Budget Hotels France: My Guide to the Best Chains
After two holidays over the last 2 years of driving through France on our way to Portugal and Mallorca, I’ve stayed in quite a few budget hotel chains. Some nights were surprisingly comfortable, others left me wondering if I’d accidentally booked in at Fawlty Towers. If you’re planning a France road trip and need somewhere decent to rest your head without breaking the bank, this guide will save you from my mistakes. I will share the best budget hotels France has to offer, and some we didn’t rate at all!
Let me share the real story behind France’s budget hotel scene. I’ve tested six major chains. Think of this as your brutally honest friend telling you which cheap hotels France has to offer are actually worth your money.
The French budget hotel market works differently from the UK. While we’re used to the reliable comfort of Premier Inn or the basic clean Travelodge experience, French budget chains vary wildly in quality. Some will surprise you with their thoughtful touches, while others make you grateful for any hotel back home.
So, let’s look one by one at the budget hotels France has across the country that we have stayed in.
Ibis Budget
The Good
Ibis Budget feels like the French equivalent of Travelodge, but often cleaner and more modern. The rooms are small but well-designed, with everything you need and nothing you don’t. The beds are surprisingly comfortable for the price point.
You know exactly what you’re getting: a double bed, desk, and tiny bathroom. It’s budget accommodation done right.
The staff are generally helpful, and many locations offer 24-hour check-in, which is perfect when you’re doing long driving days. The breakfast is basic but adequate, think continental style with pastries, cereals, and coffee that won’t win awards but gets the job done.
The Bad
Space is tight. If you’re travelling with more than hand luggage, you’ll be playing Tetris with your bags. The walls can be thin, so light sleepers might struggle if you get noisy neighbours. Some older locations feel tired, though Ibis has been steadily refurbishing their properties.
What you need to know
UK Comparison: Similar quality to Travelodge but with less space. when looking for a budget hotel France is full of Ibis hotels so it is usually a good choice.
Price Range: €45-75 per night
Best For: Families wanting reliable, clean accommodation and budget hotels France has throughout the country.
Premiere Classe
The Good
When Premiere Classe gets it right, you’ll find genuinely pleasant surprises. Some renovated locations offer modern rooms with decent amenities at rock-bottom prices. The breakfast can be surprisingly good, and the customer service is good.
The Bad
This chain can be inconsistent. Some locations feel like they haven’t been updated since the 1980s, and some don’t even have air conditioning!
What you need to know
UK Comparison: Like staying at a Travelodge, that might be fantastic or terrible, depending on when it was last refurbished.
Price Range: €35-55 per night
Best For: Adventurous travellers who don’t mind taking chances for low prices
Contact Hotel: The Fawlty Towers Experience
The Good
Contact Hotel seems more like a youth hostel in some ways than a hotel. We stayed at one in Poitiers, and it was very dated, very tatty and essentially very similar to the hostel we stayed in on a French school trip in 1992! If you like that kind of cheap and budget, then it might be perfect for you. We saw people who had obviously stayed in their hotels before and were clearly happy, so I guess we just didn’t know what to expect, and they did!
The Bad
This is not one of the budget hotels France should pride themselves on in my experience!
We may have experienced a bad hotel, but the fact that other visitors didn’t seem surprised by the quality implies to me that we were in a typical Contact Hotel. Ours had broken fans in the rooms, the bathrooms were dated and very basic – ours didn’t have a working light! The wardrobe doors were hanging off, and the bed was uncomfortable with basic, thin pillows!
What you need to know
UK Comparison – like a hostel more than a hotel! In my opinion instead of coming up when you search for budget hotels France, it should be categorised under hostels!
Price Range: €40-70 per night
Best For: Families who want space and don’t mind poor standards when it comes to budget hotels!
Comfort Aparthotel
The Good
These aparthotels offer genuine apartment-style accommodation with kitchenettes, separate sleeping areas, and proper living spaces. Perfect for families or longer stays where you want to prepare your own meals occasionally. We stayed at a Comfort Aparthotel in Bordeaux.
The quality is generally high, with modern furnishings and good amenities. Many locations offer weekly rates that make extended stays very affordable. Having a fridge and basic cooking facilities is brilliant for family road trips.
The Bad
Prices can creep up, especially in peak season. Some locations require minimum stays of 2-3 nights. The kitchenettes are basic, don’t expect full cooking facilities, just microwaves and small fridges. That said for budget hotels France doesn’t have many with cooking facilities so this is a bonus in my eyes.
