Overnight in Paris

Old Feb 9th, 2013, 06:35 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 671
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Overnight in Paris

We will overnight in Paris before flying back to U.S.
Staying at the Hyatt near CDG airport.
Would like to go in to Paris for the evening
Questions:
1. Is it possible to take a train into the city? Or is it worth it to pay for a taxi, and what would that cost?
2. Suggestions wanted for what to do in a 3-4 hour evening, including restaurant recommendations, French food, of course
dperry is offline  
Old Feb 9th, 2013, 07:03 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Of course you can take the RER (commuter train) into Paris - www.ratp.fr for everytihng about Paris transport. Or you can take a taxi (about 50-60 euros) or a shuttle bus (Air France or Roissy bus) or a private shuttle. Lots of options. I always take a taxi.
StCirq is offline  
Old Feb 9th, 2013, 07:14 PM
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 671
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Would we have to go to the airport to catch the train?
If we wanted to see the Eiffel Tower first where would we get off?
dperry is offline  
Old Feb 9th, 2013, 10:41 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I cannot imagine only 1 day in Paris as we always stay at least 5 days on each of our 13 trips to Europe over the years. Also, it is no biggy to get from any hotel the morning of your flight by arranging a shuttle. we stayed out at the airport one time and totally wasted an entire day when we could have been right in the heart of our favorite city in the world. That said, Here is the perfect Bon Voyage evening in Paris before returning home. Take a cab or whatever to Gare de Lyon and dine with reservations at one of the best restaurants in town, Le Train Bleu, have the prix fixe at 98E. Google it for menu and all details. Time your reservation so that you can get a cab after dinner and go over to Pont Neuf to the Vedettes de Pont Neuf for a one hour experience of a lifetime. You will motor on the Seine sipping whatever champagne you decide to bring along while the floodlights light up the buildings, bridges, museums and monuments on your way to the Eiffel Tower and back to Pont Neuf. If Train Bleu is over budget go to http://www.labrasserie-isl.fr/. La Brasserie on Isle St. Louis for local fare of wonderful cassoulet and a Stella. If you do the Vedettes and either of the restaurants you will have done the most anyone could do other than taking in the midnight show at the Moulin Rouge.
Surfzen is offline  
Old Feb 9th, 2013, 11:16 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,969
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If you look up Hyatt CDG in Google map and turn on "transit" layer, you will find that there is no RER station anywhere near.

If saving money is more important than time, use the Hyatt free shuttle to the CDG, then you can take RER B from there. Look at the RER map http://www.ratp.fr/informer/pdf/orie...pdf=rer&fm=gif , you will find you can switch from RER B to RER C at St. Michel station and get off RER C at Champ de Mars/Tour Eiffel station.

If saving time is more important than money, which I think is your situation, and IF it is not during the rush hour on weekday, you probably take a taxi to the Eiffel Tour. However, if it is during the evening rush hour, your taxi might get stuck in traffic as you approach the Eiffel tower. I have bailed out a hopelessly stuck taxi to take a metro/RER in the core of the city.

Your hotel web site tells you many ways to get to the city http://paris.charlesdegaulle.hyatt.c...tion/index.jsp
greg is offline  
Old Feb 9th, 2013, 11:34 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,373
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Dperry what time does your flight land at CDG and what time is your flight out of Paris?
cathies is offline  
Old Feb 10th, 2013, 02:46 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 57,091
Received 5 Likes on 3 Posts
DPerry - Cathies pre-empted my questions.

what time is your flight in and out?

it might be more sensible to book a hotel in central Paris, ideally near the St. Michel /Notre Dame RER stop - then you could just get the RER B straight into Paris, leave your luggage at the hotel, get the RER C [also at St. Michel] to the Eiffel Tower, and spend the night in Paris.

if that's not possible [perhaps you haven't got free cancellation terms at the hotel at CDG or the morning flight is too early to make it feasible] do what Cathies says. [free shuttle back to the airport, RER B to St. Michel, change onto the RER C to Eiffel tower, then spend the rest of the evening in Paris, catching the RER B or a taxi back to your hotel at the end of the evening].
annhig is offline  
Old Feb 10th, 2013, 04:36 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,672
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Surfzen has the best suggestion. Take the RER B to St. Michel, and, depending on when you arrive, either have dinner and then take the Vedettes du Pont Neuf river cruise or have and nice dinner and then take the cruise. On the cruise you will pass close to the Eiffel Tower and many other wonderful buildings and bridges - a micro tour of Paris in about an hout.

