Where to stay in Paris area if driving in?

Some of the big hotels at La Defense have underground parking. It isn’t a picturesque area, with all those modern, skyscraping office buildings, but the metro will speed you to central Paris. The No. 73 bus travels from LaDefense all the way to the Louvre. The Grande Arche at La Defense is again open to the public, too.

The Chateau Malmaison, of Napoleon and Josephine fame, is easily reached by a short bus ride from La Defense, should that interest you

If you're willilng to take luggage into the city and stay in central Paris, you'll save a lot of time and cost vs. commuting into the city each day for sightseeing. Here's info about long-term airport parking, with easy rail connections to central Paris where you could stay for as many days as you plan.

You might find some cheaper parking in the town of Roissy near CDG airport. But rather than spend nights there or elsewhere outside central Paris, I'd suggest getting a hotel right in the city to maximize your sightseeing and enjoyment. As anywhere in Europe, don't leave visible luggage in a parked car.

We often stay in an apartment near the Bassin de la Villette in the 19e. This summer we are staying in the apartment for 8 days but we are staying for 2 nights right on the Bassin. It's a business class Holiday Inn Express. It runs about 120€ per night for a double, includes breakfast, is within easy walking distance of 2 metro stops and has parking for 24€ per night. We just use our carnet ticket when we want to go to a more central attraction but we are happy to return to this area to sleep.

How much extra are you willing to pay for parking? Also, when are you traveling? Are you planning more than one night in Paris? I ask because there are paid parking lots all over Paris and you could stay relatively centrally but park your car in a secured facility on the edge of town (or near your hotel) for a few days. I mean if you do not plan to go back to your cars during the days that you are in Paris, it does not need to be parked near your hotel.

I would look for hotels in the 14th or 15th arrondissements which will be close, using the périphérique, to both your arrival point (A13) and your departure point (A6, assuming you are referring to Auvergne).

You should state your budget window in euros, about 165€. Some hotels offer very limited parking for their guests and typically charge an additional 25€ to 30€ per night for parking. You might consider the Apollon Hotel Montparnasse or Hotel le Vert Galant which has parking for guests (and is in the 13th).

We’ve parked a car overnight in the parking structure next to the Fontainebleau train station and taken the commuter train. I deleted my previous answer.

Well, I am baffled, Barbra. Where did you get the idea I was advising the OPs could stay at or near Malmaison? Is there even a hotel there? My comment for them to consider was that if they stay at La Defense they could take the bus to the Chateau one day, should they choose. I do not have a recollection of the bus journey from La Defense to the Chateau being long. I guess I was not as attentive as you. Nor do I remember the scenery being ugly. Maybe it is, but the Chateau is beautiful and worth the effort, if that is what floats your bateau. Since we have not heard back from the OP, none of this is worth a fig.

Staying near La Villette puts you in an interesting area on its own, including science and music museums, and the terminus for the St-Martin canal tour boat. There's decent connection to the Metro.

Good suggestion, southam. I have heard that hotels at La Villette are ,reasonably priced and that there are excellent restaurants in the area.

How much extra are you willing to pay for parking? Also, when are you traveling? Are you planning more than one night in Paris? <<

Probably two nights. 20 Euros extra for parking seems reasonable.

This will be the first week in October, most likely.

Merci!

You might find €20 per night if you are very lucky but I don't think you will find €10 per night - €20 total....

I second staying near La Villette. I stayed at the Mercure Port de Pantin because I had a concert to go to at le Zénith. While Pantin is not Paris, it is just past the ring road. I enjoyed my stay there. While it takes about 30 min to get to the center, I quite liked La Villette.

Not to mention. The hotel was modern, specious, and had a cool garden bar.

Years ago we stayed at an Ibis that was a block from the last stop on one of the metro lines. It had a huge parking garage, but the ride into the city took a good 30 minutes. I remember we got off at the Bir Hakeim stop close to the Eiffel Tower when we went into town. For the day and a half we were there it worked, but I wouldn’t have wanted to make that commute for a longer period of time.

Another option to throw in the mix is to stay in St Germain-en-Laye, a very nice town with a lovely chateau just outside Paris to the west. They have a lovely hotel (don’t remember the name), where I’ve stayed, a very short walk to the RER in the center of town. A 25 min ride to the Arc de Triomphe. When we stayed there parking was free.