I stayed at the Hotel de Normandie for 5 nights and would definitely recommend it to others. ALL the staff were friendly, helpful and went out of their way to make us feel welcome. One extremely helpful member of staff offered to check out the best way for us to get to a small Beaujolais village using several forms of public transport - he was far more obliging then the local tourist board and was genuinely interested to know how we got on afterwards.
The rooms we stayed in had just been done up and, though basic, were spotlessly clean and comfortable. I slept very well as my room was quiet (it faced onto a courtyard, so not a great view, but I would swap a great view for a quiet sleep anytime!) The breakfasts were good, in a pleasant room and served by a lovely lady with a smile for everyone.
The location is great for walking into the vibrant centre of Lyon and for getting the metro and tram anywhere in the city. However, being near the station does naturally have its downside - we arrived late at night, on foot, and felt slightly intimidated by gangs on the street - nothing unusual for a large city though and easily avoided!
Overall, the hotel is good value for money and we were made to feel very welcome.

We had a twin room that was a good size (it didn't just feel like a converted double room) and was very clean. Staff very friendly. Perhaps not in the best area of town, but not a bad part either, and couldn't be handier for Perrache station. Free internet, but only in lobby. Pretty good value for money, would definitely recommend as a cheap, functional place to stay.