What area to stay? 2 adults + 2 college kids

Of course, airbnb is an option. Better to leave the kids at home than compromise on accommodations--you would be absolutely miserable if you crammed all of you into one hotel room, even if you could find one with a sofa bed. I'd save up for my own trip if my parents had offered that. (Just real talk--not judging anyone.)

Paris is expensive and hotel rooms for four are not going to provide anywhere near the amount of room that I think you are used to getting. There are plenty of vacation rental apartments through agencies such as Vacation in Paris, AirBnb, and apart’hotels such as Citadines and Adagio. There is frugal and then there is understanding the market that you are in and realizing that you just might have to get two hotel rooms to have enough space and bathrooms for four adults. And yes, staying in the Marriott timeshare is not a good idea for a trip to Paris. What is your budget per night and what month would you go?

We are looking to go any time in August or the first two weeks of September. I'd like to spend less than $350 a night, if such a thing is possible. Having been timeshare people for a long time (20 years), I honestly have no idea what hotels go for, especially in Paris.

Just start looking--Booking.com would be a good start as it lists both hotels and private rentals so you can compare options.

Thanks! Any tips on areas to avoid or that are safer or more convenient than others?

I'd make a list of things you want to see and then choose somewhere convenient to them. When you get to the Booking.com page for Paris, the first thing you will see is a map--the ring encloses central Paris, so you can easily see where the hotels are concentrated--just zoom in to the Seine. A guide book will also be helpful for showing you the areas to seek out (as well as planning in general). Rule out the ones that are too expensive with the parameters on the left side of the page, and you are in business.

Good advice. Thank you!

August has some of the lowest room rates in Paris and September has some of. the highest so you may want to take that into consideration. You mentioned an aversion to getting two rooms but if you decide that is an option, take a look at Hotel Splendid in the 15th arrondissement. It should be within your budget for two rooms. It's about a 25-minutes walk to the Eiffel Tower and about 300 meters from a metro station that serves three lines. If you decide to go for an apartment, please be sure to read up on the vacation rental restrictions that are currently in place in Paris. By the way, I am assuming that you are looking at Paris because of details of your post but if you are looking elsewhere in France, the vacation rentals regulations may be different.

That's interesting about the price differences for August and September. Is that due to the weather? Our plans are flexible and we can go any time during that 6 week period. I'll just look for lower rates for the flight and lodging. Thanks!

September rates are high because there are many business conferences, trade shows, etc. in September and one or two of the fashion weeks will occur in September. And there may be even sporting events that push up the number of visitors which in turn pushes up room rates. For example, in 2023, the finals of the World Rugby Cup took place in the Stade de France which is just north of Paris. It's all about supply and demand and in September you typically have increased demand for hotel rooms but no increase in supply and voilà higher prices.

September is a busy month in Paris due to business conventions and fashion shows. Hotels are full-up and prices are consequently higher. In August the French are on vacation and many Parisians are off to other parts of France. The weather is hotter also, so occupancy is not as tight.

I see JHK and I are on the same page at the same time.

You should get the Rick Steves Paris guidebook and read up, then come back to ask specific questions. There's a lot you don't even know to ask.
In August, all of France goes on vacation. A lot of restaurants and local shops close for the month or some part of the month. The big attractions will be open.

August is likely to be very hot, so make sure your accommodations have air conditioning that works (read the reviews!).
$350 per night is not a lot to get enough room for four adults. If you stay in one of the outer suburb areas (the higher numbered arrondissements), you'll spend money or time getting to the sites, which are primarily in arrondissements 1 - 3 (except the Eiffel Tower which is in the 7th).

We like to stay in the 3rd, 4th or 6th, but it is not cheap. We don't stay in fancy places, just clean and centrally located, but for four adults that more often than not is more like $500 per night up. I am also frugal, but in Paris I just hold my nose and pay what I have to for convenience.

The higher numbered arrondissements are not “outer suburb areas.” The sights are not primarily in arrondissements 1 to 3; one of the great things about Paris is that there are major sights that tourists typically want to see are all over the city.

Quad rooms are very scarce and very cramped. When we booked a triple with our teen daughter years ago we had to crawl across the beds to get to the bathroom.

The best choice is wither an apartment or two hotel rooms in a modest neighborhood hotel. I'd rather pay 200 Euro each for two doubles than 350 or 400 for a quad with one bathroom.

A central location means you can walk to the major sites like the Louvre, Orsay, Tuilleries, Pompidou, Luxembourg Gardens, Champs Elysees etc. The further out you go in Paris the more metro travel you will need. The outer arrondissements are not 'suburban'; they are neighborhoods. We now stay in the Batignolles area deep in the 17th in the Fall and on the Edge of Butte aux Cailles in the 13th in the spring and neither has much of tourist interest but both are neighborhoods with shops, bakeries, restaurants and parks. For a first trip go as close to the center as you can afford.

JHK - I was trying to generalize for someone who has no familiarity with Paris and has stated that they are overwhelmed. No need to be pedantic.

Another short-term rental site for a potential stay, specific to France, is Gites de France. We’ve used them multiple times (although not for Paris), in addition to Vrbo, Airbnb, etc.

Thanks, everyone. I have put in requests with the library for all of the most current Rick Steves Paris and France guides. A good point was made about two hotel rooms coming with two bathrooms. I forgot how annoying it is to have one bathroom shared four ways.

I did this trip with my college boys several years ago. There are several options we used when first starting out visiting Paris. One is the Eiffel Seine. It has a "family room" that gave us our space. It's a fine minute walk to the Eiffel Tower. Affordable, but decent. Lots of restaurants. Another option is the Hotel Tourisme. It's very reasonably priced, and clean and nice. If you book well in advance, you can get good deals on a connecting rooms. Hotel rooms in Paris are pretty expensive compared to other parts of France. And the rooms are small. Much smaller that a U.S. hotel room. You will be glad you booked two rooms. Apartments are expensive, and also risky to a degree when renting. That's a whole other subject. There are some aparthotels, and I would look at those as well. Another more inexpensive option are the following:
Jardines Eiffel
Hotel Le Beaugency
Residence Charles Floquet - Apartment Hotel pricier but great location and if you book early can get a good deal
Hotel Gavarni

Time of year traveling and area will dictate pricing.