Review: Hilton Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport

Between the Hilton and the Starwood any thoughts? I've stayed at the latter and as I remember it was very convenient. Is the Hilton any different in terms of access?

@ Steve -- I haven't actually stayed at the Sheraton, but I think it depends on which airline you're flying. The Sheraton is connected to terminal two so very convenient if flying SkyTeam, but for travel to/from other terminals it's not more convenient.

Immigration may be quick for you because of your German passport (or maybe the early time). For US or other nationals usually there is a long line (at least when you arrive mid-morning)

Once agsin we just miss each other - i am at the PHV. Was wondering about the Hilton for a last night, but plumped for the Western by Vendome. Tried Le Meridien Etiole, not a fan.

I love your blog Lucky!! You have been so helpful over the years getting my husband and I, and our two daughters, 13 and 21, to Europe twice in the last 1 1/2 years with very little out-of-pocket expenses.

The question/curiousity is this...who is the "WE" you often talk about on your travels? "We had 13 hours in Paris and had quite a bit of work to catch up on..."
I love when you travel with your parents...your dad is a crack-up!!

@Lucky I guess what I should have asked is how far from the train to the hotel and do you have to go outside? I can't tell from either Google maps or the online maps for CDG and from the picture you posted it looks like you are trudging through a parking lot.

We'll be transiting in December with 2 teenagers and while pushing a cart for a ways isn't any big deal slugging it out, potentially through snow, outside wouldn't be worth it.

BTW the Sheraton is a pretty weird place. Shaped like a ship with round windows its very ultra modern in a 1960's way sort of like the whole airport or the 1964 New York World's fair.

Completely different feel than Frankfurt.

@ Rami -- For what it's worth the non-EU line was short as well. Yep, kind of surprising!

@ janet -- Thanks so much for reading, I really appreciate it, and so happy to hear about the great trips you've been able to take!

In this case I was traveling with a friend/colleague.

@ Steve -- It's less than a five minute walk from the train station, so not bad at all.

Glad to see that you took my suggestion from Sep 2011 at last!
We found the Hilton OK, but the Sheraton, was I think, a lot easier.

Steve
It is easily a couple of hundred yards, so be careful with luggage.
Was not very well sign posted either to get to the front, so we ended up at the back of the hotel at first. It may be quite hard in winter. We went in the summer, but the weather was still atrocious as it often is in Paris

I have stayed at Hilton CDG on many overnight connections. I live in a DL hub thus have flown AF frequently. I find it less stressful to take a Thu afternoon or evening flight to CDG instead of taking a 6-7am flight on Friday morning and worrying about making the connection (CDG can be so unpredictable). I have always been Diamond or Gold and find that they have treated me pretty much the same as far as upgrades are concerned. It is very conveniently located - just take the free CDGVAL terminal train which stops directly behind the hotel. As a bonus, the RER train station is also right there which you can take into Paris and have a nice meal. The Sheraton is also nice because you can walk to it. I would avoid the off-airport hotels like the Marriott, Park Inn, Holiday Inn, etc. because it can be a pain in the butt to get there and back (they have a free shuttle but it is often full during peak times which means you might have to wait for the next one. Can be a very time-consuming process).

What on earth is the purpose of that little pond before the pool? Is it like a physical barrier to prevent you from wearing shoes to the pool deck?

@ Seth -- Wish I knew. My guess is that and maybe to help clean your feet.

Seth - good eyes! Sterilization. It's common on EU pubic pools.

@Seth

To rinse your feet

I stayed here about 10 days ago and can report that the queue at the front desk hasn't improved at all, even with a staff member just standing at the cabin crew check-in waiting to check-in cabin crew (there were none, but I spotted lots of Qatar Airways crew later in the evening and when checking out).

Ben, Just called to try and book a day room next September through the 800 number and was quoted 199E. Did you book it at the last minute or in advance? Rates for that night begin at 399E or of course 50K points! Thanks.

@ Doug -- I booked just a couple of days before arrival. I'd wait till closer to arrival and I suspect rates will drop (though you must be going over some really busy dates, because the nightly rate of 399 Euro seems REALLY high).

Ben-

That washway before the pool fooled me too. Twice.

You should skip the lounge for breakfast at CDG Hilton. Hit the free (for Golds and above) buffet in the atrium. Fantastic, and none of that ' You're just Gold so no hot food' nonsense..

@ Sam -- Didn't realize elite members get access to the buffet. That's good to know, thanks!

"I didn’t have anything to eat while on the ground in Paris"
Sacré bleu! That's nearly criminal!

I do like how you managed to avoid saying "Paris Hilton".

For what it's worth, you may be pleasantly surprised with the rate if you can use a corporate rate code. I have stayed at Hilton CDG several times for under 120 EUR on my company's rate. Like all Parisian hotels, there are times of the year when everything is pricey, but I'd estimate that I snagged the corp rate about 80% of my trips.

Lucky, is it possible to get upgraded on Hilton award stays?

@ Chris -- Hilton isn't especially with upgrades even on paid stays, but the rules are the same for award and paid stays, so a hotel's upgrade procedure should be the same.