My view is that the Latin Quarter is the REAL Paris... close to it's beginnings and the hub of intellectual life... i love it... I've been to this City somewhere in the area of 75-100 times all on leisure (currently on my 7th visit in 2010) and have spent the last 11 New Years in the LQ.... Very good hotel for the price (73 euros) for a single is the Hotel Saint Andre des Arts on the rue of the same name.. nice staff.. can be noisy.. always clean... and for a fun night out, the Piano Bar (upstairs)/Cabaret (downstairs) Aux Trois Mailletz at 66 rue Galande... fair food, good drink and great entertainment... a real mix of locals and travelers who came back time and again...