Paris experts- hotel near train ?
 

Need help on where to stay. We ( family of 4) will come in to Gare Saint Lazare from Bayeux on a Tuesday morning. Husband flies home the next day from CDG and me and kids take a train to Switzerland. Where should we stay after getting in on Tuesday so we can make the best use of our day and drop bags off easily but also be positioned for departures on Wednesday? A hotel near Gare Saint Lazare? Airport? Somewhere in between?

Any help is much appreciated.

If it were me I would stay somewhere closer to what you want to do with your short time in Paris. A taxi is cheap enough to take you from Gare Saint Lazare to a hotel and from your hotel to CDG or whichever train station you will be leaving for from Switzerland.

The other issue might be checking into a hotel on Tuesday morning. Many hotels don't have check in times until afternoon. Of course you can drop your bags earlier.

Everyone worries about choosing a hotel close to a train station. For four people, a taxi (or uber) is an economic solution to your problem.

I would, and do, stay near where I need to catch a morning train. Afternoon is less critical but I might in that case too as I like a leisurely morning and as few opportunities as possible to have to rush to catch a train. So, for Eurostar & CDG, near Gare du Nord.

Last visit I spent the night before the Eurostar in a hotel in the general vicinity, though not very close, to the Gare du Nord. You don't mention a budget and I am on a budget of sorts and found the neighborhood of the Hotel Soft congenial, freshly decorated and clean, the staff kind, close to the Canal Saint-Martin and good restaurants and walking distance to the station, though I wimped out and the hotel got me a cab for the short ride. I don't know if they have family rooms but at the price you could get 2 rooms. It was a bargain and I will be staying there again. http://hotelsoftparis.com/

For trains to Switzerland I'd guess you'll need the Gare de Lyon so I'd stay in the vicinity of the train that's needed earliest.

By the way, I don't think there's a right or wrong answer to the question, only right answers for individuals. After many years of travel, mine above is the right one for me. Belinda operates differently obviously. I like to have as little to think about logistically speaking as possible and that includes being able to walk where I need to be in case other options fail me. And on occasion they have failed and it's only a problem if I can't walk.

You could check availability quad rooms Novotel Gare de Lyon right across from station.

Husband could take RER, Le Bus Direct (my preference), taxi, to CDG.

Station is on tourist metro routes 1 and 14 and bus routes to all over. Buy two packets of ten t+ tickets, five rides each on metro or bus. Or, use taxis.

You'd be right at the station for train in the morning.

There are nice places across the street for breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Or, for very nice farewell breakfast, magnificent farewell, highly recommend Le Train Bleu 32€ (less for the kids). You'll remember the experience long after you've forgotten the cost.

Collect sandwiches, snacks, beverages, within the station (better than on the train) for your journey.

I slept at Hotel Viator last week. 63 meters from gare de Lyon.
Very correct, a little bit old but ok.

Hubby can take RER A to gare du Nord or Chatelet and switch to RER B to CDG. Easy. Or take a cab.

I recommend la biche au bois, 47,4 meters from Viator hotel, a traditional, old, small and noisy french restaurant.
Great meat (esp wild meat during hunting season) and superb wines - I take a côte rôtie, less than 50 e per bottle, a bargain for such a wine.

A hotel near Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est could be the best for both - Est has lots of trains to Switzerland and Nord RER to airport -many hotels in this area and you can take RER direct Saint-Lazare to Nord/Est.

St Lazare would not be a good area for you.

Gare du Lyon also nice as trains to Switzerland and RER connections to CDG Airport.

Gare du nord I recommend Les demoiselles, rue des petits hotels - been twice, really like it and there is a nice small rextaurant next door - mamagoto.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...aris-hotel.cfm

The best profiterolles ever I had at l'Ardoise gourmande - see in this link.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...s-per-arrd.cfm

If you want a small budget, hotel de l'Europe on rue Gambetta is perfect. Cheap, well kept. Small etc.

Gare de l'Est I just slept last month at Holiday Inn, in front of it. Very nice too.

Saint Lazare - I foudn Lavoisier quite nice but my stay dates from 2015.

Huge thank you to all the greats links and ideas! I am checking in to all your suggestions. As always, thanks fodorites for the quick and helpful advice, it helps immensely to hear from people who know the area and can point you in some specific directions.