Paris Hotel Crush: Hotel Tiquetonne
Oh, how I love Paris. And oh, how I love Hotel Tiquetonne. If you’re looking for a charming and cheap hotel smack dab in the heart of the city, it doesn’t get more classic than this Paris budget hotel.
From the moment I walked in, I felt like I was stepping back to another era. Everything feels quintessentially old-school Paris, from the tiny elevator and winding staircase, right down to the chunky metal room keys.
However, most importantly, what really takes you back are the super low prices that are almost unheard of in Paris today. Hotel Tiquetonne won me over with prices as low as €65 for a double room with a shared bathroom.
Each room keeps it refreshingly simple when it comes to decor. Photo: EuroCheapo
Simple rooms with charming touches
The room decor blends old-world charm with unintentional shabby-chic. The furniture and wallpaper won’t win any design awards, but the homey vibe was right up my alley and made me feel comfortable during my stay. You also won’t find flat-screen TVs (or any TVs, in fact), and the only modern perk that stands out is the Wi-Fi that worked pretty well, even up on the top floor.
If you’re feeling fancy, you can opt for a room with a private shower for €80 like I did. It’s important to note that you have to pop in a few coins to use the shared shower in the corridor, so I upgraded to avoid running out water right when I was lathering my hair.
If you do choose a room with a shared bathroom, note that the floors are small, so it’s never a long walk to the toilet in the middle of the night!
The winding stairs are fun to walk down, especially after a few glasses of wine. Photo: Craig Nelson
An incredible location for the price
And speaking of walking, Hotel Tiquetonne is just a two-minute walk from the Étienne Marcel Metro station (Line 4) and five minutes to the Châtelet – Les Halles RER station that takes you right to Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG) in about 45 minutes. However, with so many great neighborhoods to explore nearby, you don’t really need anything other than your two feet to get around.
The cobblestoned Rue Tiquetonne is as charming as the hotel. Photo: Craig Nelson
Just walk out your door and find yourself wandering down narrow cobblestone streets to make your way to some of the biggest attractions in Paris in no time. The Centre Pompidou, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Louvre are all 15 minutes or less on foot.
You can also easily walk to dozens of bars and restaurants. That’s what I did each morning to find a new cafe to start my day. You can opt for breakfast delivered to your room for €6.50, but if you’re like me, you can’t pass up a chance to spend a morning at a Parisian cafe. There’s nothing like grabbing an outdoor seat at a sidewalk table and watch the city wake up — looking ever so stylish of course.
When I wanted to check out the food scene in Paris, I would make my way down the block to vibrant Rue Montorgueil. Dotted with historic bakeries (check out Stohrer, one of the oldest pastry shops in the city), cafes with plenty of outdoor seating, and small retail shops selling everything from cheese to meat, this is one of the best Paris streets to enjoy a meandering stroll. In fact, Rue Montorgueil is one of the highlights in our “One Day in Paris” guide.
The desk was just big enough to hold my laptop, and even better, a bottle of wine! Photo: Craig Nelson
Brush up on your French
Knowing a little French can come in handy when dealing with the front desk. When I made my reservation by email, I had asked for a room facing the street. But when I checked in, I was told that I was getting a room in the back.
But as it turns out, I was very happy with that change of plans, because I had an amazing view of Sacre Coeur over the rooftops of the city from my window in room 701. When I had to catch up on a little work, I ran out to get a bottle of wine for a few euros (a no brainer) and set up my laptop on the small desk. Freelancing is so much easier with a view like that — and a few extra glasses of wine!
Booking at Hotel Tiquetonne
You can make reservations online, but only through the Hotel Tiquetonne website. I received an email confirmation, and I paid the full price of my three-night stay when I arrived.
Read our full review (with additional photos) of the Hotel Tiquetonne here.
Want to see more budget hotel picks? Check out this list of our recommended budget hotels in Paris.
The evening view of Sacre Couer out my window from Room 701. Photo: Craig Nelson
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