Arrive in Paris early am, no check-in/luggage drop until pm. Options?
 

Hi all,

My parents will be arriving ahead of me in Paris in early May. Their flight gets in (CDG) before 7am but I just contacted the hotel and they can't even drop off their bags until 1pm at the hotel in Le Marais.

They're in their 60s and will likely be jetlagged (coming in from Chicago), so I was wondering if you had any advice on what they could do, if there was anywhere they could rest if they needed it, or if there was somewhere they could leave their bags.

Any help would be appreciated!

Change hotels. That is ridiculous.

I am afraid I agree with Ackislander. I have never head of a hotel that would not allow guests to store luggage for a couple of hours and would be very suspicious of somewhere so unwelcoming.

I would take the train into Paris leave my luggage in the consignment areas of Gare du Nord or Gare de Lyon.

I agree, I have never heard of a hotel that will not allow you to drop your bags.
We had a similar schedule upon arriving to Paris and had called our hotel and arranged an early check in, it was supposed to be 10:30 so we could rest a little. We had even confirmed it with the hotel just before leaving, however when we arrived they didn't have a room ready and were very short and not helpful. But even they were willing to keep our bags. Were were not given a room until regular check in time. All other hotels on our trip were amazing with wonderful service and polite staff. I guess the French have to keep up their image;)

Thanks for the responses! It's actually an AirBnb, allowing us to save several hundred dollars on our two rooms, so we were willing to make the sacrifice :) So now we're trying to figure out logistics! My parents are pretty tough, so even if they bring their bags to one venue it should be okay. I've been trying to figure out if there are any low key options for them to do, or a back up plan if they're really tired. Thanks!

Book a hotel room for the night prior to the day of arrival, and check in the morning of the arrival.

Mark

You don't say how long it will be before you arrive to join them. There are several hotels right at CDG (Hilton, Novotel, Ibis, Sheraton) - one option would be for them to go to one of these hotels where they could get something to eat and hang out in the lobby where you could meet them, then go into Paris together. Not the best way to beat jet lag, however.

AirBnB is not a "hotel." In Paris, it may not even be legal.

elayarae--

Following up on AJ's comment, please read the following thread:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...m#last-comment

If it is an airbnb why did you call it a hotel? May be semantics - but the first three responses would have all been different if you had mentioned airbnb in the OP.

Your apartment may indeed be illegal -- but most likely will work out. But do have a plan B just in case.

I'd hate starting my Paris holiday hanging around a CDG hotel lobby -- but that might be their best option.

so, why did you say it was a hotel? I suspect you know it is illegal and that's why.

Tough, you should have thought of that when trying to save money by staying in someone's apt.

Some airports and some airlines have special lounges for everything from showers to chair beds. For most, I think you have to have membership. Once you join, it is good at many places. Some hotels near the terminals have day rates. Your parents might look into both options. Getting some sleep in a VIP lounge might be just the thing.

Along with others, I hate to tell you that the limited check-in window is a usual feature of rentals. You get a lower per night and larger space in return for a limited check-in window, stiff cancellation penalty if they offer at all, no front desk support, and often no elevators. It is not a hotel replacement for everyone, and the ones who use rentals often know how to live with the restrictions.

The luggage situation is not a back up plan. There really is no place to leave their luggage without paying storage fee equivalent of some kind. There are places like www.city-locker.com if they are ok just to leave luggage. There are lockers at large stations, http://www.seat61.com/luggage-locker...ckers_in_Paris They need coins - a lot of them, and if the security conditions change, they might not be accessible.

Thanks for sharing the issue of legality regarding the apartment. I haven't really stayed up to date on Parisian politics; I also booked this many months ago. I've contacted Airbnb to see what they have to say about the evolving situation.

Thank you to Mark, CJT and Sassafras for the suggestions!

Regarding luggage drop off, if they decide to do so, they'll leave them in the Gare du Nord lockers and my boyfriend and I will grab them when we arrive at 1pm. If that doesn't work, they'll bring them with. Not the end of the world ;)

Not having the most convenient way to check in really was never or is now a dealbreaker for myself or my parents, I just wanted to see what people with more experience with the city might suggest. Regardless, we're all just happy to be able to see beautiful Paris on a budget.

Have you asked the owner of the apt what s/he suggests? I can't imagine you are the first people to have this as an issue at that apt.
To those that suggest a rental always has that issue, that is simply not true. I stay in apts all the time in Paris and elsewhere and I have never had this problem. I have always been told I can drop the luggage off and come back at a designated time to check in.

Just a heads-up...
Depending on where they want to go - while spinning their wheels before they can access the apartment - they may run into problems. It's difficult for most cafes and restaurants to store luggage, since there is just not any space for this - it's even difficult to bring shopping bags, coats, etc, in most places.
If they plan to visit shops or museums, be aware that the "Vigipirate" anti-terror plan is still in effect (and will be throughout the Summer, and probably then some). This means that people with large bags - backpacks, luggage, etc - will have them inspected, and often they will be refused entry.
If you can't access the apartment, the best option would be to store the bags. It will be a major pain, but that's the price you pay for choosing to stay in a place that is not a hotel.

Hi elayarae,

In addition to taking the cases to a train station to put in a luggage locker, they could use Citylocker, which is a private luggage storage service. They apparently have a location in the Marais:

www.city-locker.com

Have fun as you plan!

s

ooop! I see that greg above has already posted about Citylocker. Never mind!

s

Why don't you ask apartment owner if you could pay an early check in fee. Even if they are cleaning the apartment maybe you could just leave bags that way.

"It will be a major pain, but that's the price you pay for choosing to stay in a place that is not a hotel."
Not sure why some insist that this is the case. It is not. Most apts allow you to drop bags off. And just as hotels do generally if there is no one in the apt the day before you can check in at any time. This is the first time I have heard of someone having an issue. I will say that I have stayed at 1,000's of hotels and wait more for a room with them then with all the apts I have stayed in. And this includes Paris.

Hope you have a great trip!