Chris_Cutler

Hi, everyone.
I have a quick question. We finally booked our flights to Paris, and inbound we arrive at 9:30 pm at Orly. The following afternoon, we embark on a river cruise which, I believe, boards near Montparnasse.

I'd appreciate opinions as to whether we should stay in a hotel near the airport that night or whether we should shuttle to the Montparnasse area and stay there.

Any thoughts?

Merci!

nytraveler

What time does the cruise depart?

If the plane lands at 9:30 you might not be out of the airport until 10:30 or later.

In any case I would want a hotel near where the cruise departs from. But it seems unlikely to be Montparnasse - which is not on the river. Perhaps a bus picks you up there?

adrienne

DON'T stay near the airport - stay in town. You have 1 night in Paris? Grab a cab at the airport and have your hotel call a cab to the port the next day.

I would stay near the river for 1 night; 5th or 6th arrondissements are my favorite; others opt for the 4th or 7th. Montparnasse is also a good location.

First decide what sights you want to see or what things you want to do during your day and evening. Then choose a convenient hotel. Don't waste your precious time in Paris!!

adrienne

Sorry - I read it wrong - you're arriving in the evening, not the morning. I still say don't stay near the airport. You have time to have a late meal or drinks in the cafes. Enjoy Paris.

Chris_Cutler

Thanks, everyone. I need to get AMA to tell me where they dock their boats. I know that the hotel that they use is the Pullman Montparnasse, hence my thought that that was the area where the docks are.

I should have mentioned that we'll be in Paris for 10 days post cruise, so I'm not quite concerned with seeing anything before the cruise. We're going to have a horrific travel day (Las Vegas-London-Paris), so I was thinking we'd have dinner and then sleep before embarking.

I appreciate your thoughts and thank you very much. I was waffling about staying near the airport because I just don't like staying near airports.

Chris

mamcalice

I think, considering that you have such a short time in Paris and will be there for 10 days later, I would stay at the hotel recommended by the cruise company in Montparnasse. The cruise won't be departing from there but a bus or train to the cruise may be.

DebitNM

When we have a long/horrible flight with lots of time zone crossings, we prefer to sleep as soon as possible - so we opt to stay closer to airport and then travel the next morning to our destination.

Cathinjoetown

The taxi in from Orly, particularly that late, won't take much more time than getting to an airport hotel. I don't know the Pullman but for convenience and to minimize transfers, I would stay there.

MmePerdu

If you decide to stay near Orly I can recommend the Hotel Le Colbert in Sceaux, very near the airport. The gardens of the Chateaux de Sceaux are a short walk away, designed by Le Notre who also designed the gardens at Versailles. A bit of Versailles without the fees or crowds before you head into town.

MmePerdu

I should add that the Colbert is not an airport hotel but a traditional small French hotel in the town but very near Orly. The proximity is why I stayed there and also for the gardens.

Christina

There is something wrong with this story as there is no river near Montparnasse.

The Pullman Montparnasse is just a big chain business hotel. Some airlines use it for their staff, I believe, it's just a big hotel with lots of rooms.

The only cruise I've heard of departing from near Paris left from some point NW of the city, I believe. I think some small river cruises also dock in the river a bit south of the Eiffel Tower, such as near Pont Grenelle. But I suppose it depends where this cruise is going, north or south.

Cathinjoetown

I don't see anything wrong with this story, my sister took a river cruise a few years ago and the meeting point was a large hotel very near Gare Montparnasse. Possibly the same one.

Gretchen

The meeting place may be near a train station to take them to "somewhere" like Dijon. Or just a hotel as has been suggested. Both happened to us when going to a barge trip in burgundy.

Chris_Cutler

Thanks, everyone, for your responses. I decided to stay in the Montparnasse since it's close.

We're leaving from Paris, not Dijon or somewhere else. I've discovered that the river boats dock near Pont de Grenelle/Quai de Grenelle south of the Eiffel Tower. The Pullman Montparnasse is not that far from the area.

Again, thank you so much for your thoughts. . . They helped me make my decision.

Christina

The meeting point may have been at some hotel in Montparnasse, but the OP presumed the boat was leaving from a dock near there, which it cannot.

Gretchen

Save it Christina.