I mentioned in a recent piece how difficult it seems to find a decently located, clean, somehow affordable hotel room in Paris. By affordable I mean under $200 per night for a family of 4.
Price is not everything if what you save on the room will be eaten by transportation costs to and from the hotel plus time lost traveling.
I will be spending only a little more than 24 hours in Paris so location matters.
Since my train from Toulouse to Paris arrives at Gare d'Austerlitz, I looked for something nearby.
One of them was Ibis Styles Bercy Village 12eme, Nearest metro is Cour St Emilion on Line 14 of Paris Subway which takes you to Station Chatelet in 2 stops.
Slightly more central, Ibis Bastille Faubourg St Antoine in Bastille-Republique area, only 300 meters from Ledru Rollin metro station. Outdoor terrace might be a plus. Price for 4 on date I am interested in is $204.03.
Between these 2, it's a toss up.
Third hotel I have my eyes on is Ibis Hotel Toulouse Centre near Place Jeanne d'Arc for my last night in Toulouse as it is within walking distance from Matabiau train station where I will be catching train to Paris.
A room for 2 on that date in Ibis Toulouse Centre will cost $72.20 per night, breakfast is an extra $11.
Until I spoke to the Ibis team in Paris, I had not realized that each hotel under the Ibis Styles banner has its own personality even though all Ibis Styles have traveling families in mind.
I will share my firsthand impressions on whatever location I choose to stay in early September.
(*Ibis Hotels logo from Ibis Hotels Facebook page)