FANCY a trip to Paris but don’t want to blow all of your euros on the hotel?
You might be surprised to see how far they can go in the City of Light,
where budget accommodation for two can be found without sacrificing
character, cleanliness, or basic amenities such as an en suite bathroom,
lift or satellite TV.
Some might be on the small side, with perhaps only handheld showers, but these
hotels are all centrally located in top sightseeing and shopping districts,
and a few even have air- conditioning, minibar, wireless internet access or
views of the Eiffel Tower. And you can spend all those extra euros you’ve
saved in the fabulous boutiques and bistros.
NEXT TO NÔTRE DAME
Hôtel Hospitel
HANDS-DOWN winner for being the most centrally located hotel in Paris, Hôtel
Hospitel is hidden on the top floor of the historic Hôtel Dieu Hospital
right next to Nôtre Dame. Used primarily by medical staff and the families
of hospital patients, the 14 spotless rooms are brightly decorated with
modern furnishings and feature spacious bathrooms, TV, telephone, safe, and
wi-fi internet access.
Some rooms have views of Nôtre Dame’s famous gargoyles, and two rooms have
been specially adapted for disabled travellers. All guests have access to
the quiet courtyard gardens, and room service is available from 7am-8pm.
Although you’re basically staying in a hospital, where else are you going to
find a hotel this thoroughly sanitised?
Details: Hôtel Hospitel (00 33 1 44 32 01 00,
www.hotel-hospitel.com), 1 Place du Parvis. Double room £68; breakfast £5.
LATIN QUARTER
Hôtel du College de France
FANS of the Latin Quarter will appreciate this cosy hotel, on a side street in
the heart of the Sorbonne university district a few minutes’ walk from the
Cluny Medieval Museum, Luxembourg Gardens, the Panthéon and Nôtre Dame.
The historic quarter is reflected in the hotel’s decor, which has exposed
wooden beams; medieval artworks; and richly coloured walls and fabrics. The
29 rooms, accessible by lift, have satellite TV, radio, modem connections,
and en suite bathrooms with shower or bath. This is an ideal location for
those who want to be within stumbling distance of the lively student bars
around Place de la Contrescarpe.
Details: Hôtel du College de France (43 26 78 36,
www.hotel-collegedefrance.com), 7 rue Thénard, 5th. Doubles from £54;
breakfast £5.50.
MIDDLE OF MONTPARNASSE
Hôtel Mayet
A FRESH, contemporary boutique hotel that packs a punch for its
budget-conscious guests. The lobby, decorated by the famous Parisian
graffiti artist Monsieur André, has free internet and vending machines
packed with drinks and snacks such as Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.
A lift takes guests to the rooms, which may be on the small side but are not
claustrophobic thanks to the minimalist furnishings punctuated by splashes
of bright colour, cartoon-like accessories and snow-white duvet comforters.
They’re each equipped with ceiling fan, cable TV, and en suite bathroom with
shower, hairdryer and complimentary toiletries. Situated on a side street
near the 24-hour brasseries of Montparnasse, the hotel is just off the
shopping street rue Cherche-Midi and within easy walking distance of the
Left Bank’s only department store, Le Bon Marché.
Details: Hôtel Mayet (47 83 21 35, www.mayet.com), 7 rue
Mayet, 6th. Doubles from £70, breakfast included if reservation made online.
SHOP TILL YOU DROP
Regents Hôtel
THE Regents Hôtel is a surprisingly charming budget hotel in the heart of the
popular St Germain des Prés shopping district near St Sulpice Church and
Luxembourg Gardens. Guests enter through a cobblestone courtyard, where
breakfast is served during warmer months, into a cheerful reception area
decorated in French country-style blue and yellow fabrics.
The 34 rooms have newly remodelled bathrooms with hairdryer, satellite TV,
direct-dial telephone and safe. Some rooms on the top floor even have their
own little balcony.
Details: Regents Hôtel (45 48 02 81), 44 rue Madame, 6th.
Doubles £55; breakfast £4.80.
CLASSIC DESIGN
Grand Hôtel Lévêque
LOCATED on the chic rue Cler market street, the hotel is within walking
distance of such major monuments as the Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides, and the
Rodin Museum.
