Woops - I meant 3rd or 18th

Can you be more specific as to exact locations you are considering? Paris arrondisements are pretty large and within each, there are some areas nicer and/or more convenient to transportation, etc. than others. I'm in Paris right now and am staying in the 3rd, actually, it's fine, but I'm staying not too far from the border of the 4th and near major transportation lines. However, given you aren't familiar with Paris, I doubt if the 18th would be the best choice for you. I don't think you realize how far away it may be from things you want to do -- and it's on a hill, you know. In December, it will be cold and the weather possibly miserable. Why do you even want to stay there? On top of the distance and weather, it's just not an area I would expect someone traveling alone with an 8 yr old child to pick, I could see it for some young people thinking it was hip and arty, why they'd want to stay there, and there are some good clubs.

I love staying at the Hotel Jeanne D'Arc in the Marais. I have stayed there once with my fiance (now husband) and we are staying there again for our honeymoon in October. It is in a very safe area. (My French instructor and also the taxi driver stated this was a great area). It is about a 2-5 min to the metro (St. Paul), there are little shops around, a bakery, convenience store, and cafes all around. It's also about a 10-15 to Notre-Dame. The staff were soooo nice and spoke English as well. Hope this helps!

Travelling Mom

Especially for a first timer , you want to stay in the 1st arrondissment to the 6th arrondissment....for ease of getting to places and sightseeing - dont forget there's a hop on hop off bus for the 1 -6th also. I loved the 6th personally, a couple of blocks from the Luxembourg park where they have a lake and statues of all the queens of France and across the park easy access to the 5th and many restaurants but I also loved the second , a block walk to the Louvre -

I would definitely stay away from the 18th and others that are not tourist areas.

Here's an interactive map of the Paris arrondissments I just
received in an e mail. Should help you realize how far you would be from the sites you'd want to see.

http://us.franceguide.com/home.html?NodeID=619

Neat map Mahya and good advice on where to stay. I would throw in the 7th arr. also, if nothing else because of the Rick Steve's info/emphasis for a first time traveler and proximity to the tower.

I look forward to traveling mom's reasons for where she wants to stay. I think sometimes travel/hotel consolidators steer you to underwhelming areas.

Mahya2 - it is in the 9th. It is a basement apt. There are locked gates and a courtyard plus your door locks and the window has bars. Felt perfectly safe there. Owners are great also. Metro is a 10-12 minute walk. Bus stop is about a 5 minute walk. Go eat at La Oriental. Have really good cous-cous and chicken stuffed pastry. Walk out the door and turn right, go to the end of the street, turn left and go about 3/4 of the way down the street on the left.

bookmarking

Thank you all for your wonderfully thoughtful and helpful comments. Mahya2, the map is incredibly helpful, thanks so much for the link. Here are some of the thoughts that went into choosing where I would stay. Typically when I (or we as a family) travel, I stay a bit off the beaten path. I enjoy the experience of being surrounded by people who live, work and play in the same area in which I am staying. That being said, Christina your comment in particular made me pause to reflect on a couple of things. First, on my first trip to NYC I stayed pretty close to Times Square and indulged myself and family in being a tourist. Now when my daughter and I go (we are the only real NYC fans in my house!), we stay in a lovely, small hotel in a great neighborhood and enjoy walking with other families as they go about their daily life. So on my first trip to Paris, alone with my daughter, perhaps staying "out" a bit is not the wisest choice, as has been suggested. I can now see that perhaps I should save that for future visits. That being said, I was headed in the direction of the 17th and 18th by a friend who has visited Paris several times with her family and loved these areas and noted how "you can get to anywhere in Paris in 5 minutes on the metro."

My second thought about where to stay was based on my budget. I am looking for a studio apartment for $600-700 U.S. dollars (for 5 nights) which I have actually a great deal of luck in finding. In my searching, my choices for this price range were greater in the 3rd, 6th and 18th. Given that, my current two finalist are both in the 3rd. The first is at 8 Rue Tournelles, and the second is in the middle of Filles du Calvaire – Saint Sébastien Froissart and Arts et Métiers métro stations are close by. Both are on the second floor and both have numerous good reviews. For the first one, the owner lives just around the corner and for the second the owner lives in Provence (she's very nice and called me to discuss the rental). I would welcome any thoughts about these locations and again thanks to all for your wonderful help.

I am wondering if anyone has any last thoughts about these two choices before I book. Thanks.