Paris Beauvais

jamo2oo9

Hi all, I'm travelling to Paris in June for two days with the unfortunate Ryanair. I just wanted to know what time should I check in on the morning of the flight which departs at 9:55. I know it's not very early but we're staying near Le Bourget in Paris and it's at least two hours of driving during rush hour so could someone give me an ideal time so I would know what time to leave Paris and when to be in the airport for. By the way, we are renting a car so I'd take at least 30 mins on for leaving it at the car rental center, sign documents and such then take the bus into the terminal.

P.S. Do hotels in Paris have a reserved parking for their guests or is it street parking. This is in the city centre.

Lapin

Whats so unfortunate about Ryanair?
The last I heard, they were one of the most successful airlines in the world.

jamo2oo9

Horrible customer service. I'd prefer Aer Lingus over any other airline but this case was a tight budget trip and Ryanair were cheaper in this case.

wendydoll

jamo2oo9 wrote: »

I just wanted to know what time should I check in on the morning of the flight which departs at 9:55

Ryanair allows you to check in online 15 days before the flight happens.

Check in of baggage needs be done at least 40mins before departure time

As for your parking, your hotel should be able to tell you if they have parking for guests or direct you to parking close to the hotel. Maybe check with them directly.

jamo2oo9

Oh yes, forgot about the online checking in. Will be taking rucksacks for the trip. Thanks for that! Does anybody know when I will get a boarding pass where I can print it?

That's no problem. I'll give them an e-mail now. Thanks for the suggestion

Gone West

Paris Beauvais is like saying Dublin Kilkenny

wendydoll

Simply log in 15 days before your (return) trip, enter your email, book ref and/or time of flight etc.

You need to enter your passport numbers and you'll be able print the boarding pass off then.

jamo2oo9

Another thing, is there shops on the airside in the airport?

Thanks Wendy for the info!

belcampprisoner

I hate both airlingus and ryan air both are cattle cars,if I have a choice I would take neither,they can be more expensive than full service airlines,
you will not find much parking in the center of paris,what do you mean center its huge,i would not rent a car in paris you will hate yourself

http://goparis.about.com/od/transportation/qt/paris-visite-pass-fares.htm

jamo2oo9

We have already booked a car for hire for two days. We took it as it was more convenient than taking the buses and trains into the city centre. We're staying near the Metro Station, not far from Le Bourget Airport. The car was only 57E to rent for two days so I thought it would cheaper than taking buses and trains around the place.

wendydoll

Have no idea about the airport. It's probably a small regional airport so don't expect anything like Starbucks or McDonalds.

I agree about the car rental. Word of warning, take snaps of any scratches or bumps in the car when you pick it up. Don't want them stinging you for a dent in your bumper that was there when the car picked up.

Lapin

jamo2oo9 wrote: »

Horrible customer service......

Not in my experience. Most people who receive poor customer service deserve it.

Anyway, Minimum check in time at Beauvais is no different than any other airport Ryanair use. 40 minutes online. Get there at least an hour before departure and you'll be fine. Earlier if you are checking in luggage.

The drive from Le Bourget to Baeuvais should never take 2 hours. Head straight up the N1 towards Calais, which takes you onto the A16 straight to Beauvais. At that time of day you will be heading against the rush hour traffic.

Lapin

jamo2oo9 wrote: »

Thanks for that! Does anybody know when I will get a boarding pass where I can print it?

Just an observation.

For someone who was so certain about the customer service offered by Ryanair, you don't seem to have too much experience using them.

jamo2oo9

Lapin wrote: »

Not in my experience. Most people who receive poor customer service deserve it.

Anyway, Minimum check in time at Beauvais is no different than any other airport Ryanair use. 40 minutes online. Get there at least an hour before departure and you'll be fine. Earlier if you are checking in luggage.

The drive from Le Bourget to Baeuvais should never take 2 hours. Head straight up the N1 towards Calais, which takes you onto the A16 straight to Beauvais. At that time of day you will be heading against the rush hour traffic.

Yeah, that is true. I was thinking the other way round. I should aim to leave the hotel at around 7 in the morning and I should be fine.

Lapin wrote: »

Just an observation.

For someone who was so certain about the customer service offered by Ryanair, you don't seem to have too much experience using them.

I have flown with Ryanair before. Last flight was 2010 during the Icelandic Ash Crisis where Ryanair cancelled my flight without refund nor any compensation at the time. (Got it back though) But the customer service was terrible at dealing with this situation. Wasn't too happy about it.

Gone West

jamo2oo9 wrote: »

We have already booked a car for hire for two days. We took it as it was more convenient than taking the buses and trains into the city centre. We're staying near the Metro Station, not far from Le Bourget Airport. The car was only 57E to rent for two days so I thought it would cheaper than taking buses and trains around the place.

Actually the exact opposite is true.
The metro in Paris is an unbelievably simple, fast and efficient way to move around the city. But Parking is difficult, as is navigating the maze of streets yourself in a car.

athtrasna

jamo2oo9 wrote: »

Another thing, is there shops on the airside in the airport?

