Long Layover in Paris
Jun 6th, 2014, 10:16 AM
#22
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A couple of things...
1) I'd have no problems with a 19 hour layover. Get a hotel at the airport, check in, and take the train or a bus downtown. Have a nice dinner, see a few sites and then head back to the hotel.
2) Book the cheaper flight. Since it's still 4 months away, there's a 50/50 change that they'll change the flight times anyway. Either way, if they change it by more than about an hour, you'll generally have the chance to change to other flights without paying a change fee. I did this recently with tickets from the US to Rabat, Morocco. It was very similar to your situation with a 15 hour layover in Paris on the return. Ended up being able to change it to a flight with just a 2 hour layover.
3) Traversing CDG isn't really that bad. It can be a problem when going from an international flight to a domestic one (or the opposite), but from an international flight to another usually isn't that bad. 2ish hours isn't unreasonable.
1) I'd have no problems with a 19 hour layover. Get a hotel at the airport, check in, and take the train or a bus downtown. Have a nice dinner, see a few sites and then head back to the hotel.
2) Book the cheaper flight. Since it's still 4 months away, there's a 50/50 change that they'll change the flight times anyway. Either way, if they change it by more than about an hour, you'll generally have the chance to change to other flights without paying a change fee. I did this recently with tickets from the US to Rabat, Morocco. It was very similar to your situation with a 15 hour layover in Paris on the return. Ended up being able to change it to a flight with just a 2 hour layover.
3) Traversing CDG isn't really that bad. It can be a problem when going from an international flight to a domestic one (or the opposite), but from an international flight to another usually isn't that bad. 2ish hours isn't unreasonable.
Jun 6th, 2014, 12:32 PM
#24
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We just got back last week from Greece having flown Air France through Paris both ways. You will be going from Terminal 2E to 2F on the way over and 2F to 2E on the way home. The airport has made big improvements in recent years and these transfers are really pretty simple. It took us 35 minutes from the plane to next gate on the way over which included security and passport control. It was only 30 minutes on the return and there was only passport control no security as you now stay air side coming in from Athens with a transfer to the US.
The one possible problem is that you will have to walk somewhere between a mile and a mile and a half. There are buses but they are much slower than walking.
From what you are describing it sounds like you are considering the 12:20 PM flight out of Athens. I much prefer this flight to the 6:30AM flight that Air France has earlier in the day. I'm surprised that the cheaper option is the late flight. We travel from Dulles and find that the early flight is usually cheaper than the late one.
As far as staying in Paris that's up to you. It would be easier to stay at an airport hotel and go into the city for the evening. You will need to check with Air France regarding where your bags are checked to. I think the default would be that in Athens they will checked through to Texas. I'd go with that and carryon enough things for your night in Paris. As you will already have your boarding passes (issued in Athens) you would only need to go through passport control and security in the morning skipping the Air France check in.
The one possible problem is that you will have to walk somewhere between a mile and a mile and a half. There are buses but they are much slower than walking.
From what you are describing it sounds like you are considering the 12:20 PM flight out of Athens. I much prefer this flight to the 6:30AM flight that Air France has earlier in the day. I'm surprised that the cheaper option is the late flight. We travel from Dulles and find that the early flight is usually cheaper than the late one.
As far as staying in Paris that's up to you. It would be easier to stay at an airport hotel and go into the city for the evening. You will need to check with Air France regarding where your bags are checked to. I think the default would be that in Athens they will checked through to Texas. I'd go with that and carryon enough things for your night in Paris. As you will already have your boarding passes (issued in Athens) you would only need to go through passport control and security in the morning skipping the Air France check in.
Jun 6th, 2014, 06:05 PM
#25
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If it were me, I would not stay near CDG. You have to transfer to the hotel to check in. That process will take you between 30 minutes to an hour each direction. Why not just take the Air France bus straight in? You can stay at a hotel steps away from the bus. You are saving yourself a couple hours, guaranteed.
