Thinking about staying here for 2 nights (in October) and using it as a base for Paris (yes, I am well aware that its far from the city). I have to be at the airport at 630am on the 3rd morning and don’t think that I want to stay in Paris 2 nights and then head out to CDG early (or stay in Paris one night, and then change hotels to CDG).
How easy is it to get the Metro/TGV/RER to the city?
Anything else that I am missing?
It’s pretty easy to take the train (I forgot which one, Paris Metro I think) into the city. I remember it was about 30-45 minutes. I was put up for a night near CGD after getting bumped from my flight back to the U.S. and decided to take the train into Paris for another night in the city.
Bruce Weimer
It’s easy enough to use the RER to get from CDG into/out of Paris, but it connects into the city not terribly close to most of what you might want to do, necessitating connecting to the underground usually. I think the station you get into Paris at is Gare du Nord but I could be misremembering. I’d allow closer to 50 minutes to actually get anywhere, and check the RER schedule before you head to the station from your hotel, they don’t run super frequently (every 20-30 minutes maybe?)
Thanks for the info…I’m debating on going to Brussels (never been before) for the day also.
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I’ve been to Paris before (and I assume that I’ll go again) so its not the end all as I’ve seen much of the city already. Maybe hit a new museum or something and a nice meal.
This may be helpful…
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Josh, I kind of disagree, the RER B (train) will take you first to Gare du Nord, which might indeed not be where you want to go, but the next stop is Chatelet-Les Halles, right in the heart of Paris and the best connected subway station of all. My only issue with it is that it takes so long to go from Paris to CDG.
Re: the Sheraton if I remember correctly it is in terminal D right above the train station. Exit the hotel, go down 2 flights of stairs and you’re in the RER or TGV. Can’t be easier.
What Guillaume said.
Or, buy the round-trip ticket on the Air France Shuttle buses, that drop you off at the Arc de Triomphe or Montparnasse. Quick and easy if you don’t want to take the RER, unless there’s a ton of traffic (like in the morning rush).
One note about the RER: watch out for pickpockets who sometimes troll the airport-city lines.
Michael, you’re not missing much from the previous responses.
Josh, I kind of disagree, the RER B (train) will take you first to Gare du Nord, which might indeed not be where you want to go, but the next stop is Chatelet-Les Halles, right in the heart of Paris and the best connected subway station of all. My only issue with it is that it takes so long to go from Paris to CDG.
Re: the Sheraton if I remember correctly it is in terminal D right above the train station. Exit the hotel, go down 2 flights of stairs and you’re in the RER or TGV. Can’t be easier.
I stayed at the Sheraton earlier this year and agree with Guillaume about the train stop. Total train time is about 45 minutes to Chatelet-Les Halles. There are dedicated ticket terminals 2 floors directly below the Sheraton. You can choose English as an option.
The Sheraton is probably nicer than it needs to be. Upgrade to the “business floor” or whatever they call it and there is a nice lounge with food, drinks, TVs, PCs and meeting rooms. The food in the restaurant was decent and the staff was quite nice.
The TGV station is separate from the RER but again is directly below the Sheraton. The TGV ticket line was extremely slow (didn’t see if there was a ticket terminal) so don’t cut your trip time too tight. I speak from experience on this one. ![[oops.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/1/1f129ddad071ffe5db6c99817c3cab666035a70a.gif "oops"){kind=small}
It is an easy walk from the Sheraton to the international flights - maybe 10 minutes? It is all inside and I found it very convenient to catch my flight back to the States. Have a good trip.
Just take a cab. Whatever extra you pay won’t really matter compared to the convenience.
There are machines where you can either buy tickets, or even better print your the tickets that you have bought online at http://www.voyages-sncf.fr" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (or you can also print the tickets yourself but I’m always a bit afraid to be screwed if there’s a technical issue with my internet connection or printer). Queueing up is the last thing to do.
It is an easy walk from the Sheraton to the international flights - maybe 10 minutes? It is all inside and I found it very convenient to catch my flight back to the States. Have a good trip.
That’s if you’re flying Air France or a company in their network. If you’re flying another company you’ll have to take a bus shuttle or the new CDG train shuttle (used it only a couple of times so not too sure where the stops are exactly).
Queueing up is the last thing to do.
You are so right but my schedule was in flux so I did not have a choice.
FYI - For intl flights in/out of CDG I flew on Continental. They are joining the “Star Alliance” so who knows how that might change. The folks at the Sheraton told me exactly how to get there and the best line through security. In addition there was a good hint on the croissant front. ![[thumbs-up.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/f/f84c5acc11486ee4baba6dee6cf61dbd133abb18.gif "[thumbs-up.gif]"){kind=small}
Planning on calling AMEX travel tomorrow to compare rates…does anybody know if AMEX does anything with Sheraton? Upgrades, discount, etc…
Thanks for all the help already.
Starwood/Sheraton co-brands and AMEX credit card. But best bet for upgrades is to be an elite Starwood member, or if you have an AMEX Platinum you’ll get upgraded usually. Sometimes corporate rates include perks too.
(Guillaume said this, but I’m technically challengend and screwed up the quote feature)There are machines where you can either buy tickets, or even better print your the tickets that you have bought online at http://www.voyages-sncf.fr" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (or you can also print the tickets yourself but I’m always a bit afraid to be screwed if there’s a technical issue with my internet connection or printer). Queueing up is the last thing to do.
Unfortunately for those of us with American credit/atm cards, we can’t use the TGV and RER machines to buy our tickets. I think it’s the lack of a chip in our cards that prevents us from using them. But printing out tickets online is a good option. And I’ve found incredible TGV deals online, like Paris to Brussels for under 100 euros.
Bought a ticket yesterday…53 Euros.
That’s indeed what you get for living in the stone age 
but actually if you have bought the tickets online you can print them at the machine with the reservation code only, I believe, no need for the actual credit card (unfortunately I’m not 100% sure of that, but pretty sure though).
Last time I was there you needed the Carte Bleue (card with the chip), the reservation code didn’t do it, but things change (even in France). BUT, you CAN buy your tickets online with American CCs, however you’ll have to queue up at the counter to get the ticket from the agent, the machines in the station don’t accept US CCs.