Each of these has that special combination of nightly rates at a good value, great locations, high customer ratings and enough essential amenities to ensure that you have a restful night’s sleep. Throw in a free English breakfast and we’re sold!

Our London Guide

• Read all hotel reviews

• Read ways to save in London

8 best budget hotels in London

Need to catch an early train? Alhambra offers a convenient location in King’s Cross. Photo: Booking.com

Alhambra Hotel

17-19 Argyle Street
Average nightly rate for a double: £87

The King’s Cross is filled with guesthouses, but you’ll find a budget-friendly and charming option in the Alhambra Hotel. It’s an especially helpful pick if you are getting into London or leaving super early or late. Breakfast is included in the nightly rate, and amenities abound: there’s free Wi-Fi, safes, coffee and tea facilities, flat-screen TVs, and more. (Read review)

Simple and sweet is the name of the game at St Athans Hotel.

St Athans Hotel

20-24 Tavistock Place
Average nightly rate for a double: £90

Situated in historic Bloomsbury, the family-run St Athans Hotel offers simple one-star rooms (with shared or private bathrooms) at rock-bottom rates. Most of the hotel’s 45 guestrooms share facilities and feature a sink and no other in-room amenities. A few rooms are equipped with private facilities, as well as a TV. (Read review)

Enjoy lush park views from your room at MacDonald Hotel. Photo: Booking.com

MacDonald

45 – 46 Argyle Square
Average nightly rate for a double: £93

Just a short walk from the British Library, the MacDonald is well-located in King’s Cross. Rooms may not charm you with their design, but they are clean and quiet and include TVs, fans, and coffee/tea makers. We recommend the front-facing rooms, which overlook a park. (Read review)

LSE Bankside House is only available in the summer, but rates are a steal.

LSE Bankside House (Summer Only)

24 Sumner Street
Average nightly rate for a double: £102

The LSE Bankside House is a London School of Economics dormitory, one of several open to the general public during summer months. All are well-priced for London, and Bankside has an enviable location next to the Tate Modern. Its 560 rooms are available in single, double, triple, and quad configurations. (Read review)

For a traditional English B&B experience, book a room at Hotel Meridiana.

Hotel Meridiana

43-44 Argyle Square
Average nightly rate for a double: £116

Situated in a smart, old-fashioned townhouse, this family-run two-star hotel has the charm of a traditional English B&B. The 25-room property is located on Argyle Square, a quiet street near King’s Cross Station and the British Library. Rooms are simple, but the location is convenient and the low rates include a full English breakfast. (Read review)

Cherry Court is an excellent cheapo find around the corner from Victoria Station with friendly owners that really appreciate their customers. Photo: EuroCheapo

Cherry Court Hotel

23 Hugh Street
Average nightly rate for a double: £134

With just 12 rooms near Victoria Station, the Cherry Court Hotel is a sweet and simple pick. Guests can enjoy the back patio kitchenette for prepping simple meals, plus a fresh breakfast basket delivered to your room each morning. Rooms and bathrooms can be a bit small, but they are spotless and well-equipped. (Read review)

The Celtic Hotel in Bloomsbury is one of our favorite budget hotels in Europe.

Celtic Hotel

61-63 Guilford Street
Average nightly rate for a double: £140

The Celtic Hotel is one of our favorite budget hotels in all of Europe. It boasts lovely proprietors, great rates, clean rooms, and a central location next to Russell Square in the heart of Bloomsbury. In short, it’s hard to find anything to complain about (aside from the difficulty of booking a room!). (Read review)

Enjoy some quiet time in the courtyard at 72QT.

72QT

72 Queensborough Terrace
Average nightly rate for a double: £194

The Latvian Guest House, also known as 72QT, is a surprising and somewhat hidden budget hotel near Hyde Park in Bayswater, offering 16 simple but well-maintained guestrooms. Free cooked breakfast, Latvian touches, and cheap rooms all add up to an excellent London cheapo stay. (Read review)

More hotel recommendations

Want to read more of our hotel picks for London? Check out all of our listings here, or click to see hotels in South Kensington, Bloomsbury, near Victoria Station, Paddington Station, and near Hyde Park.