Completely renovated last year, the hotel has a classic-contemporary decor
with tiled reception hall, glass elevator, trompe l’oeil
marbled walls and a cosy salon with newspapers, ice machine, and hot and
cold drinks dispensers. The 50 rooms are small but bright, with modem
connection, satellite TV, safe and en suite bathroom with a shower and
hairdryer.
Details: Grand Hôtel Lévêque (47 05 49 15,
www.hotel-leveque.com), 29 rue Cler, 7th. Doubles from £60; breakfast £5.50.
POP TO THE POMPIDOU
Hôtel de Roubaix
ROOMS have a faded elegance that’s certainly past its prime but the hotel is
not without charm. The high ceilings, clean bathrooms and satellite TV in
each of the 53 rooms — accessible by an antique staircase or a small lift —
more than make up for the slightly squishy beds and sparse decor.
The real draw of this hotel is its location on a quiet side street just five
minutes’ walk from the contemporary artworks at the Pompidou Centre, the
cosy cafés of the Marais and the hip clothing boutiques of Rue
Etienne-Marcel.
Details: Hôtel de Roubaix (42 72 89 91), 6 rue Greneta, 3rd. Doubles from £51;
breakfast included.
CHARMING BACKWATER
Hôtel Madeleine Opéra
AN EXCELLENT bargain located on a quiet side street in the Madeleine business
and theatre district, this is a comfortable, modern hotel with a historic
Art Nouveau façade.
The lobby has a Provençale theme with terracotta floor tiles, wrought-iron
furniture and bright fabrics, while the 25 rooms have a more classic decor
with carpeted floors and pale walls.
Each one is equipped with TV, minibar (non-alcoholic drinks), modem
connection, safe and en suite bathroom with hairdryer. Perfectly situated
for Parisian power-shopping, the hotel is within walking distance of the
major department stores, the upscale Place Vendôme and fashionista haven rue
St-Honoré.
Details: Hôtel Madeleine Opéra (47 42 26 26,
www.hotel-madeleine-opera.com), 12 rue Greffulhe, 8th. Rooms from £54;
breakfast £4.20.
BELLE EPOCH DESIGN
Hôtel Langlois
ORIGINALLY built as a bank in 1870, the building was converted into a hotel in
1896 and has retained many of its beautiful Belle Epoch architectural
details such as the magnificent wooden reception desk and the retro
elevator.
The 27 soundproofed rooms are spacious, each one individually decorated with
antique French furnishings, 19th-century paintings, marble fireplace
mantles, as well as hand-carved mahogany and sycamore headboards.
Top floor rooms have views of Sacré Coeur. Free high-speed internet access is
available in the lobby. Located in the residential Nouvelle Athènes district
between Montmartre and the Opéra Garnier, around the corner from the
Romantic Life Museum and Gustave Courbet Museum.
Details: Hôtel Langlois (48 74 78 24, www.hotel-langlois.com), 63 rue Saint
Lazare, 9th. Doubles from £68; breakfast £5.60.
CHAMPS-ELYSÉES STROLL
Hôtel Keppler
IDEAL for those who don’t feel as if they are in Paris until they’re strolling
down the Champs Elysées. One of the few budget finds in this ritzy shopping
district, and just a block away from the Arc de Triomphe, this modern hotel
is run by a friendly family and features 24-hour room service, a charming
breakfast room and tiny lobby bar.
The rooms are bright and comfortable, decorated in pastel colours and equipped
with satellite TV, safe, telephone and en suite bathroom.
Details: Hôtel Keppler (47 20 65 05, www.hotelkeppler.com), 12 rue Keppler,
16th. Doubles from £70; breakfast £4.20.
MOVIE MOMENTS IN MONTMARTRE
Hôtel des Arts
THE picturesque staircases and winding streets of Montmartre have received a
new lease of life thanks to the popularity of recent films such as Amélie
and Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge. This hotel is located right in
the middle of it all, on a quiet street next to the historic windmills,
Sacré Coeur and the artists of Place du Tertre. The lobby of this
old-fashioned hotel features exposed stone walls and a small sitting room
overlooking the street, while the hotel’s 50 rooms are modern and have
carpeted floors, pale pastel walls, floral fabrics and en suite bathrooms
with shower or bath. They are all equipped with satellite TV, and wi-fi
internet access.
Details: Hôtel des Arts (46 06 30 52, www.arts-hotel-paris.com), 5 rue
Tholozé, 18th. Doubles from £50; breakfast £4.80.
