted by
Anaheim, CA, USA
1455 posts
Rags, if you're looking for budget, try hotwire.com. I've used them for London and have been very happy with 3 stars.
If you don't like being "surprised" with a mystery hotel (you do know the name on hotwire, but after you pay) there's also Hotel Porte Doree
Or, if you are staying in Paris for 3 or more days, you can try finding an apartment. Cost-wise, its cheaper than a hotel. There's many apartment sites to pick from: rentalo.com, vacationinparis.com, perfectlyparis.com
I prefer a hotel or apartment since I like my privacy, and a bathroom of my own. There's plenty of Rick travlers who enjoy hosteling, so I will let them post on that.
Posted by
OH, OH, USA
1158 posts
Hostels are much less expensive than a budget hotel or apartment. IMO Hotwire has expensive hotels.
I booked a hotel in Paris a few years ago for about 40EUR on hotelreservations.com. Small but nice.
About hostels now: I only staye din a hosten in Rome and Germany, but you can check reviews on hostels.com or hostelworld.com. Also tripadvisor.com has good and honest reviews of hostels.
Posted by
Boston, MA, United States
1806 posts
Try the website for the Accor Hotels chain to see what specials they might offer during your trip. I got an Ibis that was within a 5 minute walk of both Gare du Nord and Gare de L'Est for 59 Euro/night. Yeah, it's lacking on Parisian Old World Charm (Ibis equivalent to Hampton Inn or Best Western), but my hotel had air conditioning, 2 elevators and was conveniently located to the Metro, RER and Eurostar/Thalys and a self-service laundromat and internet cafe was a block away. My hotel was in a working class neighborhood, so prices at cafes, bakeries, restaurants, grocery stores and other shops in area were much more reasonable than in other parts of Paris like the Latin Quarter, Marais or near Rue Cler.
Posted by
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
8293 posts
Rags, can you tell us what you mean by "on the inexpensive side" ? One man's inexpensive is another's way over-the-top 4 star. So, please give us a price you are willing to pay.
Posted by
Columbus, Ohio, USA
258 posts
I've been to Paris twice and stayed both times at a hostel. Here is the website - http://www.aijparis.com/ The second time I had thought I would stay at a different hostel so I could be in a different neighborhood, but hostel reviews in Paris don't seem to be that great... The AIJ is clean and cheap. They do have a look-out every day (11am-4 I think), but frankly it wasn't a problem as I was out seeing the sights. It is also walking distance to the Bastille area.
Posted by
Charlotte, NC, USA
95 posts
Rags,
Sounds like Ciedleh has a good option for you with that 59E a night room in the Ibis. I think for the MIJE hostels in Paris and getting your own room its 34E a piece. Not sure about some of the others like Young and Happy Hostel, etc. but dorm is cheaper. We stayed at the Royal Phare in the 7th and it was 79E a night and about 10 ft from the Metro stop.
We (my brother and I) wanted to have our own room at that part of our trip and getting a hotel was not much more than doubles at some of the hostels we looked at. It seems like there are a million different options in Paris so just look around and see what suits you best.