Hello Fodorites,

You were so kind last time we traveled to Paris and was wondering if I can get some input this time as well.

I basically need logistics help. We have booked our flights arriving to CDG and departing from CDG (so unfortunately no open jaw option available at this point). We had originally thought of spending our whole time in Paris; however, we are now thinking of making a quick visit to London. We've never been and would like to get a little taste of it (we will go back -hopefully- in the future for a longer visit). Now, even though I'd like to visit London in the middle of our stay, that doesn't work too well logistic wise (because of hotel booking and luggage storage). So I am thinking most will agree to go to London as soon as we get to Paris. And my question is then: Is it better to go by train or air? And second, for either option, what departure time(s) would be safe to consider? Our arrival time is 1:35pm at CDG.

Thank you in advance for your input.
Melissa

Definitely train, city center to city center.
Read here: http://www.seat61.com/London-to-Paris-by-train.htm
Book here: http://www.eurostar.com

It would help with suggestions if we knew how many nights you have altogether and maybe the month.

Who is "we"?

When is your trip? month, day? Have you checked to see if there is a holiday in either place?

How long will you have been on the plane when you arrive?

How long is your total time overseas?

How long would you stay in London?

What would you expect to do there?

I have done this trip any number of times, but I have always spent five or more days in each place and wouldn't do it for less than a week nowadays.

Lots of people do this as a day trip, but most of them haven't come off an exhausting overnight flight and are going from city center to city center via Eurostar. The only reason you would fly is if you weren't leaving CDG.

If "we" is a bunch of friends, you may not be friends for long. Janisj wrote perhaps the funniest trip report ever about going with what I can only describe as a "bunch of ladies" to London and almost going insane. Perhaps someone will have it book-marked so you can read it.

Just sayin' but if a group is changing its mind about the primary destination, how are they going to stay focused once the travel temptations begin?

Clarifying the above and depending on your answer to length of stay, I'd put London in the middle, unless it's a very short trip. It makes onward travel very straightforward if you don't have to worry about catching a plane/train on arrival. Hotels in Paris will hold luggage. If they won't, stay somewhere else.

If hotel won't hold your luggage, Gare du Nord ( where you depart for London ) has left luggage facilities.

It depends how long you plan to be in London. Since you seem to not plan to take luggage with you (?), I am guessing it's an overnight? If you traveled lightly, it wouldn't make any difference with the luggage, you'd just take it with you. But I can understand if you just want something for overnight to toss in a totebag, easier not to take it.

I would do it at the beginning as I wouldn't trust coming back the same day as my departure flight, so you'd waste more time that way, having to come back a day early. I wouldn't leave from Paris center, I'd probably just take the train from CDG to London. Teh fares aren't much different (at least on the dates I looked), it's only about 10 euro cheaper to leave from Paris Gare du Nord, which will be the cost of the ticket to get there. Just seems easier to leave from the airport. Yes, you do have to transfer trains at Lille, so in that sense you are going to have to transfer somewhere, but you won't have to leave as much time for that as it is planned on the route, as if you had to get into Gare du Nord and then take the train from there. There is a train that leaves CDG at 4:06 pm for London, that's probably the one you'd have to take. I wouldn't trust getting into Gare to Nord to take the 3:03 pm train, although that is certainly possible if you get out of the airport quickly. But if you buy a cheap ticket and miss that, it won't be refundable. But that's up to you, those are the two options.

If you are staying in Paris a long time, you might take the opportunity to switch hotels, actually, that would resolve booking problems (although no hotel will have a problem with you booking two stays with them with one day in the middle, if they are free, most likely). If it is the same hotel, I would guess they would hold your luggage for one night for you to return. YOu'd have to inquire, though, as some hotels may have rules they won't store bags overnight. But if the same hotel, they would be more likely to do it than if you moved and asked either one of the hotels to keep it a day. I have never asked a hotel to store luggage for over a day for me, so I don't know what they would do. I might add I've seen some pretty loose security around those luggage storage areas in some hotels, anyone could walk off with something, especially if it's not in view of the front desk which they sometimes are not.

