Hotel Recommendations in Paris

Thumbs up on not doing Disney.

The Ibis hotels at CDG are good for a one night stay and reasonably priced. Google for info.

For your day on your own in Paris, I suggest taking the Metro to La Defense and then going to the top of the Arche there. The view is spectacular, and there is a small art gallery at the top as well as a restaurant.

From La Defense you can take Bus No. 258 to Malmaison and see Empress Josephine's Chateau. It is small and pretty and not at all overwhelming. Go back to La Defense on the bus and then take Bus No. 74, past the Arc de Triomphe and down the Champs Elysées. You can get off at Pl. de la Concorde & transfer to wherever you want to go after that or stay on all the way to the end, the Musée d'Orsay.

Frist, I would spend my last day in Paris. Check out of hotel , and leave luggage at front desk. They will keep it for you till you leave in the evening. Then off to enjoy the last day.

Well, you could visit the Orsay Musuem, most people seem to love it.

I would not do Disneyland. I have been to it twice(had to, took one kid, then other one wanted to go when it was their turn) . Both kids and I were super unimpressed ( thank goodness). Even my 11 yr old was not interested in doing a two day visit after her first day. We did just do the one in LA,, and frankly, it is better,, way better. As an adult alone I would not even consider it, plus it would not be relaxing at all???Yikes.

I would visit the Orsay , then perhaps the Cluny, then walk up Boulevard St Michel to Luxembourg gardens, then wander around Latin Quarter and hang out at a cafe for awhile. I would definately eat last dinner in Paris.

You could then consider going out to an airport hotel( I do not know which one, I have never scheduled such an early flight myself,LOL) . You could likely catch the RER out after dinner , to the airport and then take a taxi from the airport to the hotel( I don't think most hotels have shuttles, but check some might).

I agree with Pat's advice -- see the Orsay (if you like impressionism) and the Cluny (if you like medieval art; it's my favorite museum in Paris), then wander around and stop at Luxembourg Gardens. I would also walk around Ile St. Louis and have some ice cream. Have a nice dinner or picnic and/or see a concert at Sainte Chapelle.

I don't agree with Pat on one thing -- I thought Disneyland Paris was very enjoyable and relaxing (on a weekday, if you don't feel compelled to ride every ride). But with only one day in Paris, I would not go there.

Just a word of warning. The Orsay is undergoing a major renovation and most of their Impressionist collection is on tour in the US.

I vote for the Luxembourg Gardens. It's a perfect place to relax and unwind - and great people watching!

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

You have convinced me not to do Disney!

I just bought tickets to Paris yesterday and was told to get to the airport 2 hrs before our flight, not 3+. Just thought I'd mention it so you'd have a little more time in the morning to get there.

Susan...

I realize your airline may have told you two hours, but......

Arrive earlier. Just trust me. I will not arrive at CDG less then 3 hours in advance. Between the line for check in, the line for security and the new line because the TSA thinks that the first check wasn't enough and in between point A and B you acquired a bomb...... it can take a while! The one time I arrived 2 hours in advance I had to run to the gate! (And that was before the "new and improved" TSA disaster)

This is on the getting to the airport on time.

A friend just returned from Paris, and security was much stiffer than it has been in the past. They allowed 2 hours, and were afraid they would miss their flight. (Actually, they would have missed it had it not been delayed because of all the other passengers stuck in security.)

I'd err on the side of leaving plenty of time.

It is well known ad suggested on another forum that I go on that one leave THREE hours,, and I have done that for the last 5 years..

Susan,, always , always, leave more time then you think you will need.

I was repeating what United Airlines told me, but I will take all of your's advice and allow 3 hrs myself. I've flown out of CDG many times and never had a problem but I will still allow the 3 hrs just to be safe.

I wish I had seen this post a couple of years ago. I have flown out of CDG only twice. The first time, we did make it through in less than two hours, but not by much. But in March of last year, we got there three hours early and still almost missed the flight because of the security bottleneck. Several flights were leaving at about the same time. There was no line, just a mass of people that seemed to fill the terminal, and only a handful of security checkpoints with a few screeners and lots of armed guards. That could have been an unusual situation, but I still wouldn't take a chance on a two-hour window.

Is 3 hours just if you are flying out of the Paris Airport - or any large airport now - like SFO and Heathrow?

We were at CDG two days ago, making a connecting flight from Montpellier. We thought we would have a leisurely time of it, with 3.5 hours between flights. WRONG! We barely made it to our flight on time, and spent more time in lines than we would have thought possible. Of course, we were making a connection, which involved more time -- going through customs, passport control, security, luggage re-check, security again etc. Whatever you do, go early! Then relax and eat or shop or something if you do have extra time.

I flew home on Saturday and recommend being at the airport at least two hours prior to departure time.