There's nothing quite like sipping a glass of Chardonnay at a pavement cafe watching the world go by before wandering off for a tour of some local vineyards and the obligatory spot of wine tasting. And there is nowhere quite like France for doing it, especially now that the number of flights and routes offered by budget airlines means the country has never been so accessible.

Not that wine drinking is all that France has - the 14 cities offered by Ryanair, easyJet, Go and buzz allow you to do everything from exploring the medieval city of Carcassonne to strolling along the Promenade des Anglais in Nice. Without too much shopping around, it's possible to get away for a weekend, including flights and two nights' accommodation for under £100, even in July. At other times of the year Ryanair has particularly good promotions, with seats for under £20, plus tax, and simple but good hotel rooms can be found from as little as £10 per person per night.

Though booking a flight is just a click away, finding a suitable hotel can be trickier. The Rough Guide to French Hotels & Restaurants (Rough Guides, £12.99) has translated France's bestselling Guide du Routard to give details of accommodation throughout the country. Below is our selection of hotels from the guide in destinations served by the no-frills airlines. All prices are for double rooms. Asterisks after the name of the hotel denote the number of stars.

Biarritz (Ryanair)

Under £30
Hôtel de la Marine
(0033 559 243409) £19-£21

This backpacker-style hotel in a swanky town has a friendly atmosphere and guests receive a warm welcome. Rooms are clean and well-kept. There is a bar downstairs, which is not part of the hotel, but is a good place to drink.

Under £100
Le Château du Clair de Lune
(0033 559 415320) £42-£71

This secluded nineteenth-century building is surrounded by formal and landscaped gardens filled with flowers, making it the ideal place to relax. Decorated in Art Deco style, the hotel has enormous rooms furnished to a high standard. Book well in advance.

Bordeaux (buzz)

Under £30
Hôtel Boulan
(0033 556 522362) £12-£15

A simple but clean hotel without stars but with obliging owners and a peaceful atmosphere. Well-maintained rooms with good beds and breakfast served in your room.

Under £100
Hôtel des Quatre Soeurs **
(0033 557 811920) £38-£48

An eighteenth-century hotel with a colourful history: Wagner stayed here when he was having an adulterous affair with a local woman. Situated by the Grand Theatre and Place des Quinconces, the attractive, freshly decorated rooms overlook the Allées de Tourny or the quieter inner courtyard. The staff are relaxed. All rooms are air-conditioned and there is a buffet breakfast.

Carcassonne (Ryanair)

Under £30
Hôtel du Centre et du Lauragais **, Castelnaudary
(0033 468 232595) £22-£30

About 40km (25 miles) from Carcassonne, this hotel in Castelnaudary is a large, bourgeois house on the main square. Rooms are well maintained and comfy. The restaurant, which is probably the best in town, serves all the local specialities, including foie gras and cassoulet for between £10-£30.

Under £100
Hôtel du Donjon ***
(0033 468 112300) £40-£54

Dating from the middle ages, this hotel sits well against the backdrop of medieval Carcassonne. The hotel has magnificent beams, a lounge with bare stone walls, a bar and small garden. The 62 guest rooms are dec orated with furniture from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. There is also a garage so you can park your car in the middle of town, which is not otherwise allowed.

Dinard (Ryanair)

Under £30
Hôtel les Mouettes
(0033 299 461064) £16-£19

This pleasant hotel is simple but friendly and guests are given a warm welcome. It is located between two of Dinard's beaches and just 50 metres from the yacht club. There are 10 charming, cosy rooms which were recently refurbished, though they are fairly small.

Under £100
Hôtel-Restaurant du Parc **
(0033 299 461139) £15-£28

This small family-run hotel is in a quiet location just 100m from the centre of town and 500m from the beach. There are 21 large rooms with modern furniture. There is no park or garden despite the hotel's name but there is a stylish restaurant, where set menus cost £5 - £12.

La Rochelle (buzz)

Under £30
Hôtel le Transatlantique-Lycée Hôtelier
(0033 546 449042) £14-£17

As its name suggests, this hotel is run by La Rochelle's hotel school and is staffed by trainees. Though the district near Minimes port is not appealing, the prices here are unbeatable. One slight inconvenience: the hotel is closed at weekends and school holidays. The restaurant is good value.

Under £100
Hôtel la Tour de Nesle **
(0033 546 410586) £26-£41

Well situated in the middle of the old town and the touristy part of La Rochelle, the hotel's rooms look on to the old port, the canal or the Saint-Sauveur church. In summer, the roof terrace gives a beautiful view of the town, though the hotel can be noisy. There is a 10 per cent discount for two nights during weekdays from September to June.

Lyons (buzz, Ryanair)

Under £30
Hôtel D'Ainay *
(0033 478 424342) £17-£23

This simple hotel is perfect for those on a budget. It is in a quiet but delightful pedestrian neighbourhood near the magnificent basilica. The young couple who run it are friendly and have created a restful atmosphere. The 21 rooms, which look on to the road, the courtyard or the Place Ampère, are simply furnished with bed, table and chair.

Under £100
Hôtel du Thétre **
(0033 478 423332) £28-£34

The proximity of the Thétre des Cèlestins has inspired the decor of the reception area which is decorated with red carpets and velvet curtains. It's worth booking ahead to reserve a room overlooking the place des Cèlestins and the theatre to enjoy the stunning view. There is a nice breakfast room.

