Paris Flights

Three of my most recent trips to Paris have been from Ireland and on each occasion I flew with Ryanair from Dublin to Beauvais Airport. This is a small airport in the town of Beauvais, about 60km North-West of Paris.

The bus from Beauvais to central Paris leaves about 30 minutes after the flight arrives. It costs 10 Euro for a single ticket and the trip takes around 1 1/2 hours. In Paris the bus stops opposite the Palais des Congres near Porte Maillot metro stop.

For the return trip the bus leaves from the same spot three hours before your the flight. You can buy tickets on the bus. (Also, a couple of years ago you could buy them at the nearby James Joyce pub, I'm not sure if this is still the case).

When flying in from another country into Paris you have the option of taking the train, or getting a taxi. If you have more than one small bag, and there's more than one of you, I would recommend taking a taxi to your hotel. It's no fun dragging your bags through the subways. If traffic isn't especially heavy you should be able to get to Paris center for about 30-40 EUR - and it's totally worth ever penny!

For getting around Paris, for me i thought it was worth it for a few areas that would have just taken a little to much time to walk or it was too cold - when you're traveling with one or two people it only ends up costing a couple Euros per person anyway. If convenience is a priority for you then i think the taxis will serve you well, as they did us.

TAXI STANDS: Be sure to look for your taxi at the designated stand, otherwise, they will not stop for you.

Charter or low cost airlines land at this terminal. Flying on Air Transat, I landed there. I read previously some nasty comments about this terminal, from french citizens ! Well, well, some people like to complain !
We had to walk out of the plane since they use stairs instead of... ( forgot the name of the device that bring you directly to the airport...). But, I was happy since it gave me the chance to take a picture of the Concorde displayed there ! The terminal is not at all dirty. From there, you have a bit of a walk to reach the train station ( RER ), but you do it mostly under a ceiling that protect you from possible rain.
To reach the city, I bought a one week pass ( "carte orange" ). Charles de Gaulle airport is in zone 5. So by buying a "1 to 5 zone" pass, I was able to take the train ( RER ) and connect to any metro I need to reach my hotel. There were no problems with my luggage. I was unable to use my credit card to buy the pass at the machine within the terminal # 3. But it worked well at the train station.

It was my first flight on Air Transat. Was also my first flight on a low cost airline instead of a legacy one. Many people complain about those airlines in general or Air Transat specifically. Well, it was not bad at all. Decent pitch allowing some space for the legs ( I am 6 foot tall ), free food, altough very basic, polite and available staff. I didn't need to carry 60 pounds luggages ( the allowance on Air Transat is lower, 20 kg or 44 pounds ).
I would consider them on a next flight if the price is lower enough to let go the Frequent Flyer point I like to gather on Air Canada.

Paris has got very good network of transportation but buying ticket for every travel is an expensive affair so you can buy this weekly pass called as Carté Oranage for around €14. Unlimited travel is covered between zone 1 and 2. If you are tourist, this suffices your purpose as most of the monuments are located in this region. Note the fact that this card is valid from Monday to Sunday. A ID card size or even thumbnail size picture required (otherwise there are photomats in almost all stations)
Should you be not staying for a week or for some other reason you have to buy tickets, buy a bunch of 10, it saves you couple of euros.
No museum fee or other stuff is covered in this card, it is simply a travel card for a week.
Don't forget to pick up Paris Tourismé map from the ticket window, its free and becomes very handy when you are on a flying visit to many monuments.

Paris Beauvais may have a rich cultural avionic heritage, but in the modern era it is a little airport servicing four or five low-cost airlines, including Ryanair (of course).

At least this means that the time you spend in the airport is minimal, and delays are unusual. On the downside the transfers to the centre of Paris are Longer - it is some 80Kms, and if you are delayed at the airport there is precious little to do.

Airport buses are some 13Euro One-way and leave 20 mins after each flight arrives - tickets can be booked online.

Orly airport would appear to be the perfect breeding ground for rabbits. In such a protected compound they breed, well like rabbits I suppose.

The last time I visited, in transit, they were hopping around all over the place.

I have no doubt that the French Airport authorities have since dealt with them using a mixture of ruthless Galliic efficiency combined with a deep and abiding love for God's creatures. That and a family-sized tub of Warferin.

The airport is much closer (14kms) than Pari's other airports and is well connected to the city. If you are on an internal flight or on Easyjet you will probably arrive here. Some 30 odd other airlines on longer routes also still use the place. I certainly find it a quicker and easier place to use, rather than CDG.

On returning home, US Airways overbooked our flight. They asked for volunteers to take a flight the next day. They offered a $600 travel voucher or $400 in cash, a night at a 4 star hotel, The Hilton Airport, breakfast, lunch and dinner. I took the cash offer and later found out that only 50% of those people who accept the voucher actually use it.

I would stay again at the Hilton Airport. The rooms were excellent and so was the food.

TIP: The airlines first select those who choose the voucher over the cash payment.
Choose Wisely!!!

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) is the largest airport serving Paris and the second busiest passenger airport in Europe after London Heathrow. My biggest fear was not getting my luggage back, but all was well.

This airport needs some renovation...