Here at EuroCheapo, we’re obviously big fans of budget hotels. But we’re even bigger fans of budget hotels with that “special something.”
In our 29 city guides, you’ll find more than 1,200 reviews of budget-friendly hotels, each one inspected and photographed by one of our editors. Some are listed simply because they’re cheap and clean. Others, however, boast something else. They might be blessed with an incredible locatieron. Or perhaps they have a surprising theme or impressive style.
These hotels offer travelers something unique and yet they still manage to be affordable. We believe they deserve a little special attention.
Choosing the “Cheapo 100”
Thus, this year we created the “Cheapo 100,” a ranking of our five favorite properties in 20 cities. In each city, we chose one winning hotel for the following five categories: “Super Cheapo,” Best Location, Most Unique, Best Budget Style, and Best B&B or Guesthouse.
Selecting the winning hotels was not easy and resulted in lively debate here at EuroCheapo headquarters. In certain circumstances, we had three or four great contenders for one award.
And then there was the question of preference. After all, how do you define the “best location” in a city like Paris? Is it facing Notre Dame (Hotel Esmeralda) or steps from the Place des Vosges (Hotel Jeanne d’Arc)? Oh, wait – what about next to the Eiffel Tower (Eber Mars)?
You might say we suffered an embarrassment of Cheapos. But fear not, all hotels will have another shot for next year’s awards.
Without further ado, EuroCheapo proudly presents the 2010 “Cheapo 100”:
Amsterdam
The following hotels were selected from our Amsterdam guide:
Best Location
Hotel Museumzicht
Doubles: $70 – $149
When the museums are this close, you need not limit yourself to admiring them from your hotel windows.
Barcelona
The following hotels were selected from our Barcelona guide:
Super Cheapo
Hostal Centric
Doubles: $56 – $133
This hostal is simple and appeals to the young backpacker as much as it does the more conservative traveler.
Best Location
Hosteria Grau
Doubles: $84 – $125
Located at the intersection of two bustling pedestrian streets in the center of the city, the Grau is an island of tranquility surrounded by constant action.
Most Unique
Hotel Peninsular
Doubles: $78
This former monastery features an interesting web of twisting balconies, zigzagging stairwells, and full-on sensory stimulation.
Best Budget Style
Hostal Goya
Doubles: $107 – $125
All rooms at the Hostal Goya follow the same contemporary-meets-opulence style imperative.
Best B&B, Pension or Guesthouse
Hostal Fernando
Doubles: $72 – $90
An easy central location? Check! Roomy, clean space, and helpful staff? Check and check!
Berlin
The following hotels were selected from our Berlin guide:
Super Cheapo
Circus Hostels Weinbergsweg and Rosa-Luxemburgstrasse
Doubles: $51 – $63
If Mitte’s long-running Circus Hostel had a tagline, it would be: “budget-friendly and stylish aren’t strange bedfellows.”
Best Location
Hotel Taunus
Doubles: $90 – $118
Sitting pretty in the bulls-eye of Mitte, the Hotel Taunus offers surprise-free rooms that won’t break the bank.
Most Unique
Michelberger
Doubles: $90
“Kitschy-cool,” “flea market-chic,” and “gritty-glam” are the top contenders for describing this 2009 addition to the city’s design hotel scene.
Best Budget Style
ackselhaus & bluehome
$179 – $203
The ackselhaus and bluehome are exotic escapes in the heart of Berlin.
Best B&B, Pension or Guesthouse
Hotel-Pension Dittberner
Doubles: $116 – $159
The 21-room Pension Dittberner stands out from the pension crowd with its museum-like breakfast room, old-fashioned library and and art-filled rooms.
Next Page: Bruges, Brussels and Copenhagen
Bruges
The following hotels were selected from our Bruges guide:
Super Cheapo
‘T Keizershof
Doubles: $53
Located along the walk into town from the train station, the small ‘T Keizershof is pure cheapo
Best Location
Martin’s Brugge
Doubles: $94 – $191
Martin’s Brugge is a sprawling 172-room chain hotel located right behind the belfry tower at Markt Square.