Unless your plane leaves very early in the morning, I would stay in Paris in the St. Michel area and take the RER B back to the airport in the morning.
mamcalice is offline  
Old Feb 10th, 2013, 05:59 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,535
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I LOVE Surfzen's plan. Makes fabulous sense and makes the max use of time. My compliments, Surfzen. I get asked this question all the time, and now I have the perfect response!

If you are dead set on public transport, then switch hotels to the Sheraton which is attached to CDG Terminal 2 and is right above the train station. We love that hotel so we can roll out of bed onto the plane. However, note that Metro service stops at 1 a.m.
AlessandraZoe is offline  
Old Feb 10th, 2013, 09:32 AM
  #10  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 671
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks everyone, for your input. I agree that only 1 night in Paris is almost criminal. We are a group of 11 traveling through Scandinavia and Russia for 2 weeks prior, then 5 of us are flying to Paris, picking up a van and spending several days in Normandy. Visiting the area has been a dream of my husbands as his dad was part of the second wave on Omaha beach. I have arranged for a flag raising ceremony in honor of his father, who passed away years ago. It will certainly be an emotional experience.
That said, this puts us up to 3 weeks of travel and we couldn't stay any longer. We have all been to Paris but its been many years for all of us. We will have to settle for one fabulous evening!
We will return to Paris around 5 Pm on a saturday. My husband prefers to stay near the airport (not my preference but I will acquiesce here). How will traffic be going into the city on Saturday night?
I think a taxi will be the way to go. Surfzen- I was considering the river cruise but will now definitely do it.
I will look at both restaurant suggestions - I happen to be on a cassoulet kick lately, so the latter may be the perfect choice. Thanks everyone !
dperry is offline  
Old Feb 10th, 2013, 09:35 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I would pick a great restaurant for one last great meal and figure out transit based on that...taxi may be best, or th train!
jamikins is offline  
Old Feb 10th, 2013, 11:36 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,535
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If this helps with your decision, we actually had problems with the RER back to the airport on a weekend when we had a one-night stay in Paris! It totally shocked us, and we are RER/Metro devotees (except upon arrival from US when we are in total jetlag fog). The trains were broken--some sort of disturbance. We kept thinking, "If we had just taken the taxi, if we had just taken the taxi."
AlessandraZoe is offline  
Old Feb 10th, 2013, 12:07 PM
  #13  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 671
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yes, I think if the traffic into the city on a Saturday night won't be too heavy the taxi is the way to go. We will have had a long day, I want to enjoy the evening.
I checked out the website for Brasserie de l'isle saint-Louis - exactly what I was looking for -Surfzen
Thanks again for everyone's input
dperry is offline  
Old May 30th, 2013, 04:19 PM
  #14  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 671
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Just back from the trip which was wonderful. Wanted to let everyone know that we did exactly what Surfzen recommended - dinner at La Brasserie isle St Louis, excellent recommendation, thank you !
Had the cassoulet, which was delicious . We also took the recommended boat trip for a 1 hour cruise, which was a lovely way to see some of the city highlights.
Taxied in and out of the city, for convenience.
Along with a post dinner stroll it was the perfect evening.
dperry is offline  
Old May 31st, 2013, 02:36 PM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 57,091
Received 5 Likes on 3 Posts
glad you had such a great time, dperry.

and thanks for coming back to tell us about it.
annhig is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
sava13
Europe
22
Mar 11th, 2015 06:53 AM
AndyIndonesia
Europe
4
Feb 13th, 2011 03:50 PM
hkchemsir
Europe
13
Dec 5th, 2010 06:41 PM
amyers531
Europe
36
Jan 5th, 2007 11:06 AM
BoulderCO
Europe
5
Dec 8th, 2005 04:46 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -