The Saint James & Albany Hotel-Spa is an upscale property with the kind of amenities you wouldn't expect to find in the heart of Paris. There's a charming outdoor garden and wonderful spa complete with a 17th century relaxation room, lovely indoor pool, and a fitness center. Location is key here, and the Saint-Roch Church, Place Vendôme, and the Louvre are all just a five-minute walk away. The 200 modern rooms include minibars, flat-screen TVs, and comfortable beds, though noise can be an issue and they aren't the most stylish. Room service and the business center are available 24 hours a day, and on-site 202 Rivoli Restaurant and Bar serves French cuisine and drinks into the evening. Expect to pay extra for breakfast, use of the hot tub, and to bring pets. For rooms with a bit more style, try Le Maison Favart, a 15-minute walk from the Louvre.

Situated in the quiet 17th Arrondissement Paris, this three-pearl boutique hotel is a bit far from most Paris sights, but is only a three-minute walk from the Porte de Champerret Metro station. Its 45 rooms are compact and contemporary, with modern technology like Apple Mac Minis connected to flat-screen TVs. While there is no proper restaurant or bar, the hotel has an Honesty Bar with wine and soft drinks, and offers a breakfast buffet for an extra fee. This hotel isn't as artsy or as character-endowed as the Hotel de Banville down the road, but it is a sharp, modern option for adult tourists or business travelers at a lower price point.

With a full renovation in 2013, the upscale boutique L'Empire Paris, about a 10-minute walk from the Louvre and Tuileries Garden, is quite the trendy spot. It's aggressively modern, with a black-and-white color scheme and sleek, futuristic decor. The 42 rooms are large for Paris, and come with free Wi-Fi, wet bars, minibars, and Nespresso machines -- and have either king or twin beds. The hotel has a dining area with a bar, and a small wellness center with a sauna. The hotel draws families, business travelers, and couples, but travelers may want to compare rates with the Hotel du Louvre, which is nearby.

Hotel Champs-Elysees Friedland by HappyCulture is an upper-middle-range property on the famed Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore near luxury shops, chic bistros, and the Arc de Triomphe. Housed in a visually arresting, 19th century Haussmann building, the boutique property has 40 rooms with posh furnishings and modern amenities. Some rooms have balconies with pretty street views.  Breakfast is served in a charming room topped with a chandelier, but the hotel lacks a bar and restaurant making it more sedate than social. Travelers seeking a hotel in the same neighborhood but with a bar should try the Hotel Rochester Champs Elysees.

A stylish hotel in a quiet area of the 16th arrondissement, the upscale Hotel Felicien by Elegancia offers a spa and 34 boutique rooms with comfy beds and free Wi-Fi. While a little off the beaten path, it's one of the closer Paris hotels to Roland Garros Tennis Center, a five-minute taxi ride away. Some may find the area dull, but the metro is only a five-minute walk from the hotel, and rates are lower than at more central four-pearl hotels. While it doesn't offer a restaurant like nearby Hotel Square, it does have a plunge pool, sauna, and steam room, and is more upscale and design-conscious than the nearby HotelHome Paris 16. 

The 20-room Maison Athenee is an upscale, romantic sanctuary with a sultry edge. The location is central, within walking distance of the Louvre Museum. The hotel has an elegant dining and cocktail salon with red velvet chairs and a smoking room. Lavishly designed rooms have dramatic draperies, flat-screen TVs, minibars, Paris street views, and some offer terraces. Some guests, however, don’t fancy the dimly lit common areas. An alternative option may be the Hotel Joyce - Astotel that has brighter rooms and a skylight in the restaurant.

The 17-room Hotel du Petit Moulin is an upscale designer sanctuary in the trendy Haut Marais district with antique structural details and eccentric designs by Christian Lacroix. There are 24-hour front desk service and a hip restaurant and bar offering room service. Individually decorated rooms feature stylish and bold decor, flat-screen TVs, minibars, and, in some, pitched ceilings and Paris views. However, there are no in-room tea or coffee facilities and some showers are handheld only. The nearby Pavillon de la Reine is an excellent alternative in the same category, but it tends to be a bit pricier. 

The 41-room Art Hotel Congres is a boutique located on a quiet street on the outskirts of Paris. This value property has a few nice extras, including airport transfers (for a fee), 24-hour front desk service, concierge service, and a small furnished terrace. There is also a modern buffet breakfast room. Rooms are clean and have contemporary bathrooms, flat-screen TVs, safes, and mini-fridges but some decor is worn and some fixtures are damaged. The competitively priced La Maison Montparnasse has facilities that are reportedly better maintained, but its rooms do not provide air-conditioning. Wi-Fi is free. 

The Terminus Orleans is a two-pearl hotel in a lively neighborhood at Paris' southern tip. It's right by the Porte d'Orleans metro stop, but not walking distance to the city's landmark attractions. The hotel is housed in a classic 19th-century building with decorative balconies and other period flourishes. Its 67 rooms are basic and run on the small side, but they're contemporary, and sunny thanks to large windows. Be aware that the hotel is not air-conditioned -- although fans are provided -- and rooms facing the boulevard pick up traffic noise. While the hotel is nonsmoking, many guests seem to smoke anyway. An automobile-themed bar and restaurant is in the same building. Travelers might want to compare rates with the Hotel du Lion, a similar budget hotel in the same area.

From Hans Christian Anderson to Emile Zola, Hotel Le Pavillon Des Lettres' 26 rooms bear the names of famous European writers (with Virginia Woolf as the only woman in the club). The four-pearl boutique property in Paris's 8th Arrondissement puts an energetic spin on contemporary decor and receives accolades for its design and attentive staff. Rooms are small but handsomely outfitted, with flat-screen TVs, iPod docking stations, free Wi-Fi, and Molton Brown products; minibars, however, are limited to beverages, so if the munchies strike, you won't find snacks. Springing for a top-floor suite buys Eiffel Tower views and soaks in a whirlpool tub. There's 24-hour room service and direct booking scores free continental breakfasts. If a full-service restaurant and bar is a must, the similarly priced New Hotel Roblin La Madeleine has both.