Because of hotel booking and luggage storage...are you willing to go for a simply long day? You plan to do this at the beginning and you don't even get to CDG until close to 2 PM. Factor in luggage retrieval, immigration, and I assume a trip to your hotel first or even directly to the train station and then the trip.

If you really want to do this and you are in Paris for the whole time then simply go in the middle and stay overnight. OK, so you have an uninhabited hotel in Paris for a night...but you got to see London as a result.

Regarding the luggage, I always spend days walking in the countryside when I'm in Europe, in France and in England. All I need for those days will fit in a daypack, suitcase left at the hotel where I stay the night before I set out. So I've left my bag at a number of locations. I've never had to pay for it, never left in a locker at a train station, and just once was turned down at a hotel I planned to book. I found another hotel easily that was happy to keep my things for me. It's true that some places don't have an appropriate place to keep guests' luggage. But I also believe it says something about the owners of a property when they make sure they do have an appropriate place and also when they don't.

Thanks for the input. I first thought of the eurostar train ride but then thought since i was at the airport already, i should consider a flight. I see that the time to get out (security point) and back in might be the same or longer than going to Garde du Nord. If I do the train, what time do you suggest. They have a departure at 4:03pm. Do you that would be a safe option, or should I go for later departures?


Sorry for the lack of information. We means Husband and I. We are arriving June 25 at 1:35pm to CDG (direct flight from Miami) and leave from CDG on July 6.
We are thinking about going to London for 3 days 2 nights. I know it's nothing for London but actually my first trip to Paris was for that short of a time, and thanks to that little time, I did my best go back, and my second time was for 10 days a couple of years ago. So I want to get a little taste of London this time and fall in love with it like I did with Paris, in which case I'd be going back for an entire week at least next time. We mainly want do lots of walking there; since my time will be very limited, I am not interested in wasting it on big lines for access to anything. I'd be lucky if I get to go to a show at night.
Back to the logistics, I would like to go in the middle of the say, but that would mean I have to do 2 bookings at the Paris hotel, and would have to confirm they can hold luggage for 2 nights we will be out.

Christina, That's a great idea of getting 2 different hotels. I can get one on the right bank and one on the left with the London visit in the middle... definitely something to consider. I would like just to make sure one of the 2 hotels can hold my luggage or leave it at Gare du Nord.

I forgot to mention that my bday is on Jun. 27 and my initial intention was to spend it in Paris... but would give that up if not convenient.

I think the best idea, the one that saves the most time & effort on an already short trip is to simply keep your room in Paris. No questions about storing bags, no extra packing/unpacking, no time spent moving across town. I think we can be seduced by the illusion of squeezing more into a given time frame but the biggest luxury of all, as I see it, is to just lock a door behind you and walk back in on your return from London. It also adds to a sense of place to not have to reorient one's self in a new neighborhood. And you may get a discount from your Paris hotel if you stay more consecutive days.

<<Definitely train, city center to city center.>>

How is that "definitely"? To get to the train station from CDG is a hassle - in fact at least the same size hassle as from Heathrow or Gatwick to Central London because they have to clear customs and immigration in CDG, which would be a pain.

If you can connect at CDG to London, consider doing so and then taking the Eurostar to Paris for the remainder of the trip.

I believe I clarified my "definite" for those who read all replies. I realize it's more fun to object (both prematurely or late to the game).

The most efficient use of your time is simply to fly from CDG to LHR/LGW at the beginning of your trip. So in effect you are flying open jaw - into London then fly home from Paris. Either add on the CDG to LHR/LGW sector to your existing ticket or buy a separate ticket (which of course may not be proteced).

Putting London in the middle of a short trip is logistically wasteful.

"...logistically wasteful."

Arriving in London jet-lagged for such a short visit is also wasteful, so it's a toss-up. Personally, I'd rather go into Paris, rather than either worry about making another flight not protected by single itinerary ticketing or have to languish tired in an airport until a safe departure time. For me, arriving in Paris and heading into Paris sounds the better of the 2, less tired there than more tired in London. And, of course, I much prefer a train ride, rather than another airport.

