Koeln hotels?

Ah, seeing its you.....

I didn't see your budget until I started writing.

I love the Maritim, their location, and their breakfast, but unless you catch them just right with a super deal you won't approach that price point. Sorry.

Don't limit yourself to guidebooks - check out www.booking.com or www.venere.com at least to get a sense of prices near the center to see if your budget is reasonable

Our favorite hotel in Cologne is the Coellner Hof. They may have rooms in your price range if there isn't a trade fair going on.
http://www.coellnerhof.de/gutes_hotel_in_der_koelner_innenstadt.aspx?lang=en

I too would check out www.hrs.com or booking.com to see if the rooms are cheaper.

We had a quiet room in a quiet neighborhood in your price range at the Alt-Deutz, which is not in the center but just across the Hohenzollern Bridge in Köln-Deutz, an easy walk from the Messe-Deutz train station (which sends off direct trains to the airport, to the main station, and to many other destinations as well.)

I stayed at the 'ibis Koeln Am Dom' hotel last year. It was basic, but clean & well maintained. It is located in the main train station building. The rooms are soundproofed. I could see the Dom from the window & from the hallway outside could look down on track 1 of the station. Cost typically runs $80 to $90. Breakfast buffet is available, usually extra.

Thanks everyone, but I ended up going for the Motel One.