Paris is enormously well supplied with hotels in all price categories. Prices aren't exorbitant by European standards, but rooms can be surprisingly small for the money, as all but the most expensive establishments have been carved out of cramped nineteenth-century mansion blocks. The star system provides some clues as to the pretensions of a hotel, particularly its price, but little else – a two-star hotel might have lovely rooms but fail to be awarded a third star because its staff don't speak enough languages, or its foyer is small. Though many traditional family-run places have now been bought out by conglomerates, you can still find a double room in an old-fashioned two-star for between €55 and €85 (€55–85), though don't expect much in the way of decor at the lower end of the scale. For something with a bit more class – whether that means a touch of character, smooth efficiency or a minibar – you'll pay upwards of €85 (€85–100); in swankier areas, expect to pay €100 or more (over €100). It is possible to find a double room in a central location, for around €40 (€40–55), sometimes even less, though at this level you will probably have to accept a room with just a sink (lavabo) and a shared bathroom on the landing – and a few such places still charge for use of the shower. Out of season, in smaller hotels, it's sometimes possible to negotiate a reduction of up to ten percent or more on the advertised rate, depending on your length of stay.Even within one hotel, rooms can vary considerably, and it's worth asking what's available – almost all hoteliers speak at least enough English to get by. Rooms at the back, overlooking an internal courtyard (côté cour/jardin), can be dark; rooms on the street (côté rue) tend to be larger, but noise can be a problem if there isn't double-glazing. Certain standard terms recur: douche/WC and bain/WC mean that you have a shower or bath as well as toilet in the room. A room with a grand lit (double bed) is invariably cheaper than one with deux lits (two separate beds). Breakfast (petit déjeuner, or PD) is sometimes included (compris) in the room price but is normally extra (en sus) – around €5–8 per person. Always make it clear whether you want breakfast or not when you take the room. Either way, it's usually an indifferent continental affair of croissant/baguette, orange juice and coffee. The best areas for budget-priced hotels are the 11e and 10e, especially around place de la République and Bastille, though the latter can get pretty rowdy at night. Quieter areas, further out, where you can get some good deals are the 13e and 14e, south of Montparnasse, and the 17e and 20e, on the western and eastern sides of the city. Our hotel recommendations are listed by area. Prices refer to the cheapest double rooms normally available in high season – a tariff that, for the majority of Paris hotels, applies all year round. Most hotels have a selection of rooms at different prices; where there are only very few rooms in a hotel in the lower price categories, we show the complete price range on offer.
Pages in section ‘Hotels’: The Islands, Champs-Elysees, Grands Boulevards, Beaubourg, Left Bank, Trocadero, Montparnasse, Montmartre, Eastern Paris, Western Paris.
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