Do Paris on a Budget

Q: I am going to spend a week in Paris in June this year and I’m looking for single accommodation in the price range of 40 - 50 Euros. The area is of no importance, as long it is near a Metro station. Can you help me? - Greta Bunn

A: You may find it pretty difficult to good accommodation in Paris on your budget. However, seeing you are staying for a week, you can opt to rent a room or apartment which will give you far better value for money. There are plenty of websites to try, all offering different standards of accommodation for varying prices. One of those worth trying is www.housetrip.com. I did a quick scan and found that although most apartments are out of your price range, there are a number of affordable apartments in great locations. For example, you can get a studio apartment near the Moulin Rouge for 49 Euros (R494) per night. The apartment can sleep four and offers a 10 percent discount for stays of more than five nights. Within minutes of a Metro station, this apartment seems to be a real bargain for a room in the heart of old Paris. Another great deal was a studio in Rueil-Malmaison for 35 Euros (R353) per night. It sleeps two and has Internet and cooking facilities. If you would prefer a hotel, you could try the Au Royal Mad, which is located only 300 metres from the Voltaire Metro Station and 10 minutes walk from the Place de la Bastille. Rooms are simple, but have television. A single room with a shared bathroom costs from 40 Euros (R403) on www.booking.com. Another hotel on this website worth considering is the Victory Galou, a 27-room hotel near Gare du Nord. The nearest Metro station is 280 metres from the hotel. Rates for a standard single room start at 39 Euros (R393) including taxes. (19/2/12)