Personally, I also allow the airline to keep my luggage for a full 24 hours (though I usually do this in Amsterdam - - I don't know if CDG is any different). That way, you don't waste another 45 minutes waiting for the luggage - - just take all you need for an overnight in your carry-on and walk straight out to the bus.
Seriously, chances are 99.99% in your favor that letting AF keep the luggage overnight, and relying on the Air France bus to get you in and out from the Arc de Triomphe area in time for your flight the next day, will save you HOURS of time.
Personally, I also allow the airline to keep my luggage for a full 24 hours (though I usually do this in Amsterdam - - I don't know if CDG is any different). That way, you don't waste another 45 minutes waiting for the luggage - - just take all you need for an overnight in your carry-on and walk straight out to the bus.
Seriously, chances are 99.99% in your favor that letting AF keep the luggage overnight, and relying on the Air France bus to get you in and out from the Arc de Triomphe area in time for your flight the next day, will save you HOURS of time.
Jun 7th, 2014, 03:21 AM
#26
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<i>How far is Paris from CDG?</i>
It´s under 30 kms but allow 45 minutes for any transfer.
<i>You can stay at a hotel steps away from the bus. You are saving yourself a couple hours, guaranteed.</i>
It´s already been pointed that that there 5 hotels located on the airport, including the Sheraton which is located in the same terminal as Makeithappen´s arrival and departure. By staying at one of these 5, you aren´t going to save one minute by staying in Paris.
It´s under 30 kms but allow 45 minutes for any transfer.
<i>You can stay at a hotel steps away from the bus. You are saving yourself a couple hours, guaranteed.</i>
It´s already been pointed that that there 5 hotels located on the airport, including the Sheraton which is located in the same terminal as Makeithappen´s arrival and departure. By staying at one of these 5, you aren´t going to save one minute by staying in Paris.
Jun 7th, 2014, 04:21 AM
#27
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If AF keeps the bags, that is good as you do save a lot of time from retrieving and rechecking the bag.
I don't think you are going to save hours by staying in a hotel in the city, either. First, the actual checking into a hotel takes the same time no matter where it is. And depending on the AF bus to get to the airport in the morning will take you more time that being at the airport, that's for sure. More time than just going to/from the city on the train to sightsee. You will have to be at the stop early to make sure you get there on time for the bus, and the bus stop is not in an area where you would probably want a hotel within steps of it, if there even are any. And you will have to allow extra time because you never now what the traffic may be like. Maybe that's just the way I do things, I want to be sure there isn't any chance I don't make my plane. The AF bus stop is just off one side of the Arc, which is a very busy traffic circle and I don't think there are any hotels right near it, that's public land, and a park area. There are some hotels beginning about a block or two away, though.
Well, it is an option if you want, and I have stayed in a hotel on the same street as the AF bus stop and liked it, this is it http://www.laregenceetoile.com/
It's about 1.5 blocks away, and does have single rooms for about 130 euro in October. And in fact, I think the Sheraton at CDG is pretty expensive, maybe twice that. So I don't think staying in Paris will save you hours of time, but it is an option. I personally would just rather stay near the airport with an early flight like that so I don't have to spend so much time in the morning making sure I get there on time. The earliest AF bus from the Arc is 7:15 and you'll get at the airport maybe 8:15-8:30. That's probably okay given they will have your bags, actually. If I had to check bags, etc., I would want to get there earlier than that.
I don't think you'll save hours of time staying in the city, but I think it's a viable option IF you do stay within a block or two of an AF bus stop.
I don't think you are going to save hours by staying in a hotel in the city, either. First, the actual checking into a hotel takes the same time no matter where it is. And depending on the AF bus to get to the airport in the morning will take you more time that being at the airport, that's for sure. More time than just going to/from the city on the train to sightsee. You will have to be at the stop early to make sure you get there on time for the bus, and the bus stop is not in an area where you would probably want a hotel within steps of it, if there even are any. And you will have to allow extra time because you never now what the traffic may be like. Maybe that's just the way I do things, I want to be sure there isn't any chance I don't make my plane. The AF bus stop is just off one side of the Arc, which is a very busy traffic circle and I don't think there are any hotels right near it, that's public land, and a park area. There are some hotels beginning about a block or two away, though.
