Where to safely book a hotel

Hotel Muguet in the 7th. Tiny elevator but a pleasant hotel ( at least it was a few years ago)
Have stayed there a number of times since my first visit to Paris in 1972.

https://hotelparismuguet.com/

Easy peasy stroll to visit the Eiffel Tower. A number of closeby cafes and restaurants. Also very close to the where Napoleon is buried as well as the enjoyable Rodin Museum.

Generally the best way to book a hotel is directly on the hotel's website. Sometimes booking.com offers the same rooms for a better price or better terms. Wherever you book, be sure to read the cancellation policies and terms of your booking.

Although I'm not familiar with the Hotel Europe St. Severin, it is located in a fairly busy area with many cafes and restaurants nearby. You will have good metro, RER and bus routes nearby.

I prefer to be a just a bit removed from tourist chaos. If you would like to provide your dates and nightly budget we could suggest some alternatives if you're interested.

I only book direct with hotels. I don’t want to deal with a third party if there is a problem (there never has been). Most of them are budget hotels, B&Bs and monasteries. Not all have their own booking sites but have a contact page on their website to request information and booking.

By booking direct I have gotten better cancellation terms and rates. I only book cancellable, pay at check-in or check-out rooms. I may or may not include breakfast depending on the breakfast surcharge.

Because I book far in advance when I start to plan my trip, I confirm my reservation a month before I leave home.

If I’m not familiar with the cities’ hotels, I research on Booking.com or monastery stays.com. I trust many forum friends’ experiences and recommendations.

I usually book directly with the hotel. I do use Booking.com, but mostly for apartments. I prefer booking directly with each hotel just because there's someone there, and it feels safer.

I really like staying in the Latin Quarter in Saint-Germain. I was there in early April of this year and loved it there I recently stayed at the Hotel Left Bank on Rue de l'Ancienne Comédie. I loved the location, and the hotel was very nice with a vintage vibe to it. There is a small lift and the hotel has A/C (although you shouldn't need it in November). :-) Our room was a triple, as I was traveling with two grandchildren, very clean, with two single beds placed side by side, and another single in a more secluded area of the room. This was nice as it gave my grandson a bit of privacy. The room was spacious and very clean.

The breakfast was an additional cost, but when I booked the hotel, they were offering it for €5 pp, so we got breakfast both mornings, and it was quite good. There were not only breads and pastries, but creamy scrambled eggs, crisp sausage links, fruit, cereal, yogurt, and tomatoes and cucumbers.

The location was outstanding. It was a block from the Odean Metro stop, about a 5-10 minute walk to Notre Dame, and it was so convenient to sights, cafes, boulangeries, pastry shops and much more. We only had to walk out the front door to find food and drink options everywhere. Plus Luxembourg Gardens was very close and we loved walking through there with all of its beauty. Our cost was around €320 per night for a triple room. If you book a double, the cost would be less.

Nearly anywhere inside the ring road of Paris will be safe. I personally don't like to stay in the area around Gare du Nord but others don't mind. I've not stayed in the hotel you mention but it's in the Latin Quarter which is convenient to many things and is a safe neighborhood for a solo woman traveler.

Claudia mentions Hotel Muguet which is one of my go-to hotels. I'm not sure when she last stayed there but I have stayed there nearly yearly for 8 or 9 years including October 2025 for 2 weeks. It's further from the center of things than the one you picked but is also in a very nice neighborhood. Many on the forum pooh-pooh this area (known by Rick as the Rue Cler neighborhood) but there are lots of locals walking their kids to school in the mornings and to me has a neighborhood feel. I first stayed at neighboring hotels on Rick Steves tours and enjoy the dynamic of the neighborhood.

Do book directly with the hotel from the hotel's official website.

Many on the forum pooh-pooh this are.

Not me! I defer to the experts here, like Pam. 😊 Seriously though, there are so many good areas in Paris that you really can't go wrong. I chose the 6th when I was there because my grandkids and I were only able to be there for three nights and I wanted to be as close to the major sites as possible. But I know that the neighborhood Pam is talking about is a charming one.

I've stayed in several different arrondissements in Paris over the years. We stayed at the mentioned Hotel Muguet in the 7th a couple times over 20 years ago and loved it. Some really good restaurants within a 10-15 minute walk.