Marseilles (buzz)

Under £30
Hôtel du Coq *
(0033 491 626129) £15-£19

The welcome at this unpretentious hotel extends to a pick-up service from the nearby Saint-Charles station if you telephone ahead. It is on a quiet street with nearly all of its 18 rooms at the back. The rooms are large and decorated in a modern fashion. Breakfast is included and there is a 10 per cent discount for guests staying more than one night.

Under £100
Hôtel la Résidence du Vieux Port ***
(0033 491 919122) £58

You can sit on your balcony and watch the passing boats at this hotel, which is right on the old port of Marseilles. It also has a good view of Notre Dame. The hotel is family run and the rooms are large, light, air-condi tioned and pleasantly furnished, though the bathrooms are a bit small.

Montpellier (buzz)

Under £30
Hôtel les Fauvettes *
(0033 467 631760) £13-£22

Probably the best and cheapest hotel in its class in Montpellier. Though the rooms are basic and most look on to the courtyard, they are quiet and clean. The small hotel is in a quiet street and run by a friendly couple. Breakfast is served on the veranda.

Under £100
La Maison Blanche ***
(0033 499 582070) £42-£50

The hotel resembles an antebellum mansion from the Deep South and is surrounded by a park with centuries-old trees. Inside, the bedrooms have carpets so thick your toes sink into it. The quiet location makes it the ideal place for stars to hide away - the list of famous people who have stayed here includes Johnny Halliday, the Gypsy Kings and the England football team. There is a restaurant and outdoor swimming pool.

Nice (Go, easyJet)

Under £30
Hôtel du Danemark *
(0033 493 441204) £21

In the old part of Nice, this is a lovely quiet hotel hidden by trees. Though it is surrounded by blocks of flats, it is very near the renowned Promenade des Anglais. Rooms are simple, nicely decorated and clean and the owners are very friendly.

Under £100
Hôtel Windsor ***
(0033 493 885935) £52-£71

The Oriental-style foyer and tropical garden complete with palms, bamboos and a swimming pool make this place special, even if some of the birdsong is recorded. There's a sauna, Turkish baths and massage rooms and relaxation room decorated with plants and Thai statuettes. Each room has been decorated by a different artist. A la carte in the restaurant costs about £15.

Nimes (Ryanair)

Under £30
Cat Hôtel *
(0033 466 672285) £15-£21

A pleasant, cheap place to stay. The owners of this family-run hotel have restored the building, which is in the centre of town. The 29 rooms are simply furnished and all have showers - only the lower priced rooms do not have en suite lavatories. Breakfast costs £2.50 and there is a 10 per cent discount from October to April.

Under £100
Hôtel Imperator Concorde ****
(0033 466 219030) £56-£95

Behind the ordinary facade of this hotel is an idyllic garden with fountain and terrace bar. The rooms are beautifully fitted out. The lift is worth a mention - an Otis, it was fitted in 1929 and is guaranteed never to break down. Prices vary widely according to the time of year. The restaurant serves a three-course meal with a glass of wine for around £15.

Paris (Ryanair from Dublin and Glasgow, buzz)

Under £30
Hôtel du Palais *
(0033 142 369825) £26-£38

This hotel is well situated with superb views of the Seine, the Conciergerie and Notre Dame cathedral. People come here for the view and the location rather than the facilities. The hotel can be a bit noisy.

Under £100
Hôtel Bersoly's Saint-Germain ***
(0033 142 607379) £67-£76

This eighteenth-century mansion near the antique shops of St Germain has been converted into a gorgeous hotel. Rooms are small but clean and each is named after an artist and decorated with appropriate reproductions. Telephones have internet points.

Perpignan (Ryanair)

Under £30
Avenir Hôtel *
(0033 468 342030) £10-£18

In a quiet street near the station, this hotel has simple, well-maintained rooms. It tends to attract a lot of American students as well as trainees on work placements. There is a terrace on the first floor to soak up the sun, peace and quiet.

Under £100
Park Hôtel-Restaurant le Chapon Fin ***
(0033 468 351414) £33-£52

For a reasonable price, you'll find relative luxury at this hotel. Rooms are decorated in Spanish renaissance style and are well-equipped. The restaurant is one of the best in town. Lunch costs from £13, though the à la carte selection is pricey.

Poitiers (buzz)

Under £30
Hôtel de Paris *
(0033 549 583937) £14-£19

The Sixties architecture is dated and the area is slightly noisy. But this is one of the better examples of old-school hotel-keeping; the owner and her staff pamper their guests. The restaurant has reasonable prices - one of the more unusual dishes available is fricassée of small eels caught from the marsh!

Under £100
Le Grand Hôtel ***
(0033 549 609060) £43-£48

A quiet city centre hotel offering a friendly welcome. The interior is decorated in Art Deco style and the spacious rooms are well equipped. Breakfast is included in the price.

Toulouse (buzz)

Under £30
Hôtel du Grand Balcon *
(0033 561 214808) £17-£23

This is where pilots who flew the mail planes in the 1920s and 1930s stayed before leaving for Alicante, Africa or South America. Author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry stayed in room 32. The hotel hasn't changed much and is filled with photos of that time. Rooms overlooking the street are noisy.

Under £100
Hôtel des Beaux Arts ****
(0033 534 454242) £47-£100

Politicians and actors staying in Toulouse book into this hotel on the banks of the Garonne. Behind the eighteenth-century facade, the hotel is modern. The 19 rooms are small but charming. Room 42 on the top floor has a wonderful view of the Garonne.