Great to find a long-established, family-run hotel still going strong in the heart of the Latin Quarter. The location is ultra-convenient: you can walk to all the key places of interest as well as to the St-Michel RER station. This links directly with the Gare du Nord (Eurostar) and Charles de Gaulle airport so, unless you’ve got far too much luggage, you save on taxis.
You are likely to be welcomed as old friends by the owner, Monsieur Marc, or by the trusty Monsieur Sadr (25+ years with the hotel). Notice the brightly coloured breakfast room and the stained glass panels on the spiral staircase which is handy in case you can’t be bothered to wait for the tiny lift.
Opt for the accommodations on the fifth floor if they are available; the building dates from Haussmann’s times so bedrooms at this level have French windows leading onto a little furnished balcony – magical for breakfast or for taking the air on a hot summer’s evening. (No a/c at these keen prices but the rooms do have effective ceiling fans.) Street noise should not be too obtrusive but sound-proofing between rooms is sometimes a problem.
The Collège de France is one of our most favourite hotels, offering superb honest-to-goodness value. If it is fully booked, try another good, budget-priced hotel: www.hotel-diana-paris.com. It has most, but not all, of the advantages of its near neighbour.