Our flight from Newark has been canceled so instead of arriving in Paris at 11:30 am we will get to CDG at 7:30 am
There are 4 of us - adults.

We think we should arrive at the Muguet Hotel around 9 am. Our hotel rooms won't be ready. We could leave our bags in the hotel but we will have all our important documents with us.
What do we do with a few hours there? We will be tired with all our important papers with us so we rather not get on the metro.

We always arrive on an early morning flight to Paris. We also always use the RER into town. I am assuming you mean passports, etc when you refer to important papers. I have rented an apartment the past two times, however, before that we left our bags in the hotel and carried our papers with us in our passport holders, pocketbook, etc. However, you may mean a briefcase of papers. I guess you would have to lock it and leave it at your own risk. We walk around when we arrive and go to stores, museums, eat, people watch.

I assume you are talking about items such as passports and airline tickets. What would you do with these "important documents" if your room was ready? If you're smart, you'd leave them in the hotel safe. The answer is the same if your room isn't ready: Leave them in the hotel safe.
(It is suggested that you carry photocopies of your passports and leave the originals in a safe place.)

Hi, RBO,
We always arrive very early and the room is never ready. The hotel takes charge of the luggage and if you cannot carry your papers with you, they will take them into the hotel safe.
Since the only documents we carry are passports, tickets and money, I carry those in my bag.
For the hour or two that you might have to wait, I would suggest taking a walk in the neighborhood, stop at a cafe and have a lovely leisurely breakfast and relax. Walk along the Seine and just Be There
You might also call or email the hotel and tell them the change of plans, they usually try to get rooms ready fast when guests arrive early.
Have a wonderful time!

That is when we arrive--and at the Muguet. We use that time for "housekeeping"--buying our Carte Orange and museum pass at the Ecole Militaire stop, walking down rue Cler, perhaps stopping and making some restaurant reservations in the neighborhood. Have an early lunch at a cafe or brasserie, go back to the hotel and settle into your room. Then we do an easy sightseeing trip--Notre Dame or something, have an early dinner and go to bed early. Then the next day we are pretty much rested and on Paris time.
So far as carrying all your important documents--put them in a money belt under your clothing and enjoy Paris. And riding in the Metro doesn't guarantee that you will be pick pocketed--just be aware of your surroundings.

Check out the Sunday market on Rue Mouffetard.

If you are talking about your personal id's like passports, etc, and not a briefcase full of papers, you really should be fine to carry them on you. I always carry a purse/backpack that has a zippered pocket within a zippered section. While I'm strolling, or in a museum, I can wear it on my back for hands-free comfort; while I'm on the Metro or around other crowds, I take it off and hold it like a purse. My husband has a couple of those pants that have zippered inside pockets, so his things go in there, except for a few euro he keeps in a separate pocket for quick access.

Everyone should make a photocopy of their passport, showing the id page and the signature page. I also photocopy or print the
itinerary part of our airline tix, and the credit cards that we are carrying. I keep that information in a separate location, so it would be easier to replace documents if necessary.

After an all-night flight, it will feel good to get out and walk around, especially if it's a pleasant, sunny day. The fresh air helps to reset your body clock quicker than going right to bed. After a few hours doing some of the suggested things above, a nap of 1-2 hours, then another walk or light activity, then dinner and an early night should have you ready for a full day the next morning.

The Muguet is close to rue Cler, so amble on over and enjoy the Paris street market ambience. You could stop in at the Cafe du Marche for a croissant and cafe creme, best consumed standing at the counter. Wander a bit and enjoy being in Paris. You may be able to get into your room fairly early.

The area around the Hotel Muguet is a lovely one for just strolling. The Eiffel Tower is a 10 minute walk away --you could go sit in the park there, or in the park near the Ecole Militaire. I second the suggestion about getting your museum pass at the Ecole Militaire metro stop.

You'll enjoy the Hotel Muguet -- we stayed there the past two summers and just loved it.

Everyone's answers were right on. I suggest you never never leave your passports, etc. in the room. Don't assume locking your luggage will keep people out. You can use the hotel's safe (if they have one) or get yourself a moneybelt and keep your passport in it. Since we've never arrived early in the a.m. we've never not had a room ready, but you never know, it might be .. ask. Also ask how long it will be before one is ready. Let them know you would appreciate the earliest check in you can get. While waiting go buy Metro passes, walk around the neighborhood, or stroll over and take a look at the Eiffel Tower. I know this area well, it's a great area for walking around. Get a bite to eat on Rue Cler, change some money at the bank on the corner near Ecole Militaire Metro Stop .. before you know it your room will be ready. I would not go wandering off too far tho, jet lag does catch up with a person and hardly anyone is truly "sharp" after a long flight. It's a wise idea not to try navigating the Metro upon arrival I think -- stay above ground and walk around, it's the best way to overcome jetlag, just being outside works wonders.

Travel with copies of your passports in your pockets, leave the originals , the airline tickets and other value in the hotel safe, walk out for a nice relaxing breakfast with a fresh brioche, and then work out a restaurant to go to on saturday night, because most restaurants in Paris are closed on sat night.

Thank you all for some appealing ideas. We?ll use many of them

We never carry our passports with us and just leave them in our closed up luggage. I just don't think there is much market for passports to be stolen. We keep copies of our passports and all our other travel documents/tickets in a separate place. The only time in France I have needed a passport copy was in getting a refund from RATP for a wrong charge for a museum pass.

Gretchen, it's not wise to leave your passport in your luggage, locked or otherwise, just as you would not leave other valuables such as jewelry there.
Ignoring your comment about the market for passports, you don't want to have it stolen, who wants to go through the great inconvenience, irritation and amount of time needed to replace it!

Oh Jeeez! There is SUCH a market for stolen US passports!!!

As for a Saturday morning in Paris-I am pretty sure the bird market is open along the Seine, I cannot remember exactly where , but we walked through on an early Sat morn a while back and it was lovely and charming and it was very hard not to buy a little song bird

A side comment to the 'market for stolen passport'... not in Paris, but in Amsterdam, hubby 'lost' his passport - we went to the police station to file a report for the consulate - police officer commented that the passport was probably already on the black market (a couple of HOURS after we realized it was missing).
And, yes, it took a whole day to get it replaced and we couldn't take the 1/2 tour we'd arranged. Thank goodness it was a Friday - otherwise he'd been in a fix to return home, as the consulate wasn't open on Saturday or Sunday.
I wouldn't trust anybody with one of the most important things I need to continue my trip/return home. Hotel staff, even at the nicest hotels, DO go thru your things (as other posts will attest).