Had been considering staying at Excelsior across from Frankfurt Bahnhof but daughter just emailed that this was considered a "bad" area with "junkies and prostitutes". Is this a concern?

It's not a place, I would want to stay at night, but you'll get many answers about how harmless it is from others. During daytime no problem imho. And if it's just for sleeping in the hotel and leaving the next morning, that's o.k. too.
Some people would call that area "Multikriminell"

Appreciate input--will have to consider. Daughter will be leaving on train to return to Paris for flight to States so she would not have to worry. Thanks

During daytime and the early evening, it's full of people. The main risk are pickpockets.

I stayed in that area three nights this spring, by myself, and didn't see any junkies or prostitutes. But then I wasn't trolling around at 2:00AM. I stayed at the Excelsior and National Hotels because it was convenient to the airport and the train station. The Excelsior was a recommendation from Lonely Planet.

I thought it was pretty nice looking for an area around a train station.

logos - where would you stay for the same price and easy access to train and airport? I paid E60 for a single with breakfast. Cancellation was 6PM day of arrival.

I walk over there all the time and seriously, it just is not as bad as what people make it out to be. When you get to the train station, get off your train, walk to the end of the tracks and turn right. You will be leaving the Hauptbahnhof from the South Exit. Go out the door and the Excelsior is sitting right in front.

The prostitutes are down in the red light district, not even close to this hotel. The druggies are also busy with their thing, they bother no one. As to pick-pockets, I have yet to meet a single person here in almost 24 years who has had their pocket picked in Frankfurt. Having worked in the Hotel, Tourism and Restaurant industry and with Americans at the Consulate for over 10 years, you think I would have heard something.

The area is always filled with people, including police and cameras are up on buildings everywhere too. Thus, I always feel very safe walking around this area, even if it was late at night, I doubt if I would have any qualms.

If you have time the next morning, take a stroll down the Kaiser strasse to see some of the gorgeous turn of the century architecture. The street was created to be a promenade for the Kaiser and was built in the late 1870's.

I'm not into big and expensive hotels. The last times I stayed in Offenbach/Bieber above an Italian restaurant and at Ariana Hotel in Offenbach/Ledermuseum. The room was 40€ and it was right at the S-Bahn station. Had to change trains downtown, but on the same platform. Room and food in both places okay by German standards. . It was an early flight but no problem.

Another time Lufthansa booked me into the Ibis, looked like it was the only place left. Not nearly as good and they tricked me with the free food vouchers claiming a 20€ voucher wasn't worth 20€ but only the closest to a 20€ check you could get with food and drinks. I had to pay in full the extra drink I had...

See, I told you so, lol

So thanks to everyone. Decided to go ahead and book there for the two nights (Excelsior) because daughter will be dropping car off at train station anyway and she can drop us off at the same time. We will not plan to "hang out" there. Such good helpful input. Thanks again.