In the fashionable Marais, the Christian Lacroix–designed Hôtel du Petit Moulin resonates with a different kind of Frenchness, and has an unostentatious facade hiding idiosyncratic rooms. The two-person "Comfort Room" goes for $240 a night year-round, while superior and executive rooms, normally $333 to $372 a night, can be as low as $242 on Sunday nights—although there is a two-night minimum. Strengths: Central location; chic decor; trendy bar; wheelchair friendly. Weaknesses: Snooty receptionists; overpriced breakfast; a charge for Wi-Fi (33-1-42-74-10-10; paris-hotel-petitmoulin.com; doubles, $243–$472).

The Hôtel Esmeralda, in the Latin Quarter, is small and scruffy, but what it lacks in polish it makes up for in bohemian charm (floral wallpaper, flea market furniture). Bare-bones singles with no shower are as low as $47 per night, while doubles with a private shower and overlooking Notre-Dame are between $108 and $128. Strengths: Great location; friendly staff. Weaknesses: Shoe box–size rooms; a tad dusty; no elevator or TV (33-1-43-54-19-20; no Web site).

Apartments
Lodgis, a Paris rentals agency, has more than 1,000 furnished apartments, with prices starting at about $36 a night for a studio. Strengths: Consistently good-quality apartments; well situated; reasonable prices; an authentic Paris base. Weaknesses: Staff are lax about replying to e-mail and phone queries; be prepared to clean the apartment and do laundry at the end of your stay or else pay a supplement (33-1-70-39-11-11; lodgis.com).

Chez Vous offers apartments in Paris's most exclusive areas. One-bedroom apartments—such as Bisou, in the Latin Quarter, and Mimosa, beside the Place des Vosges—are $260 a night and sleep up to four (two in daybeds). Traveling en masse makes things cheaper still, and Chez Vous's two-bedroom apartments—including Picasso, in an ancient hôtel particulier in the heart of the Marais—comfortably sleep six for $440 per night and up. Strengths: Welcome service upon arrival (with English-speaking staff); linens and towels provided; attractive apartments in central areas. Weaknesses: Smaller apartments are typically dark; layout can be awkward—especially in those with sleeping lofts; antique decor means the flats are not suitable for families with young children (415-331-2535 in California; chezvous.com; rates vary widely depending on the apartment; most have five-night minimums).

The two-bedroom Rue des Écoles, on the border of the fifth and sixth arrondissements, is bright, roomy, and kitted out with a fabulous kitchen. Strengths: Great location; charming building with high ceilings; washer, dryer, and dishwasher; free overseas calls and Internet access. Weaknesses: Very basic decor and few amenities (781-383-6006 in Massachusetts; panacherental.com; $450 per night, with a five-night minimum).