Heathrow express is nice, but does anyone know what the options are for getting downtown from CDG after one of those ungodly red-eye flights? (Pjaucutt????)

As CDG isn't all that far from Paris I always prefer to get a taxi.

You can however get the train if you so wish.
Take the inter-terminal bus from outside the terminal and it will call at the Train Station between terminals.
MF

air-france-bus (one bus-option ends right at pjaucutt's Grand-hotel/InterConti at the Opera) leaves all terminals every 10-20 min

train/metro, depending on the length of your stay in downtown Paris, and on your transportation needs there, buy a NN-day-/week/month-tickets for the zones you will need for your travels (valid also for bus). THIS IS ALWAYS MY CHOICE (if I have a luggage-"problem" - then I might take a taxi after arriving by train in downtown Paris.

Don't buy the touristic-1/2/3/4/5/7-day ticket, buy the NORMAL weekly one (for that one you need a "carte orange" which is free and for instant use: have a passfoto for this). The prices are very reasonable (and a return-bus-ticket from the airport with air-.france costs about the same as a weekly-ticket on train/metro/local bus!).

taxi.

Thanks merry and rudi, I knew I could count on you guys. Do you recall how much that taxi cost? I want to excahnge for francs stateside because I have a connection that can get me fee-free exchange, but since I will be mostly using my Visa (everyone says this is the best way for americans to spend money on the continent), I only want to get a minimum supply of cash (enough for taxis, metro and cafes)...

Perhaps I should have put an OMNI warning on this thread...

mattwald, don't forget about using your ATM card--although I've never been to France, I understand that they are widely distributed. They certainly are in the UK and the Netherlands, slightly less so in Germany.

Matt: I have checked my 'Expense Claim Forms' and I claimed 220FFR from CDG to the Hilton (very central, next to the Eiffel Tower).

Of course my expence claim may be a little on the high side ;-)
MF

Matt - a fair number of hotels are willing to advance you some cash when you are paying by credit card. I discovered this once when I'd booked a ride on the complimentary hotel bus to the airport, spent all my foreign cash & then the bus left early - without me! I was furious, but the receptionist was quite calm about it, and simply added $xxx to my bill and gave me the cash in local currency. This is useful to know if/when you realise that you need more currency than you thought you would - and you get the benefit of the better credit card exchange rates.

Taking some US cash/travellers cheques wouldn't hurt either, as an emergency backup.

I always take Amex Travelers cheques and split them up in several areas in two bags, plus carry two days worth incase my luggage
gets stolen or whatever. That way I can get
cash fast.

My Amex card also works very well in Europe,
I guess as well as the Visa.

And like Baobab... the InterContental in Budapest advanced me about 100 dollars in Hungarian cash so I can get a late late dinner (I wanted the closest restaurant, which didn't take ANY credit cards!)

Matt: Your topic is NOT OMNI in this cat cops
eyes because it is travel related: getting
cash.

OMNI FYI MERRY: THe HIlton near Le Tour Eiffel has a great Sunday brunch and great holiday dinner get togethers. My friends Peter and Jeong Hee go there when they can't get home to the States. (But every time I tried to book a room -- sold out. I guess it's the location!)

NOW I WANT TO GO TO PARIS AGAIN!!! CATMAN

Cash advances sometimes are free, sometimes have a charge at the hotel. I go ATM.

Banks often charge up to $4/$5 for using a foreign ATM - ask your bank what their charges are before you go...

Catman: Just a word of caution about the Pais Hilton. I was there about two months ago, I chose it specifically as I had to take some English Colleagues to dinner and they HAD a great French Restaurant on the top-floor of the hotel, which I thought would be a great venue.

I even went as far as checking 'hilton.com' to make sure the restaurant would be open.

I was really annoyed when I got to the hotel that the restaurant on the top-floor had gone, and had been replaced by one service 'Californian Cusine' in the basement.

The Californian food was very good, but I wanted something upmarket French and this was very Brasserie style.

I wrote to Hilton about them not keeping their hotel profiles on Hilton.Com up-to-date, but never received a reply.
MF

PS: On the plus side, on the occassions I have been there as a Diamond, they have always upgraded me to a full suite.

It depends when you are going to be arriving in Paris. The Air France Shuttles end by midnight -- if you are on one of those red eyes you will be out of look. The last train from Roissypole leaves around 12:15 to 12:20 I think. I have been lucky to get one around 1:00 AM, but that is rare. Also the regular metro will not be operating then so connections will be a mess. The taxi ride is about 250 - 300 French Francs. You are getting about 5.50 / $1 THESE days at AMEX. When are you going to be there? Otherwise you can call a shuttle company for about half the price. I will be in town from 30 December - 4 January then to the south of France for skiing. If you are around then I would be happy to invite to our hotel (Le Grand Hotel) for a drink at the bar.

Best,

Phillippe

I wouldn't stay at the Paris Hilton in a million years -- it is not a good representation of French hospitality; to say the Hilton's restaurant is even French is an insult to the French. I don't mean to be snotty about this, but I've eaten there twice in the last month (not because I wanted to), and I have found it to be some of the most unimaginative cuisine I've ever had. If you want the true French experience stay at the Crillion or the Ritz for the luxury experience. If on business try the Hotel Balzac, Hotel Inter-Continental (not Le Grand Hotel which is getting quite run down), or the Plaza Athenee, or the Prince de Galles. For restaurants try Taillevant if an American can get a reservation. The Hotel Astor's restaurant is also a great deal.(Joel Robachon still drops in occasionally). Anyway, the French experience is best experienced not from the Hilton which is a concrete prison at best.

Sorry about the strong feelings.

Phillippe

Sorry I didn't see the previous post about the missing restaurant which wasn't good when it was there.

Phil

I'll be there Feb. 12 - 16 (We get in at 6:30 AM)...and am staying (gulp) at the Hilton (sorry, but the economics of a free stay beat out cultural sensibilities every time!). But I AM jotting down the restaurant suggestions. It's my 3rd but my wife's 1st time in Paris, so we'll mostly be doing the tourist thing (louvre, montmontre (sp), Notre Dame - my wife wants to take mass there...we'll have to see about that, etc.) one night on the seine on a dinner boat and getting around mostly by metro... But any other suggestions are welcome and MOST appreciated (sites to see, experiences, restaurants)! To keep the CatCop happy, feel free to e-mail me at [email protected]

BTW, my 1st Paris trip, mid 1980s was 12.5ff/$1...ahh the good old days...

Thanks!