Normally the train is a no brainer . . . but you are not starting from central Paris. You are starting fro CDG. No I don't think you can make a 4PM Eurostar. It isn't like 'normal' trains where you just walk up and board. It is just like an airport - you have to be there early and check in/go through security and immigration. You must check in 30 minutes ahead -- and they recommend 45 minutes. Miss your train - just the same as missing a flight. You lose it and have to buy very expensive walk up fares -- but typically Eurostars are booked up so you might have to wait several trains or even days.

You would have to book a train at least 4 hours after arrival at CDG to be safe.

You'd have the same sort of issues flying -- but at least you'd already be AT CDG.

It may be counter intuitive -- but this may be one of the rare situations where splitting you time might make sense. Do paris first, then take the train to London, then fly back to Paris after dinner the night before your flight home. Book one night at a CDG hotel. You really would not lose any sightseeing time in either city.

<<I believe I clarified my "definite" for those who read all replies. I realize it's more fun to object (both prematurely or late to the game).>>

Some of us try to get it right the first time.

For MelissaT: your desire to do a lot of walking in London is subject to weather. It is also subject to some other conditions. First, London is inordinately large. It's also a far different atmosphere from Paris. More: it is less walkable as a general conceit - London doesn't have broad boulevards like Paris (never had to provide marching areas for the Germans ;-)), it also does not have any street order resembling a grid in the center of the metropolis. There are some fine areas to explore, but traversing one end of the city to the other would be less easy than in Paris.

I agree that London is enormous, when compared to Paris - and the little interesting neighborhoods are located some distance away from each other - thus you'd be spending a lot more time on public transport than walking, if you wanted a chance to see much of anything in London.

You'll probably be jetlagged no matter where you start your trip, so the first day will likely be a washout. Since you have to land at CDG, I recommend taking the evening train to London on the first day. Allow about 5 hours between CDG and check-in at Eurostar (allow 1 hour for this). If you don't have too much luggage, you could head for the area around Gare du Nord and maybe Canal Saint Martin, hang out and have something decent to eat - and then get on the train and go to bed. Pick a hotel in an area which most interests you, and you'll be off to a good start in London.

When you're ready to go to Paris, get on the earliest train - usually they are the cheapest. Make certain to follow the signs in Gare du Nord and get in the official taxi line, and remember that "official" taxi drivers always remain in their taxis, and don't approach you on foot or try to pull you out of line.

Seems like two sets or more of opinions are forming here which is usually the case.

I read in your post that it won't work to travel to London in the middle of your trip. So, I'm of the camp to just keep traveling onward by plane to London. First talk to the airline you're taking to Paris, they might be able to add a connecting flight on to London. If that's the case, you can check your bags through.

If not, if you can find a reasonably priced flight, I would not book anything before 4:00pm/16:00. Some airlines will check your bags through even if your flight is not connecting, if they have an interline agreement.

My second choice would be to land at CDG, pick up luggage, RER or taxi to Gare du Nord and Eurostar to London. I would still not book before 4:00-4:30. Advantage here is no need to make your way into central London from Heathrow or Gatwick. And, you may be able to get a good rate on return eurostar tickets coming back to Paris 2-3 days later. The more I think about it, I like this option.

Watch plane bookings Paris to London, quite a few leave from Orly, you don't want that.

Thank you everyone for your input. We've decided to visit London as a day trip instead (leaving from Gare du Nord on the earliest train and coming back on the latest).

Is there a preferred day of the week that you'd suggest for our day trip to London?

That is possible, but it is a really REALLY inadequate amount of time for London.

It makes no difference what day of the week really since you are only going to see maybe 2 or 3 of the biggies.

Leaving at 0700 will get you into London around 0830 - so I would NOT take the first train since that will dump you at Kings Cross/St Pancras at the beginning of the morning commute and no tourist sites are open for another hour or 2. I personally wouldn't leave Paris until 0830 or 9AM, arriving 10-10:30 AM. The last train leaves London around 8PM getting into Paris at 11:30PM.

So you will have about 9 hours usable on the ground in London.