The post Best budget hotels in London for 2026 appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

I know, traveling to Paris has never been exactly cheap, but there have always been ways to make it more affordable. Heck, my post on 47 ways to save on your trip to Paris breaks down little tips and tricks for saving on food, museums, getting around, and so on. But the city’s hotel rates have recently gone through the roof.

We should know — my team and I have been obsessively visiting, reviewing, and ranking the best budget hotels in Paris since 2001, when I launched the site with the mission of helping travelers find the very best central hotels in Paris that are actually affordable. We’ve seen charming hotels open, close, get rebooted as private apartment rentals, rebrand themselves as 4-star hotels. We’ve seen it all.

But post-COVID, we’ve seen some of our all-time favorite budget hotels close, and others have transformed themselves into something much, much more expensive. (Ironically, the rates might double, but the location and room size always stay the same!) And we understand, to a certain degree. Running a hotel was nearly impossible for a few years, and revenues need to be recouped.

Still, over the past three years we’ve seen many of our favorite (formerly) budget-friendly hotels swing from offering rooms for about €125-150 a night to more than €250 a night.

Fortunately, there are still some hotels in central Paris with great service and affordable rates. We’ve spent a few weeks combing through and updating all of our Paris hotel listings, and testing rates to get to the bottom of what is still a great deal.

Our criteria: How do we pick our favorite budget hotels in Paris?

We’ve picked these winners by examining several criteria, including:

Hotel Location

Would most travelers consider this location to be convenient? Can you walk to popular sights and a good selection of restaurants from this hotel? At the same time, does it offer enough calm to let you sleep comfortably at night?

Our favorite locations are in the very center of Paris (Arrondissements 1-7), especially near the Louvre, the Marais, Latin Quarter, St-Germain des Prés and near the Eiffel Tower. From these locations you can walk or take a quick Metro ride to nearly all of Paris’s main museums and attractions.

Average room rate

Are rates cheaper than other hotels of the same category? To determine the “average double rate,” we compiled and averaged rates for a double room from May-August.

This one was especially hard, as room rates have skyrocketed across the city. Most of our top picks have an average room rate under $150 per night, while some truly special hotels go as high as $225. Above that amount just can’t reasonably considered “budget”. We’ve rounded up hotels with some of the best rates in the city.

Quality

How do the actual rooms and hotel services stack up with others in the same category? If this is a two-star hotel, for example, does it offer better rooms and more personal services than other two-star hotels?

User ratings and reviews

How have past guests rated this hotel? What issues, if any, have previous guests experienced with the hotel?

Room size

Yes, we’re so obsessive that we’ve compiled room size (in square feet) for all hotels and use it as a factor when choosing our list. The bigger the guestroom, the higher the hotel scores. (I mean… nearly all hotel rooms in Paris are tiny, but we’re at least able to see who the outliers are!) In Paris, we found the average hotel room spans around 129 to 140 square feet (about 12 to 13 square meters). Some of the smallest rooms squeeze in beds, desks, and even bathrooms in under 100 square feet, which makes the larger rooms (over 200 square feet) feel extremely spacious.

“Special something”

Does this hotel offer something special that distinguishes it from its competitors? Does it have a special theme, interesting owners, or fascinating history? When we’re reviewing hotels, we’re always looking for this “something special.”

And finally, we also go with our own instincts. We’ve visited and inspected hotels hundreds of times in Paris. We’re including hotels in this list that we like and feel should be shared with our readers!

Related articles: For more on hotel savings in France, check out our tutorials on how to save on your hotel in Paris, and ways to save on hotels throughout France.

The 8 best cheap hotels in Paris in 2025

Here are our picks for the best cheap sleeps in Paris, ranked by price. Read more about any hotel by clicking the “read full review” link, or click to see our complete guide to budget hotels in Paris, with more than 100 listings. If you spot something you like, make sure to review our tips on saving on hotels in France to get the most bang for your buck.

