MOST hotels are suitable for a single female in here 50's so that doesn't narrow things down much.

A much more important consideration would be location. I would suggest something close to the river/islands for a first timer who may be a bit nervous - for charm, convenience, and "classic" Parisian feel (as imagined by most who not been to Paris before).

Here are a few that are so located - all within your $160-$250/night budget and in order of average rates (low to high):

http://www.carondebeaumarchais.com/en/index.html

http://www.hotelleregent.com/

http://www.paris-hotel-parcsaintseverin.com/en/ (best of both worlds: super central but on a very quiet street)

Unless you check into a pay-by-the-hour hotel in Paris, just about every hotel is going to be safe for you. I really don't understand your concerns. Paris is a big metropolitan wonderful city that is visited every year by thousands of solo female travelers. Just pick an area of the city that appeals to you, research prices, and pick a hotel.

If they still have any rooms available, consider the Hotel Des Grand Ecoles. It may very well suit your needs. I am a 50 something female solo traveler and stayed there and enjoyed it very much.

I love the hotel Jeanne d'arc in the marais. Always stay there and can highly recommend it.

Thank you so much for your comments and suggestions. Have no idea what to expect...but it's time for me to step out of my box.

We like the Fleurie

http://www.hotel-de-fleurie.fr/en.php

Fellow solo woman traveler, age 57, I will be in Paris for the first time this April. I don't think there is any need to be concerned, as long as you use the same common sense you use in California. My budget is not as generous as yours, but I have every confidence I will be safe in a one-star hotel in the 11th. An expensive room doesn't = safety. Read the TripAdvisor reviews - ignore those that expect North American size rooms. Rooms will be smaller and if the hotel has character, the mod cons will be vintage. Enjoy your trip.

I've stayed at each of these and would not hesitate to stay again. I felt safe, close to the metro, restaurants, shopping, and the sites I wanted to see.

http://balcons.com/
http://www.hotel-actev.com/en/
http://hoteldescarmesparis.com/English/hotel_carmes_paris.htm

A couple of notes:

The central arrondisements - 1 through 8 - are most convenient for a first time visitor. And the closer to the river the better in terms of sightseeing.

Do realize that more modest hotels in paris are very different than American hotels. They are often in old - very old buildings - with small rooms and baths added afterwards - tucked in a corner. If you want AC - you might or might not need it do check- many hotels do NOT have it. Also quite a few have stairs versus elevator - so check for that too. At the top of your price range you should have a reasonable choice of pleasant hotels in central locations. (IMHO the 11th is too far out for a first time visitor - just too much trekking around.)

I've had to travel solo a lot to Paris in the past couple of years, and usually go to either Hotel de L'Empereur or Hotel Champs du Mars. Both are in the 7th, ten mins walk to either the river or the Tour Eiffel, both are really clean, but well priced and recently renovated. But Freda is right - do not expect big rooms in Paris hotels! That area is also really safe to stroll around at night to go for dinner (and there are a couple of good restos nearby too). I've never felt unsafe on my own in Paris, if that gives you comfort.

I've not traveled alone except on business. We always stay in the Hotel des Stes-Peres in the 6th and on my last business trip to Paris, I decided to stay there even though another hotel was suggested by the embassy where I was working. I felt ever so comfortable and enjoyed my stay as much as we had enjoyed our vacation stays. The hotel is in a safe area, centrally located for sightseeing and has a very welcoming and helpful staff. I highly recommend it - it is in your price range. And it has AC and elevators.

We are fans also of Hotel des Grandes Ecoles. It should fit your budget and being solo your room rate would most likely be lower than the rate we will pay in May-150 euros per night for two. We have stayed there several times and love the terrace and garden area-very pretty-a countryside feel. Location is great-a short walk to Notre Dame. A huge gate to enter will make you feel very secure. The staff is wonderful-very accommodating. And the rooms are not small.

I can recommend the Hotel Muguet near the Eiffel Tower. Quiet street, near great markets, near the Metro and very French. Reasonable rates as well. www.hotelmuguet.com

If you want to strike up a conversation, especially on a train, just hold up a book you might be reading. Folks will pick up on the fact it's in English and engage you.

