There's a wide selection of hotels in Calais - in Northern France. If you're looking for Calais in Maine, or Calais in Vermont, you're going to be disappointed because this is a quick guide to hotels in Calais, the French port just across the Channel from Dover in the UK county of Kent.

Calais is often ridiculed and mocked because it has become such a popular destination for day trippers from the UK, who hop across the English Channel to top up with cheap drinks and cigarettes on what has become known as a "booze cruise." Because of this it can get almost clogged up with day trippers in peak periods, e.g., during school holidays and the few weeks before Christmas. But if you're there for more than a day to explore the local area (and it's worth exploring) or looking for somewhere to stay before or after a long drive further south, there is a wide variety of hotels in Calais and the local area. And with such a variety of hotels there is a range of prices and styles to suit everybody's budget.

At the bottom end of the price range are the ever popular budget hotel chains you'll find all over France. These are often just outside French town centres and sometimes on the edge of industrial estates, just off the main road. They may be basic and the walls may be thin but they cannot be beaten for value. The Formula1 Hotel in Calais is no exception. Just out of town, towards Coquelles but very close to the Channel Tunnel Terminal and the huge Cite Europe shopping centre. You'll have to share a bathroom but it'll only cost 32 euros for the room, and an extra £3.70 for a basic but unlimited buffet breakfast.

If you want your own bathroom then on the same road as the Formula 1 in Coquelles is one of the B&B hotels in Calais. B&B Hotels are a chain of budget hotels with functional basic rooms but the breakfasts are, in my opinion, excellent. You pay a bit more for breakfast (5.65 euros) and you get an unlimited buffet with the usual choice of hot drinks, fruit juices, bread and pastries, but also.......scrambled eggs with bacon! Now this may not be what everybody wants when they are away for a French weekend but it's nice to have the choice of something hot from the buffet if that's what you fancy. Rooms are a bit more expensive (42 euros) than Formula 1. There is another B&B hotel in Calais at St Pierre which is along the autoroute a bit further, but still some way out of the town centre.

If you fancy a reasonably priced basic hotel right on the beach at Calais, then there is a choice of two – the Hotel Residence du Golf, and the Kyriad, Calais Plage. There's little to choose between these hotels in my opinion. They're both right on the beach, they both cost about 50-60 euros depending on season, etc, and they're both a little “tired” according to the reviews. Don't expect luxury, but if you want to walk along the seafront and find a nice brasserie in Calais for an evening meal, you'll struggle to find anywhere better.

There are plenty of traditional French hotels in Calais. By traditional I mean unique, independent hotels with a certain charm, or character to them. The Hotel Meurice may be worth considering – it's close to the station and walkable to the beach, or you may want to look at the Hotel Richelieu, which is very central with some of the rooms overlooking the park.

Alternatively the Nuit d'Ailleurs, which only has four rooms, constantly gets glowing reviews. This hotel, or should it be guest house, has a distinctly Asian theme with rooms such as the Bombay Suite and the Peking Suite. If you search the net for hotels in Calais you will find many more hotels in Calais with real French character. Prices are typically anywhere between 55 to 85 euros depending on season and special offers.

If you're looking for an overnight stay in an establishment with a few more facilities, there are other choices. There is a Holiday Inn right in the middle of the town, near the beach, and a Mercure Hotel also in the city centre. These are both the same as a Holiday Inn or Mercure you would find anywhere in the world so you know exactly what you will be getting for your 100 euros, or so, if you have stayed in one of theses chains before. There is also another Holiday Inn in Coquelles near the Channel Tunnel terminal. If you're happy to travel a little away from Calais, the choice is even greater, with some very nice Chambre d'Hotes (bed and breakfasts) nearby. Search any of the many chambre d'hote sites on the web and you should soon find something to suit you.