Am tossing up between staying in Paris or somewhere outside it. Last time in Paris I drove through a pretty little outer suburb called L'Isle-Adam, and I note that Fodors France Guide speaks well of the Hotel Le Cabouillet there. Has anyone tried it, and what did you think?

Also, how was it for commuting in and out of Paris? My map shows a rail line from Gare du Nord to Pontoise continuing on to L'Isle-Adam (and beyond), but as it is called the Pontoise line would I be right in thinking regular commuter trains run only as far as Pontoise and that I'd be depending on inter-city trains to get to L'Isle-Adam?

Thanks for any help

ttt

Stay in Paris.

Stay in Paris.

Why ruin a lovely evening by rushing to catch the last metro out to the suburbs?

I haven't been there, but I imagine it's similar to Auvers-sur-Oise. The RER goes to Pontoise and then you take a local commuter light rain line to Auvers. It's probably like that. On the RATP web site, on some maps, you see that line listed as part of the RER system, but it's really a separate local train line and Paris RER passes do not apply as it has no RER zone. This is called the "Reseau SNCF banlieue transilien". There are footnotes on the map about that not being included in the zones. It's on the RER zone map on RATP, but not on some of the other maps on there.

If you print the full zone map, you see the line to l'Isle-Adam which is two stops past Auvers on that banlieue line. There is another banlieue line going from Gare du Nord, also, but not directly, and I think taking the RER to Pontoise is more convenient than trying to get the right train at Gare du Nord, myself.

The line from Gare du Nord you are looking at is not the most convenient, however, as there is a different line that cuts up to L'Isle Adam from that station and doesn't go over to Pontoise first. It branches off just before Cernay stop on the RER line.

If you decide to do this, please come back to the board and describe your Paris visit from this different perspective.

I think you may find the train services rather limited on that line. I was planning a trip my last visit (or rather, not planning), and forgot to note the times off the SNCF website - instead I went to look for them at the Gare du Nord, and had the devil's own job. That particular timetable was miles away from the one for the trains to Pontoise. Basically, it seemed to be a fairly limited service outside the commuter trains in the morning and evening. But you might want to check at www.sncf.fr

Travelnut - good idea, if I decide to stay out at L'Isle-Adam, I'll certainly report back to the forum.
Those who expressed disapproval of my idea, fair enough, I haven't closed the door on the inner-city option. Maybe you'd be interested in my reasoning? I'm a mature-age traveller who still gets into active stuff (I backpacked across Turkey not too long ago) but who no longer gets a lot out of inner-city late night discos (not sure I ever did!). Many of my best travel moments have comprised lower-key activities in the local bars and cafes of smaller and friendlier villages.

I've stayed in big city centres (Kuala Lumpur, London, Istanbul, Athens) and I've stayed in outer areas and commuted (Neuperlach for Munich, Dunfermline for Edinburgh, Dun Laoghaire for Dublin), and have enjoyed both methods. It can be pleasant leaving the crowds and traffic and noise of the city and finishing off the evening with a nightcap at a local neighbourhood bar where, after a few nights, you become known to the staff and some of the locals.

It depends on your agenda too. For example I hope one day to do Lisbon, and I would stay in the city there because one of my top things to do would be the late night "fado" bars.
But Paris? I don't know - hence my question. I've been there before and stayed out at Villeparisis, but that was on the Gare du Nord - Mitre Clay metro line, so didn't present the transport problems that I suspect L'Isle-Adam does. I was attracted to L'Isle-Adam because of Fodors own excellent travel guide write-up on it, but maybe the logistics are just too hard and I'll stay in Paris's Latin Quarter instead.

Thanks for all your comments, and I'll keep you posted.

Just re-read my above, and the Villeparisis thing needs clarification. My reason for staying there and not in Paris on that occasion, was that I had a car (Paris was at neither the start nor end of my trip, but half-way through it) and I didn't want to drive in inner-city Paris. For the record, however, Villeparisis is NOT a very attractive town, and did NOT offer the low-key cosy neighbourhood bar to wind down in after a day in the big city, that I described above.
This time I won't have a car, and Fodors description of L'Isle-Adam sounded really good, so was interested to hear if other Fodorites had tried it.

those who're interested, Villeparisis

I've stayed on the outskirts of Paris, in Ivry Sur Seine. I babysat a cat in exchange for free lodging. My only complaint is that we couldn't stay out terribly late because the metro closed. We once had to take a cab back as a result of this, which cost 20 euro. Otherwise, no complaints. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Oh, and our metro stop was Pierre Curie, in case that gives you any frame of reference.