There are a lot of IBIS hotels in the city-center, not just out at the periphique. They're known to be basic rooms but consistently acceptable for a budget hotel.
http://www.ibishotel.com/ibis/index.html
Ibis Bastille Opera 75-94€
15, rue Breguet 75011
Tel. : (+33)1/49292020 Fax : (+33)1/49292030

Ibis Paris République 10e 72-84€
9, rue Leon Jouhaux 75010
Tel. : (+33)1/42404050 Fax : (+33)1/42401112

Ibis Grands Boulevards Opera 89-95€
38 Rue du Faubourg Montmartre 75009
Tel. : (+33)1/45230127 Fax : (+33)1/48000446

Ibis Paris Tour Eiffel Cambronne 75-90€
2, rue Cambronne 75015
Tel. : (+33)1/40612121 Fax : (+33)1/40612299

When I'm in Paris, the hotel is a place to sleep and take a bath. Period. As long as the bed is comfortable, the room is clean, and the water is hot, I'm fine. That's my perspective.

Ibis hotels are relatively comfortable, but not very charming. The one at the Porte d'Italie in Paris is a particularly good value.

Thanks everyone for your feedback. It's just that the hotels are a little different than North Amerrica. I'll do more research and make a decision soon. Since I'll be in Paris in 2 weeks.

I welcome good budget hotel recommendations (3*) for a first time visit.

Thanks.

A 3-star hotel, if that's what you meant, doesn't really qualify as budget accommodations in France.

What does a 3* accommodation mean in Paris?

I saw 2 travel agents:

one recommended the Hotel Bleu Marine Montparnasse. She stayed there.

The other recommended the Abaca Messidor on 330 rue de vaugirard. Because she had stayed there one time.

Thoughts please....

Here's what a French web site says about the hotel rating system in France:

**** Hôtel de très grand confort

*** Hôtel de grand tourisme, grand confort

** Hôtel de tourisme, bon confort

* Hôtel de moyen tourisme

Popular Paris hotels like the Muguet in the 7th arrondissement have two stars (**). Ibis and Kyriad (generic) hotel are also **. In a ** hotel you would expect to have an elevator, a private bathroom with tub or shower, a private-line phone in the room, and a TV. You can expect to pay from 80 to 120 € a night.

Three-star establishments have rooms starting in the 150 € range, I believe. That's close to $200 a night.

This is the hotel I often stay at in the 7th - www.hoteldefrance.com - 72 euros a night for a very comfortable mattress, modicum of charm, very convenient to the tourist attractions, lots of wonderful cafés and restaurants nearby, friendly helpful staff.

On your recommendation, I stayed at the Hotel de France once, in early 2003, and thought it was very nice. I can recommend it too.

Hi JerseySue,

in central Paris (arrondissements 1-20) you are close to everything, if you use the metro underground system. So you will find other criteria to choose your hotel, maybe prize or luxury you want not to miss.

I prefer the 9th arrondissement, the faubourg montmartre (this is not the montmartre hill but rue lafayette/rue du faubourg montmartre area, metro station cadet or poissoniere). There you find a range of prizeworthy 2-star and 3-star hotels, in addition on rue lafayette and rue du faubourg montmartre shops for your covenience. on rue cadet you will find an outdoor market.

as a highlight, there are two passages linking rue du faubourg montmartre (passage verdeau and passage jouffroy) with the grands boulevards, and when you cross boulevard, you find the passage aux panoramas. if you like to walk, you can stroll to opera garnier and galeries lafayette. you can walk on rue montmartre from the grands boulevards to st. eustache church besides the former halles.

in my opinion, faubourg montmartre is as parisian as quartier latin or st. germain des pres, maybe even more.

enjoy your stay in Paris.

St Cirq, where on La Tour Maubourg is Hotel de France (cross street?)? I'm assuming it's near avenue de Tourville since it lists its Metro as Ecole Militaire.

The Hotel de France is just a few steps off either the Ave. de Tourville or the Ave. Duquesne, on Bd. de la Tour-Maubourg.

Web site is www.hoteldefrance.com

I'm going next saturday. And with all these recommendations I can't seem to make a decision.

Go ahead and try booking at Hotel de France. Several people have stayed there with favorable results, and it is central enough.
If you can't get in there, then try "AisleSeat" 's rec of Hotel Andrea Rivoli, then Huitres' Hotel Kensington and so on...
You have some recommendations here, and your Paris arrival is around the corner - just book something <i>now</i>.

Travelnut, just wanted to confirm that it is this one.

H&ocirc;tel de France Invalides

102, boulevard de La-Tour-Maubourg 75007 Paris
Subway: Ecole Militaire
Tel: +33 1 47 05 40 49 - Fax: +33 1 45 56 96 78

yep, that's the inexpensive one St Cirq recommends (often)...

I could swear I'd seen a website for them, but evidently they book thru this one:
http://www.hoteldefrance.com/

Thanks Travelnut, I got confirmation from the hotel for my stay this morning.

I would like to take the metro to the hotel. If so, can someone give me directions to the H&ocirc;tel de France Invalides from CDG. Thx.

Or should I take the shuttle? If so, does anyone has the number I should call?

Hi JS,

&gt;can someone give me directions to the H&ocirc;tel de France Invalides from CDG.&lt;

Go to can someone give me directions to the H&ocirc;tel de France Invalides from CDG.

Enter &quot;aeroport cdg&quot; and &quot;hotel address, Paris&quot;. You will directions.

For shuttles, see www.beeshuttle.com and www.parishuttle.com.

I will be going back to Paris in April, for the third time in the past 13 months. I love the 7th and the Hotel Grand Leveque is GREAT! It is on Rue Cler which is a pedistrian only street. There are lovely little shops and it is just charming. It is within walking distance of the Tower, has excellent restaurants and is sure to give you a true Parisian experince. I love that hotel!!!! Make sure you go to the Cafe Du Marche, excellent food at very reasonable prices!!!

CDG-Terminal 1: take the green shuttle to the RER station
CDG-Terminal 2: walk to the RER station
Buy a ticket (about 8&euro;) and take RER-B into Paris. Get off RER at Gare du Nord, take Metro line 4 (Direction Porte d'Orleans) and get off at Strasbourg St Denis. Change to Metro line 8 (Direction Balard) and get off at Ecole Militaire.
For twice as much $, use a shuttle...

Merci, everyone.

I think I will take the shuttle. All that tranferring with the metro will be a hassle with luggage.

Should I reserve now for the shuttle. Or a few days before I leave?