Sheraton Paris Airport Hotel at CDG Airport

One of my favorite Paris hotels is not in Paris!

That's right. One of my favorite hotels in Paris isn't actually in Paris, but rather at Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle Airport!

Huh?

Yes, seriously, the Sheraton Paris Airport Hotel.

Why Stay at the Airport the Night Before Your Flight

Now, I know there are many fabulous hotels in Paris, and if you want to know where to stay, check out any of my arrondissement guides to find one for you! (And if you would rather wake up to the Eiffel Tower than a runway, here is my favorite Paris hotel with an Eiffel Tower view.) But when flying back to the U.S. from Paris, the flights are generally in the morning, between 7 and 11 a.m. Getting to the airport from Paris takes an hour, sometimes more. So my husband and I have found that we like to stay the night before our departure at the Sheraton at the airport.

Yep, IN the airport! We don't have to get up extra early, struggle with our suitcases, or sit an hour-plus in traffic only to check in for an 11-hour flight (if you are going to the West Coast).

Instead we arrive the night before, in the early evening after a last day in Paris, check into the stunning Sheraton (seriously, it is just gorgeous), have a nice dinner at any number of restaurants in the airport or the one at the Sheraton, relax at the bar, check in for our flight online from the room (the Wi-Fi is free), and sleep in a little longer in the morning without any worries of rushing. You cannot beat that!

Inside the Sheraton Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport Hotel

Located in Terminal 2 (here is a current CDG terminal map) above the train station, the Sheraton, now officially the Sheraton Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport Hotel, is a really, really nice hotel. It is designed on the inside to look like a cruise ship (you can even see down into the train station from the upper floors), has stunning rooms, and has a really good breakfast buffet. And even though you are IN the airport with planes landing and taking off right in front of your window, you will not hear a THING!

There is more to it than a bed for the night, too. You have several places to eat and drink without ever leaving the building, including a rooftop terrace, and the hotel is now LEED Gold certified if staying somewhere greener matters to you. And if you have a long layover rather than an overnight, you can book a day room and rest for a few hours instead of paying for a full night.

How to Get From the Sheraton to Your Terminal

Because the hotel sits right inside Terminal 2, getting to your gate could not be simpler. If you are flying out of one of the Terminal 2 halls, you can walk there through the airport. If you are flying from Terminal 1 or Terminal 3, hop on the free CDGVAL train, which runs around the clock and links all of the terminals in just a few minutes. There is no shuttle bus to wait for and no taxi to pay for, which is really the whole point of staying here.

One handy thing to know if you are coming to the hotel by taxi rather than flying in: you do not have to go through the terminal at all. There is an exterior door at the back of the hotel where a taxi can drop you right at the entrance, so you can roll your bags straight in to check in.

Tip: Check in for your flight online the night before so your boarding pass is ready to go. Most airlines only open their bag drop on the morning of departure, so plan to drop any checked luggage then, though that is quick when you are already at the terminal. Keep a change of clothes and your essentials in your hand luggage (the Sheraton provides a nice range of toiletries), enjoy a leisurely breakfast, and all you have to do is clear security and immigration. You arrive at the gate relaxed and ready to be zen for the long flight home.

My husband and I have done this for years, and it works for us!

There are other hotels around CDG airport, but honestly it can be a bit of a pain to get to the airport in the morning; most do not have shuttles, so you need a taxi, or walk in the underground tunnels to the tram to your terminal, up and down escalators or stairs, hoping the elevators are working with your luggage. Trust me, for an efficient and stress-free last night before your flight, you want to stay at the Sheraton at CDG airport!

Frequently Asked Questions

At the end of the day, staying at the Sheraton inside CDG has taken all the stress out of leaving Paris for us, and I would not fly home any other way now. Trading a frantic taxi across the city before dawn for one last relaxed evening at the airport, a good night of sleep, and a short walk to the gate is worth every penny. If an early flight home from Paris is in your future, do yourself a favor and try it. I promise you will start the long journey back feeling a whole lot calmer.

How about you? Have any tips for preparing for a flight home from Paris, or any other pre-flight tips? Do share!

How about you? Do you have any tips for preparing for a flight home from Paris, or any other pre-flight tips? Do share!

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