A simple but bright and clean room at Hotel de la Place des Alpes. Photo: Booking.com

Hotel de la Place des Alpes **

Neighborhood: Place d’Italie / Chinatown
Average rate: €95

If you’re looking for an affordable place to crash, consider Hotel de la Place des Alpes. This area makes accessing transportation easy and puts you in a less touristy part of the city, but that also means you may not be as close (by foot) to some of the most popular sites of the city. But you’ll enjoy the comfortable, if bare-bones, rooms and plenty of restaurants nearby, not to mention the low rates. Plus, when you’re ready to see the tourist sites, it’s easy to hop on the Metro from here.

Read full review

Inquire about a balcony room at Hotel du Pre. Photo: Booking.com

Hotel du Pré ***

Neighborhood: 10th: République / Gare du Nord
Average double: €115

With fairly spacious rooms (151 square feet) that are clean and comfy, Hotel du Pré is a solid choice that puts you conveniently near Gare du Nord. For gourmands, Saint-Lazare, an area packed with bakeries, wine and cheese shops, and other unique eateries, is also close by. Private bathrooms are sparkling clean, and some rooms even have balconies. We also loved the cozy lounge, complete with swanky leather sofas, at this hotel.

Read full review

Charming views from a super cheapo room at Hôtel Rivoli. Photo: Booking.com

Hotel Rivoli

Neighborhood: The Marais (3rd & 4th)
Average rate: €119

Sure, the rooms are a bit on the basic side here at Hotel Rivoli, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find better rates in such a central location, in the Marais. Rooms face rue de Rivoli, and if you request ahead, you may just score a room with a small terrace and views of city hall. Aside from the views, location, and low rates, this hotel is pretty simple. There’s no breakfast, but you can explore the trendy neighborhood for your morning meal. Wi-Fi is free, and there are no TVs, which makes for a pretty quiet and peaceful stay.

Read full review

Private rooms are small but stylish and affordable at the Plug-Inn Hostel. Photo: Booking.com

Plug-Inn Boutique Hostel

Neighborhood: 18th: Montmartre
Average rate: €132

Part hostel, part stylish hotel, Plug-Inn offers great rates on its doubles, plus ultra-cheapo beds in its dorms. For those booking private rooms, expect bright colors and playful patterns plus spotless, if small, bathrooms. Breakfast is even included in the room rate, making it an even better deal. However, the hostel’s location in Abbesses-Montmartre puts it in close vicinity to many great places to score cheap eats.

Read full review

A charming view from a room at Hotel Audran. Photo: Booking.com

Hotel Audran *

Neighborhood: 18th: Montmartre
Average room rate €141

The friendly Hotel Audran is another of our best budget hotels in Paris. It is a solid deal, offering renovated two-star rooms with private bathrooms along the café-lined rue Abbesses, one of Montmartre’s most charming stretches. The hotel’s 40 rooms were recently painted a bright blue, and all are equipped with a flat-screen TV, telephone, and free Wi-Fi.

Read full review

The Hotel Du Cygne is an art lover’s dream where you can stroll to the Louvre. Photo: EuroCheapo

Hotel Du Cygne **

Neighborhood: 1st: Louvre / Châtelet
Average room rate: €141

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better deal smack dab in the center of Paris than Hotel du Cygne. This charming, cottage-esque hotel offers simple but cozy rooms that stay surprisingly quiet, despite the bustling location near the Louvre. Creature comforts such as flat-screen TVs, Wi-Fi, and private bathrooms are available, although solo travelers can save big by booking a single room with a shared bathroom.

Read full review

Hotel de Nesle **

Neighborhood: St-Germain-des-Pres
Average rate: €149

The one-star Hotel de Nesle, tucked away among the back streets of Saint-Germain des Prés and steps from the Seine, offers affordable rooms that are painted with a sense of humor and history. The 18 guest rooms are individually painted and decorated by the owner and her son. Most of these boast lavish line drawings of famed moments in French history, including scenes of Egypt and the Orient, as well as some playful representations of Molière, Hugo and others who have lived in the neighborhood.

