Hotel Marignan

Located in the Latin Quarter on the quiet rue du Sommerard, just one block south of the Boulevard St-Germain, the one-star Hotel Marignan offers simple rooms with notable extras, like free kitchen and laundry use. It’s a classic "cheapo pick."

Quick read

Pros: Free breakfast, kitchen and laundry. Wide range of room offerings. Friendly, hospitable owners.
Cons: Basic room amenities. No elevator.

Rooms

The Marignan’s rooms run a wide range, from singles with shared bath to five-person rooms with private baths. The simplest rooms are equipped with only a sink and share a toilet and shower in the hall (which are cleaned throughout the day). More expensive rooms have private facilities (nicely tiled and with a hair dryer).

Room décor is minimal, with carpeted floors and newly painted walls. Restored crown moldings, however, lend a pleasingly old-fashioned touch. There are no telephones in the rooms, and most don’t have a TV either. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.

Hotel facilities

Aside from cheap rates and a good location, what makes the Marignan memorable are the extras. A continental breakfast is free (uncommon in Paris). A guest kitchen is free to use, and the hotel provides dishes and a fridge. A washer and dryer is also free to use, and the hotel even provides the soap!

The Hotel Marignan is run by brothers Roland and Paul, a helpful duo who post tourist information on a bulletin board in the entryway, including information about cheap things to do, affordable restaurants and more. Roland pointed out that the hotel has proudly welcomed gay, lesbian and other minority travelers for the past 40 years, way before it was trendy or made business sense to do so.

Note: The entire hotel is strictly non-smoking. The reception is open until 10:45 p.m. (after which guests have a key for re-entry). There is no elevator—and five floors of rooms. Request a lower floor when reserving, if this is an issue.