Hotel for overnight in Paris

Ditching the luggage makes sense. There's also a left luggage place in the airport. Any number of hotels are ON the airport and are served by free shuttles that stop at both rer stations from which getting into Paris is simple. You'll have to watch the metro/rer shut-down times so you don't have to take a taxi back. Also see what's up with the construction on the rer B Line. Leaving luggage at any of the larger hotels should not be a problem. Unfortunately, the bargain hotel on the airport is the Etap/ibis Budget and that chain generally doesn't stash luggage (but I've never tried it right there). Staying in the city doesn't make a lick of sense unless you have an afternoon departure.

Terri,
We had that situation two years ago, flying out to Turkey the day after arriving from the States. We stayed at the Ibis in Terminal 3 of the airport, part of a chain we've used many times run by the Accor company. The rooms are small, but very practical and clean. The Ibis is one place where the breakfast is worth the price. There are several Ibis Hotels at the airport, but this one is at Terminal 3, next to the RER line that takes you into the heart of Paris. For all the others, you have to wait for a shuttle bus.

Perfect and exactly what I was looking for. Thank you! I'd read so many reviews of various hotels in the area and although most had great reviews, the shuttle buses seemed to be a HUGE problem and one I wasn't wanting to deal with. It was a bit tricky booking as some sites sounded as though it was the right hotel, but when clicking on to book, took me to the other Ibis outside the airport. I only discovered this because I was checking distances and they all were something like 5km away. I finally gave up and just booked directly with the Accor site and read every piece of info before I actually booked it.

Terri,
Have a GREAT time in Paris! May I make a suggestion? Reconsider doing the Eiffel Tower on your very first day. Why, because you will be stuck for hours in very crowded area/lines and it kinda gets on your nerves. The view from the two levels are great, actually fantastic, but to get there you have to wait in line for tickets, wait again in a crowded area to get on the first elevator, crowd into an elevator to get up, on the 2nd level fight the crowds to get to the rails, then get back into line and wait once again for another elevator up, crowd into the 2nd elevator, released on the top level, fight the crowds again to get to the rail... and in November it's coooold, and then do it all over again in the exact sequence to get back down. I would much rather see you and your family/loved one(s) exploring Notre Dame/ Latin Quarter that evening instead... this is where Paris' heart lies!

Merci, Jean-Paul! As we'll be staying close to Notre Dame on our 3 day stay at the end of the trip, we plan on doing that area then. With just one afternoon/evening, we didn't want to just sit at the hotel waiting for our flight the next day. We're not planning on going to the top of the tower, just to the second platform. I've been to the top of Montparnasse and had a great view from there. It was raining, but there was a quick cloud break and some sun rays highlighted Sacre Coeur. It's one of my favorite photos! Not sure if I'll take my husband up or not - depends on time as we'll get a pass for the 3 days. Do you have another suggestion for the afternoon/evening. I'd much rather fight jet lag by doing some exploring rather than taking a nap and waste the day.

Stay in the airport area and sleep later and do not worry about getting to CDG, since you will already be there. By the time you get to Etap/Ibis Budget, it will be 2:00 or more. They should be accepting booking at that time so you can stash your belongings in the room and have hands free in Paris. As said above, be sure to check train, metro and bus times unless you wish to pay for a taxi back. Take the address of the hotel with you. There are several Etap/Ibis Budget hotels in Paris and an address for the Taxi, if needed, would help you a lot. Taking the Roissybus into Paris and back, is a cheap way into/out of the city. http://www.aeroportsdeparis.fr/ADP/en-GB/Passagers/Access-maps-car-parks/Paris-CDG/Access/public-transport/paris-cdg-roissybus.htm The train also works: http://parisbytrain.com/charles-de-gaulle-airport-cdg-to-paris-by-train/ The metro: http://parisbytrain.com/cdg-to-metro-station-route-planner/

Thanks! I'll see how I feel after the first set. I'm not good with steps, and it's my greatest fear of all the trains - having to deal with steps and luggage, even though I'm packing quite light.

I went to the top of the Eiffel just a couple of weeks ago. I had tried to make reservations a couple months in advance, for tickets to the top( by elevator), but everything was booked. However, when we actually got there, we noticed that while there was a long line up for tickets to get the elevator from ground level, the pillar where you purchase tickets to walk to the second level and take the elevator from there, had no lines, so we walked right up, purchased our tickets, and walked to the second level. We did have approx 15 mins in line at the second level to get the elevator to the top, and another 10 mins to get the elevator back down, but nothing too ridiculous...

Thanks, Glenn. We were planning on walking to the first level as I've read that suggestion in a lot of places. Good to hear from someone who actually did it. We're not sure about going to the top, but the second level gets a lot of kudos for good views as well.

Terri if you choose to walk up to first level, might as well go to second its not so bad , I did it and I am well middleaged and not a jock type person at all.