The City of Light can be expensive.
For tourists watching their pennies, finding a cheap hotel room in Paris is the Holy Grail of budget travel. The City of Light is an expensive destination, and many travelers prefer to spend their money on food and sightseeing rather than on a place to sleep. Follow a few simple rules, and you'll be able to invest your travel dollars during the day rather than overnight.
Plan Ahead
The early bird gets the nicer room.
To increase your chances of finding a cheap room in Paris, visit during shoulder season -- May to June and September through October -- rather than the height of summer. If you have to travel during the peak tourist crush, book as far ahead as possible. Inexpensive rooms are in short supply, and not all cheap hotels are desirable by American standards; accommodations in the more attractive destinations will fill up first.
Set Parameters
"Cheap" and "expensive" are relative.
One person's cheap room can be another person's splurge. Set a daily budget before you go, and try to honestly determine the level of comfort you need. In central Paris, a typical room in a midrange hotel will cost between $250 and $300 per night. If you shop around you may well be able to find an acceptable room for half that, but you need to know where to look.
Shop the Chains
European chains offer greater value.
American chain hotels such as Hilton, Best Western and Holiday Inn are generally not bargains in Paris. To find the deals, investigate European chains such as Campanile, Citidines, Kyriad, Tulip and Premiere Classe. Your best bet will probably be Accor, a large chain based in France that has hotels at different comfort levels such as Sofitel, Mercure and Ibis. As of time of publication, the Accor website offered 24 hotels in central Paris for occupancy in April 2013, with a double at the Ibis near the Opera Garnier available for $116. The rooms at these hotels are likely to be standard and modular rather than charming, but you'll save money (accor.com).
Try Commuting
Staying in the suburbs can be cheap and convenient.
The Paris Metro is comprehensive and inexpensive; as of time of publication, individual tickets were $2.25 and a book of 10 cost slightly more than $16. If you're willing to stay a few miles outside the city and take the subway into town, you'll save significantly on a room. Example: Booked five months ahead, a double at the Campanile at Porte de Bagnolet was available for $72 as of time of publication (campanile.com). From there, a 10- to 15-minute subway ride takes you to the city center.
Apartment Rental
Live like a native.
If you're staying a week or more, consider renting an apartment. Weekly prices start around $700 and go up, depending on the desirability of the location. Good places to look include vrbo.com, parisattitude.com and paristay.com. Remember that even if an apartment is the same price as a hotel, you'll still save money by cooking some of your meals. Shopping for food will increase your contact with residents, and your experience will be richer as a result.
Tags: rather than, time publication, central Paris, cheap room, City Light, City Light expensive