Read full review

The Hotel Chopin is tucked away at the end of a 19th-century shopping arcade.

Hotel Chopin **

Neighborhood: 9th: Opéra
Average room rate €159

Ready for something with an extra dose of charm? Tucked away inside a 19th-century shopping arcade, the two-star Hotel Chopin offers comfortable, spacious (172 square feet/16 square meter) rooms at great rates, but it’s the setting that’s sure to make romantics race to their fainting couches. The arcade, located along the Boulevard Montmartre near the Opera shopping district, is lined with picture-perfect stores selling toys, jewelry, and sweets. And then halfway down, you stumble upon the Hotel Chopin. Inside, things have a quiet, grandmotherly touch.

Read full review

More cheap hotels in Paris

But wait, there’s more! We have reviewed more than 100 affordable hotels in our guide to Paris. Find more hotels:

• See all reviewed hotels

• See hotels: Near the Louvre | Marais | Latin Quarter | St. Germain | Eiffel Tower | Montmartre

A note about reserving

It should come as no surprise that, given their exceptional value, many of these hotels are quite well known and are already quite popular with guests. As many of these are also quite small (at least compared to international chain hotels), finding availability can be tres difficile… especially during the high season, and especially if you wait until the last minute.

If possible, reserve far in advance. Search hotels in Paris

The post The 8 best cheap hotels in Paris for 2026 appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

We’ve recently updated our listings of recommended cheap hotels in Amsterdam, and have singled out the following seven as our best cheap hotels in Amsterdam. It was no easy task — Amsterdam fortunately still has a long list of great, family-run properties in its city center.

However, these hotels below all stand out for their unique combination of a great location, low average rates, high user ratings, and enough amenities that you’ll be quite comfortable with your choice. Note that the rates quoted below were all found for stays one to four months in advance. Another thing to note? Hotel rates in Amsterdam and across Europe have increased significantly in recent years. We’ve narrowed down options that provide the best value.

A friendly reminder: Book as far in advance as possible. These are also among the most popular hotels in Amsterdam, and availability can be tight.

Our Amsterdam Guide

• Read all hotel reviews
• Booking a hotel in Amsterdam? Read this first.
• More ways to save on your trip Amsterdam

Top 7 best budget hotels in Amsterdam

Hotel Hortus is cheap, clean, and centrally located, making it a real Cheapo gem. Photo: Booking.com

Hotel Hortus

Plantageparklaan 8
Neighborhood: Plantagebuurt
Double room average: $128

The rooms at Hotel Hortus may be on the simpler side, but they’re spotless, reliable, and right next to the Botanical Gardens. Save more by opting for a shared bath. The hotel offers a communal kitchen, so you can also save by making some of your meals here, then spend more on sightseeing. Read the full review

The Neighbour’s Magnolia features bright rooms with a dash of color.

The Neighbour’s Magnolia

Willemsparkweg 205
Neighborhood: Museums & Vondelpark
Double room average: $139

Looking for a trendy little spot near Vondelpark? The Neighbour’s Magnolia offers a friendly home base with 21 playfully designed rooms, all equipped with TV, telephone, free Wi-Fi, and modern furnishings. You’ll even find a small stuffed animal (named “Sparky”) waiting on your bed. Breakfast included. Read the full review

The lovely breakfast room at Hotel Verdi.

Verdi

Wanningstraat 9
Neighborhood: Museums & Vondelpark
Double room average: $150

Hotel Verdi is a cozy, clean, family-run establishment near the Concertgebouw, where visiting classical musicians have frequented for decades. Guests can enjoy free Wi-Fi, and breakfast is included in the room rate. Cheapos who want to save a little extra money can book one of the few rooms with a shared bathroom. Read the full review

Bicycle Hotel is a fun spot with affordable bike rentals (of course!).

