As budget travellers our main objective is to find an inexpensive hotel at the best location possible. This considered, Hotel du Cantal is a very good choice.

Not expecting to much from a one star hotel, one should be prepared for some rough edges, for example the lack of receptionists on duty (though always only a telephone call away), no breakfast service (although we were told so before arrival), and the comme-ci comme-ca cleaning service, not to mention the very frustrating and utterly peculiar lack of toilet seat (see pic.).

On the other hand, all of the above is quite unimportant considering that this hotel offers a stay in one of the most attractive parts of Paris to a very reasonable price. Far away from tourist sites like the Eiffel tower and the Champs Elysee (although these are easily reached by metro) but all so much closer to the charming Marias quarters, with it's abundancy of cafées, bars, restaurants, interesting museums and trendy shops. This is also a center for Paris gay nightlife

While the hotel room wasn't a suite at the Ritz (most notably, the above mentioned lack of toilet seat, non-functioning telephone and a loud annoying buzz from the TV, only supplying french channels) the room was in fact rather nice. We slept very good in our comfortable bed and the bathroom was big, clean, tiled and with a big bath tub. The ceiling in the room and bath room consisted of classic old-time wooden beams. Our room had a beautiful view over the street and a school yard (nice and quiet in the summer time, see pic).

In summary, we truly recommend this hotel for the budget traveller!

Hotel du Cantal is about 5 minutes away from the Marais and is a great choice if that's your Paris focus.
Our room (21 or 22) is a good one to ask for. First floor, double bed, good sized shower/bath, functioning hot water (which let's be honest isn't always the case in one star hotels),on the street (some noise, but this is a city...) and 'charming' with wooden beams.
I'll be staying here again next time, which I guess is the best recommendation I can make