Normandy, Brittany & the Best of the North_ With Paris (Fodor's) - Fodor's [177]
Airline Contacts: Air France (800/237–2747 in U.S., 36–54 in France [€0.34 per min] | www.airfrance.com). American Airlines (800/433–7300 in U.S., 01–55–17–43–41 in France | www.aa.com). Continental Airlines (800/523–3273 for U.S. reservations, 800/231–0856 for international reservations, 01–71–23–03–35 in France | www.continental.com). Delta Airlines (800/221–1212 for U.S. reservations, 800/241–4141 for international reservations, 08–11–64–00–05 in France | www.delta.com). United Airlines (800/864–8331 for U.S. reservations, 800/538–2929 for international reservations, 08–10–72–72–72 in France | www.united.com).
Within Europe: EasyJet (0905/560–7777 in U.K. [£1 per min] 08–26–10–26–11 in France [€1.34 per call and €0.34 per min] | www.easyjet.com). Ryan Air (0871–246–0000 in U.K. [£0.10 per min] 08–92–78–02–10 in France [€0.34 per min] | www.ryanair.com).
Airlines and Airports: Airline and Airport Links.com (www.airlineandairportlinks.com) has links to many of the world’s airlines and airports.
Airline Security Issues: Transportation Security Administration (www.tsa.gov) has answers for almost every question that might come up.
AIRPORTS
There are two major gateway airports to France, both just outside the capital: Orly, 16 km (10 mi) south of Paris, and Charles de Gaulle, 26 km (16 mi) northeast of the city. The smaller Beauvais Airport, 75 km (46 mi) north of Paris, is used by European budget airlines. At Charles de Gaulle, also known as Roissy, there’s a TGV station at Terminal 2, where you can connect to trains going all over the country. Many airlines have less frequent flights to Lyon, Lourdes, Perpignan, Biarritz, Nantes, Nice, Marseille, Bordeaux, and Toulouse.
Airport Information: Charles de Gaulle/Roissy (01–48–62–22–80 | www.adp.fr). Orly (01–49–75–15–15 | www.adp.fr).
Ground Transportation
From Charles de Gaulle, the fastest and least expensive way to get into Paris is on the RER-B line, the suburban express train, which runs daily from 5 AM to 11:30 PM. The free CGDVal lightrail connects each terminal to the Roissypôle RER station in less than 8 minutes, running daily nonstop 24/7. There is also a free “navette” shuttle bus, although you have to wait for it outside each terminal, and traffic can make travel time up to 30 minutes to the RER station. Trains to central Paris (Gare du Nord, Les Halles, St-Michel, Luxembourg) depart every 15 minutes. The fare (including métro connection) is €8.50, and journey time is about 30 minutes.
The Air France shuttle is a comfortable option to get to and from the city—you don’t need to have flown the carrier to use this service. Line 2 goes from the airport to Paris’s Charles de Gaulle Étoile and Porte Maillot from 5:45 AM to 11 PM. It leaves every 15 minutes and costs €15, which you can pay on board. Passengers arriving in Terminal 1 need to take Exit 34; Terminals 2B and 2D, Exit 6; Terminals 2E and 2F, Exit 3. Line 4 goes to Montparnasse and the Gare de Lyon from 7 AM to 9 PM. Buses run every 30 minutes and cost €16.50. Passengers arriving in Terminal 1 need to look for Exit 34, Terminals 2A and 2C need to take Exit C2, Terminals 2B and 2D Exit B1, and Terminals 2E and 2F Exit 3.
Another option is to take Roissybus, operated by the Paris Transit Authority, which runs between Charles de Gaulle and the Opéra every 20 minutes from 6 AM to 11 PM; the cost is €9.10. The trip takes about 45 minutes in regular traffic, about 90 minutes in rush-hour traffic.
Taxis are your least desirable mode of transportation