http://www.hotel-des-gobelins.com/ is showing €129 to €215 per night for a double/twin, although the "3 night package" ranges from €115 to €160.
We stayed there about a year back, and it was fine. Some nice little brasseries & restaurants in the area, too.

I wouldn't recommend the Muguet if you think the College de France is "simple". I stayed at both in the same week and was deeply disappointed with the Muguet after a wonderful (and clean) stay at the CdF. We had issues with the staff and the cleanliness of our room at the Muguet (read my trip report for details). It has a 1-star tourist class feel to me, where CdF felt more boutique.

We loved the CdF for a very quiet yet extremely central and accessible location. The rooms were large for Paris standards and immaculate. The staff was insanely helpful and they serve wonderful breakfasts. I felt the exact opposite on every point about the Muguet. The location is good basically for the Eiffel Tower, otherwise it's more work to get anywhere else.

To each his own, I suppose.

My idea of "simple" is usually much different than this trip. I would normally be overjoyed to stay at any of the hotels on this list (I'm so glad I'll have it for future trips!). I guess I just want something extra-special for this trip.

Checking out the newest suggestions... (thank you so much!)

The Eldorado on rue des Dames in the 17th is great, if you don't want a TV in your room.

www.eldoradohotel.fr

I suggest checking Hotel Dacia Luxembourg in the 5th. They have special rates for three nights.

http://www.hoteldacia.com/

There is no special view and it is on busy Blvd. St. Michel, but the quiet rooms in the back sound good.

I find their rates to be quite good considering you're visiting in high season.

Btw, I like the Hotel Saint Louis also and they still do offer the 140 euro/double rate this year, but it is quite basic. The bathrooms were renovated and are quite nice although mine was extremely extremely tiny. Staff were really helpful and welcoming too.

I've also stayed at both Deux Iles and Lutece yet they have much higher rates.

Stayed in a perfect tower view room in a 4 star in paris last year for less than 100eu...

4* Paris (Eiffel Tower-Musee dOrsay-Invalides) Hilton Paris - $119

hotwire.com

2 blocks away from the Tower overlooking tower simply wonderful
up close view at night.

Am a member of hilton honors program
was upraded to a tower view room
at no charge...

betterbidding.com

check priceline hotwire calender winning bids bid on good four stars pick them up from$80/tax like the
meridien etoile.

Good hunting.

It was a number of years ago now, but we stayed at Dacia Luxembourg as mentioned just above, and liked it very much. Great location. Nice hotel. Our room faced St Mich but was not too noisy.

This isn't a hotel, but after your comment about Amelie's apartment I thought it might fit the bill. They do short breaks (3-4 nights) too.

http://www.swell-apartments.co.uk/paris/apartment/

Wow - such great suggestions are coming in! Analogue and RM67 - those are EXACTLY what I was looking for. Analogue is unbelievably cheap, yet interesting, unique and comfortable. And the apartment looks exactly like what you would expect a Montmartre apartment to look like!

I know this will sound bizarre, but we're actually thinking about staying in two places!

I can't imagine "moving" during a three night stay. You'd have to be out by noon at the latest or 10AM, and wouldn't have access to the next place until probably 2 or 3PM. Waste of many hours...

The "swell" place in Montmartre looks interesting, but where, exactly, is it located? The photos are bizarre (to me, anyway), and it's NOT inexpensive...

But, as you've no doubt figured out, you just aren't going to find "very special" for under $200/night, especially at this late date...

I agree that you should not think of staying at two different places. If you were in Paris for at least a week then it would be more practical.

I suggest reserving a hotel room instead of an apartment for a three night stay anyway. Again if you were to stay for at least a week the apartment would be a good alternative to a hotel room. It's too much money (50% deposit) to prepay for a three night stay to me.

Anything less than a week I'd choose a hotel over an apartment. And I definitely would not move places on a 3 night stay. Why waste your time checking in and out of places, and probably left without a room for at least part of one day (checkout 11am, checkin 3pm as example).

The "Swell" Montmartre apartment is at 11, rue Duhesme, which is rather far north, even within Montmartre. I think it is a nice neighborhood if I remember correctly.

bm!

Wow, I was going to recommend a hotel I've been wanting to go to for years, but somehow, I just never made it over. Now, the hotel is priced to a point that I will never make it over (Hotel Residence Henri IV). I'm shocked.

If you want more suggestions, I would recommend checking Parisby.com, looking for something within your price range, and then checking to see if there is a better deal direct with the hotel.

Good luck.

11 Rue Duhesme is probably a very nice spot. It's convenient to bus routes 80, 95, Montmartrobus and metro station Lamarck/Caulaincourt. And, it's right around the corner from Cottage Marcadet, a restaurant we really enjoyed last year, along with many other nice restaurants we've visited over the years. And, that section of nearby rue Caulaincourt has some really pretty buildings, especially on the corner at rue Lucien Gaulard

MM, is than an expletive or are you just '<font color="red">b</font>ook<font color="red">m</font>arking'..?

Yes it is bizarre to stay in two places for three days :) your room may not be ready in one. Think of all the time checcking in and out.
They may be busy at the checkin desk.

Don't worry - I quickly lost interest with the &quot;two places in four days&quot; idea. Still, I wish I could check out all of these places!