well probably - have you checked out IBIS hotels? we stayed at one on a tour, we had about a half mile walk to the metro - it wasn't ideal IMO but it worked. One of the Fodorites is a big fan of a suburban area, hopefully he will weigh in soon.

Just weigh the cost of commuting each day to see the sites. Also think about being tired at the end of a site-seeing day or wanting to "run" to the hotel/apt. to drop off your purchases or take a nap. Or, if you are as old as I am, to use your own bathroom.

I'd suggest as close to the sites and metro/bus stops as you can afford.

We always stay at Hotel Cosmo's in the 11th: http://www.cosmos-hotel-paris.com/

About €72 for a large double room. No real charm, but the rooms are clean and we like the neighbourhood.

It is cheaper in the suburbs, but there's a reason for that -- they are, depending on the suburb, generally much less charming than Paris, potentially less safe, and farther away from everything. When I studied in Paris, the students who lived with families in the suburbs had like an hour commute each way just to get to the city center. I would avoid the suburbs if at all possible. There's so much to see and do in the city of Paris, and staying there is the best way to experience it.

No 'burbs. Just not worth the potential savings on a room. Find a little sliver of a room or apartment and be grateful at the end of the day that you don't have to travel an hour after sightseeing all day.

You don't have to go out to the suburbs to save money on a hotel or apartment. Have a look at places in the 14th and 15th arrondisements, for example. Generally, the inner circle arrondisements, 1-8, are more expensive.

One of my best trips to Paris was renting an apartment near the Porte d'Orléans, but inside the péripherique. Metro from there to St. Michel, under 30 minutes, cost the same as a two-stop ride.

It depends what suburbs you are talking about, some are cheap and some are expensive, obviously. And some may have businesses close by that produce more expensive hotels, and some are just expensive places. Paris itself is full of real cheap neighborhoods, if that's where you want to stay. Residential areas tend not to have hotels, also, in Paris or in suburbs, but if you want a cheap chain hotel around the peripherique, you can certainly find that.

dcm2 - What's your hotel budget figure?

I am retired, I was hoping for something in the $75 per day ( apartment ) if possible accommodations. So what everyone is saying, is that there is nothing worthwhile in the out skirts to see. correct.

Thank you all ( so far ) for your advice.

I think the exception to the comments above would be if you like a smaller town feel, want to hang out a bit there and not necessarily come into town every day but have it still be convenient to do so. Ages ago I lived in Suresnes for that reason. I've also stayed in Sceaux for the proximity to the gardens there, designed by Le Notre as were those at Versailles, and found it very pleasant. You might want to give these 2 a try just to see what's available.

Out of curiosity I entered "Suresnes, France" into the search field on the AirBnB website and a number of interesting possibilities came up. Not in Suresnes but in other places, including Neuilly and Versailles. https://www.airbnb.com/s/Suresnes--France

I should also have mentioned this small studio where I stayed for a week and was very comfortable. Lots of stairs but the neighborhood is my favorite in Paris. No commuting. https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/253877

Here are a few apartments IN PAIRS in your budget of $75USD (€58EUR) per night (amazingly):

http://www.vrbo.com/231503

http://www.vrbo.com/409586

http://www.vrbo.com/109213

€58 EURO is a VERY low budget - whether in the city or the suburbs.

Also look at these well reviewed inexpensive hotels. Be advised, however, that when they say "From $__" they mean FROM. That rock bottom "From" price usually means single bed, low season, and shared bath.

There should still be a few within your budget though (click on the hotel and then "Check Rates" for your particular dates).

http://www.eurocheapo.com/paris/hotels/price/cheap.html

Bardo and Mme Perdue, that was so sweet of you to pull these options together for the OP. I love Fodor's when these nice things happen.

Pdx, are you in Portland? If so, I'm coming up in September. Shall we have a Fodor's lunch (GTG)? I'd like to meet some Fodorites, as I have from another forum. Fun.

Absolutely! How fun! Have you been here before?

Yes, probably, but WHY would you want to do it. You can find clean acceptable places to stay within Paris. An Ibis hotel we stayed at was near Gare de Lyon/Bastille--clean, cheap, sterile, good breakfast room. We did it years ago and had to do it in a hurry with little ability to do anything else--BUT it was fine.

Pdx, would you start a thread to that effect so we don't annoy folks here (sorry all)? Since you're there. No, I've never been.

dcm2 - the location of the Voltaire studio referenced above by bardo1 is in a great location. We stayed near there last year. The neighborhood is quite walkable, has all sorts of shops and restaurants, great transit links. The apartment is definitely compact but looks to have everything you would need, and even boasts air conditioning.

When do you plan to visit?

Here in North America, we generally think "boring but safe" when we think "suburbs". That may be but is not always true in Europe , not just Paris. Much public housing was built outside the historic centers in Paris, Zagreb, Glasgow and other cities. So you need to be very careful which suburbs you look at.

Ibis is a chain with many sub-chains, like Marriott in the US. A lot of their properties are near railroad stations in the city or near the Peripherique -- the bypass or ring road -- in Paris. Some of them are a lot like Holiday Inn Express or Hampton Inns, tho the rooms will be smaller. They are not quaint but offer good value.