Les Bargain Beds
Marais/Republique
• Hotel Beaumarchais
Staying at the Hotel Beaumarchais is a bit like being in a Pop Art painting -- brightly colored vinyl armchairs fill the entryway, and Ikea-like furniture, splashy bathroom mosaics and Keith Haring prints adorn the 31 air-conditioned rooms. A back courtyard deck with potted trees and cedar furniture feels more Zen than Paris. The hotel's location on the northeast edge of the Marais, not far from the Picasso Museum, is the gateway to the hip student and immigrant neighborhoods off Rue Oberkampf.
3 Rue Oberkampf, 11th arrondissement. Metro: Filles du Calvaire or Oberkampf. Rates about $122. Info: 011-33-1-5336-8686, www.hotelbeaumarchais.com.
• Grand Hotel Jeanne-d'Arc
This hotel has an unbeatable location off the tranquil Place Sainte-Catherine, one of the city's lesser-known pedestrian squares. The 17th-century building has been a hotel for more than a century, and while the 36 rooms are on the spartan side, they are well maintained, fairly spacious and decorated in cheery pastel colors (some rooms facing the back are dimmer). The welcoming staff is informal and happy to recount the history of this former market quartier, now home to Marais cafe life and boutique shopping.
3 Rue de Jarente, 4th arrondissement. Metro: Saint-Paul. Rates about $98-$115. Info: 011-33-1-4887-6211, www.hoteljeannedarc.com.
• Hotel Caron de Beaumarchais
This hotel pays tribute to former next-door neighbor Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais, playwright of "The Marriage of Figaro." An 18th-century taste in fine wallpaper and upholstery, sparkling chandeliers, gilded mirrors and music stands abounds, mixed with modern touches like flat-screen TVs and Internet access. Rooms even include music stands -- and air conditioning. The dollhouse-like count and countess theme extends from the 19 rooms to the lobby, which is adorned with a fireplace, antique pianoforte and card table.
12 Rue Vieille du Temple, 4th arrondissement. Metro: Hotel-de-Ville. Rates about $147-$187. Info: 011-33-1-4272- 3412, www.carondebeaumarchais.com.
Grands Boulevards/ Montmartre
• Hotel Langlois
The 27 rooms at the Langlois, spacious by Paris standards, are decorated with belle epoque and art nouveau-era paintings, fabrics and furniture. Some -- such as No. 15 -- also have bathrooms fitted with glazed tile fireplaces and antique tubs, while others (Nos. 63 and 64) sport impressive views of Sacre Coeur. Though Rue Saint-Lazare feels removed from all the hubbub, it's only a 10-minute walk to the Opera Garnier and the shops along the Grands Boulevards, and 15 minutes to the foot of Montmartre.
63 Rue Saint-Lazare, 9th arrondissement. Metro: Trinite. Rates about $109-$122. Info: 011-33-1-4874-7824, www.hotel-langlois.com.
• Ermitage Hotel
With no Web site or room TVs, and refusing to accept credit cards, the modest "hermitage" sits in the shadow of Montmartre, far from the crowds. But this dozen-room mansion, run by the Canipel family, offers a B&B-like retreat with real person-to-person service. The mishmash of original Napoleon III armoires and chandeliers alongside various reproduction antiques and floral motifs only adds to this quirky but homey two-story hideaway. Some rooms have panoramic views of the northern suburbs.
© 2004 The Washington Post Company
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