travisblue

I leave from Paris to US on January 1, 2015, from De Gaulle airport on American Airlines at noon. I'm thinking it might be best for me to stay at a hotel located near CDG on Dec. 31, so I can be at the airport by 9 a.m. to catch my flight out. Or, would I be missing out on something spectacular going on in Paris on NYE, that it would be worth it for me to stay in city center, then just get a cab/shuttle/train in the early morning to airport on January 1?

hetismij2

That probably depends on whether you are planning on sleeping much. In the city centre you can join in the festivities and have to leave early meaning little or no sleep. Or if sleep is important then an airport hotel is probably a good idea.

travisblue

No, sleep is not important. Although, me staying awake past midnight is another thing. I know that trains run on Jan. 1, but on a holiday schedule. Do you think I would have a problem catching train to make it to CDG by 9 a.m.?

StuDudley

We just took a 10:00 flight from CDG yesterday and stayed in Paris the night before. The taxi picked us up at 6am. We have done this many, many times - even on Jan 1. There is zero traffic on the streets, periphique, and autoroutes. It is quite enchanting to leave inner Paris in the early morning when it is dark.

Enjoy the 31st in Paris and then a leisurely stress-free taxi to CDG. We stayed at a CDG airport in July this year & it was blah!!

Stu Dudley

travisblue

Thanks Stu, that was the answer I was hoping to get!

Christina

It depends how you feel about NY eve. I don't like it myself and would have no interested in being in a city during it. Depends what your idea of spectacular is, you probably know the usual drill (lots of drinking, loud noise, rowdiness, etc.). Going to a party with friends is one thing, but just being in a city of strangers for that is of no interest to me. I know it is to some people, though.

I do stay in Paris when going to the airport at that hour, of course, but it isn't clear where you are going to be before. If that is your only night in Paris and you are near CDG to begin with, it might make sense to stay out there. If you are in Paris already, I sure wouldn't move out there for that one night.

The fact that you want a train is different from those who are recommending taxis (which will cost more on that day due to the holiday). They aren't as frequent on holidays, but that should be a big problem if you are talking about the RER B, there will be enough runs that you can plan to get there. It runs on that day and only takes about an hour from city center (little less actually). SO of course you can get there by 9 am. It just won't run as frequently, most likely. Where are you going to be, anyway? Because from certain locations in Paris, it isn't that straightforward, obviously.

travisblue

Hi Christina, I will be in Paris on the 30-31 of Dec. Not sure on my hotel yet, and I will arive in Paris by train, from Nice in the afternoon of the 30th. Which area in Paris/hotels would you recommend to be on a more direct route from city center to take the RER B to CDG? I travel VERY light, so I'm pretty open to recommendations. I'd like to spend no more than $200 per night.

StuDudley

If you are arriving from Nice - you will arrive at the Gare de Lyon. We stay at the Hotel Terminus Lyon across the street from the Gare and dine at the fantastic Train Bleu at the Gare (it is undergoing restoration - check for the date of completion). I could not think of a better NYE dinner than the Train Bleu. http://www.le-train-bleu.com/fr/index.php

There are several public transportation options to CDG from the Gare de Lyon - but for the 4 times we've stayed at the Terminus, we've always taken the taxi (about 65E). We've NEVER had a problem getting to CDG by taxi if the hotel reserved one for us - even on Jan 1. Once when we stayed in an apt & reserved a taxi ourselves to take us to a train station - it was 30 mins late - STRESS!!!

Taxi to a RER Metro/train station & RER to CDG would not be something I would look forward to early in the AM when it is dark, & on Jan 1. The Sun rose about 45 mins later last week in Paris, than it did in San Francisco where we live.

When we were in Paris for NYE, we dined at Bofinger and had a port at an outside cafe in the St Germain des Pres area at midnight - no big crowds & not much noise. The crowds/noise was elsewhere in Paris.

Stu Dudley

travisblue

Hi Stu,
I was recommended Train Bleu and I AM SO LOOKING FORWARD to eating/drinking at this establishment.

Thanks for the tip about Bofinger. I'm solo, so would that be a place where I would be Ok at the bar or at a table on my own?

I haven't booked a hotel yet for Dec. 30-31 and since I'm on my own is there a hotel nearby RER/metro station I could look into so I don't have to take the taxi to CDG on Jan. 1? I usually splurge a little on my hotels, and try and take public transportation whenever possible. I live in Los Angeles, and if you can believe this, I RARELY drive and use public transpiration as much as possible, and only put about 2K -3K miles on my car a year. Most of those miles will come from me traveling along the North Coast of California, from LA to SB, to Paso, Cambria, and sometimes as far as SF!

I will look into the Hotel Terminus because I really like staying at hotels that are right outside a major train station. Especially since I will be arriving at that station upon arrival from Nice. Again, I travel VERY LIGHT, so moving around, packing/uppacking is NEVER a problem for me.

Thanks so MUCH!

Seamus

If you do stay near gare de Lyon another option is the Air France bus which departs from there. Usual travel time to CDG is listed as 1h 15min but with light traffic that day likely faster. You could catch the 0745 departure from gare de Lyon. Info is at http://en.lescarsairfrance.com/ You want line 4

If you instead wish to go via train, then it is RER line B and any hotel near a station would work just fine. I'd look for hotels around St. Michel station before the gare du Nord area. You could get on as late as a bit after 8 AM at the St Michel station and be at CDG 2 by 9 am. http://parisbytrain.com/paris-rer-b-...b-schedule-cdg

letsgeaux

Stay in the city center and have a good time. Why would you do anything else? If I were in a generic airport hotel so near my favorite vacation destination on NYE, I would be going stir crazy. My advice is to party all night in Paris, get a few hours sleep, take a cab to the airport and sleep on the plane. That is what I would do and would not think twice about it. Unless you are the pilot, who cares if you are bright eyed and bushy tailed on the morning of Jan.1st. Have a great trip.

StuDudley

Train Bleu & Bofinger are both great places for single diners.

Stu Dudley

travisblue

Just a thank you and follow up to all who responded. I had a great time. I chose to stay in the St. Michel area for NYE, and take the train at 8 a.m. to CDG on January 1. I did a practice run from my hotel to the St. Michel metro and while there I spoke to an attendant and they mentioned that the trains would be free on Jan. 1 in the a.m. which was nice! I saved a few others from putting their money into the machines as well. While in Paris, I did get to have a lovely lunch at the incredibly beautiful Train Bleu. WOW, really spectacular. Thank you all so much for making my trip more memorable than I could've thought possible!!