Best way to Get to the airport

Uh, oh! I missed the most important part until I read what John said.

My rough rule of thumb is that the metro is not in full swing until about 6:00 am. You probably can't make it in time.

Do what John said or get a taxi. Have your hotel arrange a cab for you; don't try to do it yourself.

The other option is to preposition to CDG the night before and stay at one of the budget hotels (Etap or Formule1). They're on the airport grounds and have a continuous shuttle (ten minute ride or so). I think this would be the safest way.

There are two major airports in Paris, Charles de Gaulle and Orly. You need to be more specific.

Go to the Paris transportation website. Click on the British flag button (upper right). You can get their routing by inputting the addresses or click on the link (lower right) for "Take the easy way to the airport".

Hike yourself to the St Francois Xavier metro station.

Catch the Metro 13 Line (direction St Denise) to Invalides.

Change to RER C (direction St Martin d'Etampes) to St Michel/Notre Dame.

Change to RER B to CDG.

Figure a good hour for the trip, maybe more depending on how much you wander around St Michel/Notre Dame trying to refind yourself.

If you can afford it, take a shuttle, bluevan.com, etc. There are several shuttle companies to choose from. Schedule to be at least 3 hours early at the airport, so probably should leave abode around around 5 to 5-15. Better to be half an hour early than 10 minutes late and watch your plane take off.

The first metro line 8 train leaves Ecole Militaire at 05:23 and arrives at Opera at 05:30. Take the Roissybus from Opera to CDG, departing at 05:45 and arriving at 06:23.

Or take a taxi from your hotel to Saint-Michel Notre-Dame in time to catch the first RER B train departing at 05:24 and arriving at 05:58. Or take the next one departing at 05:39 and arriving at 06:13.

Stacey~~Since you're staying in an apartment, I would arrange for a taxi the night before if possible. My second choice would be a shuttle arranged either the night before or possibly even online before you leave on your trip. (I just don't trust the shuttle services as much as taxis. The only problem with taxis is that some years--when we've stayed at a hotel--the taxi companies only wanted to be phoned within half an hour before you wanted one...according to the hotel receptionists.)

stacey,

In the same circumstances, I'd probably use the Metro and RER combination. I didn't check the address, but I believe Avenue Duquesne is closest to the Ecole Militaire Metro?

To ensure adequate time, I'd begin at 05:30 when the Metro starts operating. Assuming that you're close to Ecole Militaire, take Line 8 (direction Creteil-Prefecture) to Strasbourg-St. Denis, transfer to Line 4 (direction Porte de Clignancourt) and disembark at Gare du Nord.

From there take RER "B" to CDG. Note that the RER "B" line splits at the end, so be sure to board the correct train (the Paris by Train website mentioned in a previous reply in this Thread explains what to look for).

Under "ideal conditions", the trip should take 44 minutes. However, this should still allow lots of time to check-in for your flight.

I'd probably buy the train tickets the day before travel, so as not to waste ANY time.

Happy travels!

I would take a cab..... the shuttles are not very reliable . I would take one into Paris from the airport if I had to, but I would never take one to the airport if I had to catch a flight.

Yes we are staying at an apartment closest to Ecole Militaire. Having said that, would what Ken said be the best way to the airport?

If you aren't concerned about being at CDG a full three hours before your plane leaves, then Ken's route is best. If you take the first metro line 8 train of the morning (05:23) from Ecole Militaire to Strasbourg--Saint-Denis, etc., you will arrive at CDG at 06:29.

If you want to be there earlier, then you'll need to follow one of the suggestions I made in a previous post: Take a taxi to Saint-Michel Notre-Dame in time to catch a REB B train departing at either 05:24 or 05:39.