Inexpensive hotels in Paris

Inexpensive hotels in Paris

Paris does not need to be expensive; if you plan carefully you can find good quality and cheap hotels in Paris, reduced entrance fees for most Paris attractions and even free entrance to museums.

Amazing as it might sound, you can also find several restaurants that offer free food if you buy a drink, free wine tasting places, free hairdressers and make up artists and even free entrance to night clubs. Who said Paris was an expensive place? In my experience Paris is a place with something to offer to every one regardless of their budget.

Finding budget hotels in Paris

Based on my personal experience, I can tell you that the best deals for hotels in Paris can be found online. Another good source for finding cheap accommodation in Paris has been friend’s recommendations.

• Book in advance. Some hotels in Paris offer significant discounts and upgrades if you book in advance. This means that if you book your hotel room 3 or 4 months in advance, for the same amount of money you can get a suite instead of a single room. For example, the beautiful rococo style Villa Royale Hotel near the Moulin rouge offers a standard room for €159 if you book your room on the same week you are planning to stay there. But if you book 3 months in advance you can get a double deluxe room (Jacuzzi included) for almost the same price. Additionally, with this hotel you can get a 10% discount if you pay at the time of booking.

• Search your hotel by stars. Some Hotel booking websites offer the option of searching for a hotel by number of stars. Start with the lowest one and work your way up comparing prices and services offered. Sometimes a one star hotel can end up more expensive than a 2 or 3 stars once you add hidden fees such as wifi, telephone, parking and breakfast.

• Search your hotel by Arrondissement.  Some areas in Paris are more expensive than others.  If you are planning to stay in central Paris you can travel by metro or bus so make sure that your hotel is near a well served metro or bus station.  A hotel that is too far away from a serviced station can be cheaper but may work out more expensive in the long term if you need to take a taxi or a train every time you want to go somewhere.

• Look for special offers. It is worth investing time in searching for special offers. For example, Novotel in Paris offers free accommodation and breakfast for two children under the age of 16 staying in their parents' or grandparents' room and having breakfast as a family. Not only you are saving money here, but the children love the little McDonald-style boxes where they get a very complete and healthy breakfast. If you are travelling with older children or teenagers, with Novotel you can also book a second room for your children at half the price of your own room.

• Look for free extras that make your trip more comfortable. On our last trip to Paris we discovered that unlike most hotels, with Novotel we didn’t have to vacate the room by midday. We had the time to have a long lie on our last day as our room was available for late check-out until 5:00 pm.

• Try to book a hotel which includes breakfast. In some hotels in Paris the price of your breakfast can add up to €20 per person for a basic continental breakfast. Try to find a hotel which includes breakfast as part of the price.

• Look for free nights when you are booking your hotel. Some hotels offer a free night if you book in advance for a set number of nights. It is common to see offers such as “3 nights for the price of 2” or “Book 4 nights, the 5^th night is free”. For example the 4 star Hotel Astor Saint Honore, offers 3 nights for the price of two if your stay is between the 1^st of November and the 28^th of February.

• For long stays book an apartment. If you are planning a prolonged stay in Paris (more than 4 days) booking an apartment might be a better option for you. You can find rooms and apartments for rent in central Paris for as little as €49 a night.

Investing time booking your hotel in Paris can save you a lot of money on your trip. If you plan carefully your Paris vacation does not need to be expensive.