jlt6518

There is a nice courtyard marriott that is at the airport. I may be able to use my points with them to stay free, as well. They have a shuttle that runs back and forth about every 20 minutes.

Gretchen

Yes, you need to think about your luggage AND what you will do with it if you spend the night in Paris. If AF will check it through on the morning flight for you, do that and just take a day bag for the evening.
I wouldn't pull an all niter--might sound neat here, but in the "doing", 3Am may weigh heavy.

Robespierre

If you decide to stay out and AF won't stash your luggage, put it in a locker when you get to Gare du Nord.

I still pull all-nighters (actually, the network issues under analysis pull them for me), but I emerge none the worse for wear. If you find yourself fading, get on a Noctelien bus, grab a catnap, and soldier on - or ride it back to CDG (don't forget your luggage).

http://www.ratp.info/informer/noctilien.php

suze

Your plan sounds great (staying at the airport marriott with points and using their shuttle to go into the city for dinner and the rest of the evening).

Christina

I imagine that warning (about the north side) is referring to metro/RER. Doesn't seem like such a crazy idea to me, having been on some of them up in that area. But you aren't going to be hanging around there anyway, if you just go from the airport into town.

PErsonally, I would just want to go home, not do a whirlwind, expensive, evening in Paris at the end of a vacation elsewhere.

Robespierre

"Because that's where the money is."

A strong statistical case can be built showing that the RER from CDG to Gare du Nord is the most "dangerous" in terms of property crime (pickpocketing, luggage grabs).

Guess why.

Because that's where the unsuspecting tourists are concentrated (duh). Observe normal precautions about your valuables, and quit worrying.

Michel_Paris

If I was going to do this,

Store luggage execpt for small backpack.

I'd take the RER to St Michel, direct line from CDG. Asuume would get there around...10 ish

In the summer, Vedettes du Pont Neuf have a Seine river cruise leaving at 10:30. From the RER stop it is...15 min walk (at western tip of Ile de la Cite). Afterwards, nearby is Chez Clement (rue Andre des Arts), very good food, open 7/7/ 24 hrs.

http://www.vedettesdupontneuf.com/

http://www.chezclement.com/anglais/index.php

Then....go to your nearby hotel that you've already booked....or hotel first, then eat...then walk along Seine, maybe night view of Notre Dame...

Early morning, back on RER, no traffic worries...

schuba

i would follow jdraper advice.