I assume you meant inexpensive. Try airbnb.com it's not for everyone but it gives you many more choices than hostels and the price for three can be much better.

There are really so many, it's hard to just recommend one cheap hotel out of all Paris. However, in the Latin Qtr/St Germain (a convenient location), you can look at the Hotel du Commerce http://www.commerceparishotel.com/

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

the St Pierre http://www.saintpierre-hotel.com/

Those are just a few and at the lower end, but I would guess that's what they want if they are considering hostels.

THis one is also cheap and more in the Gobelins area but that's a nice area and convenient to metro http://www.hotelportroyal.fr/

If they prefer the marais or Right Bank, this is one of the cheapest ones over there http://www.hoteltiquetonne.fr/

Lots of info on www.eurocheapo.com, and for hostels, there are several good websites that are targeted to that info where you can get comments and reviews. The Young and Happy Hostel is a good location, though, and from the comments I've heard, okay enough. the MIJE hostels are good, also http://www.mije.com/uk-accueil-individuels.asp

What does "inexpensive" mean to you? It's a relative term, so it's better to actually name a price in dollars or euros.

Thank you so much for the hotel recommendations. Exactly what I was looking for.

Hotel Marignan, budget with breakfast and kitchen to use. I stay there for the great position near Notre Dame Cathedral, I go to Paris to see the sights, not for the luxury of a hotel room.

You could investigate an Ibis hotel. they have a nice breakfas room also.

I'm planning to stay at the Hotel de la Comete in the 10th arrondissement when I go to Paris in June. I've stayed there once before and it was super clean and affordable, and the staff were very friendly (they don't really speak English at all, but they were nice about our shoddy French!). It was a bit loud, being so near a subway station, bars, etc, but the cleanliness and easy access to the metro, a Monoprix right around the corner and the feeling of safety made up for the noise