CDG open 24 hrs? How much time to allow?

Yes, it's open 24 hours and there are several hotels right there. We've stayed at the Ibis, which was comfortable enough and less pricey than most of the others.

The general "rule" is to allow three hours before an international flight, but we found no one behind the check-in counter that early (I think it was Air France/Delta, might even have been the same flight as yours). Seems to me they opened around 5 or so.

My suggestion would be to reserve a room at one of the airport hotels, as close to your terminal as consistent with your budget. (The hotels in the nearby town of Roissy require a shuttle ride, adding time and uncertainty to the equation.) Before or after checking into the hotel, go to your airline's check-in counter and ask what time they start up in the morning. You don't have to be the first in line, but it's better to kill some time on the airside of security than stress out in the check-in line while the clock ticks down.

We have stayed at the CDG Ibis several times -- easy to get to the departure gate on the intra-terminal shuttle train (but agree that it's much less stressful to do the waiting on the gate side rather than in the long lines before immigration.)

Yotel has just opened at CDG. If all you need is a bed and a shower it's very good.
Just past the Passport Control at Gate L.

There aren’t any benches or chairs until you get through security. No carpeting. Security is tight, so you’d probably be asked tomove. Best to go to the Ibis, as stated. Their breakfast begins at 4 am so you’ll be very surprised how many other people are up and about for 6am and 7 am flights.

Not everyone can take this advise but carry-on only. You don't have to stand in line to get your bags checked, either print your boarding passes at a hotel or visit a kiosk, print your passes and go through security to your gate. I still arrive around three hours early, so far I always end up with about 2 hours post security. I agree with the above comment, waiting time post security is much less stressful than being in a long slow-moving line to check your bag.

I would look at the Yotel.. its only to sleep. We have stayed at basically what I would consider capsule room hotels at some airports ( last month it was the Bloc at Gatwick) .. room was tiny( bed is set into walls) but bed was comfy and it was great walking out door and you are in the terminal.

Whenever I fly back from CDG, the night before is spent at Campanille, a French chain and a nice two star hotel to have dinner and sleep. Of course, there is a shuttle to the airport itself.

You mean sleep in the terminal? I was there this morning and saw several homeless people sleeping on the long hallways, so you’ll have company.

Since you are looking at a long flight, take the advice of the other posters and reserve a hotel at Charles de Gaulle. The Sheraton is right in Terminal Two, and you can walk to Terminal Two from the Hilton. That early, the shuttle from any of the other hotels shouldn't take long at all. Had a 7:50am flight out of there two weeks ago. Security wasn't bad in terms of time - took us about 15 minutes. To save time in the morning, pre print your boarding pass at the hotel - that line was quite long!!!

NOTE: In general, there is very little past security in terms of food/beverages - depending upon your gate you might get lucky but in my experience I"ve never been that lucky.

Depending on your gate you might find something but don't count on it. So, my advice would be to check in your luggage, scope out the security line and leave yourself a little time to grab a coffee/croissant before going through security since the availability of food/beverage is much better.

Nancy has some good points, but a couple of corrections. The Hilton is at Terminal 3, so you can't walk to Terminal 2. You need to take the RoissyVal airport internal shuttle. Second, she's mentioning only the Sheraton and Hilton, but at CDG, you can find the Ibis, Novotel, and Citizen M, all at Terminal 3 with the Hilton.

The updated terminals have very good food options after security. Only 2D and 3 are still pretty meager. The others have everything from oyster and caviar bars to Starbucks. You can check the options here: http://easycdg.com/restaurants-cdg-airport/.

Thanks everyone. I forgot to mention that my flight is from CDG to Frankfurt to connect to my Seattle flight. Ibis or the one in the airport might be better than sleeping with the homeless.