Most Unique
B&B Degraeve
Doubles: $72 – $84
The B&B offers two jaw-dropping rooms packed with dolls, mannequins and installation art.
Best Budget Style
B&B Lut En Bruno Setola
Doubles: $78 – $96
The Bed and Breakfast Lut En Bruno Setola has a winning location and attractive, art-themed rooms.
Best B&B, Pension or Guesthouse
Koen & Annemie Dieltiens Debruyne
Doubles: $72 – $96
The Koen & Annemie Dieltiens Debruyne is a welcoming three-room B&B where art rules.
Brussels
The following hotels were selected from our Brussels guide:
Super Cheapo
Residence Les Ecrins
Doubles: $72 – $107
The Residence Les Ecrins attracts a crowd that has graduated from hostels but still wants an inexpensive (and comfortable) room.
Best Location
Saint Michel
Doubles: $102 – $179
The 14-room Hotel Saint Michel, situated directly on the Grand Place, screams, “Location!”
Most Unique
Welcome Hotel
Doubles: $119 – $287
With every room named after a different country, the place is packed with international personality.
Best Budget Style
La Legende
Doubles: $107 – $215
The hotel’s side entrance into an almost Zen-like loband most crowded—corners of London’s West End.
Most Unique
easyHotel
Doubles: $63 – $79
easyHotel functions in a manner almost identical to easyJet.
Best Budget Style
Stylotel
Doubles: $123
In design terms, Paddington’s 39-room Stylotel is utterly unique.
Best B&B, Pension or Guesthouse
Arosfa Hotel
Doubles: $130
The 15-room Arosfa is a gem, offering rooms a clear cut above others in the Gower Street guesthouse tangle.
Next Page: Milan, Munich and New York
Milan
The following hotels were selected from our Milan guide:
Super Cheapo
Eva
Doubles: $60 – $113
The one-star Eva is a great deal just around the corner from the bustling Corso Buenos Aires.
Best Location
Aurora
Doubles: $84 – $168
The Aurora has a topnotch location directly on the bustling Corso Buenos Aires.
Most Unique
Nuovo Marghera
Doubles: $66 – $260
The Hotel Nuovo Marghera is not only within walking distance of Da Vinci’s masterpiece, The Last Supper, but it’s also got an art gallery of its own.
Best Budget Style
Garda
Doubles: $90 – $269
The Hotel Garda may blend in with the dozens of accommodations in the area, but on the inside it’s the true budget gem on the block.
Best B&B, Pension or Guesthouse
Arno
Doubles: $48 – $90
Rooms are quite cute and cozy, with light pressed wood, big, fluffy comforters and the kind of artwork you’d snatch up at a cool flea market.
Munich
The following hotels were selected from our Munich guide:
Super Cheapo
Pension Haydn
Doubles: $60 – $90
Quiet and inexpensive, the pension is an especially good option for mature (read: post-backpacker) penny-pinchers.
Best Location
Pension Lindner
Doubles: $77 – $102
Pension Lindner is minutes from the Viktualienmarkt and Marienplatz, both of which are among Munich’s most vibrant tourist attractions.
Most Unique
Uhland
Doubles: $97 – $239
Hotel Uhland is a four-star, family-run hotel housed in a fabulously grand mansion.
Best Budget Style
Hotel Astor
Doubles: $113 – $125
The 46 rooms are a hybrid of folksy and modern decorative touches.
Best B&B, Pension or Guesthouse
Hotel Gästehaus Englischer Garten
Doubles: $90 – $203
Located inside the English Gardens (Munich’s largest park), the Hotel Gästehaus Englischer Garten seems plucked from a fairytale.
New York
The following hotels were selected from our New York guide:
Super Cheapo
Seafarers & International House
Doubles: $104 – $135
Run by the Evangelical Lutheran Church as a sanctuary for sailors, the Seafarers and International House is a real budget-friendly find.
