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Save/ShareToday I'm resurrecting a great article from the BT vault which in 2002 recommended 19 "Secret Hotels" with rooms for less than $80. Wondering how prices may have changed in the six years since Margie Lynn sang their praises, I selected three hotels and checked prices for 2009. The difference is rather shocking.
Hotel Langlois
hotel-langlois.com, 63 rue St-Lazare, 9th arrondissement, 011-33/1-48-74-78-24
BT review: "Formerly the Hotel des Croises, it has proudly taken the name it was given as a setting of this year's upcoming Jonathan Demme film The Truth About Charlie… You won't find many hotels in this price range with inlayed armoires and Art Deco ceramic fireplaces.… You are minutes from the Opera and the grands magasins…" (full review)
Price for a double in 2002: €83–€90 ($73–$80)
Price for a double in 2009: €140–€150 ($199–$214)
Hotel Eldorado
eldoradohotel.fr, 18 rue des Dames, 17th arrondissement, 011-33/1-45-22-35-21
BT review: "Batignolles is one of Paris' more happening neighborhoods these days, and this fanciful place fits right in with the artsy scene…. Interesting architectural details like onyx mantelpieces and wood moldings have been preserved…" (full review)
Price for a double in 2002: €54 ($48)
Price for a double in 2009: €60 ($85)
Hotel des Grandes Ecoles
hotel-grandes-ecoles.com, 75 rue du Cardinal Lemoine, 5th arrondissement, 011-33/1-43-26-79-23
BT review: "Set off the street, you enter the lobby through a peaceful garden, as if you have just walked out of the city and into a country residence.… It's hard to believe you're in walking distance of the hectic Latin Quarter and just a few steps from hopping rue Mouffetard…" (full review)
Price for a double in 2002: €90–€115 ($80–$102)
Price for a double in 2009: €115–€140 ($163–$199)
As you can see, the price in dollars has nearly doubled for all three of these "budget" hotels. Look closer, however, and you'll see that only one of them—the Hotel Langlois—has significantly raised their prices in euros. The filming of a sexy Hollywood thriller there may have something to do with that hike.
For the other two hotels, the dollar-based difference is mainly down to the exchange rate. In 2002, the dollar was worth more than the euro. Today, it's worth a whole lot less. Look at the prices for Hotel des Ecoles and you'll see that a €115 hotel room cost only $102. Today that same figure in euros costs $163.
The $80 hotel room may well be on its way to extinction. But we've found stylish lodging at a fair price at 14 Paris hotels.
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Yes, if you're looking for funky boutique hotels or upgraded accomodation, or a city centre location, you may have a harder time. But take for example, Ibis Hotels. A nice mid range chain. Not luxury, but many are air conditioned, have non-smoking rooms, breakfast and free wi-fi. I'd call it an equivilent to a Hampton Inn in the states. Great basic accomodation. With some advance notice, I found that you could book many of their Paris locations for a current rate of $83.41 per night. And cities outside of Paris can be considerably cheaper. The particular one I looked up was Place d'Italie location. I've stayed there. It's close to the metro which will take you on the #7 line to the Notre Dame and city center, or on the #6 line to within 1 stop of the Eifel Tower or at end of line to Arc d'Triumph. What more could you want? It's a mistake to overlook chains when looking for a bargain.
Disclaimer: I am not employeed by nor affiliated wtih Ibis Hotels or their parent company in any way. I don't even know anyone personally who is. They were just an example I had personal experience with, having stayed there. I'm sure that there are more examples, if you look.
Posted By Susan S Colanduno on August 28, 2009, 10:48 AM
Except the Ibis' say they're near the city centre, but that just means within the Paris periphery. They are actually VERY far from the centre of the city, although perhaps close to public transport.
Posted By adrian on August 31, 2009, 4:31 AM
I will be visiting London on Dec.9-16,2009 and wondered if you knew of any cheap hotels near the Globe Theatre or near there. My son is an exchange student with the University of Minnesota and studying at the Globe Theatre this semester and I would like to visit him. Thanks for your Help. Sandra Perkins
Posted By Sandra Perkins on September 4, 2009, 8:38 AM
I checked on www.lookotel.com and put a price range of 50 EUR. The site found 16 hotels with that price in September/October which is high season. I use this site a lot as it is a directory of hotel websites thus less commissions.
I found Hotel du Cadran which is close to Eiffel Tower. http://paris-hotel-cadran.com/?idhotellookotel=198
But I agree it is becoming really hard to find.
Posted By Marc Ozna on September 12, 2009, 4:27 PM
Just stayed at the Bellevue-Hotel in Montmatre in Sept. 2009.
Only two blocks from the Sacre Coeur.
Cost about $125/nite. Small room but clean. Easy access from metro (ANVERS). Quiet at nite and included free breakfast consisting of coffee, croissants, & yogurt.
A grocery store one block away called ED (a chain of grocery stores in Paris that are bigger than 7/11 with good prices) helped to save on items like water, cokes, etc. No refrigerators in rooms, but you can get some ice from whoever is at the desk.
Address - 19 Rue D'Orsel
Tel. 01 53 41 32 00
Free wireless internet was not working in the rooms but worked in the dining area that was open 24/7; I used my laptop at breakfast each morning.
The hotel has one computer for patrons to use, but it has french style keyboard.
Very nice staff at the desk.
Posted By MICHAEL DAMSKY, Arlington,VA on September 26, 2009, 10:19 AM
Yes, hotels under 80$ in Paris still exist!
I spent a few nights at hotel Armstrong in the 20th district. I spent around 60$ a night for 4 nights and it was just perfect. Nothing fancy, small room but enough to store all my stuff, flat tv screen, a nice bar, pool, internet cafe, a sauna. The manager is english and very pleasant. I spent also good times in rue Saint Blaise on terrace of nice restaurants and cafes drinking and chatting with local french persons. if you want a very decent hotel for the best value for money check this one: Paris price check: http://armstrong-paris-hotel.com/
Posted By geminilion on September 29, 2009, 5:10 AM