CDG Airport hotel or stay in town night before May 1

Can't speak to the5/1 May day question, but I've searched this forum a bit about hotels at CDG Terminal 2. The Ibis is quite popular and good price. The 'plain' Ibis right at Terminal 2. There's a few Ibis near CDG -- not the one in Roissey or Star Wars themed Ibis Styles, which is right beside the 'plain' Ibis at Term 2. Right on the terminal transport line.

Public transportation is running on May 1 in the Paris area (which is exceptional in France!), and you can book a cab (preferably the day before) just like any other day.
So I would not change my plans.

It would help to know what time your flight is. I prefer airport hotels before morning flights, but you have experience with early morning taxis so may have a higher risk tolerance. I don't know why a taxi wouldn't also be available on May 1. I've stayed at the Ibis at CDG and it was fine, there are many other choices. But if you opt for an airport hotel, I suggest one right at the airport instead of the town of Roissy, where you have to take a separate shuttle.

Choose your hotel to stay away from Place de la Bastille, or further east the night of April 30th. There will be a parade and parade assembling going on in the morning and the route is usually either Bastille to Nation or Place de la République to Nation. Maybe kerouac2 can give the exact route. It's been a while since I was there on May 1.

Flight is at 9:30

I've never understood why many people on here are so afraid of missing their flights. I would never waste a night staying in Roissy when it's pretty easy to get to CDG. Especially with an early morning fiight. There will always be taxis. Or, if you're scared, prebook a shuttle, Don't waste a night outside of the city of lights. Leave with plenty of time and you'll be golden. You'll be glad you did. A stroll on the Champs-Elysées is much more delightful than eating at an airport hotel restaurant.

Thank you Alexander, and we agree. In the dozens of times we have been to Paris we have never been "afraid" to stay in Paris and get a cab morning of. The only reason the question was asked this time was because of May 1 being a big holiday, and if transportation would be easy to get. Bets and Balso assured me we were good, and we plan to keep our plans, as usual, in the city. Thanks everyone for your responses.

For our 10:10 am flight we are using credit card points to book the Sheraton at CDG for the night before but are paying to keep our hotel room in Paris that night so we can leave for CDG in the evening. Yes delays can occur for getting to the airport on time. However the bigger reason for me is that I don’t want to worry about getting up early enough to get out there. Been there, done that and it was too stressful to worry about.

Claire -- you know the hotel will keep your luggage for you if you don't want to double pay.

We stayed at the airport last trip because we wanted to leave the apartment in very good order and didn't want to be dealing with last minute trash haul etc early in the morning. BUT a taxi would have dropped us right at check in whereas we had to walk what seemed like an endless distance to get to our check in point from the shuttle drop point. Terminal 2 is enormous and it was a very very long walk to get there and then find 100 people already in line at 3 hours before the flight. This spring we will be back to taking a cab.

Are there hotels connected to terminal 2?

For a 9.30 flight, leaving central Paris by taxi at 5.30 will get you to the airport at 6.15 or so, depending on where you stay. Peak days, such as start of school holidays, might warrant an extra 20-30 minute buffer. There is NO traffic at that time of the morning. Changing hotels to basically save 45 minutes of sleep is more hassle than it's worth for me.

we stayed in a hotel near the airport and it was most convenient. we just got on the bus into town to spend the afternoon/evening (probably train now as I think the bus may no longer be operating). that way we could come back at night and not worry about missing an early morning flight the next day

Jane, thanks yes we know that. However the checkout time is noon and we may wait to go the airport until mid evening so having the room is helpful for those hours.

Obviously a matter of opinion, but I'll add that except the expensive Sheraton in T2, airport hotels at CDG are a shuttle ride away from the terminal. And you have to walk to the shuttle.
So in most cases you still have a 15-20 minute commute to the terminal, compared with a 40-minute cab ride from central Paris.
Obviously, since I live in Paris, my perspective is different, but there's no way I'd consider an airport hotel for a 10 AM-ish flight, even if it were free.

The exception being if this is your ONLY night in Paris, in which case yes, it makes sense!

I would continue enjoy the hotel location in Paris and take a taxi to CDG in time to make your flight. Having traveled internationally several times a year since 2006 I’ve found that it has never been necessary or a consideration to stay at an airport hotel (for me). My last trip to CDG began early morning from Mantes-la-Jolie in December 2019. Transportation options were almost nonexistent due to what was happening throughout the country. We had no problem getting to the airport on time via taxi.

Disclaimer - I did stay at an airport hotel in 2014 with friends who had rented a car from CDG and they wanted to drop it off the night before at the airport rental location.

Hi from Wisconsin,
When our airport bus had an accident with another vehicle...I started counting the minutes before a replacement bus would arrive. Stuff happens. We were on the subway from Athens city center to their international airport, when the train stopped half way out to the airport and announced "everyone off",...I started counting the minutes. Stuff happens.

In the last few years of travel we have started staying at the airport the night before our flight. When I am asleep I could be anywhere in the world, Paris central or the airport, I am asleep. Being able to sleep an hour longer in the morning with NO stress at, speaking of CDG, the Terminal 2 Ibis is great. You don't even step outside, bedroom to plane. We spend our last day in Paris, eat supper, and then go out to the airport. Our rentals have allowed us to collect our luggage before we take the train out.

wayne iNWI