Half-day in Paris: Worth leaving hotel?
Jan 28th, 2007, 07:47 AM
#41
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 409
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So Raph-now that we are all fighting (or shall we say debating) over your Paris visit, what do you think you will do? 
If it were me, I would stay at CDG and at least take a cab tour through Paris (Eiffel tower, Arc de Triomphe, Montmartre) when you arrive, so you could at least say you saw Paris, if the RER, morning traffic, etc that's pointed out above, seems too daunting. It would give you something to look forward to on your return visit when you can take your time.
Robes- you are awesome. Keep it coming. I have already filled a notebook with your suggestions. I am going to Paris in 2 weeks.
If it were me, I would stay at CDG and at least take a cab tour through Paris (Eiffel tower, Arc de Triomphe, Montmartre) when you arrive, so you could at least say you saw Paris, if the RER, morning traffic, etc that's pointed out above, seems too daunting. It would give you something to look forward to on your return visit when you can take your time.
Robes- you are awesome. Keep it coming. I have already filled a notebook with your suggestions. I am going to Paris in 2 weeks.
Jan 28th, 2007, 07:55 AM
#43
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Stay right in Roissy...which is where CDG is located....find a hotel Campanile, Ibis or any of four right next to each other...very inexpensive, and walk around the area...we ate dinner in the little village, about a 5 minute walk, found a quaint pizza shop and met a nice couple doing the same...very French feeling, nice village, wonderful people, interesting things to see, and better than just sitting in the hotel.
Free Shuttle took us to airport terminal in 30 minutes the next day for our flight to Spain, and the short walk into the village prepared us for the meal and for bedtime, with no waste or hurry. Save Paris for when you have more time is right. But see a little of France while you are there.
Free Shuttle took us to airport terminal in 30 minutes the next day for our flight to Spain, and the short walk into the village prepared us for the meal and for bedtime, with no waste or hurry. Save Paris for when you have more time is right. But see a little of France while you are there.
Jan 28th, 2007, 08:36 AM
#44
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 773
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Robes, is a wonderful source of info, but how you use it is the key here. Not everyone is as adept at darting around Paris with a minimum of hassle and stress. Your first priority is getting to Greece on time and not exhausted. Don't fall into the alluring "you might never pass this way again" trap.
Robes, your being superior is not a bad thing.
Robes, your being superior is not a bad thing.
Jan 29th, 2007, 10:54 AM
#45
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
(wow; what did I start?..I thought I asked a SIMPLE question...) In answer to Freeman's question about my decision, I think I'm inclined to "wing it" based on when we actually get out of the airport and how jet lagged and cranky we really are. I think we'll stay in a hotel close to the airport, but allow for the possibility of trekking into Paris, either late at night or in the super-early-morning hours. Thanks all!
Jan 29th, 2007, 11:37 AM
#46
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,224
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm not sure where your origin is but it sounds like you're departing from home in the morning?
The last thing I want to do after being stuck on a 10 hr+ day flight is to spend the next consecutive 12 hours at an airport hotel. What a crappy way to spend 24 hours. I would stay at a hotel in Paris right off the RER (not at the airport) and head out that evening, the city is gorgeous at night and you have a fair chance of making it to the Eiffel Tower before midnight -- it's exhilerating. There will be lots of people walking around late at night, crepe stands and brasseries will be open for a quick bite before you head back to the hotel. I imagine your teens would love it with all the people around -- it's all very stimulating.
Get to bed by 1:00 am (don't unpack at all -- have everything you need for that night/day in your carry-on) wake up at 8 am. Grab breakfast -- what's the problem?
People are talking about this being really too stressful, but there's an aspect of logistical stress to all travel. If your family doesn't do well in situations like this (for instance, my parents are prone to hysteria and I wouldn't take them out of the airport) then you know it probably won't be worth the stress. If they manage fairly well, then I'd completely go for it. I can't imagine being overnight in Paris and not checking it out -- 1:25 pm isn't an early morning flight. CDG is a vast wasteland of an airport but go prepared with all the transport logistics worked out (know which terminal you're leaving from, etc.) and it need not be a nightmare.