Best Location
Ameritania Hotel New York
Doubles: $229 – $399
The Ameritania is an elegant three-star hotel located at 54th and Broadway.
Most Unique
The Jane
Doubles: $99
It’s a remarkable hotel both aesthetically and conceptually.
Best Budget Style
Thirty Thirty
Doubles: $175 – $399
Take a prime Midtown East location, add a deluxe reception area with silvery tiles, and finish off with sparsely decorated, minimalist-oriented rooms. The result: a stylish, somewhat showy hotel.
Best B&B, Pension or Guesthouse
East Village Bed & Coffee
Doubles: $135 – $155
The ethos is communal, funky and friendly.
Next Page: Nice, Paris and Prague
Nice
The following hotels were selected from our Nice guide:
Super Cheapo
Regence
Doubles: $75 – $107
The two-star Hotel Regence offers 60 attractive rooms at reasonable rates.
Best Location
Hotel Solara
Doubles: $66 – $126
Perhaps the hotel’s best feature is its location on the Rue de France. The sea is close enough to smell and you’re only a short walk away from Old Town.
Most Unique
Excelsior
Doubles: $84 – $191
The three-star beauty is a good pick for a romantic indulgence.
Best Budget Style
Grimaldi
Doubles: $113 – $191
This well-situated hotel mixes 19th-century elegance with modern comforts and a prime location.
Best B&B, Pension or Guesthouse
Nice Garden
Doubles: $78 – $132
The Nice Garden Hotel offers a charming B&B feel and reasonably priced rooms in the city’s bustling commercial district.
Paris
The following hotels were selected from our Paris guide:
Super Cheapo
Hotel Tiquetonne
Doubles: $66
The Hotel Tiquetonne is a massive, creaky and fabulously feminine place, providing 45 homey rooms at very low rates.
Best Location
Hotel Esmeralda
Doubles: $113 – $131
With a “magnifique” location directly across the Seine from Notre Dame, the Hotel Esmeralda offers 16 funky rooms.
Most Unique
Hotel de Nesle
Doubles: $90 – $119
The one-star Hotel del Nesle is a unique place with a sense of humor… and history.
Best Budget Style
Mama Shelter
Doubles: $106 – $238
For this Mama, eclectic design reigns supreme.
Prague
The following hotels were selected from our Prague guide:
Super Cheapo
Little Town
Doubles: $56 – $74
Little Town is a well-equipped and super-affordable option in a fabulous location.
Best Location
U Lilie Pension
Doubles: $96 – $115
Situated practically around the corner from Charles Bridge, the two-star U Lilie Pension offers 15 basic rooms.
Most Unique
Sax
Doubles: $159 – $312
The four-star Sax in Mála Strana is zany, colorful and unique.
Best Budget Style
Dahlia Inn
Doubles: $47 – $119
The Dahlia Inn offers eight homey rooms that are purple, green, and funky—and we loved them!
Best B&B, Pension or Guesthouse
Castle Steps
Doubles: $44 – $130
The Castle Steps boasts a location near the Prague Castle, 60 attractive rooms, and amenities that exceed the hotel’s two-star classification.
Next Page: Riga, Rome and Stockholm
Riga
The following hotels were selected from our Riga guide:
Super Cheapo
Radi Un Draugi
Doubles: $62 – $88
The three-star Radi un Draugi hotel is a great deal, with a prime spot in the center of Old Town, and offers 76 comfortable rooms at very reasonable rates.
Best Location
Kolonna Hotel Riga
Doubles: $72 – $110
A pretty three-star hotel located between St. Peter’s Church and Dom Square, the Kolonna is an affordable and super-central pick.
Most Unique
Ekes Konvents
Doubles: $66 – $102
Ekes Konvents dates back hundreds of years, when a cluster of buildings was transformed into religious housing.
Best Budget Style
Centra
Doubles: $108 – $144
The Centra offers rooms with modern décor and plenty of amenities at reasonable rates.
Best B&B, Pension or Guesthouse
B&B Riga
Doubles: $60 – $78
B&B Riga offers 25 well-kept and convenient apartments that will appeal to budget travelers.
