Paris is one of the cities that everyone really should visit at least once in a lifetime – it has everything, from world-famous monuments to world-class museums, from amazing cuisine to romantic scenery. Unfortunately, Paris is one of those cities that knows just how beautiful it is and has priced itself accordingly. In other words, finding a cheap hotel in Paris can be a struggle – especially if you are visiting during the high season.
Even if you are planning a trip to Paris outside the high season, however, you may still be in for a bit of a shock when you hunt for cheap hotels in Paris – as this city is arguably the most popular tourist destination on earth, there is no such thing as an “off” season with corresponding low hotel room rates. There are only high rates and astronomically high rates, or so it seems, and it only gets worse if you are trying to stay right in the city center close to the biggest attractions. You can find the occasional fantastic deal, though, and even if it is not right next to the Eiffel Tower you can get almost anywhere in a matter of minutes on Paris’ excellent Metro system.
While much of Paris seems to cater to the rich (not to mention the famous), there are also a few neighborhoods which still serve the city’s less-affluent residents (not to mention visitors). These are the areas where you will find large student and artist populations, and also where you will tend to find a higher concentration of hostels and also budget hotels. Some of these neighborhoods also tend to be a little more gritty – especially at night – but one person’s grit is another person’s charm. If nothing else, these areas are certainly slices of real Paris life.
Check out the artsy Montmarte hilltop area with its beautiful Sacre-Coeur church (Hotel Bonsejour Montmarte and Ibis Hotel Montmarte), the student-heavy Latin Quarter (Port-Royal-Hotel, Hotel de l’Esperance, Hotel Esmeralda – no website) and the former artist hangout of Montparnasse (Hotel du Lion).