The last thing I want to do after being stuck on a 10 hr+ day flight is to spend the next consecutive 12 hours at an airport hotel. What a crappy way to spend 24 hours. I would stay at a hotel in Paris right off the RER (not at the airport) and head out that evening, the city is gorgeous at night and you have a fair chance of making it to the Eiffel Tower before midnight -- it's exhilerating. There will be lots of people walking around late at night, crepe stands and brasseries will be open for a quick bite before you head back to the hotel. I imagine your teens would love it with all the people around -- it's all very stimulating.
Get to bed by 1:00 am (don't unpack at all -- have everything you need for that night/day in your carry-on) wake up at 8 am. Grab breakfast -- what's the problem?
People are talking about this being really too stressful, but there's an aspect of logistical stress to all travel. If your family doesn't do well in situations like this (for instance, my parents are prone to hysteria and I wouldn't take them out of the airport) then you know it probably won't be worth the stress. If they manage fairly well, then I'd completely go for it. I can't imagine being overnight in Paris and not checking it out -- 1:25 pm isn't an early morning flight. CDG is a vast wasteland of an airport but go prepared with all the transport logistics worked out (know which terminal you're leaving from, etc.) and it need not be a nightmare.
Jan 29th, 2007, 11:57 AM
#47
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,000
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hear! Hear!
raphakg - Keep in mind that all we're doing is offering possibilities (and perhaps reasons why we would handle your situation in a particular way).
But I would like to add that your arrival time and jetlag factor would suggest that you not try to do too much on the evening you arrive. I would suggest a hot shower and straight to bed (your body will be ready for it) as soon as you're checked in. That way, you can get a full night's sleep and awake refreshed at an early hour to do your sightseeing.
raphakg - Keep in mind that all we're doing is offering possibilities (and perhaps reasons why we would handle your situation in a particular way).
But I would like to add that your arrival time and jetlag factor would suggest that you not try to do too much on the evening you arrive. I would suggest a hot shower and straight to bed (your body will be ready for it) as soon as you're checked in. That way, you can get a full night's sleep and awake refreshed at an early hour to do your sightseeing.
Feb 1st, 2007, 09:57 AM
#48
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ok...OP back again...now I am thinking that, if we go to bed as soon as possible after our flight arrives at CDG and are ready to "hit the road" in the early morning hours the next day, we might be able to see a bit of Paris before our 1:25 pm departure for Athens.
Rather than just grab a random cab, would you recommend that I work with a private tour guide? If so, who?
Rather than just grab a random cab, would you recommend that I work with a private tour guide? If so, who?
Feb 1st, 2007, 10:06 AM
#49
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,858
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I guess you can do that if money is no object, which it seems to be. You are thinking of hiring a private car to drive you around for about 4-5 hours (which would include to Paris and back to the airport)? I think if the flight is to Athens, that's intra-Europe so I don't usually get there as far ahead as I do when going from CDG to North America. So, that helps, but you will probably want to be at CDG for checkin by 11:30.
Doing this is tricky because of your luggage. If you have a private car, then you can just leave it in the car's trunk, so that saves time from you having to go back to the hotel to pick it up before the airport. That would add on quite a bit of time. But you can't do that if you just grab any cab each way.
What were you thinking of doing with your baggage in this case? Maybe you have some plan. YOu can't be lugging it around with you while sightseeing.
So, I think a private taxi/car would be preferable but it will be expensive. A private guide along with that would be great, also, but I'm sorry I don't know of any to recommend. How much money are you willing to spend on all that?
Doing this is tricky because of your luggage. If you have a private car, then you can just leave it in the car's trunk, so that saves time from you having to go back to the hotel to pick it up before the airport. That would add on quite a bit of time. But you can't do that if you just grab any cab each way.
What were you thinking of doing with your baggage in this case? Maybe you have some plan. YOu can't be lugging it around with you while sightseeing.
