I booked the Ibis in the 11th. Now I am questioning that

We have stayed in Ibis Milano and Budapest and also in France. They are not fancy, but the better ones have great breakfasts, and are often located in good places. We are not fussy in our hotels, as we spend little time there.

Which Hotel Cluny? There are two hotels with the word Cluny in their name in the 5th arrondissement (Latin Quarter). Which one the Hotel Cluny Square or the Hotel Cluny Sorbonne? I am sort of assuming you do not mean the Hotel Jardin de Cluny. Which Ibis Paris Bastille? Ibis Bastille Opera? Or Ibis Paris Bastille Faubourg Saint Antoine? Hotel de la Bretonnerie is in a very central location. Ask for a room off the street if you switch to it. I have not stayed there but it seems like it could be noisy but probably no noisier than your other choices. By the way, why are you questioning the hotel that you chose?

An Ibis is not an experience. In general it's a very comfortable bed in a tiny, clean room with a bathroom. Cozy, yes, but it won't be a memorable part or your experience (but the breakfast might...especially if they bake their own madeleines).

While I have not stayed at an Ibis in Paris, I've stayed at a few all over France and never had a problem. All had nice breakfasts and I found the rooms clean and comfortable. Not fancy or oversized but perfectly fine. I wouldn't hesitate to stay in one again. (And I can be picky when it comes to hotel rooms.)

The Ibis is my go to hotel chain in Europe. It is always comfortable clean & secure. I generally use hotels just for shower and sleep after experiencing the city, not for luxury. I don't bother with the hotel breakfast when there are great mom pop corner cafes serving fresh baked pastry all over Europe

Which Ibis Paris Bastille? I think there are two - Ibis Paris Bastille Opera and Ibis Paris Bastille Fauburg-Saint-Antoine. And why are you questioning your choice?

The Ibis, a corporate chain hotel, is a safe yet uninspired choice. Many like the Bastille area for its nightlife, restaurants, and cafés.

If you would like to compare a few hotels in the 5th, with the Ibis where you are already booked, consider:

https://hotelpetitparis.com/en/

http://www.hotelandrelatin.fr/

https://www.hotelvendomesaintgermain.com/en/

If the cost is comparable, personally I would choose staying in the 5th (I prefer the 6th) over the 11th. It's more central.

Thanks everybody, It is the Bastille Opera that I have booked and am looking at the Cluny square as an alternative. We are not there for the hotel experience. I just want clean and comfortable to come to at the end of the day. Also, ease of public transportation and walking to interesting neighborhoods and of course safety. We are in our mid-60's but are easily able to walk a good 10 miles in a day without difficulty. This is our first France trip so I have zero orientation to the city, other than just looking at the map and my research. I liked the looks of the Cluny better but I do trust that the Ibis Opera will be an ok choice. I think location would be the game changer. Also, someone commented that they would not book in the 11th, I don't know why, but that's why I'm questioning my choice. Paris seems overwhelming to me. We have been to Italy 4 times and 5 other countries, so I usually feel pretty confident.
On another note, 10 years ago when we wanted to go to Europe so badly but were intimidated, this RS forum is what gave us the confidence to go on that very first trip to Italy. I've never gotten bad or wrong advice here.

Christy --- It is always so daunting to go to a new place when you don't know what neighborhood is what. If you can do Italy, you can do Paris :-). You are totally correct in stating that location is a game changer -- especially for a first time visitor.

The Cluny Square hotel you've mentioned is a fantastic location for a first timer. It is very central for walking to many sights and convenient to transportation otherwise. I still stay in the 5th or (preferably) the 6th after many trips to Paris over the years. I've tried other areas, but I love being so close to everything. I like being between Blvd St. Germain (which the Cluny Square is on) and the river. I've stayed farther south near Luxemborg Garden and still prefer being closer to the river. But that's me :-)

(For what it is worth, I am early 60s and love to walk as well)

I’d go for Cluny Square based solely on location if the price is the same or close. That being said, I think you will get a more predictable hotel experience at the Ibis.

A hotel is just somewhere to shower and sleep, don't worry about it so much.

Unless I am only planning to stay for a couple of hours while in transit, for me a hotel is not just a place to shower and sleep when I am on vacation and I spend a ton of time looking for just the right spot. It's easier in a a lot of other cities because there are fewer hotels. It would absolutely ruin my trip if I had to spend multiple days at a mediocre hotel. So far my research has paid off and I have only had to leave a place twice -- after 10 minutes in one case and one night in another.

Funny, my husband and I had a conversation about just that the other night -- about how to some people accommodations are just for sleeping & showering and how we felt that the time we (OK, mostly I) take researching is well worth what the right place & location brings to a trip. I have to agree with JHK -- to me, the place I stay --both itself and the location -- matters a great deal to the experience I have. We have friends who travel no-frills - just picking the cheapest place in not-so-convenient locations and eating all meals off food carts on the go. (and they can afford to do whatever they want, so it's not them being cheap - it just doesn't matter to them). Neither way is right or wrong -- just different.

chacun a son gout, as they say in Paris

@BJL, LOL, you must be living my parallel life. I am moving to Florida this coming summer and my husband I were having the same conversation on Sunday and I do all the planning -- I can't even say most. It's funny how people are different and it's not good or bad just different. I see it with travel styles, clothes, food etc. For example, my stepfather was a guy who did not care at all about food. Frankly, if he did not have to eat to stay alive, he would have never eaten and he did not really care about what he ate. His best friends was quite the picky gourmet and used to come over to our house for his meals because my Mom was such a good cook.

@BJL &JHK, Thanks for all the input, you really helped me make a decision. We like our hotel to be clean and good location. If it's quaint and a reflection of the local culture, so much the better.. I also, am totally bummed, if what I booked turned out to be not so great. That has happened twice. They were not terrible places but just not what I had in mind. I booked the Cluny Square and I feel good about it. I We are budget travelers but not so much that I book hostels. Oh, and by the way, We moved to Florida 7 months ago.. If you would like to share your location, send me a PM. Maybe we are close.

"Quaint" and "Ibis" are mutually exclusive: changing hotels was the right call!