"most reviews on hotels talk about how bad the area is"

That seems very weird. Unless you are looking mostly at very inexpensive hotels that might be in sketchy neighborhoods.

What is your budget?

And when are you traveling?

traveling in november but I dont want to spend much on hotel since I rather spend that money on food, shopping and other things while in Paris. ...ball park $130-140

Stop reading reviews, then. Paris is not unsafe. There are countless neighborhoods where thousands of young women stay every year when visiting the city. Have them look at the Oberkampf neighborhood, which is full of places where young people congregate and where you can be out on the streets until late at night with no fear (unless you're stupid).It's just one of many areas in Paris that are totally safe for anyone, anytime.

Don't come to DC - it's WAY more unsafe here than anywhere in Paris.

$140 is almost €110. You should be able to find something - just where are these 'reviews'?

Try Venere.com. Lots of 2 and 3 star properties in your price range.

Agree with Janis and StCirq completely.

People are generally speaking, walking about at all hours of the evening, especially in lively areas.

Try this place - great location in a lovely area with affordable prices: http://www.hotelbonaparte.fr/

May be slightly over your budget but an excellent location with english speaking reception. Many fodorites have stayed here.

So a tad confused , is this a room for two or three people? For two try the Hotel Diana, its in the Latin Quarter, in a perfectly safe area. I also suggest Hotel College Du France, also in Latin Quarter.
I have also stayed at the Hotel St Peirre, right on the border between 5th and 6th, a PERFECT location , hotel is basic, but clean, nice staff, but the location , well I would book my own daughter there !
I am wondering about which reviews your reading, for which hotels in which area?
I consider Paris, especially the central touristy areas, very safe ( other then pickpockets who go whereever the hordes go) , and visit solo and with my kids alone, so hardly a dangerous destination at all!

I suspect the issue is that the OP is looking at very cheap hotels in some sketchy neighborhoods or something. That is a low budget for Paris, but one can find hotels in that range in decent areas, but you won´t get as much for your money as outer areas.

I´ve stayed at the hotel Delambre in Montparnasse and it is in the price range. It is nothing super glamorous of course, you won´t get that at that budget, but the staff is nice and it´s a super location.

Paris does have crime, I was there recently reading the paper and they´ve installed hundreds of video cameras throughout the city to help cut down on the crime, and there are plenty in the central arrondisements, as well as outer. I was surprised that one recent incident of violence (which they showed photos in the paper) was caught on cameras on rue Mouffetard late at night, I think it was near those cinemas at the bottom). I never thought of that area as that dicey, but the article said folks in the neighborhood are getting fed up with it.

I wouldn´t worry with normal precautions, I go there myself, but it should not be presented as some Disneyland where there is no crime and that is safer than any city in the US, because it isn´t.

We just stayed at the Hotel St Jacques in the latin quarter. Perfect location for young people. There were two bars/restaurants directly up the hill from the hotel, where 20-somethings gathered at night, spilling into the street intersection between the two places. Also great breakfast stands nearby, and excellent restaurants, especially Le Petite Prince of Paris.

Highly recommend this neighborhood. Just a couple of blocks up the hill from Boulevard St Germain. We loved it there. ("We" being a 60-something couple.)

"Decent area"? Just don't forget that the tourist areas are the ones with the most pickpocketing and snatching but they are so pretty! So do you want to stay in a nice area where you must be wary at all times of being preyed upon or an ordinary area where you will blend in with the locals and be left alone?

Note: there is no dangerous area in Paris (except in the head of certain people), but there are indeed sleazy areas. The sleazy areas are often the safest because there is a much higher police presence -- but who wants to stay in a sleazy area? Not even me -- so just keep your street smarts activated at all times and choose whatever place fits your budget. You absolutely do not need to stay in the tourist center, and often a residential neighborhood like Montparnasse, Place d'Italie, Gambetta or the Batignolles will provide an extraordinary experience, because they are authentic, cheap if necessary, and devoid of tourist traps. And even if being in such a place adds 10 minutes to the time you spend on the metro, is that such a terrible price to pay?

kerouac, 99% of tourist will NOT blend in with locals no matter where they stay, its like the " living like a local " fantasy where people think staying in an apartment for a week and buying some veggies makes then blend in with locals, ha!

Also , was not aware that central Paris had many "tourist traps" perhaps our definition of those types of attractions is different or you have some knowledge of such places that I do not, since I was not aware there was any? Could you give me a few examples of "tourist traps",, for me it might mean places like phoney "torture museums" or " biggest ball of string " sites. lol

The only "tourist traps" I have ever encountered in Paris were cafes that sell 10 euro beers and crap food , is that what you mean?

This whole thread is extremely amusing from the beginning and many of the replies, some tongue in cheek I do believe. If everywhere is so unsafe why consider going thats my question? I've never had problems at all in Paris or indeed in DC which I thought was a lovely city. There's always pockets of areas that are not too safe in any city in any country, just be sensible about it. Anyway, look at Hotel Metropolitain on rue Oberkampf, it has very highly rated reviews and is in a safe area.