Hotel help prior to flying out if Paris

What time do they have to be at CDG? If they have an 8 am departure for a trans-Atlantic flight, the answer would probably be different than if they are flying at 11 am to another European city.

Also - how are they planning on getting to CDG - RER, LeBus or Taxi?

If their flight is in the morning, I would have them drop their bags at your hotel in Paris, have dinner with you in Paris then pick up their bags and go to the airport and check into a (reserved room) hotel AT the airport. There is an Ibis, a Novotel, a Sheraton and a Hilton that I know of right at the airport so all they would need to do is get on the intra airport transport in the morning to their terminal.

Henri IV Rive Gauche is a lovely hotel near the St. Michel Stop of the RER if they want to take the RER to the airport in the morning. It is near the river and Notre Dame -- a nice last minute spot -- lovely small boutique hotel.

I should add that they fly to Canada at 11am on a Saturday from Terminal 2A

The easiest way to get to CDG is on the bus, operated by Air France - Les Cars. On Saturday morning, there should be minimal traffic. There are two routes. Line 4 starts at Gare de Lyon, then stops at Montparnasse, so anywhere in the Marais or Rive Gauche (3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th arrondissements) would be a short taxi ride to the bus stop. Since you're arriving at 5 p.m. on Friday (rush hour), it's probably best to stay in the Marais, in the 4th - it's the closest to the train station and well placed for the last evening in magical Paris.

Why not stay at a hotel next to the Gare de Lyon? There are many with all levels of service: Ibis, Mercure, etc. It's a very short walk to the Bastille and Marais from there, without luggage.

I agree with Bets. We stayed several nights at the Corail Hotel on Rue de Lyon, a couple of blocks north of the station. It was clean and affordable, not elegant, but served our purposes. There are many alternatives in the neighborhood, and it's an easy walk to Bastille and the Marais.

"Les Cars Air France," the bus service between various locations and the two airports, became "Le Bus Direct" last month. They still run frequent buses from Gare de Lyon to CDG. (And I'm pretty sure those are nonstop, as Gare Montparnasse is in the other direction so must be the origin point.) That should work for your friends unless (like my wife) they like to get to airports way before flight time. In that case, they should consider the Ibis or one of the others at CDG itself, a short walk and shuttle ride to the check-in counter.

For morning flights, we usually stay at the Ibis Hotel, which is on site at the airport. Makes for a very easy and relaxed morning before boarding your flight. We've also stayed at the Novotel Hotel, but only when I've found a bargain rate.

Thanks, I think we will be able to decide what is best, based on the info given. I agree, staying close to the gare de Lyon for us and our friends (for their early departure) will likely work out the best. We have more time so will work around their flight departure time. Thanks for the info, always willing to read more helpful hints tho.