When I first moved to France in 2013, my definition of “affordable” was paying nothing at all, so I hitchhiked and couch-surfed my way around the country. Thankfully, now that I’m no longer a student, I have the luxury of shelling out for a bed — but I’ve still got an eye for a bargain. I moved to France permanently in 2021, where my work as a guidebook and travel writer has taken me to all areas of the country, often on a very limited budget. Views over Mont Blanc, aperitifs among vineyards or golden sand tickling your toes as soon as you step outside — it’s all possible, with starting rates under £170. Here’s our pick of the best affordable hotels in France.
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1. Amama Baita, Hendaye, Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Best for foodies
It’s tricky to find a prettier setting or warmer welcome in France than at the Amama Baita, a ramshackle Basque farmhouse rescued by two young Parisians. The four private rooms and a dormitory combine timeless simplicity with objects collected from the owners’ travels. Panoramic sea views stretch over the Atlantic from the hilltop vantage point, and just ten minutes by road is the surf town of Hendaye, on the border with Spain. The home-cooked breakfast, which changes daily, is worth booking a stay for in itself.
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2. Hôtel Les Rhodos, La Clusaz, Haute-Savoie
Best for the great outdoors
At the top of the Col des Aravis pass, with views over Mont Blanc, Hôtel Les Rhodos presides over an adventure playground no matter the season. In the winter, the ski resort of La Clusaz is on your doorstep and in summer, some of the finest hiking trails in the Alps go right through here (pick up locally made Beaufort or Reblochon for your packed lunch). Rooms are vibrant and characterful, each with a different theme, such as music, travel or sport — and the restaurant is excellent.
3. Domaine du Château de Monrecour, Dordogne
Best for château lifestyle
Just ten minutes from the Medieval town of Sarlat, this castle was built by the lords of Beynac more than 500 years ago. It’s now a 30-hectare estate with two heated swimming pools, and in terms of beauty the château and grounds rival their surroundings of the Dordogne river and an abundance of vineyards. Visible from the grounds of Monrecour is its renowned neighbour, the Château de Milandes, which was owned in the 20th century by the celebrated American-born French dancer and singer Josephine Baker.
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4. Mama Shelter, Lille
Best for social living
A brand found all over France, Mama Shelter was made for those who like to mingle. It’s best thought of as a hostel for grown-ups, which means the events schedule is always lively, and Lille’s city-centre branch is no exception with regular DJ sets and live music to entertain locals and tourists alike. The rooms are bright and the cocktails even brighter, perfect to be enjoyed over a game of chess on the patio. Staff live up to the well-deserved reputation of the Lillois for exceptionally friendliness.
5. Maison Doucet, Charolles, Saône-et-Loire
Best for champagne luxury at lemonade prices
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A Relais & Châteaux property in the heart of southern Bourgogne, Maison Doucet offers exceptional value for money. Set on the banks of the Saône, framed by vineyards and with a heated swimming pool to bathe in year-round, it feels like a true escape from the world. Top of the menu here, though, is the food. Chef Frédéric Doucet grew up here, and takes immense pride in serving beautifully presented seasonal, local produce to his guests.
6. Hôtel Lemon, Menton, Alpes-Maritimes
Best for a scented garden
In February, during Menton’s annual Lemon Festival, the air smells like sherbert; but at Hôtel Lemon it smells like that all year round. It’s a small, boutique hotel just outside the old town and the rooms are simple but impeccably furnished — but it’s the courtyard garden that captivates the senses. Lemon trees, banana trees and palms shade guests as they have breakfast — which, with Menton’s microclimate, is possible alfresco for the majority of the year.
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7. Hôtel Dalí, Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales
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Best for art lovers
Bold, colourful and just a little eccentric, in keeping with its name, the Dalí Hotel would be worth a visit even without the sights of underrated Perpignan on your doorstep. With an extensive wine cellar, a great-value restaurant with beautifully presented dishes and a mishmash of sculpture, art and stained glass, it’s a little like staying in an art gallery. On your doorstep is historic Perpignan, former stronghold of the kings of Mallorca and haunt of eminent artists including Dalí and Picasso. It has much to reward curious travellers.
8. Hôtel Orphée, Paris
Best for solo travellers
Hôtel Orphée provides modern, minimalistic and meticulously soundproofed rooms in the heart of Paris’s 5th arrondissement — and it has the all-too-rare bonus of single rooms, still with generously sized beds, sidestepping the solo traveller’s dilemma of whether to pay double or opt for a hostel. It’s just minutes from the Jardin des Plantes, a historic botanical garden, zoo and home of the National Museum of Natural History. Proof that good things come in small packages.
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9. Hôtel le Nautile, Île d’Oléron, Charente-Maritime
Best for colourful character
Just south of La Rochelle, the island of Oléron is so flat it seems like a miracle that the sea hasn’t swallowed it up. Colourful timber fishing huts look as though a child got free rein with poster paints, sand dunes melt gently down to meet the Atlantic and most people ditch the car in favour of a bike. Hôtel le Nautile is just 150m from a picture-perfect beach, but has a lovely little pool if even that seems too far. The rooms are simple but aesthetically pleasing, all in nautical blue and white, and nothing is too much trouble for the amicable owners.
10. Hôtel aux Tamaris, Roscoff, Finistère
Best for salty sea dogs
In Roscoff, northern Finistère, the ivy-covered façade of Hôtel aux Tamaris sits right on the sea wall. The views are unparalleled, across to Île de Batz and granite rocks sprinkled into the Channel like crumbs scattered by a gigantic hand. The interior is bedecked with nautical spoils — oars, ships’ wheels and even sails used as headboards.
11. Villa Fol Avril, Perche Regional Park, Orne
Best for country life
A slice of rural France which seems untouched by time, the Perche is in fact under two hours from Paris Montparnasse. In the sleepy little hamlet of Moutiers-au-Perche, Villa Fol Avril, once a 19th-century coaching inn, has been lovingly restored as a boutique hotel. There are just 12 rooms, and much of the decor was sourced from local antiques shops. There’s plenty to do for active visitors, with great walks, bike rides and horse riding all on the doorstep, and an outdoor heated pool to relax in afterwards.
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