So, I think a private taxi/car would be preferable but it will be expensive. A private guide along with that would be great, also, but I'm sorry I don't know of any to recommend. How much money are you willing to spend on all that?
Feb 1st, 2007, 10:13 AM
#50
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Christina,
Since our connecting flight to Athens is on the same airline as our originating flight from the U.S., we were told (hope it's correct) that they'll check our baggage right through to Athens. Thus, we'll only have enough clothing for overnight.
How much are we willing to spend? Honestly, I don't know what this will cost and we certainly don't have an unlimited budget. I just know that, when I investigated private guides in Greece, it is typically cheaper to hire a private guide for four than to book four cattle-car-buses that do standard tours.
I got the impression that regular Taxis can be fairly expensive in Paris anyway, so I would have to weigh the difference between standard taxi fare from our hotel into Paris and then back to the airport against a more comprehensive private tour guide fee.
Since our connecting flight to Athens is on the same airline as our originating flight from the U.S., we were told (hope it's correct) that they'll check our baggage right through to Athens. Thus, we'll only have enough clothing for overnight.
How much are we willing to spend? Honestly, I don't know what this will cost and we certainly don't have an unlimited budget. I just know that, when I investigated private guides in Greece, it is typically cheaper to hire a private guide for four than to book four cattle-car-buses that do standard tours.
I got the impression that regular Taxis can be fairly expensive in Paris anyway, so I would have to weigh the difference between standard taxi fare from our hotel into Paris and then back to the airport against a more comprehensive private tour guide fee.
Feb 1st, 2007, 10:17 AM
#51
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,000
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Commuting to Paris in the morning will subject you to rush-hour traffic. If you go into town as soon as you land, you will get to bed almost as soon (the RER doesn't take significantly longer than hotel shuttles), and can hit the streets an hour earlier in the morning, because you don't have to get to town. You can stash your bags at the hotel. They provide this service every day.
You can have a drive-by glimpse of a lot of historic Paris with a tourist bus map and a 2-zone <i>Mobilis</i> pass for your transport around town (not to CDG). Here's the map (it will print on a single sheet):
http://www.ratp.info/orienter/f_plan...aux&fm=pdf
(Adobe.com Reader required)
You can have a drive-by glimpse of a lot of historic Paris with a tourist bus map and a 2-zone <i>Mobilis</i> pass for your transport around town (not to CDG). Here's the map (it will print on a single sheet):
http://www.ratp.info/orienter/f_plan...aux&fm=pdf
(Adobe.com Reader required)
Feb 1st, 2007, 11:35 AM
#52
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you, Robespierre. Excellent suggestions, and economical too. For you and other Fodorites who know the Paris transit system, I'd appreciate some more advice.
From looking around the web, I don't have a sense of how long different bus loops are likely to take at various times of the day. Questions: (1) Which bus lines would you recommend, in order to see top sites, and how long would the loop take, if we should we just ride without walking around? (2) How crowded are the buses likely to be in the early morning hours -- are rush hours comparable to what I am used to (NYC)? (3) Do the buses run at all hours, in the event that I and my family are anxious to see the sites before or around dawn?
From looking around the web, I don't have a sense of how long different bus loops are likely to take at various times of the day. Questions: (1) Which bus lines would you recommend, in order to see top sites, and how long would the loop take, if we should we just ride without walking around? (2) How crowded are the buses likely to be in the early morning hours -- are rush hours comparable to what I am used to (NYC)? (3) Do the buses run at all hours, in the event that I and my family are anxious to see the sites before or around dawn?
Feb 1st, 2007, 11:45 AM
#53
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,000
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
1.
The N° 69 will get you to/from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower.
http://www.ratp.info/orienter/f_plan...&nompdf=69
The N° 42 runs from the Eiffel Tower to Gare du Nord.
http://www.ratp.info/orienter/f_plan...&nompdf=42
(Not shown on tourist map): the N° 24 runs up and down both sides of the Seine: http://www.ratp.info/orienter/f_plan...&nompdf=24
2.
