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Last Night in France - Pretty town near CDG?

My wife and I are visiting France in late May and early June on a 25-day trip. We fly out of CDG on a flight at noon on Saturday, June 18th and looking for a nice town nearby to enjoy on our last day. We're not interested in spending the night in CDG.

I read a post from a site called Solo Sophie and consulted with our friends who live in Paris. The 3 finalists are:

  • Auvers sur Oise / L'Isle-Adam
  • Chantilly
  • Meaux / Crecy-la-Chappelle

All 3 towns are within 30 miles of the airport. Have any of you stayed in these towns? My wife enjoys photography (especially wildlife photography) and we're really looking for a more tranquil finish to our trip.

Thank you!
Phil (Philippe)

Posted by
8553 posts

All of these places will make transport to the airport to be in the check out line 3 hours ahead difficult. Senlis which is closer is a better choice than any of these (all good towns but not at all convenient to the airport). I would only stay in Senlis if I also had a very good car service lined up ahead of time.

Why not day trip to these towns from Paris or even spend a night as a side trip from Paris and then spend that last night in Paris where it is so easy to get to the airport by cab or train. Paris is nearer to the airport from the perspective of convenience and actually getting there on time then any of these. And if you have a rental car, don't underestimate the hassles of getting the car turned in and a receipt showing no damage which you want before heading for your flight. It once took us 3 hours to get this documentation when we turned a car in at CDG that had been damaged when we took it. They wanted to confiscate our documentation without giving us a copy and thought they could wait us out because they assumed we had a plane to catch. We didn't. They finally got us the information in 3 hours. But a normal turn in with receipt of gas up and no damage is not like the US wher eit is 10 minutes -- speed and efficiency is not a French car rental thing.

You say you don't want an airport hotel but if I wanted to finish the trip in one of these towns then I would spend the day there and then drive to the airprt and turn in the car late in the evening after dinner in the town and spend the night at the airport where being in line at 9 am would be easy.

Trying to get to CDG from a small town the morning of the flight is not going to be a peaceful relaxed conclusion of your trip.

Posted by
7303 posts

I'd say, Chantilly out of the three because it is very close to CDG. The other 2 can have traffic issues on the way to CDG. And I would also add Senlis as a candidate!

Posted by
16 posts

Janet (and others),

Thank you for your input. Since we are coming in from Epernay that day, it might make better sense to make the day trip and turn in the rental car in the evening near closing time and stay at an airport property with a free shuttle.

Our friends who live in Paris also gave up 2 thumbs up to Chantilly!

Phil / Philippe