Grand Hotel du Loiret

Located on the rue des Mauvais Garcons (“Street of the Bad Boys”!), the Grand Hotel du Loiret offers fresh, three-star rooms at reasonable rates. However, look elsewhere if you plan to stay out late (or in any way live up to the street’s name).

The Grand Hotel du Loiret’s 25 guestrooms, which go for about €229 per night, have been recently renovated, and the results are clean and modern, with a few interesting touches. Walls are creamy and light and accented with punchy bits of wallpaper. Modular desks sit on parquet floors, and photos of old Paris hang here and there.

All rooms face the street, and thus have neighborhood views and get plenty of natural light. All are equipped with soundproof windows, a flat-screen TV, and telephone. Wi-Fi is free, and functions throughout the hotel (although previous guests have complained about occasional problems with the connection).

The private bathrooms were also renovated and now boast attractive and colorful tiling. Showers and bathtubs are available, and all provide a hair dryer.

The Loiret includes a decent-sized lift (for Paris), as well as a small lounge outfitted with lush plants, a flat-screen television, and swanky modern décor.

Breakfast is served in a cave-like basement dining room for €13, and includes croissants, baguettes, cheeses, jams, coffee/tea and juices.

One hotel policy that is especially important to point out: The hotel is serious about its 1 a.m. curfew. We talked, what seemed, in circles with the receptionist during our visit about this policy. It appears that guests can come and go freely until 1 a.m., at which point the hotel’s door is locked. There will still be someone here who, in theory, could let you back in, but you’re not encouraged to take them up on it (and once you’re back in, you’d better not try to re-emerge).

"The hotel is for sleeping, not for partying," explained the receptionist. Given its location near several of the city’s most famous gay bars, we couldn’t help feeling that the hotel was all but asking that those looking to "make Mary" go elsewhere. We’d second that.

Location

As mentioned above, the hotel is located in the heart of the trendy, gay Marais. It’s within minutes to countless restaurants, cafés, bars (gay and straight) and shopping opportunities (including the famous BHV department store, one block away). If you're looking for a itinerary for the day, check out our post on a "Cheapo day in the Marais."

Another of our favorite super-Cheapo hotels (with far fewer perks) is the one-star Hotel Rivoli, located just three doors down the street.

Metro: The hotel is located a three-minute walk to the Hotel de Ville station (lines 1 and 11).