Rome
The following hotels were selected from our Rome guide:
Super Cheapo
Hotel Pensione Papa Germano
Doubles: $60 – $125
With its great location, helpful service and low prices, the Papa Germano is a solid choice for budget travelers.
Best Location
Hotel Modigliani
Doubles: $137 – $233
The three-star Hotel Modigliani is sandwiched between the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain and the Villa Borghese.
Most Unique
Suore di Elisabetta
Doubles: $127
The friendly nuns of the Suore di S. Elisabetta open 35 guestrooms in their convent to anyone who doesn’t mind a curfew (or sleeping under a crucifix).
Best Budget Style
Daphne Inn Veneto
Doubles: $119 – $263
It’s not exactly cheapo, but the chic décor and central location could be worth shelling out for.
Best B&B, Pension or Guesthouse
Hotel Boccaccio
Doubles: $96 – $119
The quiet hotel has been owned by the same family since 1937 and is currently run by the friendly Patrizia.
Stockholm
The following hotels were selected from our Stockholm guide:
Super Cheapo
City Backpackers
Doubles: $80
Located just a couple minutes away from Central Station and the center of Stockholm, City Backpackers is the perfect place for, well, backpackers.
Best Location
Scandic Malmen
Doubles: $159 – $255
The 332-room Scandic Malmen is situated kitty-corner to Medborgarplatsen in Södermalm, one of the most trafficked squares in Stockholm.
Most Unique
Rex Petit
Doubles: $80 – $135
The 20-room Rex Petit is housed in the basement of the pricier Rex Hotel.
Best Budget Style
Hellsten
Doubles: $147 – $258
The four-star Hellsten is a splurge-worthy stunner with unique décor.
Best B&B, Pension or Guesthouse
Hotel Anno 1647
Doubles: $112 – $386
If you walk through the arched entrance of the historically-protected structure, you’ll find a beautiful little courtyard.
Next Page: Venice and Vienna
Venice
The following hotels were selected from our Venice guide:
Super Cheapo
San Samuele
Doubles: $60 – $144
With dark wood walls and oriental rugs, the San Samuele pushes an antique mystique—for cheap.
Best Location
Hotel Ai Do Mori
Doubles: $60 – $180
The closest thing to sleeping inside San Marco’s Cathedral is cheaper than you thought!
Most Unique
Casa per Ferie Santa Maria della Pieta
Doubles: $104 – $117
Founded by the Franciscans in 1346 as a home for abandoned children and single mothers, the Casa per Ferie Santa Maria della Pieta knows darn well how to make you feel at home.
Best Budget Style
Al Ponte Mocenigo
Doubles: $107 – $191
Both Superior and Standard rooms are styled to Venetian perfection.
Best B&B, Pension or Guesthouse
Albergo Doni
Doubles: $72 – $143
A modest 13-room, family-run pension, the Albergo Doni resides in an early 19th-century building.
Vienna
The following hotels were selected from our Vienna guide:
Super Cheapo
Dr. Geissler
Doubles: $48 – $120
The Dr. Geissler hits all the right notes, from its quiet Innere Stadt location to its inexpensive rooms and family-run feel.
Best Location
Hotel zur Wiener Staatsoper
Doubles: $137 – $179
Just two blocks from the Opera and ten minutes from the Stephansdom, the three-star Hotel zur Weiner Staatsoper has a friendly staff and competitive rates.
Most Unique
Hotel Rathaus
Doubles: $177 – $236
Each room at the design hotel Rathaus is impeccably decorated and named after an Austrian winemaker.
Best Budget Style
Baronesse-My Secret Home
Doubles: $133 – $193
The Baronesse’s sleek rooms in the heart of charming Josefstadt are some of our favorites.
Best B&B, Pension or Guesthouse
Pension Kraml
Doubles: $67 – $91
The two-star family-run Pension Kraml is just far enough from the fray to feel quiet, but close enough to feel vibrant and urban.