On the outskirts of touristy Paris in the 14th Arrondissement, the three-pearl Hotel du Parc offers attractive, modern accommodations at affordable rates. It's situated on a quiet street in the local neighborhood of Montparnasse, and it's close to excellent public transportation. The property's 36 units are clean and polished, with flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi, but no minibars or coffee and tea provisions. Most bathrooms, however, are drab and in need of updating. The hotel has a breakfast room with lively decor and pretty views of the park across the street, although "petit dejeuner" isn't included. As an alternative, the nearby Hotel des Bains is a budget property with a slightly lower rate that has charming traditional furnishings and units with sleeker bathrooms. 

The two-pearl Hotel Helvetia is a simple budget property without pretense or any attempt to offer much beyond its functional rooms with desks, showers, small flat-screen TVs. Spaces are comfortable and generally well-kept, but bathrooms, while tidy, have stall showers with stained grout. The hotel is close to cafes, bars, and restaurants around the Place de la Bastille, and it's also just a block away from the massive Gare de Lyon train station, making it a convenient spot for travelers planning day trips. There's a breakfast room and free Wi-Fi througout, but no other on-site facilities. Compare with the Hôtel du Prince Eugene, a boutique with similar rates and amenities, but much more style.  

The two-and-a-half-pearl Welcome Hotel offers considerable charm and affordably priced rooms in the heart of the Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood. The property is surrounded by cafes, restaurants, and boutiques, and top attractions are within a short walk or metro ride. Features are minimal, but include a well-reviewed continental breakfast (for a fee) with warm-weather sidewalk dining available, and free Wi-Fi throughout. The 29 well-maintained guest rooms are colorful, and while they lack electric kettles and mini-fridges, all have AC, desks, flat-screen TVs, safes, and free Wi-Fi. Some rooms are a bit snug. The nearby Hotel Saint Germain des Pres is another affordably priced hotel in the area, and it offers mini-fridges and electric kettles in its guest rooms.  

The upper-middle-range First Hotel, a boutique property in Paris' largely residential 15th Arrondissement, is about a 20-minute walk south of the Eiffel Tower and Champ de Mars. Its 43 rooms, stocked with minibars and flat-screen TVs, have a starkly chic black-and-white decor, but they're on the small side. Some rooms face the metro, but they're quiet. Rooms with Eiffel Tower views come with a surcharge -- other add-ons include macarons and Champagne on arrival or French Gastronomic Boxes. The hotel has a small lounge -- all black and white like the rooms -- and a sleek restaurant with two outdoor tables that's open weekdays. Another chic, upscale option could be La Maison Favart, a boutique in the 2nd Arrondissement.

The 44-room Hotel Pulitzer is a chic and sophisticated -- but still cozy -- boutique hotel, conveniently located in Paris’s 9th arrondissement, within walking distance of the Grands Boulevards and other popular tourist attractions. Rooms are small but clean and beautifully designed with a 1950s industrial-chic vibe, and the bathrooms are dark and stylish. Unlike many Paris hotels, the Pulitzer provides spacious and inviting common areas for socializing or working, and even offers a daily happy hour with free wine. A cooked breakfast is available in rooms or common areas, but there's no restaurant for lunch and dinner.