Paris areas - Lodging

I stayed at the Hotel Bonaparte a couple of years ago. Small, but centrally located to Notre Dame, the subway and museums. The subway can get you to any of the major train stations in minutes.This hotel was in Rick Steves' book, so see if there is an updated review. Staff was great. I recently checked Trip Advisor to see if the hotel was holding up to its reputation and found many positive reviews. My review was in late February/early March of 2009. Price should be in your price range with the devalued Euro. Also stayed in the Rue Cler at Hotel Muguet. Rue Cler is quiet, but nice. Preferred the area around the Bonaparte. Felt safe. Good Luck!

We stayed in Marais district the first week in June. We were close to the Place Bastille, within walking distance of the Place de Vosge. Felt safe and comfortable there. Villa de Beaumarchais has small rooms, a fantastic breakfast buffet for 15 euros each and great service from the staff.

The best areas with nice budget hotels are the Marais on the right bank and the Latin Quarter on the left bank.

I stayed at Le Sevigne in the Marais last June and am going back there in September. I didn't get breakfast there and the kitchen and dining area didn't look very charming, but there are several nice places within a block to have your morning cafe creme, and a couple of yummy pastisseries and 2 convenient mini-markets. The room was clean, big modern bathroom and quiet at night. A double room would be within your budget. There's even a coin-op laundry around the corner.

The number 1 metro line runs through the Marais and goes to many of the popular tourist sights on the right bank.

I have usually been on my own for most of my time in Paris and I have always felt comfortable walking around after dark. In both the Latin Quarter and the Marais, you will see people out and about till midnight and later.

Thanks everybody! I'll check out these areas and hotels!

I'd pick the Latin Quarter over the Marais, just for the ambiance if nothing else. You should easily beat the $150/night target there in the spring. There are neat small hotels all over the place. And really good places to eat that won't dump your pocketbook.

It would be really hard to get more than five minutes from a metro station anywhere in that area.
Skip the notion of a 'major' metro station since they all connect -- and they all connect to the train stations as well.

To see what Rue Cler would like to be, look at the southeast portion of the Latin Quarter: Rue Mouffetard, especially around Place de la Contrescarpe.

Also, disregard the idea of looking for an area comfortable for walking around in after dark. If I really, really tried, I could get you into a couple of areas that might make you feel a bit nervous; but there is no way you could blunder into them since they are well beyond the boundaries what anyone could stumble into. Essentially, the whole city is safe.

We have stayed at the Hotel Des Grand Ecoles in the Latin Quarter twice and would always recommend it http://www.hotel-grandes-ecoles.com/ Very clean & friendly, decent rates. The cool thing is that the courtyard is lovely and there is a big wooden door at the entrance from the street. When they close this at night, it's so quiet you'll think that you're out in the country. Near a lot of good restaurants, Rue Moufetard for a market and about 1- blocks from the Metro. Safe at night.

Depending upon the length of your stay, you might want to check out apartments in the 6th arrondisement - St Romaine des Pres. For stays of more than a few days they go for less than hotels and are well located. Check out http://www.parisvacationapartments.com/index.php/our-apartments/1-bedroom-paris

We are staying at a studio apt now and really like it. I is a lot cheaper than a hotel.
See:
E-mail : [email protected]

Website : http://locationparis9.canalblog.com

Thanks for all the great suggestions everybody!