thorspecken

Returning from Avignon to train station afternoon before leaving to fly home the next day. Want to stay close to train station but not too close as it is not a nice area. What is a nearby hotel that would be a quick ride to train station to airport?

Dee_Dee

Which train station? In the city or by the airport? If airport - which one? There are lots of train stations.

StuDudley

We've done the same thing many times:

- Arrive at the Gare de Lyon
- Check into the hotel Terminus across the street
- Have final dinner in France at the Train Bleu at the train station - a "must see" interior, and better food than you would expect. Reserve in advance.
- Taxi to CDG.

Stu Dudley

kerouac

So, if you are arriving at Gare de Lyon, you could take the RER D to Gare du Nord, which is a very nice area. If wanting a bit of luxury, you could stay at the Mercure Terminus Nord or else at the newly constructed Hôtel Hor half a block away. If you prefer to save a bit of money, you have the Kyriad or the Ibis Styles, all in the same block. While the restaurant at the Terminus Nord is excellent, I recommend walking a few blocks up rue La Fayette to Place de la Bataille de Stalingrad for a lovely meal at the magnificent Rotonde de la Villette, which also boasts a truly exceptional cocktail bar. If you are not tired, there are always romantic walks along the Bassin de la Villette (perhaps to the lively bars at the Pont de Crimée -- Belushi's or the O'Kay).

The RER B to the airport the following morning will only take 25 minutes.

RonZ

For an additional cost of about €35, a taxi to CDG is a lot less effort than a trip on the RER, particularly if you are not familiar with it. Note that if a hotel calls you one, the driver will start the meter when heading in your direction.

kerouac

Less effort for someone staying at Gare du Nord? You think so, Ron?

StuDudley

I think the neighborhood around the Gare de Lyon is "better" than that around the Gare du Nord. On 3 occasions we did the following on the afternoon/early evening of our last night:
- Walked around the Marais - for the um-teenth time, but we never get tired of the Pl. ds Vosges.
- Walked the Promenade de Plantee - per kerouac's post.
- Explored the area between the Gare and several blocks north of the Promenade Plantee

We could have explored the region east of the Basatille - but we pretty much "did" that area on several previous trips.

We have not spent a considerable amount of time recently around the Gore du Nord. But when we did about 10 years ago, it seemed a little more "threatening" than the Gare de Lyon did.

After a 3 hr trip to Paris from Avignon, I would not want to get on another train to go elsewhere.

So far, after a dozen or so taxi trips to CDG, we have never been delayed due to traffic or any other reason. But we usually leave Paris on a Sunday morning when there is little traffic.

I don't know of a restaurant in all of France that has an interior more "dramatic/wow" than the Train Bleu - and we dine at restaurants in France about 30 times each year.

Stu Dudley

thorspecken

Kerouac, I know this is a travel post but I thought you'd like to know I'm from Orlando. Kerouac wrote Dharma Bums here and the house he lived in with his mother is a writer's residence. We are active with them. If you're ever in Orlando, I'm sure you'd love it.