My husband and I are traveling to Paris with my 79 yr old active mother for a short visit after our genealogy tour in Germany. We are arriving by train (if I can get those tickets worked out. Anyone with info on why the Frankfurt-Paris train is not allowing booking due to construction at Gare du l'Est?). Because we are only in Paris for 2 nights, I think that I prefer to stay near the station for ease of return to CDG. I plan for us to do a hop on hop off tour on arrival day, Notre Dame and evening Eiffel Tour on Day 2, and something easy and early on Day 3 before heading to CDG.
Am I right to think that Gare du Nord is an ok homebase? Open to other options. Just trying to make one aspect, either arrival/departure or touristing, as efficient as possible so that she can see/experience enough. My husband and I were in Paris last year but this is my mother's first time and she is so excited!
Posted by
Paris
11066 posts
Hi, what are your dates of travel ? Spring? Summer? Soon? Months from now ?
This is wonderful that you are taking your mother on this adventure. This will be a really special trip !
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
16196 posts
i honestly would not stay in the GdN area. It just does not feel the most salubrious to me. I stayed there back in 1973 (hahaha) and again in 1976 but I'd not do it now. I am not much of a city person (except Paris!!) but I prefer to stay in what feels to me like a less gritty area.
I like the 7th which is the neighborhood near the Eiffel Tower but many on the forum feel it's too far from other sites. I take the Metro with no problem and often will walk back to my hotel in the afternoon.
I don't know what your budget is (are you staying in GdN because it's less expensive?) but my 2 favorite hotels are Hotel Muguet and Hotel Relais Bosquet if they are an OK price point for you.
Were you planning to take the RER to the airport? I take my 75-year-old active self to the airport via taxi - fixed rate depending on which side of the river you are leaving from. I have taken the RER out to the airport to meet someone and it was pretty crowded. Not something I'd want to do with luggage. Your trip, your choice of course.
Posted by
Western Canada
3958 posts
I'm planning a one night stay on arrival in Paris near the Gare du Nord or Gare de L'Est.
I'm looking at a couple of Ibis Hotels that have decent reviews and both seem to be within a less than 10 minute walk to the stations.
They seem to be on quieter (safer) streets.
I'm not going until late September, so can't swear they are any good.
Posted by
Paris
11066 posts
I wouldn't stay near the station for ease of return to CDG. For three of you including a 79-year-old, I would simply take a taxi to the airport the day of your departure.
At €13 per person for a ticket on the RER to go to CDG, that is 39€ for your party of three. If you are staying on the Right Bank, the fixed taxi rate is 56€ — only 17€ more. That's less than 6€ per person more than the cost of the RER and its hassles to be driven door-to-door from your hotel to the airport.
Taking the RER to the airport when you are a party is a false economy. Heck, it can be a false economy even if you're alone ! But definitely with a party of three.
Look for somewhere else in Paris to stay.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
11449 posts
Another nice area to stay is near the Luxembourg Gardens. I wouldn’t stay near the Gare du Nord in your situation on your mother’s first trip to Paris.
Posted by
San Francisco
15738 posts
If this stay is the first for your elderly mom (they are only a few years my senior), then I would not choose Gare du Nord. Then it also depends on her degree of adventure.
I always stay at Nord choosing from 4 different hotels now since it's super convenient as to the buses, the trains, and 2 Metro lines, plus I know the area very well, used to it, and am totally comfortable walking around , never any problems on the streets; it's an area with numerous grocery stores and eateries of diverse cuisines.
In the summer when I am there, numerous tourists are there filling up the hotels but very few Americans relative to other nationalities, lots of French, obviously, too.
Keep in mind too both in Nord and Est numerous security are patrolling or standing in front of businesses.
Posted by
OP
Ohio
4 posts
Thank you all for the sound advice. It is what I expected to hear about the area surrounding Gare du Nord but I asked to confirm. We will seek a hotel in another right bank arrondisement (last year we stayed near Bastille). And I am thankful for the wisdom of just taking a taxi to the airport, as its more economical for 3 people. Our trip is in May 2025 so I'm a bit behind on the reservations but I'm sure we will find something.