As Mardee said, there are many good areas all over the city to choose from. The last few trips I've been staying on the Ile Saint Louis. Extremely quiet at night, but a short walk across the Seine to both the livelier Marais or the Latin Quarter.

I see you've added your dates for a February stay. The hotel you are currently looking at is well situated for public transportation if the weather doesn't cooperate.

For a first trip I'd go for the Latin Quarter or the Marais -- tourist ridden sure -- but beautifully quintessentially Paris and very convenient. I personally don't like the 7th (and I have stayed in over half the arrondissements and these days stay deep in the 17th and the 13th which have zero tourist interest). I find it poorly located for much a tourist wants to do and less well provided with transport and amenities than some areas. The area recommended by posters above does have lots of restaurants and such but much of the 7th is rather barren residential areas. When we rented there it was the one time we had a place without nearby bakeries and cafes

There is no area of Paris that I worry about for safety and I have stayed deep in the 20th and in the 19th for a month near social housing. Paris is remarkably safe from violent crime. (pickpockets are ubiquitous but you are at greatest risk from those at the Louvre or similar tourist haunts and the only way to protect yourself is to be pickpocket proof. Once you are not a walking buffet dont worry about it..

Happy New Year!
Thank you for all the comments. Over the past few years I’ve stayed in the 8th (Sofitel Arc de Triomphe), 9th ( a simple Mercure property somewhat close to the Rex), and I believe 16th (Sofitel Baltimore). I’m just tired to booking through Costco. I like the protections of the company but the hotels haven’t changed and prices have gone unreasonably up for some of the hotels that don’t deserve the high price tag. Plus lack of options…being that Paris has thousands of hotels but limited to basically half a dozen is crazy.

It’s funny, my husband wants to be near Champs Elysee and I want to be near Ile San Louis. I’m looking for a deal this time, as I’ve stayed in relative premium places to a small boutique. The first time was Sofitel for our anniversary, second just a regular small hotel (we know the city enough to get around so location didn’t matter. We just don’t know details of the neighborhood’s safety), and third another Sofitel with our children for Christmas.

I cross referenced some hotels I’ve found on Delta Vacations and one that peaked my interest was Hotel Archetype Etoile. Super close to Arc de Triomphe for his sake with like great reviews and breakfast. Like I said in my original post I am interested in Hotel Europe St. Severin or in that vicinity of Paris. I’d rather pick one that he is interested in to make him happy since Paris and a clean room is all i need lol. Plus it’s on him if we pick something we don’t particularly care for lol! I did find booking through the hotel like others have said is the best way- better prices I’ve noticed😊.

One of the hotels recommended on this post was sold out for our visit.
Anyone familiar with Hotel Archetype - I know that’s a reach since there’s so many!

Many thanks!

Hi Danielle,

I was just in Paris a few weeks ago as an ending city to a Christmas Markets trip. I stayed this time at Hotel Lumen Paris Louvre, located a block north of the Tuileries Garden. The Pyramides metro stop is just around the corner. It was very handy to everything my daughter & I wanted to do (her first time in Paris), plus I always like being very close to one of the beautiful Parisian parks.

Another reason why I would recommend this one is because the staff at the front desk was exceptionally courteous & helpful.

I reserve almost all of my hotels through Booking.com. Never had an issue doing it this way.

Jean,
It looks like a beautiful hotel at a reasonable price! I have to show my husband, as it is great to hear details/personal reviews. He wants to be near the Arc De Triomphe but I personally want to be elsewhere😂

I second the use of Booking.com - Optionally for search only.

I usually use it for both search and booking. And after putting in all my search criteria I use the map to find a good location.

Planning from home I use the online version, but for booking during travel I use the app.

At just one block off the Tuleries, Jean's hotel is "right down the street" from the Arc de Triomphe. At least it's a straight shot to get between the two and there's the Arc de Triomphe Carrousel in the Tulerie Gardens.

"prices have gone unreasonably up for some of the hotels that don’t deserve the high price tag."

The prices jacked up for the Olympics in Summer 2024 and for my "usual" hotels they came back down a little from that peak but they are still WAY more expensive than in 2023. You may find something in the price range you have in mind or you may have to mentally reframe things.