The 46-room Villa Montparnasse is an upper-middle-range hotel with traditional Parisian decor located in an artistic neighborhood, 15 minutes' walk from the Luxembourg Gardens. Classic rooms all have minibars, flat-screen TVs, and air-conditioning, but furniture shows significant wear and tear, detracting from the elegance a bit. Some rooms have exceptional views of the the Eiffel Tower in the distance, though Montparnasse Cemetery is in the foreground. Cocktails and wine are available at the lobby bar, and there is a splendid outdoor seating area at the entrance to the hotel. Room service is available 24 hours a day and breakfast is free. Downsides include a weak Wi-Fi signal and lack of on-site parking, and guests looking for slightly fresher rooms may want to consider Aviatic Hotel, a 10-minute walk from Villa Montparnasse, though rooms will be slightly more expensive.

The best thing about this lower-middle-range chain hotel is its location on the Left Bank of Paris, within sight of the Eiffel Tower -- the penthouse room even catches a glimpse of the monument. The area brims with restaurants, cafes, and shops, while the nearby Dupliex Metro stop makes other attractions accessible. On-site features are few, though a breakfast buffet (which isn't included in rates) can be taken outdoors to a sunny courtyard. The 40 guest rooms are fairly standard fare as well, with basic blond-wood furnishings, but a few renovated rooms add a hit of style with brocade wallpaper. Multiple renovations here have been underway, and while they haven't brought more space or air-conditioning throughout, they have upgraded the bedding. By comparison, the nearby Mercure Paris Tour Eiffel Grenelle is equally low-frills, but it offers AC in rooms.