Hotels in France range from intimate locally-owned inns to popular chains to splendid and impressive castles turned hotels. Here is a primer on hotels in France, from France's hotel rating system to various hotel options to the cheapest times to stay at a hotel to choosing the right hotel for you.
Hotel Options in France
There is a dizzying array of hotel choices when you're planning a visit to France. If you like the familiar, you will encounter many household hotel names like Best Western and Hilton. If you prefer a more authentic local experience, you can rent a gite or stay with a French family in a chambre d'hote (or bed and breakfast). There are also, thankfully, a wide variety of options depending on your budget.
Choosing a Hotel in France
France hotels are rated by the government for a wide variety of key features, which helps tourists decide whether to book a room or not. Which type of hotel, and even which location, that you choose is a very personal decision. For some, the right answer is an upscale four-star hotel in a big city. For others, a quaint logis de France countryside inn serving up a tremendous meal is a better option.
How to Book a Hotel in France
There are seemingly endless options for booking a hotel room in France. In some ways, using sites such as Kayak is helpful because you can compare rates from a wide variety of booking sites. You can also get links directly to the hotel web site itself. There are also many benefits to using popular booking engines such as Venere and Expedia, such as extensive user reviews and deals on rooms.
Top Hotels in France
There are hundreds and hundreds of hotels in France, so finding the best one isn't easy. Keep an eye on the main
Where to Stay in France page for top picks and recommendations.
France Hotel Budget Tips
France hotel costs can easily eat up most of your travel budget, but there are many ways to reduce this cost. You can book a travel package in your home country's currency to avoid concerns about exchange rate fluctuations, for example. Another major way to save when booking a France hotel is to simply visit during the off-season, when hotels deeply discount their rates. You also need not assume that more is better, as many low-cost hotel options are actually rich in personality and service.
Alternatives to Hotels in France
Although most people prefer to stay in hotels, believe it or not the option of camping is not one to be dismissed immediately. In France, campgrounds have a similar government rating system to hotels. Also, a four-star campground will typically have far more amenities and be much cheaper than a two-star or even three-star hotel, such as pools, hot tubs, free internet, on-site restaurants, and more. If your budget will be tight, consider camping as a reasonable alternative to a France hotel.