Bicycle Hotel

Van Ostadestraat 123
Neighborhood: Pijp
Double room average: $153

Located near the heart of the trendy Pijp neighborhood, the Bicycle Hotel is cheap and cheerful, with low rates, clean rooms and (appropriately enough) cheap bike rentals for guests. The hotel’s 16 rooms are basic and no-frills, but all have a TV and free Wi-Fi, while a few have a balcony (ask ahead). Breakfast is included. Read the full review

Enjoy a cool, rock n’ roll vibe for a low cover charge at BackStage Hotel. Photo: EuroCheapo

BackStage Hotel

Leidsegracht 114
Neighborhood: Grachtengordel South
Double room average: $159

You’ll be ready to rock with the BackStage Hotel, a popular and cheapo-friendly spot on the Leidsegracht canal. You’ll find plenty of bars, performance spaces, and even the famous concert venue, Melkweg nearby. As for the rooms, they are adorned with a rock-and-roll vibe that has welcomed many musicians over the years. Like a famous rockstar, you’ll enjoy plenty of amenities here, including free Wi-Fi, LCD televisions, and more. Read the full review

Hotel Museumzicht is stuffed with old-world charm.

Hotel Museumzicht

Jan Luykenstraat 22 II
Neighborhood: Museums & Vondelpark
Double room average: $160

You can’t sleep much closer to the Rijksmuseum than the Hotel Museumzicht (“Museum View”). The hotel is a vintage cheapo pick and is great for those who don’t mind that the hotel has hardly changed since the 1960s. The hotel’s 14 rooms are decorated in a grandmotherly fashion, with old oil paintings and antique (or simply “old”) furnishings. Some rooms have private facilities, but most share toilets and showers in the hall. Breakfast included. Read the full review

Stayokay Amsterdam is a great option for groups.

StayOkay Amsterdam Vondelpark

Zandpad 5
Neighborhood: Museums & Vondelpark
Double room average: $186

Tucked into the northern tip of the Vondelpark, the StayOkay Vondelpark is a big, budget-friendly operation that appeals to students, families and other budget travelers. It’s a massive place, with 536 beds laid out in a wide variety of configurations. Triples? Quads? Eight-bedded dorm? They got ’em. While couples and single travelers certainly stay here, the StayOkay is an especially convenient option for larger groups. Read the full review

More hotel options

Want to read more about Amsterdam? We have dozens more options in our guide to affordable hotels in Amsterdam.

The post Best budget hotels in Amsterdam for 2026 appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

The hotels below have been selected from our list of recommended hotels in Rome. All of these have been visited and inspected by one of our editors and chosen as a “pick” based upon the following criteria:

• Location: Can you easily reach most of Rome’s central sights by foot? Most of the city’s big draws are clustered together within the historic center. How easy is it to get there from the hotel? Is the hotel easily reachable from Termini, the city’s main train station?

• Average rate: Are the hotel’s rates a good deal? We’re not just looking for the cheapest rooms in town, but the best value. When compared to other hotels in the same category, does this hotel offer a great deal? The average rate listed is compiled from rates we tested for a double room (with private bath) in May through August. Note that these rates will fall substantially in the off season.

• Quality of service, rooms and amenities: Does the quality of the hotel’s rooms and services exceed those of the same category elsewhere in Rome?

• User rating: How have past guests rated this hotel? What issues, if any, have previous guests experienced with the hotel?

• “Special something”: Does this hotel offer something unique that helps it stand out from its competition? This could be a super-friendly proprietor, an extraordinary location, or a cool history.

And finally, we also go with our own instincts. We’ve visited and inspected countless hotels (with budget-friendly rates) in Rome. If a hotel strikes us as a good value, we’re happy to share it with you.

Related: Our top budget hotels for Paris.

Our top budget hotels in Rome

Here are our seven favorite budget hotels in Rome, ranked by price. Read more about any hotel by clicking the “read full review” link, or click to see all recommended hotels in Rome.

The heavenly view from the Suore di S Elisabetta’s rooftop terrace.

Suore di S Elisabetta

Neighborhood: South of Termini Station
Average double: €108

This pristine and friendly convent, located directly next to the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, is heaven on earth for budget travelers who don’t mind an 11 p.m. curfew (or sleeping under a crucifix). The convent offers 45 tidy little guestrooms, all of which are simply furnished and super clean.

