Hello - don't know it this is the right place for this, but has anyone stayed in Paris recently? I'm going for 5 nights in December - on a budget and want somewhere clean, and fairly central to stay. Thanks

You may want to consult Lizzmobile, she knows a great place. Failing that the novotel in Cergy Pontoise is comfortable and 5 mins from the centre (walking distance)

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g262037-d261286-Reviews-Novotel_Cergy_Pontoise-Cergy_Ile_de_France.html

Have a look on
Smoothhound (http://www.smoothhound.co.uk/france/paris.html)

You can usually find some good deals on there!

:thumbsup:

You may want to consult Lizzmobile, she knows a great place. Failing that the novotel in Cergy Pontoise is comfortable and 5 mins from the centre (walking distance)

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g262037-d261286-Reviews-Novotel_Cergy_Pontoise-Cergy_Ile_de_France.html

I am not 100% certain but I think you have your Novotes mixed up. Cergy Pontoise is outside of Paris and takes about 20-30 minutes on the train. The station where you get off the train has another Novotel close by and this is near the centre.

I am not 100% certain but I think you have your Novotes mixed up. Cergy Pontoise is outside of Paris and takes about 20-30 minutes on the train. The station where you get off the train has another Novotel close by and this is near the centre.

You could be right there KenH, in fact don't stay at the one at Cergy Pontoise as the memory is coming back to me, I think I actually named it something along the lines of Cergy Pontarmpit of Paris. Yes it will be the nearer one.

Why oh why did I visit Cergy Pontoise??? :huh: :huh:

Have a look at Lonely Planet!

Is it actually possible to visit Paris on a budget?

You could be right there KenH, in fact don't stay at the one at Cergy Pontoise as the memory is coming back to me, I think I actually named it something along the lines of Cergy Pontarmpit of Paris. Yes it will be the nearer one.

Why oh why did I visit Cergy Pontoise??? :huh: :huh:

The reason I remember is that I flew into Pointoise and then got a train to Paris and stayed at nice Novotel. On my return trip I caught a train to Cergy and then couldn't find a taxi to the airport so I walked to a novotel not far from the station and asked them to find me one. I think the one I stayed at was "Paris La Defence" which was nice and quite cheap. I have stayed dozens of novotels in France over the years and, while they aren't exactly fabulous, you know what you will get and they can be very cheap.

Hi here, thanks Tish, yes, a friend of mine runs this business:

www.parismarais.com

Lovely wee appartments, very tastefully decorated and everything you need for a great weekend in the city of lights.

Hello

Thanks Lizzmobile and everyone for all the info. Those places look amazing, I will contact them today. Paris here I come - ooh la laaa!

Is it actually possible to visit Paris on a budget?

Yup!

Me and some friends were there recently and we stayed in a cheap place called 'Peace and Love Hostel'. We also took advantage of their kitchen facilities and walked everywhere from Metro stations :D

Is it actually possible to visit Paris on a budget?

er maybe, but you may end up staying in some s**t hole.

Back to the original topic, last time i was in Paris ( July 20 - 24 ) me & a friend stopped at the Hotel De Neuville cost £250 for 4 nights bed & breakfast. Located about 15 mins walk from the Arc de Triomphe in a quiet & safe residental area with a Metro stop about 5 mins walk away.

Ive stopped at Hotel De Nevers, Rue De Malte, Republique twice and its cheap (about £37 a night for a room with a shower and toilet....cheaper if you want to share) but its basic and a little tatty round the edges...I really liked it......

I went last month and stayed in the Best Western (Cambronne I think) on the Rue De La Croix Nivert - booked though Expedia and for two nights and flights it was £120. Fab hotel, small, clean, 2 mins from a Metro station and a 5 min walk from the Eiffel Tower.

A tip re transport. You might purchase one of their ParisVisite metro/bus/ ticket things, it's much better value than buying individual tickets and even better than a carnet (book of 10 tix). Have a look on their website see what you can work out. They do a 5-day card which would be ideal for you, although you'd need to buy a couple of extra tickets for your final day.

http://www.parisvisite.com/fr/index.php

A tip re transport. You might purchase one of their ParisVisite metro/bus/ ticket things, it's much better value than buying individual tickets and even better than a carnet (book of 10 tix). Have a look on their website see what you can work out. They do a 5-day card which would be ideal for you, although you'd need to buy a couple of extra tickets for your final day.

http://www.parisvisite.com/fr/index.php

If you want too you can buy Paris travel cards before you set off on your trip, visit www.allofrance.co.uk a 5 day zone 1-3 travel card is £19, zones 1-3 should be all you need unless you plan on visiting outside of the main Parisian tourist areas.

Hello - don't know it this is the right place for this, but has anyone stayed in Paris recently? I'm going for 5 nights in December - on a budget and want somewhere clean, and fairly central to stay. Thanks

I've stayed in Paris more times than I care to remember. If you want somewhere clean, try to stay at least 100 miles away. If you want to go out for dinner without being insulted, make it 300 ;)

I realise I'm a bit late in replying to the OP herself, but for future references. I think it is possible to stay cheaply (well, reasonably) in Paris.

IBIS (part of the Accor hotel group, who also owns Novotel) have hotels dotted everywhere in Paris. They're standard doubles. It works out around 20-30 UKP per night, I think.

I've stayed in Paris more times than I care to remember. If you want somewhere clean, try to stay at least 100 miles away. If you want to go out for dinner without being insulted, make it 300 ;)

Oh dear! I was last in Paris about 20 years ago and I enjoyed it then. Surely it's not as bad as Chumley says it is???

Thanks for all the other recommendations (and tips on travel!)

:)

Oh dear! I was last in Paris about 20 years ago and I enjoyed it then. Surely it's not as bad as Chumley says it is???

Thanks for all the other recommendations (and tips on travel!)

:)

I'm sure you'll enjoy it, it's just the last couple of times I've been I was ill. And I really don't understand why the waiters have to be so rude. I make passable efforts to speak the language wherever I travel, and everywhere else it's appreciated.