We have a layover 18:00 - 10:30 following day and plan to get a hotel overnight. Should we try to go into Paris for the evening or just stay close in to the airport? This comes at the end of a 6 day driving holiday in Ireland, so we may be a bit tired by then, certainly aren%26#39;t the type to stay out all night anyway! Is seeing the Eiffel Tower lit up (first time for all) worth paying a higher room rate %26amp; hassle back %26amp; forth? Any hotel recommendations?
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Hop on the Roissy bus and stay at a hotel near Opera/Palais Garnier.
You will be able to take a little walk down to Seine and Louvre as it does not get dark till 9:15 or so.
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I would suggest getting a hotel near CDG- I think there are several w/ a free shuttle and they are less expensive than in Paris proper. Arrive, checkin %26amp; drop bags. Then, if you are up to it, shuttle back to CDG, take the RER B into Paris and spend a couple hours. A Seine cruise would be relaxing and you can see the Eiffel tower twinkling. Or you could choose a restaurant with a view and enjoy a great meal. Then head back to the RER B, CDG %26amp; your hotel so you will be at CDG bright %26amp; early in time for your flight home.
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Rates at airport hotels are not necessarily lower than hotels in Paris - you%26#39;ll have to shop your date for rates and availability.
And, getting to your terminal from an airport hotel via hotel shuttle can take as long or longer as from Central Paris (just read the comments included on airport hotel reviews here on TA).
Often, you can book an airport hotel or hotel in Paris at a significantly lower rate with Priceline or Hotwire, but all depends on your date, and it%26#39;s essential to review www.biddingfortravel.com and www.betterbidding.com if you%26#39;re not experienced with Priceline and Hotwire.
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I%26#39;d go into Paris. Many of the shuttles don%26#39;t begin their days until 08:00 or even later because they really are geared to French business men arriving later in the day. You can end up with a taxi fare of epic proportions, and exactly the same sort of hassle back and forth as you would in town, but without the view of la Tour Eiffel.
As was mentioned, the hotel rates aren%26#39;t necessarily any cheaper than in Paris, and in a lot of cases because the hotels are actually conference centre places with large public meeting spaces, the rates are higher. Take the Roissy bus, as suggested and enjoy the evening.
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Most of the airport hotels have shuttles that start running very early (I have gotten them as early as 6:30 a.m.). Just keep in mind that if you spend the night in Paris (rather than just going in for the evening) you will need to be out and on your way back to CDG very early in order to be sure of making your flight the following day.
Personally, I agree with the recommendation of staying near the airport, checking in, dropping the bag, and then taking the RER (without luggage, so very simple) back into Paris to walk around, have dinner or a drink, and then back to your hotel for the night.
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You have to be at your departing terminal at the same time, regardless of where you stay.
Many airport hotels share shuttles, which go from one hotel to another picking up passengers, then all around both terminals dropping them off and picking up others (which takes time as people haul their bags on and off at each stop). Depending on where you%26#39;re staying and your departure terminal, it can take as long or longer to get from an airport hotel via shuttle as from a hotel in Paris.
If it were me, I%26#39;d select a hotel in Paris, then take a taxi back to CDG or to the Roissybus stop, Air France coach stop, or RER Line to CDG, whichever is closer.
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One more reason to stay at the airport... as noted, easy enough to get into Paris and back after dropping your bags if you wish ... BUT... if you find you%26#39;re too tired you can have a meal and relax at your hotel.
We did just that in 2007, after a week in Paris we spent a week in Amsterdam but were tired by the time we trained it back to Paris so we stayed at CDG.
We lucked into the Marriott which was pleasant, had great air conditioning, very cold beer and a nice courtyard restaurant.
So stay at the airport and you have the flexibility plus less hassle when you need to be at your terminal at 7:30 for your flight.
Rob
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I second the suggestion of taking Roissy bus into Paris www.ratp.info/orienter/aeroport_roissybus.php
Here%26#39;s the info in English:
Roissy bus between Paris-Opéra and CDG airport stops at terminal 1, 2 and 3.
price 8.90 EUR one-way
passes every 15-20 min
leaves from corner Scribe and rue Auber
takes between 45-60 min
SCHEDULE
from Paris-Opéra 5:45am (first) 11:00pm (last)
to Paris-Opéra 6:00am (first) 11:00pm (last)
I don%26#39;t know your budget for the hotel, can check BW Astra Opera, Hotel de Seze and Hotel Saint Petersbourg. There are many others, some quite expensive others cheaper but not as nice so, it really depends on your budget.
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Thank you. We are going to go for a city hotel. The Londres near the Eiffel Tower seems to have reasonable rates and proximity to the RER. I will also look into the Opera area. If rates are comparable, does Opera area have significant advantage over Champs Mars area i.e. Roissy vs. RER?
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The advantage of Roissybus versus taking the RER is not having to haul your bags up long stairways to transfer or exit the station. You could take Roissybus to Opera, then a taxi, or Bus 42, to Hotel de Londres, getting off at Rapp/Bourdonnais/Saint-Dominique.
Hotel de Londres is nicely located, only a few minutes walk from Tour Eiffel, and some rooms have a view of same.
If you do take the RER from CDG, there are escalators and at least one staircase transferring at St-Michel, then a staircase out of the RER station at Pont de l%26#39;Alma. It%26#39;s an easy walk from there to Hotel de Londres.
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