The cheapest rooms have a shared bath, while those with a private bathroom have either a bathtub or shower (our price above is for a room with private bath). Don’t miss the rooftop terrace (see photo), or the breakfast room (included in room rate), which is topped with a spectacular chandelier. Important: The guesthouse strictly enforces an 11 p.m. curfew.

Read full review

A welcoming double at Hotel Silla. Photo: Booking.com

Hotel Silla **

Neighborhood: Vatican & Prati
Average double: €126

Hotel Silla is a sweet and simple two-star hotel with some of the best rates in our Rome hotels guide. Its location on a quiet side street offers a peaceful respite without sacrificing convenience, as the hotel is a short walk from the Metro.

Guestrooms are warm and welcoming and adorned in red and gold. Creature comforts include TVs, phones, internet, and private bathrooms. You may have to pay extra for AC. Additionally, one extra sweet perk to this hotel is that it sits atop a popular pastry shop.

Read full review

Enjoy the cozy, homey vibes at One Step. Photo: EuroCheapo

1 Step From Saint Peter

Neighborhood: Vatican & Prati
Average double: €126

While it may not be exactly one step from St. Peter’s Basilica, this cozy hotel does offer a prime location, conveniently located near transit and just a 15-minute walk from St. Peter’s.

The staff is extremely warm and welcoming, and guests here can enjoy free breakfast, a communal kitchen, laundry facilities, and complimentary coffee and tea available all day. Plus, rooms are air conditioned, and the shared bathrooms are spotless.

Read full review

Don’t miss out on the relaxing garden space at The Beehive. Photo: Booking.com

The Beehive *

Neighborhood: North of Termini Station
Average double: €135

We appreciate the eco-friendly vibes at The Beehive, a hostel with both shared and private rooms available at good rates, especially for the location near Termini Station. You’ll find a garden, board games over TVs, organic breakfast foods, and for the most part, no AC, in this sustainably minded spot.

Rooms feature funky and unique designs, whether private or shared. All rooms have lockers or safes and toiletries. Two rooms have AC if that’s a must for you, just be sure to request ahead when booking.

Read full review

Guestrooms at Marta Guest House have a touch of grandeur.

Marta Guest House

Neighborhood: Vatican & Prati
Average double: €162

The friendly Marta Guest House offers cozy accommodations conveniently located near the Vatican. Each room features a unique style complete with antique furnishings and original tiled floors. Guests enjoy air conditioning, TVs, mini-fridges, minibars, coffee and tea facilities, plus free Wi-Fi and breakfast.

The charming Marta Guest House can be tricky to find, so look for the address rather than a sign for the hotel. It’s tucked away on a side street off of the popular Piazza Cavour.

Read full review

Rooms on the upper floors of Hotel Trastevere have the best views. Photo: Booking.com

Hotel Trastevere ***

Neighborhood: Trastevere
Average double: €163

The three-star Hotel Trastevere has a charming location near Piazza San Cosimato, a great spot full of vendors at outdoor markets in the warmer months.

Rooms feature standard hotel fare but feel light and airy. They include everything you need for a home away from home, including private bathrooms, televisions, Wi-Fi, and air conditioning. Guests can also enjoy free coffee and pastries from the reception bar. If room views are important to you, be sure to ask for a room on a higher floor.

Read full review

The Panda is a budget option located at the base of the Spanish Steps.

Hotel Panda **

Neighborhood: Near the Spanish Steps
Average double: €163

The Hotel Panda is a convenient little cheapo located in the heart of an area better known for its fashion boutiques than for its budget hotels. Basic, clean and welcoming, the two-star hotel is just a one-minute saunter from the base of the Spanish Steps.

The Panda’s 28 guest rooms are on the tight side and won’t win any awards for designer flair, but they’re comfortable and clean. Air conditioning is available in the summer months, and all rooms have TV, a phone, and free Wi-Fi.

