Arriving Paris at 10.20pm on Christmas Eve. Arrange transfers or find my way to hotel?

Question

This will be my first trip to Paris with my hubby. We would most likely be flying in from Venice via Ryanair at Beauvais Airport, at approximate 10.30pm. What i am wondering if we should arrange transfer to the hotel or attempt to find our way (trains?). Navigating at night in a foreign place seems daunting. Any advice?

And.. we're thinking of going to Disneyland the next day - Christmas Day! As we reckon that most places would be close on a public holiday. How true is that? What would you suggest? Thanks a bunch!

Answer 1

To go to Paris from Beauvais, you have to take a bus. There is a bus for each flight. Check on the ryanair website fot the time.

Disneyland is open on holiday (but check on internet before).

Answer 2

There is a shuttle service that runs from Beauvais to Porte Maillot in Paris which leaves  approximatively 20 minutes after each flight arrival. The tickets (13 Euros cash only / one way) must be purchased at the bus ticket sale point, outside the airport or which can be purchased online at this website: http://ticket.aeroportbeauvais.com/bouti...

The other alternative is a taxi which is very expensive and would cost 140-160€ at night.

While its true that many things will be closed on Christmas Day that doesn't keep you from sightseeing. After all, many sights you would view from the outside anyway; the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs Elysee, the Tuilleries Gardens, the Place de la Concorde, the Jardin Luxembourge, Place des Vosges, etc. The churches will be open of course which include tourist sights like Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur, and the churches of St. Severin, St. Sulpice, and St. Germain des Prés.

Answer 3

It can be daunting at night.  I would make arrangements in advance.  Using the Metro is fun and easy but it is possible to have negative experiences late at night.  After the first day we used it all the time though.

Answer 4

I recommend that you arrange transportation to your hotel, it is way better and safer for both of you.

I don't know if Disneyland Paris will be open on Christmas, but regarding the most important spots -like Louvre, D'Orsay, Eiffel Tower or Versailles- I think that most of them will be closed, but you can check it on the Internet, they all have their web pages with info regarding schedules, prices, etc.

You could also go to Notre Dame and other famous churches -such as Saint Chapelle (beautiful), Sacre Cor, Saint Denis (where all the kings and queens, including Louis XIV, XV, XVI and Marie Antoinette are buried)- that will for sure be open and have special activities for Christmas; you can also visit Pere Lachaise's cemetery, where many-many famous people are buried (they give for free a map to guide you to the graves you wish to visit).

Another advise: Don't waste your time and money taking taxis to go to places... Paris' Metro will take you everywhere you want to go, and it is very easy and cheap: just make sure you have a Metro map at hand.

I love Paris, it is the most beautiful city I have ever been, and very romantic.

Enjoy.