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Hostels
and budget hotels in France
From the gastronomic delights of the Loire Valley to haute couture
shopping in Paris, France has a reputation as a chic but not entirely
cheap destination.
But France is actually ideal for budget travelers – many of the top
sights in cities such as Paris are free, cheap but top quality food is
easily available in a bistro or from local markets, and budget accommodation
can be found all over the country, from quaint guesthouses in the
countryside to city center hostels.
Not just for students and backpackers, the humble hostel has had a
slick makeover in France, with many properties offering private and
ensuite rooms, and top class facilities as well as regular dormitories.
Here’s a guide to some popular hostels:
St
Christopher’s Inn, Paris 
One popular Paris hostel is St Christopher’s, part of a
well-established hostel chain with properties in London and Amsterdam.
The St Christopher’s is a modern Paris
hostel in the city center, only a few metro stops away from
Montmartre and the Gare Du Nord.
It’s the facilities that make this hostel popular with backpackers and
budget travelers alike - there’s a nightclub and bar serving cheap
drinks, a lounge area and restaurant on site, and with a tours and
travel desk, and helpful staff giving out travel tips, it’s the perfect
introduction to Paris. The large private and shared rooms have cool
décor and lockers in the rooms, and best of all, there’s a free
breakfast to fuel up for a day of sightseeing.
 Villa
Saint-Exupery, Nice
Most
hostels in Nice are right in the city center, but this
converted monastery offers the best of both worlds – surrounded by
scenic countryside and a park of olive, pine and carob trees, you’re
only a short free tram or bus ride into Nice and the rest of the French
Riviera.
This boutique hostel has all the facilities of a hotel, a lively social
calendar and a whole host of extras geared towards budget travelers.
There’s a free breakfast, internet, and airport pickup, a cheap bar
serving drinks for €1 and a restaurant serving home-cooked pizzas. With
a lounge housed in the old chapel, excursions organized by the hostel
and comfortable shared and private rooms, it’s no wonder this Villa
is popular.
Hotel
de La Marne, Lyon
It’s easy to find hostels
in Lyon, a UNESCO world heritage site, but this scenic city
also offers a wide choice of budget hotels. The Hotel de La Marne is in
the heart of downtown Lyon, and offers refurbished rooms which are
thoroughly modern, with slick décor and flat screen TVs.
With several restaurants and shops around the corner, the main sites of
the city are all within walking distance. The private ensuite rooms
make the hotel a stylish but reasonable place to stay, and the friendly
staff will make you feel right at home.
This is just a small selection; there are hostels in other towns and
cities too, as well as traditional youth hostels in cities and much
smaller places.
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