Read full review

Read more

Want to see more hotel options for Rome? We’ve reviewed dozens of affordable places to stay in our guide to Rome. Find more budget hotels in Rome:

• See all reviewed hotels

• Search hotels: Under $100 | Under $200

• Find hotels: Near St. Peter’s | Colosseum | Piazza Navona | Trastevere | more landmarks

The post The top budget hotels in Rome for 2026 appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

But what exactly is a “Super Cheapo”? Is it simply the cheapest hotel in the city?

One commenter, Olivier, logically noted that our pick for Berlin, the Circus Hostel in Mitte, offers double rooms for $69-86. Sure, that’s cheap-ish, but you can easily find cheaper in the city. He writes:

“As far as I see, this list is a bit poor…. for ex. in Berlin : room for 2, shower/toilets outside but very clean = less than 30 euros in Berlin city hotel (located on the subway ring); another one : 30 euro as well, for a room+shower+toilets+free wifi, in the funkturm hotel (near ICC)…”

Why didn’t we pick one of those hotels?

Defining a “Super Cheapo”

Our definition of a “Super Cheapo” hotel is one that provides the basics in a great location and at a rate that’s low for the city. They’re mostly “no-frills” kind of places. Here’s a more detailed look at the criteria followed for picking a “Super Cheapo”:

1. Editor’s Pick

For starters, our “Cheapo 100” list drew on hotels that are already featured as “Editor’s Picks” on the site. This isn’t because we’re lazy, but rather because these hotels have all been personally verified! They have each been visited by a EuroCheapo editor, inspected and photographed.

2. Central location

In order to be an “editor’s pick” or make the “Cheapo 100” list, a hotel needs to be central. This is certainly not a criteria for all budget travelers, but it has always been a priority for our editors. We like to be located in a central part of the city—be it Berlin, Paris or Rome. Nearly without exception, all of our editor’s picks are located within walking distance of major tourist sights. We don’t have anything against public transportation, mind you. It’s just that life is a bit easier when you can walk home at night.

3. Private rooms

We focus on budget hotel recommendations on EuroCheapo. Sometimes, however, we also recommend hostels—provided that they also offer private rooms. By “private,” we mean rooms that you don’t share with strangers. (You may still have to share a bath.)

For most cities in the Cheapo 100, we choose a hotel as our “Super Cheapo.” In Berlin, however, we couldn’t resist giving the award to the Circus Hostel, as it offers plenty of private rooms.

4. Clean

It goes without saying that the hotels on our list need to be clean. We inspect the rooms, baths, hallways and shared baths.

5. Room rates

Finally, and most obviously, the hotel needs to be cheap. For our “Super Cheapo” award, the room needs to be notably less expensive than others of its caliber and location. We also considered “extras,” such as breakfast, Wi-Fi and room amenities, although they were not of chief importance for this award, as we were mostly concerned with the basics.

Back to the Circus

So, why did we choose the Circus Hostel in Berlin?

The Circus has been an “Editor’s Pick” for the past five years. I remember visiting for the first time in the fall of 2005 and being impressed by the rooms, especially the privates with balconies (and fabulous views) on the top floors. The location is great, too—just at the border of Prenzlauer Berg and Mitte, within easy walking distance of museums, cafés, shopping, restaurants, clubs and public transit. We were initially hesitant to give the award to a hostel, but, as I mentioned, the Circus offers plenty of privates. Finally, the low rates sealed the deal.

The hotels that Olivier mentions sound interesting. He notes that they’re clean, cheap and well-equipped. Their location, however, does not seem central. (Some, especially those on business, will find the second hotel’s location near the ICC conference center convenient, although it’s not our favorite part of town.) Lastly, neither has been visited by us, and thus don’t qualify.

We’ll look into them, however, and consider a visit in the future.

How do you choose a “Super Cheapo”?

We invite you to check out all of the “Super Cheapos” from our “Cheapo 100” list.

Of course, your “Super Cheapo” criteria may be different from ours. Search away, sort by price, read through user reviews and you may find something perfectly acceptable and cheaper that we haven’t yet visited. Maybe you’ll also find something central. Maybe, in fact, you’ll find a hotel we should add to our list of editor’s picks.

