We are flying in and out of CDG in late May, spending four days in Paris before going on to Prague, Vienna, and Budapest. We'll fly into Orly at 6:30 (18:30) p.m. on the night before we fly home from CDG at 16:30. Should I book a hotel near Orly, or should we return to Paris? Or would you suggest another area? We're staying near Notre Dame for the first four nights. Thanks!
Book a hotel in Paris somewhere near the RER B which you can easily take to CDG the next morning.
There are a number of hotels near les Halls which have plenty of nearby restaurants for dinner that evening and very easy elevator access to the RER (in case you have heavy luggage). Notre Dame also works as it is very near St Michel on the RER B line.
If you had a morning flight from CDG you might book a hotel there and then spend the day in the city returning in the evening. But with a 4:30 flight, the only sensible place to stay is the center of Paris where you can enjoy the evening in Paris and a leisurely morning before boarding cab or train to the airport around 1:30. There is no scenario in which it makes any sense at all to stay near Orly.
Thanks, these replies are so helpful. You've confirmed what I suspected.
And a taxi from Orly into a Left Bank hotel (near the RER B at say Saint Michel or Luxembourg Gardens) will only cost 30€ (fixed price for up to four pasengers). Definitely spend the night in Paris.
(35€ if you stay on the Right Bank for example near Les Halles.)