Our 21 year old son is not an experienced traveler but is flying to meet a friend in Bordeaux over New Years. His friend will meet him at CDG going over, but in returning he will take the train (no connections) from Bordeaux to CDG arriving at 10:53 a.m. His flight leaves from Terminal 1 (Chicago) at 12:50, so he will have to take the CDGVAL Shuttle to get to terminal 1.
Do you think this is easily doable? Unfortunately, there is not an earlier train according to raileurope.com
Thanks, Jan
No, this is not doable. First of all, while arriving at CDG two hours prior to departure will work under ideal conditions (relatively short lines getting through security), three hours is the recommended check-in time for flights across the Atlantic. Second, while TGVs usually are on time, even a slight delay will guarantee that your son will miss his flight.
He should either take the last train from Bordeaux to CDG and stay in an airport hotel or take the last train to Paris and stay in the city overnight. If you wish, I can give you information on which airport hotels are cheapest.
Will your son and his friend spend some time in Paris before they go to Bordeaux? What date will they go to Bordeaux? What is the date of your son's flight to Chicago?
Yes, would like information on the cheapest airport hotels.
He arrives in Paris on Dec. 31. They will spend several days there and then to go Bordeaux. His flight to Chicago leaves CDG on Jan. 6th at 12:50. He doesn't know yet if his friend will return to Paris with him, but probably not with classes starting again on Jan. 4th.
If you book your son's ticket NOW at www.tgv-europe.com, he can get a Prem's fare of 22 EUR on the TGV leaving Bordeaux at 16:43 and arriving at CDG at 21:12 on 5 January. The site says, "Hurry, last seats available!" so you'll have to act fast to get this discount fare. To keep the site in English and to keep from being bumped to the Rail Europe site which doesn't offer discount fares, choose Great Britain as your country of residence. After you book the ticket, you print it yourself.
The Accor chain has several hotels in a wide range of prices close to CDG. The cheapest is the Formule 1 Roissy Aeroport CDG PN2. Shared bathrooms are down the hall. The next cheapest is the Etap Hotel Roissy CDG Paris Nord 2. Bathrooms are ensuite (in the room). Both hotels offer free shuttle bus service to the airport.
If your son and his friend decide soon what day they will travel from Paris to Bordeaux and act quickly, they probably can get Prem's fares for that trip, too. One of them should book both tickets so they get adjoining seats.
Thanks SO MUCH for the information. We are on it.
