Paris: Hotels for a Steal

Saving money on accommodations frees up more of your budget for great meals—but you don't have to sacrifice style, either.

Hotel des Grandes Ecoles

You'll have to book early to snag a room at this very pleasant hotel in the Latin Quarter, but it's worth the effort, since rooms are spacious and attractively decorated in traditional French style, with floral wallpaper and chenille bedspreads. There's also a lovely little garden in which to spend a quiet afternoon with a book.

75 rue Cardinal Lemoine, 5th; 01-43-26-79-23; hotel-grandes-ecoles.com

Photograph Courtesy of Hôtel des Grandes Ecoles

Hotel Langlois

Just a few steps from the Place de la Trinité in the heart of Paris—the Opera and the main department stores are less than a five-minute walk away—this delightful old-fashioned hotel was built in 1870; carved oak pillars and alcoves, a wrought-iron elevator, and a spiral staircase give it a lot of charm. Rooms are quiet and comfortable, and some, like Room 63, have a view of La Trinité church and the rooftops of Paris.

63 rue Saint-Lazare, 9th; 01-48-74-78-24; hotel-langlois.com

Photograph Courtesy of Hotel Langlois

Hotel du Danube

Bang in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, this old charmer occupies a pretty 18th-century house and has a quiet chic that is a perfect reflection of the neighborhood. Owned and run by the Le Besque family since 1962, it's quiet and comfortable, and the standard doubles were just renovated and redecorated with traditional good French taste this past summer.

58 rue Jacob, 6th; 01-42-60-34-70; hoteldanube.fr

Photograph Courtesy of Hotel du Danube

Hotel Mayet

With a terrific location within walking distance of Saint-Germain-des-Prés and Montparnasse, this budget design hotel is a real charmer. The tidy burgundy-and-gray bedrooms are furnished with Scandinavian modern furniture, the staff is friendly, and there's a great English-language used-book shop and tearoom just up the street—Tea & Tattered Pages. Book a fifth-floor front-facing room for the most light and the least noise.

3 rue Mayet, 6th; 01-47-83-21-35; mayet.com

Photograph Courtesy of Hôtel Mayet

Hotel de L'Esperance

This modest place, close to the Rue Mouffetard, in the 5th arrondissement, is short on charm—the television in the lobby constantly blares—but the rooms are clean, comfortable, and larger than you'd imagine. Most rooms have a desk, TV, and even an air conditioner.

15 rue Pascal, 5th; 01-47-07-10-99; hoteldelesperance.fr

Photograph by Marcus Nilsson