So you travel through France; visiting glorious castles, world-class museums, eating in charming little bars and shopping in the markets. Most of the time you are away from home and want to maximize your budget. You may have heard people complain about high prices at French hotels, but there are plenty of cheap and clean hotel chains that offer spotless rooms, good showers, and clean bedding. Save on accommodation and enjoy more French delicacies.
How to get the best deal
The hotel business follows airline prices, that is, it varies from day to day and from region to region. The best deals are those booked in advance. Take a look at the chains for a very low rate.
If you book late, try Late Rooms and Lastminute.com.
Also for budget options, from hostels to bed and breakfasts to hotels, try Hostelworld.com.
Cheap Chains – Budget Over Luxury Every Time
Take a look at these international and French chains that offer good, cheap and basic accommodation in France. All these hotel chains start from around 40 euros per room per night. Most are a good bet for families, offering larger rooms for up to 4 people. All also offer electronic reservation machines outside the hotel, as well as key access, if you arrive late and the reception is closed. Prices vary widely depending on the time of year and early booking, so if you know where you are staying, book as early as possible.
- Formule 1 is owned by the huge chain Accor and is their lowest budget option. With more than 230 hotels in France, they offer an inexpensive and no-frills option, mainly on the outskirts of cities and often in the commercial sections. There is often a chain of restaurants nearby that caters for everyone and especially families. The rooms have a double bed and a bunk bed. All rooms have a sink and mirror, a flat-screen TV and free Wi-Fi. WC and showers are located near the rooms. Some offer a basic breakfast and are open 24/7. Prices from around 22 euros per room per night in the low season booked in advance.
- B&B Hotels : Popular for good rooms and great value prices, the chain has 232 hotels throughout France. They have different styles of rooms, catering for 1 to 4 people. Hotels are centrally located, often close to the train station. The rooms have a private bathroom with a toilet, a desk and chair area, a color TV and free Wi-Fi. Breakfast is served in the reception area. Prices start around 44 euros for a 2 person room.
- Premiere Hotels – The international group has 245 hotels in France, with only a handful in the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands and Poland. The Premiere Classe (PC) hotels are part of the Louvre Hotel Group, again part of the American company Starwood Capital. They also have Campanile Hotels, Kyriad and Luxury Concorde Hotels, all with hotels in France.
- Mainly located on the outskirts of towns and cities, with some in the city centers. The rooms, accessed from the outside via stairs, have a private bathroom that is small but offers a shower, sink and toilet. The bedrooms sleep 3 with a double bed or two single beds and a single bunk bed. There are rooms for the disabled on the ground floor. All have color television and free Wi-Fi. Breakfast is buffet style and there are vending machines. Prices from 29 euros.
- Ibis Budget : formerly Etap Hotels, they are now owned by Accor and all have been upgraded. They are the cheapest branch of the Ibis chain, which also has the Ibis and Ibis styles. Often located in city centers, they are sleek and modern and slightly more expensive than other cheap options, starting at around € 60 per room per night. The bedrooms have a double bed and a roof bunk bed for up to 3. The good sized en-suite bathroom has a sink, shower and toilet. There is also a writing shelf and chair. They have color televisions and free wifi. Have a buffet breakfast in the reception area.
- FastHotel : The French chain Fasthotel has 80 hotels in France in 2 classifications: 1-star Fasthotels and best Relais Fasthotel. They are fairly close to the city center or on the industrial outskirts. Most of the rooms are for 1 to 2 people, but some have 3-bed rooms or 5-bed rooms. The small private bathrooms have a sink, shower and toilet. There is a desk and chair so you don’t have to go far for dinner, ideal if you are tired after a long drive. Rooms start at around 43 euros.
Edited by Mary Anne Evans