I'm the same age you are and I traveled to Paris alone last year. Stayed at the Hotel Brighton on the Rue de Rivoli (opposite the Jardin des Tuileries) and loved it. Would stay again this year but it's already booked up for beginning of May. Great area and the Jardin is beautiful late at night.

I'm a 42yr old female and traveled to London by myself for the first time in 2009. I had many of your concerns. I wore my money belt (don't know if it really helped but I didn't get ripped off - peace of mind for me). I also got back to the room around dark most nights to plan for the next day and I was pretty beat from walking around the entire day. I went to shows and a play and on those nights just hailed a taxi. I thoroughly advocate traveling alone! Everything is on your timetable. You will be surprised at how much fun you have with yourself!

As for the location of hotel in Paris, I will be going by myself in September and just booked a studio rental in the 9er. I have never been to Paris so I am studying the Metro Map, the bus map, and RER map. This studying helped me so much when I went to London. I took the bus everywhere and loved it. On your budget you shouldn't have a hard time finding any place to stay. I look up every place on the map and find what Metro lines and buses are closest so I can get around easily. I like to go, go, go so as not to waste any foot power walking back to my hotel/apt. Have a wonderful trip!

Am staying in the Hotel Muguet at the moment and and have stayed here many times...as recently as Dec and Jan. Am always comfortable. The staff is pleasant and the area safe. It is a three star and fits within your budget. The hotel recommends that you email or call directly rather than use a service as they are better able to give you a deal. All the staff speaks English and will be willing to help you with reservations for restaurants if you need them.

I'm on a very tight budget but had the advantage of a friend who lives in Paris.She tells me that this location is a good one. The hotel I'm staying at is near two metro stops, lots of local stores and markets. I want to experience a bit of real life Paris, so being in a not so touristy spot suits me fine.

Picking up on mogsanova's point about maps:

http://www.ratp.fr/plan-interactif/

I enjoyed the Hotel d’Orsay, 93, rue de Lille in the 7th. It is a very nice small hotel with about 40 rooms located down the street from the Musee D'Orsay. Breakfast is an additional EUR15 so I went to a nearby boulangerie as coffee was gratis in the hotel lobby.
Congrats on "stepping out of the box"! The first time I traveled solo I went to Rome and the Amalfi coast. I enjoyed the freedom of doing just what I wanted and when I wanted to do it.
Don't bring a book to dinner (easier to have a conversation with other diners) and don't accept an inferior table location.
Enjoy the experience!

When I travel to Paris I like to stay on the west bank near St Germain Blvd (Hotel de Seine) in the(6th arrondissement) alots of outside cafes. You can walk to the Louvre, D'Orsay, Notre-Dame. Just walk and have fun.


Good for you for stepping out of the box.

What a wonderful site this is! I appreciate all the encouraging words and suggestions. After reading all the responses, I am now excited and eager to step out of my comfort zone! Thank you.

@Kristalblue, think of it not as leaving your comfort zone but that your comfort zone is expanding.

There are many advantages of traveling alone, and I think you'll find most people to be kind and helpful, perhaps more so when you're by yourself.

How exciting to be going to Paris for the first time!

I much prefer the buses to the metro, so always choose a location with several bus routes nearby. Also nice are cafes on the nearby corners.

Hope you enjoy a lovley Paris adventure, Kristalblue. I got so excited reading the hotel referrals you received in reply that I checked them all out. The Hotel Regent (http://www.hotelleregent.com/ -- thank you bardo1) looked so appealing that I contacted a travel agent friend. It turns out that the Hotel Regent is one of her favorite hotels in Paris -- she says it is utterly charming, conveniently located and has a very helpful staff. Their website is very well done (great room images), and inspired me to book a stay in October. I'm also your age and will be traveling alone, as is my habit. After an initial hiccup on my first trip to Paris (I tried to get a cab from the airport, and my mind and tongue underwent temporary paralysis -- for several minutes I could neither recall or utter one single word of either French or English), all went very well. I was able to be alone when I wanted to, and when open to meeting others, I made several delightful acquaintances and enjoyed many memorable encounters. Wishing you the same. Bon voyage!

I am also a woman of a certain age who has visited Paris solo( as well as with friends, family, and alone with children) its a much safer city then most others of its size or even half its size that I have visited,, so personal safety is not a huge issue. That said, do watch your belongings, keep bulk of money and passport either in hotel safe, or in money belt( I use safe) and just carry a days cash with you,, if you are pickpocketed it won't be end of trip.

