Where to stay in Paris...

Hello,, could you nail down a budget, it is too hard to suggest anything without that paramater, there are thousands of hotels in Paris! LOL
Try to think in euros.
Also, try the tripadvisor boards,, they have an excellant hotel reveiw section, all reader reveiws, and then you can short list and post to see if anyone here has personal experience at those hotels.

PS By the "old section" do you mean the Latin Quarter?

It sounds as if you are looking to stay in a fairly posh neighborhood, and I'm afraid I can't be of much help there. However, if you are looking for something a bit more "bohemian" you might try the Hotel de la Comète, 196 blvd. de la Villette in the 19eme. (Tlf. +33 01 42 08 55 88) Metro Jean-Jaurés). This is a close walk to Montmarte and is a part of town that many tourists don't see. The rooms are immaculate and the showers are the best I have ever seen in a hotel of any category. It does, however, boast the ugliest carpet in the universe, and some of the worst views. It cost €35/night for a double with bath the last time I was there (a few years ago).

Well, I've been to Paris before, but my husband hasn't, and we only have one day, so I wanted to hit some of the biggest spots. Price, we'd rather go less than more. Hostels are fine, but we don't want to share a room with others. Something off the beaten path is great, but if I remember correctly, it's quite the hike from MontMartre into the city. Also, by old section, I mean the area around the Isle (near Notre Dame and Sainte Chapelle). Thanks!

Consider Hotel de Turenne about 80 euros for a double. The location is great - less than a block to the metro, a couple blocks to tour Eiffel, a block from Les Invalides, & a few blocks to the Seine. The hotel's not plush, but also not bad. I've stayed there 5-6 times. There's lots of nice cafes around & it's close to rue Cler. The hotel is listed in RS's book.

I used the Rick Steve's book for France (we're leaving in less than a month) and found it very helpful. He lists the hotels by section of the city.
I actually have all our hotels booked for the whole trip by using the reviews.

Rough Guides and Let's Go books list the lower priced hotels and lots of hostels. Paris has a few hostels that Rick recommends. A lot of hostels have private double rooms. Before you sign up for a cheap hotel check for ratings at www.tripadviser.com; you can get a good idea of what the hotel is like. The Montmartre area probably has the most low-cost housing and it's mostly just a metro ride of a few minutes to the city center.

Rebecca - In August I stayed at the Hotel Muguet, which was recommended in "the Ricky". It's about a 15 minute walk to the Eiffel Tower and 2 minutes to the metro. I paid 130 euro. There are several good reviews for this place on Trip Advisor, too.

http://www.relaisbosquet.com/?gclid=CKe21OrlzY0CFQ_lYAodn0xGJg

Champ du Mars is a nice hotel with recently renovated rooms, good beds, and very reasonable--under 100euros per night. It is walking distance to the Eiffel Tower. Relais Bousquet was mentioned by a previous poster. It costs more than Champ and IMO not worth the extra money. Also, we stayed there several years ago and some items were taken from our things which we unfortunately did not miss until we returned home.

Rebecca,
Hôtel Esmeralda is directly across the Seine from Notre Dame. Hotel has 19 rooms, budget rates... copy and paste this link to see reviews of past patrons and their candid photos...

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g187147-d235558-Reviews-Hotel_Esmeralda-Paris_Ile_de_France.html

bon voyage.... P.

i personally love the hotel cluny sorbonne. it is in the latin quarter and very near the RER stop/Luxembourg gardens . really reasonable, cute, small hotel in the latin quarter. my whole family has used it, and we all LOVE it.
good luck,

connie

Rebecca - just got back from Paris and stayed at the Hotel Marignan. It was about an 5-8 minute walk to the Notre Dame near the Saint Michel/St Germain metro stop. We loved it - though be warned, it has 5 floors and no elevator. However, we found the people very nice and the breakfast more filling than we expected.

Rebecca,

Ditto on the relaisbosquet hotel in the Rue Cler market -- a 10 min walk from Eiffel 5 min bus ride to Arc

Good trip,

Craig

Althoug Ricky seem sto love the Eiffel Tower area, many of Paris lovers do not consider it the best area, it certainly is not as central as staying near Notre Dame or the Seine, Latin Quarter area. And I do like Ricks books, but, he DOES ignore entire sections of the city.
There have been serveral recommendations for accomadation in the 5th and 6th arrondissmont. Very central. I tkink Connies post listed on in a ideal area.
I stayed at Hotel Des Mines, 15 minute walk to busy Latin Quarter area, near the Pantheon and Sorbonne, and fairly cheap, definately clean and well run.
Do check out tripadvisor.com reader reveiws.

I have stayed at Hotel du Champs du Mars twice and the couple who own it are great. The rooms are small but the location great. When you get off the metro at Ecole militaire, look for the Post Office and you've located Rue Cler. You can explore the shops in the Rue Cler, walk to the Eiffel Tower, pick up items for a picnic and eat your lunch at the nearby Rodin Museum.

Hotel de Suez is just up the street from Notre Dame, not far from Cluny Museum, and right in the St. Germain area........Direct Metro lines easy from there........Good website, but i forgot to note it....Just Google Hotel de Suez, Paris

We just returned from Paris last week and stayed at the Hotel Louis II in St Germain. It was a wonderful hotel and location was great for dining and shopping and close to Metro stops. It is in a very safe neighborhood also.

We were in Paris 2 weeks ago, and spent 2 night at Rick's recommended Royal Phare in the Rue Clare area (near Eiffel). Metro stop was literally outside the front door. Small rooms, but clean, free internet in the lobby, and about $110 US per night for a double. Pas mal, in my opinion. :)

You may have already solved your lodging problem, but if not you may want to try the castex hotel. We stay several nights last summer and enjoyed it. Small not fancy but clean. Close to Bastile and ND. don't remember exact cost but under 200 Euro a night.

Three times we have stayed at the Prince Hotel for about $110 without breakfast. They serve breakfast but for a price. The hotel is just a few steps from the Ecole Militaire metro stop. There is a bank on the corner convenient for ATM use. The Eiffel Tower is nearby. Rue Cler is nearby. You can walk to the Seine to catch a tour boat. The rooms have bathrooms. There is an elevator. We consider it our Paris home.

I was just able to Priceline a hotel just south of the Luxembourg for $120 a night. It is a 4 star Marriott. It isn't as nice and quaint as a place off the beaten path, but more affordable than anything else I could find.

hotel Leveque on Rue Cler! Its great. Clean, comfortable, great location and affordale. About 95 Euro a night for a double. We've stayed there twice and are staying there again in February. Check out www.hotel-leveque.com

From personal experience I strongly suggest NOT to stay at Hotel Marignan.

Really horrible experience. Location is great but the hotel is not. If you are single and do not care about cleanliness, noise, odor, attitude then you might like it.

Refer my previous post for more info. Link below:

http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm?topic=664

I stayed in the Hotel La Bourdonnais 111 Avenue La Bourdonnais It is a short walk to the Eiffel Tower and it is readily accessible to the subway. The hotel was clean and comfortable. It was not fancy but still nice. It has a trip advisor rating of 4 which is quite fair. The price is reasonable too.