How to Find Hotels in Paris

You may think a trip to Paris would be the vacation of a lifetime, but choosing the right hotel can make the difference between a good vacation and a great one. Take some time before you leave to find the perfect accommodations.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hostel Guides
• Local Guidebooks
• Maps
• Travel Services
• Maps

1. Get a map of Paris and pinpoint the things you want to see in the city. Then you have a starting point; try to find a suitable hotel that is centrally located.

2. Decide if you are looking for luxury or ambience. The Right Bank typically offers more luxury hotels, while the hotels on the Left Bank cater to people looking for lower prices and more old-world charm.

3. Check with a professional travel agency or service to find out which recommended hotels may be within your budget.

4. Find out the current exchange rate of French francs to dollars. All rates will be quoted in francs, and it will help if you can translate that to dollars without much thinking.

5. Go online to take a look at some of your prospective choices. Microsoft Expedia, Travelocity and Preview Travel all offer copious amounts of information about hotels in Paris, and there are some you can book online.

6. Use a Paris guidebook to find accommodations near the sites you want to see in Paris. Keep in mind it is usually cheaper to stay at hotels that are a little further away from the best sights, but still within walking distance.

7. Plan to visit Paris during the off-season (late fall to early spring). Hotels often offer specials during this time to help them get through the slow season.

8. Call, fax or e-mail in your reservation. Make sure you get a written confirmation from the hotel and the name of the person with whom you spoke.

9. Confirm your reservation at least 48 hours in advance of the day you plan to leave. This should prevent any confusion when you arrive.

Tips & Warnings

• Check out hostels in Paris for a cheap alternative to hotels. You can find a hostel by using a hostel guide, a travel Web site or a budget guidebook.
• Consider renting an apartment for the duration of your stay. Most will only rent for seven days or more, but prices can be very reasonable.
• Reserve well in advance for the best choice of rooms.
• Expect smaller rooms and beds than are typical in American hotel rooms. This has nothing to do with price; even the rooms in the best hotels are smaller.
• Ask up front what amenities are included with your room. Keep in mind that breakfast may cost extra, and some rooms do not have private bathrooms.

[enars]

on 1/10/2008 You can try www.hotelbooklet.com which compares more than 30 popular hotel reservations sites and shows all available deals!

on 11/22/2005 If you have a student ID, you can find short-term accomodation in university halls of residence during the summer.

Contact the halls directly by telephone or in person.

Kitchen facilities may be basic and you may have a roommate, but it is cheap and a great way to meet other young people studying or doing an internship in Paris. I even found one in the Latin Quarter with rooftop views over Paris, which is usually the reserve of expensive hotels.

on 11/22/2005 stayed 4 weeks museum lodge 20 yurong street..$135 p.week..single was 10 minutes walk from city centre...good clean share facilities

on 11/22/2005 We went to Paris in the summer and our hotel did not have air conditioning. It was quite uncomfortable. Many hotels in the same price range did have air conditioning, so ask ahead of time.