Unlike in Brussels, I was able to find my hotel in Paris, the Hotel Monte Carlo, with not just relative ease, but actual ease. Once I arrived in Paris by train, the stop closest to the hotel was only four stops away and the hotel was less than a five-minute walk from that stop.
I arrived too early to check-in, but the hotel allowed me to store my belongings and gave me a map to Paris. The check-in was very quick and friendly and, this is a big plus for cheap European hotels, it had an elevator, so I didn’t have to lug my gear up four flights of stairs.
The room was very clean. It also was small, but not too small. There was a bed, a desk, a fan (which came in handy) and a sink. The room I stayed in did not have a bathroom en suite, but this was not too much of an inconvenience other than the noise of people roaming the halls.
The neighborhood was fantastic. The hotel was very close to two metro stops serving three lines. The street I was on connected was like the middle line of an H connecting two much busier streets. All along each of these streets were bars, cafes and various other types of shops. One thing I found tremendously convenient was a little market across the street from my hotel that had among the only good values I saw while in Paris. I ended up eating or drinking in several of the places up the street (Rue de Faubourg Montmartre) and really enjoyed the vibe.
The staff was very friendly and helpful. The hotel had free wireless internet which, like the other places I went, tended to go out for periods of time, but fewer periods of time here than I experienced at other places. The free continental breakfast was very basic: croissants and bread, cereal and coffee or tea. That was okay, though because it was good enough and there was plenty of other food around Paris (ham and cheese sandwiches, in case you haven’t been following) that I wanted to eat.
Besides convenience, I picked this hotel because of the price, which came out to around $95/night. By any standards, that would be a good deal. By Paris standards, it was pretty damn great. They also have rooms with en suite bathrooms, as well, they are more expensive, of course.
One problem I did have was the noise. Like the other hotels I’ve stayed in here, there was no air conditioning and it was a little warm at night. I could open the window to the street, but it was a very busy street and quite noisy. After being awakened early two evenings in a row, I abandoned the open window and used the fan that was provided in the hotel. That turned out to be just the ticket, though the hallways were noisy as well, especially in the evenings. I don’t know if others had doors that were difficult to shut or if other guests were just oblivious to the fact that people might be sleeping at 2 am, but doors seemed to slam at all hours of the night.
Overall, if you’re looking for Paris on a budget, I would recommend this hotel. The location and price alone are well worth a stay.
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