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Arriving late in Paris, what next?

onelight

New Member
Time of past OR future Camino
September 23, 2014
I will be arriving from NY to Paris (Orly) on Sept. 16th at 7:50 pm. Not sure what to do next that would be most economical and physically possible. Do I spend the night in Paris and then make my way to SJPP the next day? Or fly out of Paris on an 8:45pm flight landing in Biarritz 10:00 pm? ...then ?
Suggestions of where to stay in Paris near airport and where I can make my way to SJPP and also where to stay in Biarritz at 10:00pm would be so appreciated!
My head is spinninggg.
 
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If you are "arriving" at 1950 there is no way that you will be in time to board a plane leaving Paris at 2045. 'Arriving' often means when the plane touches the runway and in my experience is usually late and almost never early. Deboarding and customs will take at least a half hour. Most flights require you to be in the boarding area at least 20 minutes before boarding ... so no time to transfer terminals, check in, and go through security.

There are no other transport options ... everything shuts down for the night.

Your choice of hotel might depend on your transportation choices for the next day. Get something close to the departure station so that finding your way in the morning doesn't cause a problem.

2100. Paris

2101 This section discusses transportation services in Paris.

Index 2100
2102 Paris Airports
2103 Getting around in Paris
2104 Charles de Gaulle Airport to Orly Airport
2105 Charles de Gaulle Airport to Gare d'Austerlitz
2106 Charles de Gaulle Airport to TGV Massey
2107 Charles de Gaulle Airport to Gare Montparnasse
2120 Trains in France
2121 Paris Train Stations
2125 Paris to London by Eurostar
2135 Paris to Barcelona by train
2150 Paris to Saint Jean Pied de Port

2102 Paris Airports

Paris has two major airports. Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) is known as Roissy and is located NE of Paris. Orly Airport (ORY) is located to the South of Paris.

CDG and Orly:
http://www.aeroportsdeparis.fr/ADP/en-gb/passagers/home/

2103 Getting around in Paris

Paris Transit Network
http://www.ratp.fr/plan-interactif/carteidf.php?lang=uk

Paris RER/Metro route planner - SNCF Transilien
http://www.transilien.com/itineraire/rechercheitineraire/init

Air France Shuttle Bus with service from CDG to Orly airport (#3) and to Gare Montparnasse (#4)
http://www.aeroportsdeparis.fr/ADP/...97348c-aerolis_deplianttakeoneBD_Mars2013.pdf

2104 Charles de Gaulle Airport to Orly Airport

There are two transit options from CDG Airport to Orly Airport.

a. RER Line B (destination B4 Saint Remy les Chevreuse) from CDG airport to Station Antony. Take Orly Val (name of train) from Station Antony to Orly airport Terminal Sud and Terminal Ouest. Allow 1:30 hours.

b. Air France bus from CDG airport direct to Paris Orly airport. Allow 1:15 hours.

2105 CDG Airport to Gare d'Austerlitz

RER Line B (destination B4 Saint Remy les Chevreuse) from CDG airport to Saint Michel Notre Dame RER station. Walk from RER station to Metro. Take Metro line 10 from Cluny la Sorbonne to Gare Austerlitz. Allow 1 hour.

2106 CDG Airport to TGV Massy

RER Line B (destination B4 Saint Remy les Chevreuse) from CDG airport to Massy-Palaiseau RER station. The Massy TGV station is located next to the RER station.

2107 CDG Airport to Gare Montparnasse.

There are two transit options from CDG airport to Gare Montparnasse:

a. RER Line B (destination B2 Robinson or B4 Saint Remy les Chevreuse) from CDG airport to Gare du Nord. Paris Metro Line 4 from Gare du Nord to Metro Station Montparnasse Bienvenue. Allow 1:00 hour. Allow an additional 15 minutes to walk from the Metro station to Gare Montparnasse.

~Note there are 3 points where it is possible to transfer from RER B to Metro line 4. A transfer at St Michel may be preferable as Gare du Nord is a large station and will require orientation time.

b. Air France operates a bus service from CDG direct to Gare Montparnasse. Allow 1:15 hours.

2120 Trains in France

SNCF
http://www.sncf.com/

SNCF - train schedule and tickets:
http://www.voyages-sncf.com/billet-train/horaires

SNCF TER
http://www.ter-sncf.com/

SNCF Railway Map
http://www.bonjourlafrance.com/france-map/sncf-map-large.htm

2121 Paris Train Stations

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport Terminal 2 train station
http://www.gares-en-mouvement.com/fr/frmlw/accueil/

Gare de Massy TGV
http://www.gares-en-mouvement.com/fr/frdju/accueil/

Note in additon to CDG 2 and Massy there are 6 major train stations in Paris:

Paris Gare d'Austerlitz
http://www.gares-en-mouvement.com/fr/frpaz/accueil/

Gare Paris Bercy
http://www.gares-en-mouvement.com/fr/frpbe/accueil/

Gare Paris Est
http://www.gares-en-mouvement.com/fr/frpst/accueil/

Paris Gare de Lyon
http://www.gares-en-mouvement.com/fr/frply/accueil/

Paris Gare Montparnasse
http://www.gares-en-mouvement.com/fr/frpmo/accueil/

Paris Gare Montparnasse Map
http://www.railteam.eu/en/files/2011/11/MAP_Paris-Montparnasse_En.pdf