Daily housekeeping isn’t always included, which might bother some guests. The apartment-style setup means less hotel-like service.
Breakfast may be an added extra, but it is quite overpriced we found, compared to other hotels, and the choice was limited.
What you need to know
UK Comparison: Similar to Premier Inn’s family rooms but with kitchenette facilities, more space and functionality.
Price Range: €55-90 per night
Best For: Families planning longer stays or wanting self-catering options
Ibis Styles
The Good
Ibis Styles properties have personality. Each hotel has a unique design themes, from maritime styles in coastal towns to contemporary art in city centres. The rooms feel fresh and modern, often with local touches that make them memorable.
Service levels are higher than typical budget chains, and many locations offer proper restaurants rather than just breakfast rooms. The beds are consistently comfortable, and the bathrooms are well-designed.
The Bad
Prices sit at the top end of the budget range and sometimes creep into mid-range territory. The design themes can occasionally feel gimmicky rather than genuinely stylish.
What you need to know
UK Comparison – More like a good Holiday Inn Express, better design and service than typical budget chains.
Price Range: €60-95 per night
Best For: Couples or business travellers wanting style without luxury prices. These budget hotels France should be proud of, simple and easy.
Campanile
The Good
Every Campanile includes a restaurant, which is fantastic for evening meals without leaving the hotel. The food is typically solid French bistro fare, nothing spectacular but reliably good and reasonably priced.
Rooms are consistently comfortable with decent space and amenities. Many locations have been recently renovated and offer modern facilities. The chain has a reliable, professional feel throughout France.
Breakfast is usually above average for budget hotels, and the restaurant-bar areas are pleasant spaces to relax in the evening.
Rooms are accessed from outside individually, which suits people who arrive late or leave early. It also works well for smokers or those with pets to easily get outside. It is a good pet-friendly hotel in France and seems popular amongst dog owners, as almost every other bedroom seemed to have a dog! For budget hotels France doesn’t have many that are dog-friendly so I can see why this is so popular.
The Bad
Prices reflect the restaurant’s inclusion and can be higher than pure budget options. Some locations feel more business-focused than family-friendly. The design can be somewhat corporate and lacking in character.
Restaurant opening hours don’t always suit late arrivals or early departures, which can be frustrating on road trips.
What you need to know
UK Comparison – Similar to a good Travelodge with an attached restaurant, reliable but not exciting for budget hotels France.
Price Range: €50-80 per night
Best For: Travellers who want dinner on site and don’t mind paying slightly more
Practical Tips for Budget Hotels France
Book Direct When Possible
Many French budget chains offer better cancellation policies and sometimes lower prices when booking directly through their websites. That said, if you are a Booking Genius member, you may find a good discount that way!
Check Recent Reviews
Renovation schedules vary wildly. A hotel that was tired two years ago might be completely transformed, or vice versa. When looking at budget hotels France, be sure to check reviews of the actual hotel, not just the chain.
Consider Location Carefully
French budget hotels near motorway junctions are perfect for road trips but often lack nearby restaurants or attractions. City centre locations cost more but sometimes offer better dining options. Consider the cost of an Uber to the city centre as an alternative option.
Breakfast Strategies
Budget hotel breakfasts in France are often overpriced. Consider grabbing pastries and coffee from local bakeries instead; it’s cheaper and usually much better.
Making Smart Choices for Your France Road Trip
Your choice depends on priorities. If you want reliability above all else, stick with Ibis Budget. For potential bargains with higher risk, try Premiere Classe. For budget hotels, France has a good variety so have a look around and see what works for your route.
Remember that French budget hotels generally offer better value than their UK equivalents, but with more variation in standards. Don’t expect Premier Inn consistency across all properties.
The key to successful budget hotel stays in France is managing expectations and choosing chains that match your travel style. My two years of road tripping taught me that spending an extra €10-15 per night often transforms your experience from merely acceptable to genuinely pleasant.
Will you try any French hotels?
Budget hotels France don’t have to mean compromising on comfort. Armed with this knowledge, you can choose family-friendly hotels that suit your needs and avoid the genuine duds that still lurk in the French hotel landscape.
Whether you’re planning a quick overnight stop or a longer exploration of French regions, these chains offer reliable bases for your adventures. The key is knowing which properties to target and which to avoid, something that only comes from experience or advice from fellow travellers.
Pack your bags, plan your route, and remember that sometimes the best travel stories come from the most unexpected places. Even budget hotels can surprise you when you know what to look for. So, search budget hotels France in the area you need and see if any of these brands come up.
