This 36-room hotel in Montmartre is an ideal two-and-a-half-pearl base for exploring Paris's most popular cultural attractions. The hotel is within easy walking distance of the Moulin Rouge, Sacre Coeur, and the Montmartre Museum, as well as the Abbesses and Blanche Metro stations. Rooms are small, fresh, and simply decorated, but include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi. Some have French doors opening to street views of the quaint surrounding buildings. A continental breakfast buffet is included with certain bookings, and free coffee and cake is served daily. Guests looking for a budget-friendly hotel with more spacious rooms in this area, might compare rates with the Montmartre Clignancourt instead. 

The mid-range Residence Cosy's Cadet is on the charming Rue Cadet, near the Grands Boulevards and a three-minute walk to the Cadet metro station. Decor is simple but shot through with hot pink accents adding a vibrant boost. The 22 studios and apartments are exceptionally spacious for Paris, and well equipped with full kitchens, living and dining areas, flat-screen TVs, CD and DVD players, and free Wi-Fi. Features are mostly limited to a cold buffet breakfast (for fee) and paid on-site parking. Another downside: Past guests have complained about inadequate soundproofing and dated decor in some units, but renovations are slated for the end of 2016. Travelers looking for more stylish apartment-style accommodations could also consider Residence Nell, which is in the same neighborhood, though rates are notably higher.

The 36-room boutique Fred Hotel offers a slice of chic in a true Parisian neighborhood south of Montparnasse. Rooms are small but smartly appointed, with modern furniture and great art on the walls. Free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and ample toiletries are nice touches. The hotel is located on a quiet street in a neighborhood of the 14th arrondissement that has retained its village personality, and is studded with restaurants, bars, and shops. It's a three- to five-minute walk to a metro station (Plaisance, Line 13) that connects to the more touristy Paris.

This four-pearl, 48-room hotel in central Paris is a sharp, historic base for exploring the city’s most famous attractions. The hotel is near bustling Place de Mexico, and a nine-minute walk to Trocadero Gardens, which has amazing Eiffel Tower views across the Seine (as well as a metro station). Rooms are fresh and sleek, if sometimes simple, with monochrome decor and features like air-conditioning, Nespresso machines, and free Wi-Fi. Some have French doors opening to spectacular Eiffel Tower views, and others have romantic four-poster beds. The spa and small indoor pool are unexpected perks in central Paris, and the well-liked restaurant serves locally sourced cuisine. Guests looking for a similarly classy hotel nearby might check out the Majestic Hotel Spa, where rooms have more character, but rates are often higher.

The mid-range Ibis Bastille Opera offers the attractive combination of a prime location and good rates. Located in the 11th Arrondissement, it's a brief walk to Place de la Bastille, a metro station, and numerous restaurants, nightclubs, and boutiques. Its 305 no-frills rooms are clean and functional, but small and starkly-decorated with cramped bathrooms. Its full-service restaurant offers buffet and a la carte options, and the 24-hour bar serves light fare. Business travelers are catered to with several meeting rooms and free Wi-Fi, plus the hotel offers laundry services and a concierge. As an alternative, the nearby BLC Design Hotel is more stylish with sleek and modern all-white decor, but it doesn't offer as many amenities.

The three-pearl Hotel Eiffel Capitol is a smart choice for travelers who want affordable accommodations but don't want to sacrifice style. It's located on the Left Bank in the 15th Arrondissement, and a bit far from the Louvre and central Paris attractions, but it’s a convenient spot for access to the Eiffel Tower, about 15 minutes away on foot. The hot breakfast buffet and express continental breakfast (both for a fee) have won approval from previous guests, and the hotel also offers a 24-hour honesty bar with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The 42 guest rooms have a colorful contemporary look, and all come with flat-screen TVs, minibars, electric kettles, and free Wi-Fi. The nearby Campanile Paris 15’s rates are often slightly cheaper, but rooms are more spartan and less colorful. 

The Grand Hotel Leveque is a mid-range boutique hotel on a charming pedestrian shopping street near the Eiffel Tower. The hotel is surrounded by cafes, wine stores, and fine food shops, and is a five-minute walk from two metro stations. Like many Parisian hotels in this price range, interiors are simple and rooms are nicely decorated yet small. Rooms feature flat-screen televisions, comfortable beds, and bathrooms with modern fixtures. Wi-Fi is included with the room rate but there is a daily fee for breakfast. Overall, this is fine choice for value-minded travelers who want a genuine taste of daily Parisian life, and who don't mind the 15-minute metro ride to the city center. It's also worth considering the similarly priced Hotel Duquesne Eiffel nearby, where some rooms have Eiffel Tower views.

The Color Design Hotel is a trendy boutique option in the Bastille district. The 46 basic, contemporary rooms have flat-screen TVs, comfortable beds, and updated bathrooms. Rooms are small, but the hotel makes the most of the space through interesting design, lighting effects, and creative uses of furniture. Hotel perks include a charming breakfast room in the vaulted basement, free Wi-Fi, and free use of the business center. The Metro is only two blocks away, making it easy to explore the rest of Paris. Bastille is a great area for nightlife and dining, but some visitors might find this property inconveniently located for seeing the sights.

The best thing about the Comfort Hotel Mouffetard is its location. On a cobblestone street in the vibrant, bohemian 5th Arrondissement, the mid-range property is a good value for this otherwise pricey tourist area. Rue Mouffetard is one of the streets commemorated in Ernest Hemingway's memoir, "A Moveable Feast," and it's lined with charming cafes. This Comfort Inn has 42 rather small rooms, free (spotty) Wi-Fi throughout, and a clean, contemporary look. Common areas are limited to a small, street-facing lobby with a dining area for the hotel's comprehensive breakfast, which most guests recommend despite the additional fee. Travelers seeking a more traditional hotel at the same price point in roughly the same area could check out the Cluny Sorbonne Hotel. 

The Hotel WO is a clean, convenient 30-room boutique option with a focus on design. Rooms are small but charming, with flat-screen TVs, modern decor, and black and white photographs of Paris. It's true that some rooms are downright tiny, and in the bathrooms in Classic Rooms the shower area is practically on top of the toilet -- but booking a larger superior room solves this problem. Rooms on the upper floors are particularly desirable, as some have balconies and views of the Eiffel Tower. With free Wi-Fi and a convenient location for reaching popular museums and attractions, Hotel WO is a good pick.