France - inexpensive hotel in paris

hi. looking for an affordable (for me, around $100 USD give or take) hotel in paris, no specific location but easily accessible to metro. dates are november 29 to december 4 2003. Have a reservation at the sheraton but don't want to use all my points and can't afford anything at that hotel anyway. Thinking of trying priceline, 'biddingfortravel' seems to indicate some success at 4-star hotels around $100/night? Will be flying into CDG airport so need reasonably priced transportation to hotel (i.e. not a $70 taxi). Would greatly appreciate any recommendations, thank you!
edited - hotels.com shows decent rates but I'm not familiar with any properties or reliability of their rating system. For example, Pavillon Opera Grands Blvd in "Opera/Grands Boulevards / Paris" says 3.5 stars at an average nightly rate of $99.20/night. Sounds right for me but have no way of knowing quality of hotel, how easily accessible from CDG airport (without taking a taxi), and accessibility to metro. Not looking for any special amenities, just a clean place, private bath, easily accessible (hopefully not asking for too much). Thanks.
-Jon


[This message has been edited by knobs5 (edited Nov 17, 2003).]

A lot of people on FT swear by this place: www.relais-bosquet.com (http://www.relais-bosquet.com)

I have a friend who loves this place, probably about $70 a night, just clean and basic. http://www.hotellouxorparis.com/

Sorry, I haven't stayed in either. I have rented an apartment or stayed at the Hilton the last several times I've been there.

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Jeff

[This message has been edited by ILuvParis (edited Nov 17, 2003).]

Try these:

http://www.hotel-collegedefrance.com/

http://hotels.parishotels.com/hotel-direct.php?hotel=74&lang=en

http://www.hotel-bastille-speria.com/

For transfers from/to CDG:

http://www.airport-connection.com/reservation-us.asp

http://www.parisairportservice.com/Site_Gb/Welcome.htm

http://www.hotel-leveque.com/

I liked this place a lot. They're showing 84 - 114 Euros for rooms with baths. The rate included breakfast when I was there. It's on a neat street--it's a market street that is pedestrians only except the occasional delivery truck. Clean & quiet, a block and a half off the subway, walking distance to the Eiffel Tower & Arche de Triumphe.

You can take the subway all the way from the airport, for much less than cab or shuttle. Good directions are available here on flyertalk, if you do a little search.

JP

"You can take the subway all the way from the airport, for much less than cab or shuttle."

Not quite accurate. The RER is the train from CDG...the B line, which comes nowhere near the stops close to Rue Cler. Changing from the RER to the Metro is required, and it looks like more than one Metro line is needed. If the OP has more than hand luggage, the rail/metro option can be a bear, because there are rush hour crowds, stairs, turnstiles, and long corridors to be dealt with. Even though it costs a little more, the advantage of the shuttle is you put your posterior in the seat of the van at the airport and you don't have to move it or think until you arrive at your hotel....a blessing after a long overnight flight.

The rue Cler area is popular with the Rick Steves crowd. That's not a criticism, just an observation. Good info about that area, and that hotel in particular, on his website.

Jon, here is a hotel that we frequently use in Paris that is very comfortable and quite reasonable:

http://www.grand-hotel-francais.fr/hten/

The rooms are small, but the place is very well-kept and a great value. It's a very nice neighborhood near Place de la Nation, which provides for great Metro access to all of Paris. It is not a tourist area, but an active, Parisien neighborhood near Le Marais with plenty of reasonably priced brasseries where you can eat, boulangeries, patisseries, etc. The manager speaks excellent English and is very helpful.

Since it is on the east side of the city, you won't have to worry about a $70 taxi ride (more like 35 Euros, if you choose to take a cab). Lower cost alternatives would include taking the RER from CDG and then switching over to the metro at Gare du Nord or sometimes I take the Air France bus to the Arc de Triomphe and then just grab the No. 1 metro line down to Place de la Nation.

If you go, let us know!