Staying in hostels in France |
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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 in all regions of France, 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 in three main French cities: Paris hostel guide - four recommended Paris hostels One popular cheap Paris hostel is the Regent
Montmartre hostel, a backpacker
hostel that can cater for all ages. It is
located in the heart of the Montmartre district, with easy access to
the metro and the Sacré Coeur.Close by is another well recommended hostel, with some very cheap accommodation, the Village Boutique Hostel, which is located between Pigalle and Montmartre, so fairly central. It's just 200 metres from Anvers metro station, and 200 metres from the Montmartre funicular and gardens, from the top of which you get fabulous views out over Paris, specially in the evening Another hostel that gets good write-ups is St Christopher’s, near the Gare du Nord. St Christophers has 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. A hostel that gets lots of good crits is the Loft, in the 20th arrondissement. It's not quite central, but 500 metres from the metro, clean and comfortable, and offers cheap dorm accommodation or rooms, and free breakfasts. It’s the facilities that make these hostels popular with backpackers and budget travelers alike. Nice hostles Most hostels in Nice
are right in the city center, but the original Villa
St Exupéry hostel 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. 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. The Villa St. Exupery beach 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, air-conditioned rooms, a cheap bar serving drinks for €1 and a restaurant serving home-cooked pizzas. Lyon hostelsIt’s easy to find hostels in Lyon, a UNESCO world heritage site, but this scenic city also offers a wide choice of budget hotels. One convenient modern budget hotel is the Première Classe, right near La Part Dieu station, where the TGVs and airport rail link come in. This is a large modern hotel with air conditioning and a car park.Alternatively 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. Other citiesThis 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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