Be prepared to pay a "city hotel tax", collected up-front at check-in. The photos on this site were obviously very carefully taken. We knew there was something amiss as we initially approached the hotel. The majority of the front area of the hotel is covered in graffiti. We were out and about all the time and we only slept there, so we got we paid for. Given our itinerary, the pro for us was general location. The area is a bit seedy though.
The shower tiles has mold in the joints and everything looked old - REALLY old. No air conditioning, as expected, but no screens in the windows either. The steps and hallways were poorly maintained - peeled and scratched paint everywhere. Door locks were a joke. Leaving the giant metal key at the desk concerned us - no ID ever requested - even from staff we didn't meet yet. We carried passports and valuables at all times when away.
Bed bug check came up negative, but the comforter looked to be 20 years old. The furniture looked like it was collected out of local garbage. To their credit, all of the hotel staff was very friendly and helpful - every single employee we encountered for that matter.
Excellent home base for us. We are hikers, so the walk to Notre Dame area was easy. We also walked to SOHO a lot. Day trips to other countries were a short (7 min) walk to Gare du Nord where we accessed Thalys and EuroStar high speed trains. The metro at Gare de l'Est was conveniently just 100 feet away.