The Bliss 3000 apartments are not only ideally located in the heart of Hamra, but are also clean and comfortable, and come with features not usually found in budget accommodation. They may push the upper limits of a shoestring budget, but they're well worth the extra expense. Mainly catering to long-term AUB students, the rooms feature huge beds, flat-screen TVs and kitchens, and the building has an onsite café and gym with its own swimming pool ($12 extra per day). If it’s mod cons and a modest luxury you’re after, these apartments are a steal. Long stays are also possible.
A city known for glitz and glamour, cocktails and convertibles, may not seem like the most auspicious destination for backpackers on a budget. Hotels in Beirut may still tend on the whole toward the higher end of the pay scale, but budget options are proliferating, and in recent years the range has expanded to include hostels, comfy apartments and even a guesthouse in a refugee camp (an essential stop for those who like their accommodation with a dash of social conscience). It's worth booking ahead, especially in high season, as cheap beds tend to be snapped up fast in this city.