I have a one day layover in Paris and am looking for suggestions of places to stay and transportation. I am looking for some place safe yet cost effective. I also am looking for recommendations for transportation (also cost effective) so it will be easy to get back to the airport the next day. All the hotels near the airport that I have seen are too expensive ($500), so I am open to staying in the city.
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
Try the Accor Hotels' Ibis or Etap chains....clean, comfortable, yet inexpensive hotels at CDG. Go to Accorhotels.com and enter "Roissy" as your choice. The Ibis Paris CDG Terminal is closest to the RER terminal for train trips into downtown Paris. The others require a short shuttle ride to get to the rail terminal. Depending on when you plan to be there, you may find some nice deals are their more upscale Novotel and Sofitel hotels as well.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
If you're packing light, then the transportation part is easy. Assuming you'll be arriving and departing from CDG, take the RER B to central Paris and transfer as needed to other RER lines and/or the metro to get to within a few minutes walk from any hotel or hostel. A single ticket costs €8.20. Be aware that the RER B line divides northeast of Paris so be sure to get on a train that is going to CDG when you return to the airport.
A single ticket for the metro, the RER within central Paris, the Montmartre funicular, and the bus network costs €1.50. A one-day Mobilis pass for zones 1-2 costs €5.60. If you take four rides on your full day in the city, the pass will have paid for itself.
What time does your plane leave? Are you flying back to the US or to somewhere else in Europe?
What's your price range for lodging? Are you open to staying in a hostel or do you want to be in a hotel?
Posted by
OP
Atlanta, GA, USA
2 posts
I really appreciate the assistance. I am leaving in and out of CDG and am open to staying in hostels. I leave to another Europe destination in the a.m. and will need to be at the airport by 7 a.m. so I hope to find somewhere near the RER line or a good option for straightforward transportation.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
For hostels you can't beat any of the three MIJE hostels in the Marais. They are renovated 17th-century private mansions. Go to www.mije.com.
For reviews of a cheap hotel with a fabulous view of Notre-Dame, go here: http://tinyurl.com/os77u.
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
251 posts
One more vote for the Ibis hotel or Acor and other such chains.(If you are seeing $500 you are not looking at the right ones. 2 years ago we paid $US 70. Steep yes, but worth every penny and piece of mind.) I have "back-doored" around the world and love roughing it. But there is nothing that beats piece of mind when it comes to major transportation.
Also, It leaves your hands free to catch easy transport into and out of the city.
Posted by
Lodi, California, USA
149 posts
Hi Rachel, I agree with Norm. We have stayed at the Ibis Roissy (Ibis hotel code 1404) many time on the night prior to an early flight. The hotel is not fancy, but is clean and cheap. Breakfast starts at 4:00AM. The RER station is 100 meters from the hotel's front door. And there is a free shuttle bus to all CDG terminals and it runs about every 5 to 8 minutes. There are other Ibis hotels in the area, so be sure to book #1404. Standard rate is 92 to 120 euros but sometimes they list a "happy rate" for 49 euros. Charlie Robinson, Lodi, CA