Budget hotels in Europe

There was a request for alternative affordable places to stay (July ’12, pg. 67), so here are several that I’ve used in Europe in recent years.

FRANCE — Hôtel Reine Mathilde à Bayeux (23 rue Larcher, 14400 Bayeux, France; phone [33] 02 31 92 08 13, fax 92 09 93), in the Normandy region. €58 (near $72) for a double room in May ’11.

GERMANY — Gästehaus Alpenkranz (Angerstrasse 7, 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany; phone +49 [0] 8821 4217). An easy walk from the train station, this guest house is near a rushing mountain stream. The friendly owner, Heidi, will welcome you to her very clean rooms. €35 ($44) per person, with breakfast, in June ’11.

Hotel zur Post (Bodenseestrasse 4a, 81241 München, Germany; phone +49 [0] 8989 6950) — a short walk from the München-Pasing train station, which is an 11-minute ride from the center of Munich. A huge buffet breakfast was included in the price of €87 ($108) for a double or €111, triple, in June ’11. Air-conditioned rooms. CNN International on the TV.

GREECE — Attalos Hotel Athens (29, Athinas Str., Monastir­aki, 10554 Athens, Greece; phone +30 210 3212801, fax 3243124) is near the Plaka and the Monastiraki subway station, with a direct Metro to the airport. The rooftop bar has a great view of the Acropolis.

In May, June and September (high season), €72 ($90) for a double (€79 with a balcony); in July, August and October, €64 for a double (€71 with balcony). Rooms for three or four too.

Dendrinos Rooms-to-Rent (Galissas Beach, Syros, Greece; phone 011 302 2810 42469 or 302 10 823 9939) — near the beach on the island of Syros. All the rooms were very clean, each with A/C and a small refrigerator. €30-€40 for a double in May/June and September/October. The owner, Nana, was very friendly and helpful.

Hotel Irene (Paroikia, Paros Island, Greece; phone +30 22840 21476, fax 22840 22741) — on Paros. Irene or her daughter Helen will pick you up at the port and take you to the hotel, which is just across the road from the beach. Great sunset views. €45 for a double in 2010.

Samos Hotel (11 The. Sofoulli Str., Samos 83100, Greece; phone +30 22730 28377 or fax 28482) — right at the main port of Samos Town, aka Vathi, on Samos. I paid €65 for a double room in September ’10, including a buffet breakfast; it cost €80 for a triple with balcony. Rooftop swimming pool and bar.

TURKEY — Liman Hotel (Kuşadası Köyü 09400 Kuşadası/Aydin Province, Turkey; phone 0256 614 7770) is right next to the port for taking a boat to Samos. A very reasonably priced hotel — a room for four persons cost €55 per night in September ’09, including breakfast on the rooftop! In September ’10, a double cost €40. You can also eat dinner on the rooftop, which overlooks the cruise ships.

Apricot Hotel Istanbul (Amiral Tafdil Sok no 18/2 Sultanahmet, Istanbul, Turkey; phone 00 90 212 638 16 58, fax 212 458 35 74) — near the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia in the historic Old City. A double room cost €79 and a single, €69, in September ’10, including a big breakfast. If you stay three nights or more, airport pickup is free.

SPAIN — Hotel San Francisco (Calle Álvarez Quintero, 38 - 41004 Sevilla, Spain; phone/fax [+34] 95 450 15 41) is centrally located. My room had a big bathroom. €68 for a double or €80 for a triple in September ’09.

Hostal Acapulco (Salud St. No. 13, 4th Floor, 28013, Madrid, Spain; phone +34 91 531 1945). A double cost €64 and a triple, €83, in September ’09.

Father MARTY PETER
Columbus, IN