Port-Royal Hotel

The Port-Royal Hotel offers cheapo-friendly rooms with a grandmotherly touch near the Gobelins Metro stop in the bottom of the 5th. It’s been carefully operated by the same family since 1931, and it shows. This place is a well-run budget hotel.

Rooms come in many sizes and are furnished with simple wooden or metal beds, handsome armoires and desks, and a telephone (no TV). Old-fashioned touches, like restored crown molding and homey wallpaper patterns, make an inviting scene. Free Wi-Fi works throughout the hotel.

The most expensive rooms are equipped with a private bathroom, neatly tiled with either a shower or bathtub. Many rooms, however, have only a sink for washing up and share a toilet and shower in the hallway. These are a lot cheaper, but it’s important to note that the hotel charges extra for a shower token—which provides just five minutes of water. (Hey, it’s one way to keep the line short!)

We preferred the rooms that look out to the Boulevard Port-Royal, as they’re brighter (and double-paned windows should keep the traffic noise down). However, lighter sleepers should request a room overlooking the small courtyard.

A breakfast is served for an additional fee in the cozy stone-lined breakfast room downstairs.

The entire hotel is non-smoking. Happily, it has a normal-sized elevator. The hotel accepts cash and traveler's checks (in euros) only. Repeat: No credit cards.

Location: While the hotel’s location isn’t the best on our list (it’s a bit too far south to think about easily walking to most sights), it is located right next to a Metro stop and just one stop away from the Port Royal RER stop, which offers direct access to Charles de Gaulle. That’s convenient. If you like gardens you can also walk to Jardin du Luxembourg or Jardin du Plantes.