I've not written a trip report yet so i thought i'd give it a try.
This is by no means a report of a luxury or even a simple pleasure trip, but a trip for work - a business trip. Normally i have trips intra-EU from where i am in France for just 3-5 days, but this time a little further afield - Israel; for 5 days on-site plus travel time. By any means not a "jolly" or a trip that's expected to deliver lots of leisure time, but a typical technical visit restricted by corporate rules. So...

Firstly, apologies in advance for the verbosity; i've got a bit carried away . I'll also apologize for the lack of pictures in places, i feel a little cautious in places where it may be insensitive to take them such as in airports, etc - especially considering my destination. Other times, i just forgot

In the past I used El-Al for my trips to Israel, which typically took place every 2-3 years at a variety of our customers so i'm not a stranger to travel there - either from a cultural perspective or a corporate one. From where i'm based there are no direct flights to Tel Aviv with the majority of flights going from Paris. Now i'm more aware of FF status and it's privileges i've switched to AFKL for most flights where possible, and so normally a connection from either Nantes of Bordeaux. Being due on-site on a Sunday morning and not fancying a 3am-ish TLV arrival with work 5 hours later, an earlier 0915 flight from CDG on Saturday became the only choice. While i hoped to take a late flight out of BOD for a quick night stop at CDG, that flight connection was impossible to book by our travel agent. Next up was plan B - a TGV direct to the station in CDG, and then the more simple CDG-TLV leg - but that means a train on Friday evening.
Since Covid, the TGV schedules have been much reduced meaning there are now only 2 direct trains per day going from my nearby station to CDG. The latest at ~4pm means i have even less time at home so i chose a later train to the South of Paris, Gare Montparnasse. Even when travelling on business i hate crowds or busy periods. So i arrive in Paris. On Friday. At 6.30 pm. My favourite...



Along the quai, toward the Gare Montparnasse councourse - while walking


Down to the Metro station into the ticket hall. Queue for a ticket - 11.45euro between Montparnasse and CDG around 1hour away. To get to CDG i chose to take the Metro 6 line, and then the RER B all the way to CDG - although there are other routes. The M6 platform was packed. By the time the train appeared it was 3-4 people deep leaving little space for departing passengers to get through - like normal here. Once space appeared i didn't need to make any effort to get abord as I was guided towards the nearest door thanks to the pressurefrom behind. The ominous beep of doors closing sounded as i set foot on board so tried making a push for the comparative empty space on-board down the carraige, only to find there was a "young gentleman" with 2 large rucksacks (one worn on his front, one back) standing in the doorway blocking ingress and egress to all in in any direction - seemingly oblivious to the obstruction he was creating. Other passengers seemed quite happy to voice their discontentment which he ignored; being British i of course said nothing...
I needed just 3 stops to Denfert Rochereau. As seemed to be the custom, Mr Backpack was jostled by departing passengers for blocking the door so i joined in as i left; would appear to be rude not to....


RER B trains entering and leaving Denfert Rochereau


Next was a train on RER B - not a metro undersground train but a suburban line, of which there are 4 (A, B, C, D), which would take me to CDG. As the RER B line splits, i checked the overhead panel to see which train i should take. This time no crowding, no rucksack guy; plenty of seats were avilable, so i chose a nearby one. Lack of baggage storage meant my bag had to block 1 of the 4 seats - as it wasnt crowded not a major inconvenience to others. No major delays, and little over an hour later the train gets to CDG.

For a flight to TLV online checkin wasn't available; the website and app showed that i needed to visit a kiosk or a checkin desk. As i'm quite particular for having an aisle seat (business travel for us typically means economy, not business class), i thought i'd try checking in early at a kiosk. While using the RER B station CDG1 would be more convenient (CDG1 is the first station and doesn't signify Terminal 1 directly), i chose to go the full distance to the CDG2 TGV station to try a check-in kiosk in the corridor from the station to see if i could at least select a seat; no chance, i need a check-in desk. That can wait for tomorrow, as i'm not about to traipse around the terminal for 45mins to perhaps be told the same thing. So, onto my hotel for the night, the Novotel back at the CDG1 station.

Waiting for CDGval


From the CDG2 station down the steps to CDGval and 2 stops, less than 5 mins, including the waiting time, although this kiosk checkin exercise has wasted the best part of 30 minutes. On arrival at the CDG1 station go up to the main concourse. I think the Novotel entrance is quite well hidden - unless you know where to look; from outside the station it would probably be easier to see.


The hidden Novotel entrance


Through the 2 sets of sliding doors, past the bar on the right and down the long corridor to find the reception area. For a comparatively busy hotel i've rarely ever seen a single receptionist there, and there's always a wait especially if other guests have a problem with their reservation or request/question. There is a second small checkin desk for ALL elite guests at the other side of reception but i've only ever seen it manned once in the last few years. While i arrived to be the first to wait in line, it was a good 10 mins before i was served due to the guests before me and by which time there was a decent sized queue behind me.

Bar


Almost empty reception, but still a 10 min wait

Eventually my turn and all done within a minute. Drink voucher requested and onto room 401, at the far end of the corridor.


For a night stop the room is fine. Separate toilet and bathroom, small desk with chair, a chair to relax in and table, a small kind of ottoman that i'm not sure what i'm supposed to use for, tea/coffee facilities and a fridge. But nowhere to put a suitcase and open it fully which i would think is quite an omission (the ottoman is too small). So fine for a few hours overnight but it's hardly at the cutting edge of room design. There is a view of Terminal 2B across the apron, but its hardly something to look forward too.





Down to the restaurant "Luiza" for a quick bite. We've eaten here several times before and the food is not too bad, especially for a chain airport hotel. I chose the "salade Gourmande d'hiver" small size, quite tasty with some nice flavours. No main course, but a tiramisu for dessert and an espresso, though i noted a complete lack of any kind of coffee taste or flavour in the tiramisu - whatever. A short spell of work to catch up while i have a reasonably fast/stable connection, then an early-ish night for the early start the next day.....


Winter Salade

tiramisu without coffee, and a coffee



Next up - the flight...