staying in paris

Depending on the season, I'd guess $90 - $120. Paris has many one-star hotels in that range. Look up the Hotel de Nevers on Rue de Malte as one example.

What about more in the 2-3 star range? Any recommendations in what arrondissement to stay in? We would prefer something that is somewhat quite yet convenient by metro or by foot to the major sites

The Accor chain is great and has many budget hotels with rates starting as low as 49 Euro a night.

I stayed at the Ibis Chateau Landon Gare du Nord (Ibis is part of the Accor chain) and got great value for the money - short walk to both Gare du Nord and Gare de L'Est - major lines for Paris Metro system, RER, Thalys, etc. - really easy to get around to all the sites. This hotel also offered air conditioned rooms and an elevator (two things that are often not available at B&Bs or other budget hotels).

Cheaper room rates and restaurants/cafe prices in this area because it is a working class neighborhood.

Although I have not stayed at these hotels I've read positive comments: Hotel Monge and Hotel Nevers. There are apparently two hotels called Nevers--one is in an old convent. One of these is said to cost only 69 euros per night.

I am not sure that this web site does B & B's, but for hotels, try venere.com. This is a great web site and posts pictures, location maps and most importantly, ratings. I have used it once for Nice and the hotel was wonderful. I am going to Paris in Sept and have booked again through Venere. Judy

We also enjoyed staying at the Ibis hotels. Air conditioning, breakfast buffet, and as the other poster said, close to the train stations. Pleasant, helpful staff too.

James, the Ibis Chateau Landon did have a breakfast buffet, but it cost extra and while the food looked good the price did not seem worth it to me. Too many good bakeries and cafes in the neighborhood that offered breakfast options for far cheaper.

Hotel Marignan: http://www.hotel-marignan.com/

It fulfills all your requirements.

There are, indeed, two Hotel de Nevers. The one I referenced is one Rue de Malte near Place Republique.

My daughter and I stayed at the Hotel Royal Phare in the Rue Cler area. www.hotel-royalphare-paris.com.(then click on "welcome") It has tiny rooms (like most of Europe) but some have great balconies with a view of the eiffel tower or other views. The hotel is also right next to a metro stop and many different busses go right by.
It's only one block from the beginning of the Rue Cler, is right next door to a great, and huge, grocery store, has 2 ATMs right outside, is one block from a major post office, and two doors from the best restaurant we found all week. If you are a walker, you can walk to the Louvre, Orsay, Eiffel tower, the Seine, etc. It was very clean, nice bathrooms, great maid service, etc. As with most other places, I wouldn't recommend the breakfast. The grocery sells various choices for breakfast out in front that seems very popular with the parisians. Also the restaurant sells great omlettes! It looks like ~ 80 to 100 euros per night, and discounts for more days.

Have you tried tripadvisor.com? I have had great luck there getting hotels.

Try Hotel de Nice. Two stars and was $120euro/night a few years ago.

Downtown location - close to the Metro and other sights.

By booking ahead directly with hotels I have gotten good rates on many hotels.
Hotel Des Grand Hommes, I paid 118 euros ( which included a breakfast) , very nice hotel, right by Pantheon. Rooms small but immaculate, and staff were very very nice.
I second you checking out tripadvisor.com, I have used that resourse for checking out all the hotels I book.

We recently stayed at Hotel du College de France on rue Thenard in the 5th arrondissement. It was 99 euros per night for a double, clean, safe, quiet and close walking distance to Ile de la Cite and Notre Dame Cathedral, the Seine river and plenty of restaurants. In fact we walked Rick Steves Paris 2008 Historic Walk outlined in the afore-mentioned book and it was wonderful. Hope this helps.