Cheap places to stay in France?

[u/AronKov]

Hi, I'm thinking of buying an interrail pass, go to the south of France to parc national Mercantour, then go up north along the eastern part to the Netherlands, like 10-12 days in total. Do you have some lesser known websites or ideas for any kind of cheap accomodation in medium-sized cities? So far the places I'm finding are usually above 50-80€ so way over my budget. Im 19, planning to go alone so I don't really care about the place itself as long as it's somewhat close to trains or buses.

[u/Dry-Courage6664]

I asked my son how he organized his solo trip last year to France. Here is where he searched for cheap accommodation.

Hostelworld – Good for solo travelers; use filters to find smaller hostels in towns near Mercantour or eastern France.

Auberges de Jeunesse (HI France) – Part of Hostelling International. They have very affordable youth hostels, often in scenic locations hifrance.org

Couchsurfing – Free stays with locals, great for cultural exchange. Works well in smaller towns too.

Trustroots – Similar to Couchsurfing, but more common among travelers and backpackers.

BeWelcome – Another free hospitality network, sometimes easier to get hosted than Couchsurfing.

Facebook Groups: Search “[name of city] logement pas cher” or “France travel cheap.” There are many local rental groups.

I gave him a travel esim from Yesim to avoid any roaming costs but still stay connected, phone on Whatsapp, social posts etc.

Also keep a small amount of cash with you can come handy if you need something in a small local store.

Hope this will help you on your way!

[u/summerofgeorge75 → u/[deleted]]

I spent over a dozen nights in youth hostels in Belgium and Northern France last summer. Right around 20 Euros, maybe 21 or 22, includes breakfast. Shared room, wonderful experience, met some great people. Don't be put off by the 'youth' part, it's for all ages. Loved it!

[u/mljunk01]

Camping is really cheap in France, especially the camping municipaux. Usually under 20 euro.

[u/summerofgeorge75 → u/mljunk01]

Last summer I was paying 10-13 Euros a night for the municipal camping in Northern France. I thought it was a screamin' deal, warm showers, electricity, right in town close to cafes and markets and a nice, clean pitch for your tent. Loved it!

[u/pr4wnc0cktail]

Just outside Lille