I have also stayed at the Hotel Le Regent, I splurged ( for me) and got the deluxe room and was glad I did as the standard rooms are very very small, but its a perfect location!! Cafes, market, metro stations, and an ATM right outside hotel door. Staff were nice, room is clean, and bathrooms modern and clean.

I have also stayed at the Hotel Brighton, but that may be out of budget range( i got a deal) .. in the 6th I can also suggest the Hotel Eugenie and the Hotel Saint Pierre( the one by the Sorbonne, there is one with a similar name but in different area) .. both are clean, safe, and both have A1 locations! The Hotel Eugenie is in a busy area, the Hotel Saint Pierre is literally around the corner from busy street , block from river, love both of them.

I also have stayed at the Hotel Place Du Louvre in the 1st,, but is is only 1/2 block from river and you can just walk over Pont Neuf to Latin Quarter (5th) or St Germain(6th).. loved it too..

All these hotels have a/c( I usually go in summer and need a cool retreat) and are clean, safe, and good locations.

Any opinions about K&K Hotel Cayre?

Hi Kristal,

where are you arriving in Paris? if it's CDG it's worth thinking about staying somewhere that's near an RER B stop [Chatelet on the R. bank or or Notre dame/St. Michel on the left] - this will make arriving and leaving with your luggage so much easier as you won't have a long "correspondence" to negotiate on the metro.

not essential, but definitely worth thinking about.

The K @ K has good reviews,, but its really expensive( to me anyways,) obviously you are looking at places out of my league.. just keep in mind, you do not need to spend that kind of money just for safety..

I am also going to Paris solo. I have been to Italy and the UK alone. You will love it. I did a lot of planning beforehand so I felt more comfortable. My advice is to do a lot of reading and just enjoy - it really is liberating to travel alone. I always had people to chat to if I wanted and made sure to book a few walking tours so I would have company at least once a day. So far I have looked into Context tours and I have been checking into some of the Paris Walks. Have fun!

Hi kristalblue,
I'm also traveling to France in late May-June. I've traveled to Paris alone numerous times -- you will LOVE it! I'll be in Paris June 1-11. If you'd like to perhaps get together & have lunch or supper (if you're there then), feel free to message me.

I have stayed in both an "inexpensive" French hotel - Henri IV on the Ile de la Cite (extremely small rooms, WC not in the room, really small shower, no heat or air but lots of character). The last trip I stayed at the Citadine on the quai des Grands Augustins - right on the Seine, 1st Arrondisement, kitchenette, Latin Quarter, Louvre across the Seine, the D'Orsay up the road, Notre Dame across the river, near 3 metro stations and the RER, great area. The Citadine also has other hotels in Paris - all over the place. The kitchenette was a great added because I could pick up a couple of things and have them at hand to drink and snack. It also makes it easier on the budget because you don't have to eat every meal out - I love food so one of my favorite things to do in any city is to visit their markets. I love Paris! It's my favorite city. Don't be hesitant, it's a wonderful city with lots to offer. My last trip, I walked everywhere.

I've stayed at the Regent Hotel and liked it. The location is great, so close to many restaurants, bakeries, markets and the river and very active at all times. My room has always been in the back of the hotel so I didn't hear any street noices although I don't know if that's an issue with street facing rooms.

The hotel is a short walk (5 mins) to the RER B stop St Michel. If you look around when you get off of the RER at St Michel you'll find an elevator that will take you up to the street level. You'll land across the street from the Seine and would go left if headed to the Regent Hotel.

There's a great jewelry store on the ground floor of the Regent Hotel that sells funky earrings/bracelets/necklaces. Not at all expensive. This is my favorite neighborhood!

Thank you all for the additional responses. This is such a wonderful site.

Hi Kristalblue,

I have stayed at the Hotel Muguet which was very comfortable but liked the location of the Hotel Relais Bosquet better. The staff there are wonderful and the rooms have features we found missing in other Paris hotels. It is on the same street as the Hotel du Champ de Mars mentioned above. But if I were on my own I would stay at the Londres Eiffel. It has the classic style you are looking for and is just of the rue St. Dominique.

Let us know where you decide to stay and write a trip report.

S.