Paris Gare du Nord.
http://www.gares-en-mouvement.com/fr/frpno/accueil/

Map of TGV train network in Paris:
http://www.bonjourlafrance.com/france-trains/images/tgv-map-paris.jpg

2125. Paris to London by Eurostar

Eurostar trains operate between Paris Gare du Nord and London St Pancras International Station
http://www.eurostar.com

2135 Paris to Barcelona by Train

SNCF and Renfe operate high speed trains between Paris Gare de Lyon and Barcelona Sants.

SNCF - train schedule and tickets:
http://www.voyages-sncf.com/billet-train/horaires

2150 Paris to Saint Jean Pied de Port

2151 This section discusses how to get from Paris to Saint Jean Pied de Port.

Index 2150
2152 Executive Summary
2153 Fly from Paris to Biarritz and train to SJPdP
2154 Train from Paris to SJPdP
2155 Not Assigned
2156 Train stations between Paris and Bayonne
2157 Saint Jean Pied de Port

2152. Executive Summary.

There are at least two viable options for getting from Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport to Saint Jean Pied de Port (SJPdP):

a. Fly from Paris to Biarritz and take the train from Bayonne to SJPdP.

b. Take the train from Paris to Bayonne and transfer to another train from Bayonne to SJPdP. Stations in Paris with trains to Bayonne include: CDG 2, Gare d'Austerlitz, Gare Montparnasse, and Gare Massy.

2153. ~Option 1 Fly from Paris to Biarritz and train to SJPdP

a. Fly from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) to Biarritz Airport (BIQ). Easy Jet provides service; or,

b. Fly from Paris Orly Airport (ORY) to Biarritz Airport (BIQ) Air France provides service.

The Chronoplus urban bus #14 leaves from the doors of Biarritz Airport and goes to Gare de Bayonne. Allow 40 minutes.

The SNCF TER train #62 travels from Bayonne to terminus at SJPdP.

Biarritz Airport (BIQ)
http://en.biarritz.aeroport.fr/

Chronoplus
http://www.chronoplus.eu/

SNCF TER Aquitaine
http://www.ter-sncf.com/Regions/Aquitaine/fr/Default.aspx

2154 ~Option 2 - Train from Paris to SJPdP.

TGV trains travel towards Bayonne from three train stations in Paris.

a. There is a TGV station located at Charles de Gaulle Airport Terminal 2.

b. There is a TGV station located at Gare Montparnasse in central Paris. There is greater frequency of service from Gare Montparnasse than from CDG 2.

c. The tracks from CDG 2 and Gare Montparnasse converge and TGV trains from both stations stop at Gare Massey.

SNCF TGV trains leave from Paris enroute to Bordeaux or Irun. Often there is a transfer required at Bordeaux. TGV trains from Bordeaux terminate in Irun. TER trains from Bordeaux terminate in Pau or Hendaye. If your train is bound for Pau another transfer is required at Dax. Trains bound for Hendaye or Irun stop in Bayonne.

SNCF Intercites night trains travel from Paris Gare Austerlitz to Hendaye and stop in Bayonne.

SNCF TER train #62 travels from Gare Bayonne to terminus at SJPdP

You will get limited results if you try to find a schedule for a train from Paris to SJPdP. I'd suggest planning your trip from Paris to Bayonne then Bayonne to SJPdP.

SNCF
http://www.sncf.com/

SNCF - train schedule and tickets:
http://www.voyages-sncf.com/billet-train/horaires

SNCF TER Aquitaine
http://www.ter-sncf.com/Regions/Aquitaine/fr/Default.aspx

2156 Train Stations between Paris and Bayonne

Gare Bordeaux - Saint Jean (Saint Jean is name of main station in Bordeaux)
http://www.gares-en-mouvement.com/en/frboj/accueil/

Gare Bordeaux - Saint Jean according to Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gare_de_Bordeaux-Saint-Jean

Gare de Dax
http://www.gares-en-mouvement.com/fr/fracg/accueil/

Gare de Bayonne
http://www.gares-en-mouvement.com/fr/frxby/accueil/

2157 Saint Jean Pied de Port

Saint Jean Pied de Port
http://www.st-jean-pied-de-port.fr/default.aspx
 
It's 1:00am here..typical since I received the "call"..a few more hours until I force myself to stop!
Sooo much to read and learn. THANK YOU for your time and care!!!
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Whari... deserves an award for this one!
 
onelight,

Welcome to the Forum!

Before you collapse trying to plow through the well of material available regarding getting to /departing from Paris in order to begin your camino may I suggest the following 3 simple steps.

1.From Orly airport take the Air France shuttle bus to Paris/Gare Montparnasse. You need not to have flown Air France to take these buses; they depart Orly every half hour from 06:00 to 23:40 .