Yes, the buses will be crowded, but most of the traffic is from the suburbs to the city, so I don't think the tourist routes will be extremely crowded.
3.
Most buses start running by 6 o'clock. The ones mentioned above all do.
The N° 69 will get you to/from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower.
http://www.ratp.info/orienter/f_plan...&nompdf=69
The N° 42 runs from the Eiffel Tower to Gare du Nord.
http://www.ratp.info/orienter/f_plan...&nompdf=42
(Not shown on tourist map): the N° 24 runs up and down both sides of the Seine: http://www.ratp.info/orienter/f_plan...&nompdf=24
2.
Yes, the buses will be crowded, but most of the traffic is from the suburbs to the city, so I don't think the tourist routes will be extremely crowded.
3.
Most buses start running by 6 o'clock. The ones mentioned above all do.
Feb 1st, 2007, 12:08 PM
#54
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ok...now that we've gotten this far..where would you recommend that we stay, to maximize our brief time, given a plan of using a couple of the bus routes suggested by Robesp? We'll need a hotel that has "family rooms" which can handle four people. Again, not luxury hotels, but not dumps either...
Feb 1st, 2007, 12:21 PM
#55
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Here are some options:
http://tinyurl.com/2w6nqn
http://tinyurl.com/2w6nqn
Feb 1st, 2007, 06:56 PM
#56
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 773
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Okay, maybe I'm missing something here, but there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of time to sightsee.
You arrive at 2100 at night, then have to pick up bags, clear customs, go to an ATM machine, take the REF to Paris, check into your hotel, have four people shower and sleep 6-8 hours, get up and get dressed, check out of the hotel, maybe have breakfast and then take a cab or private car back to the airport to arrive 3 hours ahead of your 1325 flight to Greece. WOW!
You arrive at 2100 at night, then have to pick up bags, clear customs, go to an ATM machine, take the REF to Paris, check into your hotel, have four people shower and sleep 6-8 hours, get up and get dressed, check out of the hotel, maybe have breakfast and then take a cab or private car back to the airport to arrive 3 hours ahead of your 1325 flight to Greece. WOW!
Feb 1st, 2007, 07:16 PM
#57
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
To me, the critical issue is the number of people in your party. If it were just you, or maybe you and your spouse, I might say go for it (though it wouldn't be my choice), but I think the potential for delay and mishap delays multiplies with each person in your party besides yourself . . .
Feb 1st, 2007, 08:03 PM
#58
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,000
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Uh, I think three hours before flight time is unnecessarily generous. Since their luggage is checked through, all they have to do is go through a cursory passport control and security check and get on the plane. If they get to CDG by noon, they'll have plenty of time.
So if they're out and about at 6-7 o'clock, they'll have up to 6 hours to experience the City of Light.
So if they're out and about at 6-7 o'clock, they'll have up to 6 hours to experience the City of Light.
Feb 1st, 2007, 09:06 PM
#60
Guest
Posts: n/a
if you do this , take taxis regardless of cost.
Also, if you have to take Metro, make sure you are familiar with the system ( it is HUGE) BEFORE you get to Paris.
Knowing the terminal you are leaving from should help - CDG is not easy to get around .
Even if your begs are checked through, you should be at the airport 2 hours prior to your flight.
If you can get your kids up by 6 ( good luck !) and grab something to eat on the run you will still have
more than 4 hours in the city. You will need time( an hour?) to pick up your begs at the hotel , get to the RER, then to the bus to your teminal.
I hate airport hotels, so I hope it works for you.
Also, if you have to take Metro, make sure you are familiar with the system ( it is HUGE) BEFORE you get to Paris.
Knowing the terminal you are leaving from should help - CDG is not easy to get around .
Even if your begs are checked through, you should be at the airport 2 hours prior to your flight.
If you can get your kids up by 6 ( good luck !) and grab something to eat on the run you will still have
more than 4 hours in the city. You will need time( an hour?) to pick up your begs at the hotel , get to the RER, then to the bus to your teminal.
I hate airport hotels, so I hope it works for you.
