1 Rue Scribe, 75009 Paris, France

In a storied building where 19th-century inventors first presented cinematography, this polished hotel is a 3-minute walk from the Palais Garnier opera house and 14 minutes' walk from the Musée du Louvre. Warmly decorated rooms come with minibars, flat-screen TVs and Wi-Fi, plus designer toiletries, and tea and coffeemaking facilities. Suites add living rooms; apartments are bi-level. Club-level quarters add free soft drinks and snacks. Room service is offered. There’s an elegant glass-roofed restaurant, plus a tearoom featuring honey harvested on-site. Breakfast is available for a fee. Other amenities include a cocktail bar, a spa and a gym.

11 Rue de Lyon, 75012 Paris, France

In a Haussmann-inspired belle epoque building on a tree-lined street, this classic hotel is 280 m from Gare de Lyon train station, 650 m from the banks of the Seine river, and 3 km from the Pompidou Center. Modest rooms come with minibars, flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi. Upgraded rooms offer coffeemakers and complimentary drinks, while suites add city views, and living rooms with pull-out sofas. Room service is available. There's a laid-back cocktail bar, along with 6 meeting rooms. A breakfast buffet is available for a fee.

20 Rue du Sommerard, 75005 Paris, France

A 2-minute walk from Cluny-La Sorbonne metro station, this contemporary hotel in the 5th arr. is 7 minutes' walk from Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris, and 9 minutes' stroll from Le Jardin du Luxembourg gardens. Polished rooms mix modern furnishings with rustic accents like exposed beams. All feature Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs, as well as minibars, and tea and coffeemakers. Upgraded rooms add iPhone docks and Nespresso machines. Room service is offered. There's a casual 24/7 lounge bar and a business center. Parking is available for a fee.

2 Rue Halévy, 06000 Nice, France

Set off the Promenade des Anglais, this polished hotel with views of the Mediterranean Sea is an 8-minute walk from the 18th-century l'Opéra de Nice and 4 km from the Musée Marc Chagall. The stylish, modern rooms come with free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and minibars, plus tea and coffeemaking equipment. Most rooms add balconies, while upgraded rooms feature iPod docks, Nespresso machines and/or sea views. There's a business center. Breakfast is available (fee).

12 Bd Victor Hugo, 06000 Nice, France

A 3-minute walk from Avenue Jean Médecin, this luxe, belle epoque–style hotel is also an 8-minute walk from the beachfront Promenade des Anglais. Ultra-chic rooms have Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and minibars. Upgraded rooms include in-room glass-enclosed showers and/or Nespresso coffeemakers. Lavish suites, some split level, add marble bathrooms, iPod docks and living areas. Kids 11 and under stay at no extra charge with parents, and room service is available. There are fine-dining seafood and Italian restaurants, and breakfast is available. A sleek spa features an indoor pool, a fitness room and a hammam. Guests have access to a private beach.

37 Prom. des Anglais, 06000 Nice, France

Occupying an elegant building dating from the early 20th century, this sophisticated hotel is across the Promenade des Anglais from Neptune Beach on the Mediterranean Sea. It's an 18-minute walk from the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Nice and 6 km from Nice Côte d'Azur Airport. Refined rooms have Wi-Fi, flat-screens, minibars and tea and coffeemakers. Upgraded rooms offer sea views; some include sitting areas. Suites provide living rooms. Upgraded suites add terraces. Some quarters feature ornate decor. Room service is available. Amenities include an upmarket restaurant, a modern brasserie, a bar and a gym. Parking is available.

5-7 Rte de Galice, 13090 Aix-en-Provence, France

This relaxed hotel is a 13-minute walk from the landmark Fontaine de la Rotonde, a 17-minute walk from Paroisse Cathédrale Saint Sauveur Aix-en-Provence and 1.8 km from the Parc Jourdan. Understated rooms feature tea and coffeemaking facilities, minibars and flat-screen TVs. Upgraded rooms add sitting areas with pull-out sofas. Some feature cathedral views. Wi-Fi is available. There's a Mediterranean restaurant with a terrace, and a cozy bar. Other amenities include a seasonal outdoor pool, 9 meeting rooms and a gift shop. Babysitting services, massage treatments and parking are available (additional fees).

40 Av. Victor Hugo, 13100 Aix-en-Provence, France

Set in the city center and a minute's walk from Gare Aix-en-Provence train station, this charming, contemporary boutique hotel is 5 minutes' walk from shops along Cours Mirabeau. Stylish, modern rooms feature flat-screen TVs, and free WiFi, as well as rainfall showers and minibars. Some have sofabeds. Breakfast (fee) is offered in a relaxed dining room. There's also an elegant cocktail lounge, a sophisticated lounge with a self-service bar, and a refined bar on a seasonal terrace, as well as a seminar room. Nespresso machines are included only in “deluxe” rooms.

2 Rue des Étuves, 13100 Aix-en-Provence, France

Set on lush gardens in the center of Aix-en-Provence, this relaxed hotel next to Thermes Sextius spa is a 3-minute walk from Paroisse Cathédrale Saint Sauveur Aix-en-Provence and 2 km from Pasino casino. Laid-back rooms come with minibars, free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs. Upgraded rooms add town views, terraces, iPod docks and/or separate sitting areas. Freebies include direct access to a spa with a seasonal outdoor pool and a fitness center. There's an upscale restaurant serving Mediterranean cuisine, and a grill-style restaurant with a terrace. There’s also a lounge bar offering cocktails and weekly live jazz.

Gps, Gps:, Rue Molière, 84000 Avignon, France

Set on the edge of the Place de l'Horloge, this contemporary hotel is a 4-minute walk from the Palais des Papes and 7 minutes' walk from the medieval Pont Saint-Bénézet bridge. The modern rooms provide flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi and desks, as well as minifridges, and tea and coffeemaking facilities. Family rooms add pull-out sofas, while upgraded rooms come with iPod docks and Nespresso machines. Amenities include a casual bar, and a restaurant with a terrace. Breakfast is offered (surcharge). Pets are welcome for a fee.

34 Bd Saint-Roch, 84000 Avignon, France

At the foot of the ancient ramparts of Avignon, this airy hotel is 1.1 km from Palais des Papes, 1.3 km from Pont Saint-Bénézet and 4.2 km from Avignon TGV station. The bright rooms feature separate living rooms, free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs. Many have balconies or terraces and views of the ramparts or the hotel gardens. Some of the warm suites are duplexes; all offer balconies or terraces. A breakfast buffet is available (free for children under 11). There’s an outdoor swimming pool, plus a garden conservatory. The restaurant, a 4-minute walk away, is set in cloisters and overlooks a courtyard. Event/meeting facilities are available.

20 Bd Saint-Roch, 84000 Avignon, France

A 3-minute walk from Avignon Centre train station, this modern hotel is a 10-minute walk from the Musée Angladon and 1 km from the Palais des Papes. Relaxed rooms offer free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and minibars, plus tea and coffeemaking equipment. Some include sofabeds. Upgraded rooms add Nespresso machines and/or balconies. There's a bright international restaurant and a bar, as well as a lobby lounge. Other amenities include an outdoor pool, a sauna, a steam room and a hot tub, plus a fitness center and meeting space. Parking and breakfast are available for a fee.