If you do, we invite you to email us and suggest a hotel for us to visit and inspect during our next hotel update. We’re always looking for great new cheap hotels to add!

The post Inside the Cheapo 100: What exactly is a “Super Cheapo” hotel? appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

In our 29 city guides, you’ll find more than 1,200 reviews of budget-friendly hotels, each one inspected and photographed by one of our editors. Some are listed simply because they’re cheap and clean. Others, however, boast something else. They might be blessed with an incredible locatieron. Or perhaps they have a surprising theme or impressive style.

These hotels offer travelers something unique and yet they still manage to be affordable. We believe they deserve a little special attention.

Choosing the “Cheapo 100”

Thus, this year we created the “Cheapo 100,” a ranking of our five favorite properties in 20 cities. In each city, we chose one winning hotel for the following five categories: “Super Cheapo,” Best Location, Most Unique, Best Budget Style, and Best B&B or Guesthouse.

Selecting the winning hotels was not easy and resulted in lively debate here at EuroCheapo headquarters. In certain circumstances, we had three or four great contenders for one award.

And then there was the question of preference. After all, how do you define the “best location” in a city like Paris? Is it facing Notre Dame (Hotel Esmeralda) or steps from the Place des Vosges (Hotel Jeanne d’Arc)? Oh, wait – what about next to the Eiffel Tower (Eber Mars)?

You might say we suffered an embarrassment of Cheapos. But fear not, all hotels will have another shot for next year’s awards.

Without further ado, EuroCheapo proudly presents the 2010 “Cheapo 100”:

Amsterdam

Hotel Museumzicht

The following hotels were selected from our Amsterdam guide:

Best Location
Hotel Museumzicht
Doubles: $70 – $149
When the museums are this close, you need not limit yourself to admiring them from your hotel windows.

Barcelona

Hostal Goya

The following hotels were selected from our Barcelona guide:

Super Cheapo
Hostal Centric
Doubles: $56 – $133
This hostal is simple and appeals to the young backpacker as much as it does the more conservative traveler.

Best Location
Hosteria Grau
Doubles: $84 – $125
Located at the intersection of two bustling pedestrian streets in the center of the city, the Grau is an island of tranquility surrounded by constant action.

Most Unique
Hotel Peninsular
Doubles: $78
This former monastery features an interesting web of twisting balconies, zigzagging stairwells, and full-on sensory stimulation.

Best Budget Style
Hostal Goya
Doubles: $107 – $125
All rooms at the Hostal Goya follow the same contemporary-meets-opulence style imperative.

Best B&B, Pension or Guesthouse
Hostal Fernando
Doubles: $72 – $90
An easy central location? Check! Roomy, clean space, and helpful staff? Check and check!

Berlin

Hotel-Pension Dittberner

The following hotels were selected from our Berlin guide:

Super Cheapo
Circus Hostels Weinbergsweg and Rosa-Luxemburgstrasse
Doubles: $51 – $63
If Mitte’s long-running Circus Hostel had a tagline, it would be: “budget-friendly and stylish aren’t strange bedfellows.”

Best Location
Hotel Taunus
Doubles: $90 – $118
Sitting pretty in the bulls-eye of Mitte, the Hotel Taunus offers surprise-free rooms that won’t break the bank.

Most Unique
Michelberger
Doubles: $90
“Kitschy-cool,” “flea market-chic,” and “gritty-glam” are the top contenders for describing this 2009 addition to the city’s design hotel scene.

Best Budget Style
ackselhaus & bluehome
$179 – $203
The ackselhaus and bluehome are exotic escapes in the heart of Berlin.

Best B&B, Pension or Guesthouse
Hotel-Pension Dittberner
Doubles: $116 – $159
The 21-room Pension Dittberner stands out from the pension crowd with its museum-like breakfast room, old-fashioned library and and art-filled rooms.

Next Page: Bruges, Brussels and Copenhagen

The post The Cheapo 100: Our favorite budget hotels in Europe appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.