suec1

We do not usually travel at the holidays but this Dec. we are headed to Thailand as our daughter has moved there. We are thinkig about heading home from there on 12/31 and will land in Paris around 5pm where we need to overnight. I have no idea how we will be feeling but I'm thinking we will just get a room at an airport hotel. MAYBE we will want to go into the city but if we just stay at the hotel, can we expect a restaurant to be open? Anyone have any experiences like this they want to share?

suec1

anyone?

kerouac

Hotel restaurants will be open as usual.

Kathie

We recently stayed at the Marriott at CDG - it was pretty grim. I wouldn't choose to stay there again. As kerouac said, the restaurant will be open.

Dukey1

If a bunch of restaurants in the city were open, would you be willing to travel to them?

suec1

probably not - again we will be returning from Thailand - if we want to go into Paris on NYEve we would need winter wear - thus we would have to drag heavy coats all thru our Thai trip. So I'm thinking hanging at the airport hotel may be the best idea.

denisea

I don't think I could bear to just sit in an airport hotel on NYE. Take the train into the city for just a few hours....sleep on the plane. Sure the hotel restaurant will be open but if you commit to doing a bit more, I bet you won't regret it.

Christina

I couldn't bear to go into Paris on NYE on route from Asia. It sounds terrible to me, a bunch of crowds, illegal firecrackers, noise, etc. And you won't probably get a restaurant there without booking in advance. You will at your airport hotel.

sandralist

Menus in Parisian restaurants on New Year's Eve are astronomically expensive.

New Year's Eve means nothing to me --- I'd rather have fun and late nights more than once a year! -- but if I felt a passing need to note the occasion, I would make a sweep through the airport before leaving it and pick up wine, cheese, chocolate, foie gras, whatever they've got and go to the hotel and find something crazy on TV or pay for movie and make that my party.

jpie

Another thought is that instead of going into Paris, go to Chantilly. Take a look at this place:

http://montroyal-chantilly.tiara-hotels.com/en/

Only 15 minutes from CDG and you could book a spa treatment or swim in an indoor pool, have a great meal and then face the long flight home. TA is showing it at around 200euros for that date, so not too bad.

Christina

NYE means nothing to me, either, I usually try to avoid it at home (not going anywhere). It just doesn't appeal, crowds and noise and expensive places.

BTW, I stayed at the Hilton at CDG once and it was very very nice. Not remotely grim. I was comped by AA as they canceled my flight due to their fault and I couldn't believe how nice the room was they put me up in--it was bigger than some of my apartments when I was younger. The restaurant was nothing special, but perfectly adequate. I think you can do all those things someone mentions in Chantilly right there, I myself wouldn't go to Chantilly for that (I think it is farther than 15 minutes, it's close to 30 km away). Besides, I think you'll spend a lot of money going to/from there by taxi (at least 40-50 euro each way if traffic isn't bad, at night). You can book rooms at the Hilton for less than 200 euro, although I'm not sure what kind of room I had. There are other options at the airport.

tuscanlifeedit

If someone recommends the Hilton, that might be my choice. I once got the Sheraton directly inside T2 at CDG on a Hotwire blind choice, and I didn't like it, and might feel bad if I were there on New Year's Eve. Not that I celebrate NYE, but the place was sterile, big, cold, and every single bite of food was outrageously expensive.

I actually left the hotel looking for food choices but everything in T2 was closed by 8pm or so.

Anyway, that's my take. I wouldn't choose the Sheraton inside T2.

jpie

I wasn't suggesting the Montroyal so much as just a layover hotel but rather more as a treat after such a long flight from Thailand since you arrive early enough to enjoy a bit of time there. I aso think it beats going into Paris but would still make NYE special. And just to clarify, the hotel is south of Chantilly-the website shows 15 minutes from CDG which google maps agrees with, so not as far as Chantilly itself:

http://montroyal-chantilly.tiara-hotels.com/en/find-us

ruedebuci

Given your arrival time I'd book a hotel in Paris.

I've spent a couple NYE in Paris, and I enjoy fine dining. But even I refuse to pay the astronomical prices on NYE. We café hopped on NYE. You have several casual options; try some ethnic places (Mexican or Thai would be my choices) or a pizzeria.

If you do go into the city, avoid the Champs Elysees. It's crazy there. Also, you might want to stay close to the hotel as the metros get very crowded on NYE.

I loved NYE in Paris, there is no way I'd stay at an airport hotel!

suec1

My thread got off to a slow start but eventually I did get some good suggestions. I'll look into the hotel near Chantilly but we'll probably go for one of the nicer CDG options - spending some time in a sauna and pool seems a good idea in between flights. Then a rent a movie and relax with some wine and nice snacks. As much as I'd like to go into Paris I just don't think we will be dragging any cold weather clothing and after 2 weeks in Thailand, the winter temps. would seem pretty brutal!