Well, it is an option if you want, and I have stayed in a hotel on the same street as the AF bus stop and liked it, this is it http://www.laregenceetoile.com/
It's about 1.5 blocks away, and does have single rooms for about 130 euro in October. And in fact, I think the Sheraton at CDG is pretty expensive, maybe twice that. So I don't think staying in Paris will save you hours of time, but it is an option. I personally would just rather stay near the airport with an early flight like that so I don't have to spend so much time in the morning making sure I get there on time. The earliest AF bus from the Arc is 7:15 and you'll get at the airport maybe 8:15-8:30. That's probably okay given they will have your bags, actually. If I had to check bags, etc., I would want to get there earlier than that.
I don't think you'll save hours of time staying in the city, but I think it's a viable option IF you do stay within a block or two of an AF bus stop.
Jun 7th, 2014, 05:16 AM
#28
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I don't think they will keep bags overnight at AF. I hope I am wrong. I would bid $75 on 4* priceline hotel at CDG east, and hope to get the sheraton at the airport. It has been coming up a lot on the bids posted at better bidding dot com. Then raise a bit the next day if your bid wash´t accepted. but you should be able to get a much nicer hotel at CDG, than in pari,s for less money.
Advantage is going into paris with NO luggage. and taking the RER instead of taxi with bags. Also, next day a breeze, even from a nearby shuttled hotel.
I do agree, unless you are saving a LOT per person, or, the tower is worth the expense or savings, then perhaps the non-stop is not so expensive after all.
Advantage is going into paris with NO luggage. and taking the RER instead of taxi with bags. Also, next day a breeze, even from a nearby shuttled hotel.
I do agree, unless you are saving a LOT per person, or, the tower is worth the expense or savings, then perhaps the non-stop is not so expensive after all.
Jun 7th, 2014, 05:50 AM
#29
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Makeithappen, as another post stated, it is about 45 minutes from CDG into Paris. We did not go into Paris the last night while staying at the Ibis as we had stayed in the city several nights prior to taking the RER B back to CDG to pick up a rental car for a 10 night trip to Brittany. Paris is one of my favorite cities and to me it would be well worth staying at an airport hotel, taking the train into/back for an afternoon and evening in Paris. It was nice sleeping a little later, having breakfast at the hotel then being able to get to the departure gate in 10 minutes time.
This was our first stay at an airport hotel in CDG and it worked perfectly for us. Only my opinion. Also, there are quite a few hotels in the vicinity of CDG that offer free shuttles to the terminals, last year after a similar trip to the Dordogne we stayed at another hotel after returning our rental car, the next morning we were told to wait out front of the hotel for the big black bus......it was packed and we did have to wait for another bus, for us the hassle wasn't worth it.
Enjoy, Paris is beautiful.
This was our first stay at an airport hotel in CDG and it worked perfectly for us. Only my opinion. Also, there are quite a few hotels in the vicinity of CDG that offer free shuttles to the terminals, last year after a similar trip to the Dordogne we stayed at another hotel after returning our rental car, the next morning we were told to wait out front of the hotel for the big black bus......it was packed and we did have to wait for another bus, for us the hassle wasn't worth it.
Enjoy, Paris is beautiful.
Jun 7th, 2014, 05:58 AM
#30
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I definitely think that if you can make it work, you should take the flight with the 19 hour layover and get a little taste of Paris. Even if you only go out for dinner and an evening walk, and perhaps an ice cream cone or something (you should take a look at my ice cream post for suggestions! haha), I think it'll be worth it.
It's such a lovely city
It's such a lovely city
Jun 9th, 2014, 11:19 AM
#33
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Thank you all for your quick responses. You guys have made me WANT to find a flight that has a long layover in Paris....so awesome! Thanks for all the details they have been so helpful!
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