2. Scan this list of fellow Forum members recommendations for a hotel near the Gare Montparnasse.

3. Next morning take a TGV train from the Gare Montparnasse to Bayonne and continue with the substitute bus service provided from Bayonne rr station to Saint Jean Pied de Port. See voyages-sncf.com for schedules.

Bon voyage and Buen camino,

Margaret Meredith
 
Collapse is right Margaret! it's now past 2:30 in the morning!
I haven't even pressed "Buy" ticket yet..I'm even imagining that my knees are aching after reading a thread...while just lying here!
This is alll I seem to live and breathe right now. THANK YOUUUU :)
 
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I have to agree.. I've run across this tidbit of info in several other threads.. a great resource ! I'm curious.. are you the author of this 'index' ?

Yes I am.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Alternatively, arriving late in the evening like that you could also stay overnight at the airport (eg there's an Ibis hotel right in the airport), then catch the bus in to the Gare Montparnasse early the next morning. Traffic will be a lot heavier of course, but it's an option if you prefer not to walk from station to hotel in the city after dark.
 
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onelight,

Welcome to the Forum!

Before you collapse trying to plow through the well of material available regarding getting to /departing from Paris in order to begin your camino may I suggest the following 3 simple steps.

1.From Orly airport take the Air France shuttle bus to Paris/Gare Montparnasse. You need not to have flown Air France to take these buses; they depart Orly every half hour from 06:00 to 23:40 .

2. Scan this list of fellow Forum members recommendations for a hotel near the Gare Montparnasse.

3. Next morning take a TGV train from the Gare Montparnasse to Bayonne and continue with the substitute bus service provided from Bayonne rr station to Saint Jean Pied de Port. See voyages-sncf.com for schedules.

Bon voyage and Buen camino,

Margaret Meredith

Actually ... from Orly it makes more sense to go to Massy ... its in direction of travel, its closer (8km), and there are trains from both Montparnasse and CDG2 resulting in greater frequency of service.

Orly Val train from Orly airport to Station Antony. RER B from Station Antony to RER Station Massy. SNCF train from TGV station Massy (located beside RER station) to Bayonne.
 
Actually ... from Orly it makes more sense to go to Massy ... ...

Onelight, arrivies Orly at 19:50 This is hardly the appropriate time to get a TGV train from Massy to Bayonne! Unfortunately last TGV from Massy to Bayonne on September 16 leaves 17:08 with a connection at Bordeaux arriving Bayonne 22:32

MM
 
Have you already bought your ticket? If you're arriving in ORY I'm assuming you're leaving NYC early in the morning and flying through Heathrow or Frankfurt, otherwise it wouldn't be so late.
 
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Onelight, arrivies Orly at 19:50 This is hardly the appropriate time to get a TGV train from Massy to Bayonne! Unfortunately last TGV from Massy to Bayonne on September 16 leaves 17:08 with a connection at Bordeaux arriving Bayonne 22:32

MM

Staying overnight at Massy of course ...
 
If I arrived jet-lagged I'd choose the simplicity of the Air France coach to Paris over finding my own way via two trains Massy.
 
If I arrived jet-lagged I'd choose the simplicity of the Air France coach to Paris over finding my own way via two trains Massy.

The Orly Val train has three stops and terminates at RER Station Antony where you catch the RER train ... so this is no brainer.

Its 8 km from Orly to Massy (4 km from end of runway). Its 14 km from Orly to Paris. The train from Paris Montparnasse travels 14 km to Massy before going on to Bayonne. It would seem to me there is a cost benefit by doing the shortest route.

Trains from CDG2 pass through Massy too so there is greater frequency of service from Massy.

The RER train to Massy originates at CDG2 ... meaning no transfer to the Metro enroute to Montparnasse. I'm beginning to think we should be recommending all travel to SJPdP from CDG2 and Orly goes via Massy TGV station.
 
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I will be arriving from NY to Paris (Orly) on Sept. 16th at 7:50 pm. Not sure what to do next that would be most economical and physically possible. Do I spend the night in Paris and then make my way to SJPP the next day? Or fly out of Paris on an 8:45pm flight landing in Biarritz 10:00 pm? ...then ?
Suggestions of where to stay in Paris near airport and where I can make my way to SJPP and also where to stay in Biarritz at 10:00pm would be so appreciated!
My head is spinninggg.

we have just booked an airbnb 9km from CDG airport. Here is the link. https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/3041681?euid=21fbb63c-64f4-9393-4c76-065a45e1a9f5
It looks good. They show you how to get the buss from CDG to their place. The next day we fly Easyjet to Biarritz . Enjoy the journey.
Nigel
 
Still finding my way around here. Just saw all your help..thank you!!
I've connected with a friend in France and will spend a few days visiting. I will take a train monday morning Sept 22nd from Toulouse to SJPDP.
I'm told it is a 6hr ride. I'm not sure what time I'll arrive and if I'll be able to begin that day or the next morning..?
Any suggestions of where to stay if I wait til the next day?
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.

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