Located at the bottom of the Montmartre hill, Hotel Les Jardins de Montmartre is a small three-pearl hotel surrounded by shops and restaurants within walking distance of Sacre Coeur Basilica and the metro. Guest rooms have bright and distinctive seasonal themes that some guests might find over the top, but Les Jardins de Montmartre is friendly and welcoming and offers a daily organically-inclined breakfast buffet. This is one of the most affordable mid-range options in the neighborhood and is especially well-suited to couples and solo travelers. Guests looking to stay closer to the trendy Marais neighborhood in a similar price range should try Hotel Alhambra.

The 43-room mid-range Hotel Abbatial Saint Germain, at the eastern end of the Latin Quarter, stands out for its colorful, swanky interiors. Its has a library lounge with iPads available for guests' use, and serves a daily continental breakfast (extra charge) in an 18th-century cellar under a stone-vaulted ceiling. While small, the rooms have efficient storage space, and many come with Juliet balconies. All have flat-screen TVs with international channels, minibars, air-conditioning, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms have rainfall showers, and some have tubs. Travelers might also want to check rates at the similar, nearby Agora Saint Germain.

Less than a 10-minute walk to the Notre Dame Cathedral, Holiday Inn Paris – Notre Dame is an upper-mid-range chain hotel with 108 modern rooms in a convenient Latin Quarter location close to several sights. The hotel has a roof terrace with a seasonal bar offering city views, as well as a stylish lobby lounge serving cocktails and healthy snacks. Business travelers can take advantage of the three meeting rooms, and there's a small business area on-site. Breakfast and Wi-Fi are extra with most rates, however, and though rooms are stylish and outfitted with modern amenities, some of them are small and have tiny bathrooms. Travelers might also want to compare rates with Hotel Saint-Louis en l'Isle, a small, mid-range hotel with pretty rooms on an island in the Seine.

The best thing about this lower-middle-range chain hotel is its location on the Left Bank of Paris, within sight of the Eiffel Tower -- the penthouse room even catches a glimpse of the monument. The area brims with restaurants, cafes, and shops, while the nearby Dupliex Metro stop makes other attractions accessible. On-site features are few, though a breakfast buffet (which isn't included in rates) can be taken outdoors to a sunny courtyard. The 40 guest rooms are fairly standard fare as well, with basic blond-wood furnishings, but a few renovated rooms add a hit of style with brocade wallpaper. Multiple renovations here have been underway, and while they haven't brought more space or air-conditioning throughout, they have upgraded the bedding. By comparison, the nearby Mercure Paris Tour Eiffel Grenelle is equally low-frills, but it offers AC in rooms.

Located near the Gare du Nord, the St. Christopher’s Inn Gare du Nord is a two-pearl budget-friendly hostel with a youthful, hip vibe and a bar and restaurant on the bottom floor. The 127-room hostel has both dorm-style and private rooms, which are simple but functional with USB ports, outlets, and lights on each headboard. Private rooms have their own bathrooms, while dorm-style rooms have shared bathrooms, though there’s been reports of cleanliness issues with both. Highlights include an on-site bar, a free morning breakfast, and a self-service laundry room. Some guests find the area a touch sketchy, and it's a bit removed from tourist attractions. Travelers may want to compare rates at the nearby Smart Place Paris, which is cleaner and has a public kitchen.

The 29-room mid-range boutique-style Austin's Arts et Metiers Hotel is in the third arrondisement, which includes the quieter, northern edge of the Marais. Within an easy walk of three metro stations (Arts et Metiers and Temple are the closest) it's easy to get around but be aware that the metro trains are also a source of intermittent underground rumbling. Rooms are quaint with a crisp take on the French country look. All rooms include free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, and flat-screen TVs. A continental breakfast buffet (at an extra charge) is served daily in a stone-walled basement breakfast room.

The 16-room Hotel Motte Picquet is a charming boutique with Rococo style and contemporary design situated in a peaceful neighborhood near the Eiffel Tower. The Rue Cler, a cobblestone street lined with open-air food vendors, is nearby. Rooms are colorful and inviting with jewel-toned walls, fun use of patterns, and ornate wood-and-gilt mirrors. Many guests comment positively on the warm reception of staff and the cleanliness of rooms, but there are few amenities on-site and there is a fee for breakfast.

The Beautiful City Hostel is a budget property in the 19th Arrondissement with 27 private and shared rooms that can accommodate from one to six people. Rooms have few frills and little in the way of decor, but they're clean and contemporary with linens and towels, lockers for storage, reading lamps, air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and en-suite bathrooms. The hostel offers a small, free breakfast and a public kitchenette, but there aren't many other property features, making this a quieter, less social hostel than others in Paris. The spot is a bit far from the city's main tourists attractions, but the metro is a five-minute walk away, and the heart of Paris another 10 minutes beyond. The Generator Paris is a comparable property with a livelier feel and more common areas, including a bar, cafe, and lounge.

Hotel Cecilia is a mid-range, family-run property with elegant traditional style. This doesn't run to all corners of the hotel -- the 49 rooms are decent but simple and some overlook a dreary courtyard -- though the breakfast room and bar area is very nicely finished with red leather armchairs and a lovely 19th-century wood piano. Breakfast, including locally made croissants and breads, is free daily either in the breakfast room or in guest rooms. The location isn't central but is within eyeshot of the Arc de Triomphe and has excellent public transport links nearby. Rates are also very reasonable, especially compared to the numerous upscale hotels in the swanky surrounding area.  

The Hotel Home Paris 16 is a mid-range, 17-apartment property located in an upmarket, very residential district in west Paris. The location is great for those wanting to immerse themselves in residential, authentic Paris -- a next door boulangerie even provides freshly baked croissants. Apartments certainly feel dated, but are clean and comfortable with well-equipped kitchens and bathrooms. The single, tiny elevator doesn't serve all rooms and the location is far from the city's main attractions, though overall it's a great self-catering option away from the tourist hoards -- discounts for longer term are also a bonus.