Thanks Wendy for the info!

Beauvais airport is incredibly dire for shopping. Don't expect much.

wendydoll

Lapin wrote: »

Just an observation.

For someone who was so certain about the customer service offered by Ryanair, you don't seem to have too much experience using them.

Was thinking the exact same Lapin. Someone said to me the other day, Ryanair is like taking a bus in the air, they get you from A to B as cheaply as possible.

Have no expectations and you'll never be disappointed

belcampprisoner

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9C6CGADbjU

jjbrien

I had the misfortune of using Beavais airport 2 weeks ago. I know Ryanair is basic but this airport takes the biscuit for the worst airport I ever seen them use. If your hungry Id recommend either you eat before you get to the airport or eat before you go though security. Once you get though secuirty there is only enough seating for around 50 people. There was 3 flights leaving at the same time when we where there so it became very crampt fast. The usual line up for one flight to Milan reached all the way back to the security area. This is terminal 1 departues there right behind where the person took the photo is the security area. To the right of it is a door to where the Dublin flight goes out of and an Illy cafe which is the most expensive cafe I have ever seen in my life 3 euro for a bag of crisps.

gramar

jamo2oo9 wrote: »

Hi all, I'm travelling to Paris in June for two days with the unfortunate Ryanair. I just wanted to know what time should I check in on the morning of the flight which departs at 9:55. I know it's not very early but we're staying near Le Bourget in Paris and it's at least two hours of driving during rush hour so could someone give me an ideal time so I would know what time to leave Paris and when to be in the airport for. By the way, we are renting a car so I'd take at least 30 mins on for leaving it at the car rental center, sign documents and such then take the bus into the terminal.

P.S. Do hotels in Paris have a reserved parking for their guests or is it street parking. This is in the city centre.

Beauvais is a small airport. The car rental offices are across the road from the terminal which is about 30 seconds walk away. If you return the car ok then just leave them the keys. No need to give yourself half an hour for this.

Inside the terminal you have a 'casino' shop there for water, snacks etc which is cheap. At least a lot cheaper than the 'restaurant' beside it and the one inside departures. As far as I remember there is a a gift/souvenir shop in the terminal building and there is another bigger one in the departure lounge.

Unshelved

Quite honestly, I think you're mad to attempt driving in the city centre. Factoring in the traffic, the difficulty parking and the city's excellent public transport it really won't be worth the hassle. Use the car for a day trip outside the city by all means, but use the trains, buses and metro in Paris. The fact that you say that you're staying near a metro station means that public transport really couldn't be easier for you.

I know you say that the car rental was "only" €57 but I'd be very surprised if you spent that much between the two of you on public transport over two days. Buy a carnet of 10 tickets from a tabac or in a metro station (they work on the metro and on buses) and it costs about €11 - you'll be surprised how long it lasts.

gramar

I'd go with the advice to avoid the rental car.
It's 57eur but you'll have about 1000eur excess so any damage up to that is paid by you
and central paris is notorius for minor car accidents. If you want to reduce it to zero it'll be 20eur a day.
Parking is a nightmare in central Paris and it's expensive and add in petrol and it's just not worth it.
You'll also need a sat nav or forget finding anywhere and if you don't have one then it's more money.
You have a coach to porte maillot for 32eur return and the metro system which is very good will take
you anywhere from there. Getting back to the airport you'll need to be at porte maillot 3 hours before your plane
leaves.

keith16

Unshelved wrote: »

Quite honestly, I think you're mad to attempt driving in the city centre. Factoring in the traffic, the difficulty parking and the city's excellent public transport it really won't be worth the hassle. Use the car for a day trip outside the city by all means, but use the trains, buses and metro in Paris. The fact that you say that you're staying near a metro station means that public transport really couldn't be easier for you.

I know you say that the car rental was "only" €57 but I'd be very surprised if you spent that much between the two of you on public transport over two days. Buy a carnet of 10 tickets from a tabac or in a metro station (they work on the metro and on buses) and it costs about €11 - you'll be surprised how long it lasts.

This is good advice. Furthermore, you can get an app for your phone that does the following:

enter your starting station, finish station and the app tells you everything you need to know - what direction and where to change. It really is effortless.

lc180

athtrasna wrote: »

Beauvais airport is incredibly dire for shopping. Don't expect much.

I second this.

I once got to Beauvais airport about 2.5 hours before my flight and decided to go straight through security thinking there would be a bunch of shops and a bar/couple of cafes to keep me ocupied. Man was I wrong! Longest 2.5 hours of my life...

I've never used CDG before but I've heard that's a nightmare for totally different reasons too. Paris is great tho!

jjbrien

lc180 wrote: »

I second this.

I once got to Beauvais airport about 2.5 hours before my flight and decided to go straight through security thinking there would be a bunch of shops and a bar/couple of cafes to keep me ocupied. Man was I wrong! Longest 2.5 hours of my life...

I've never used CDG before but I've heard that's a nightmare for totally different reasons too. Paris is great tho!

Agee there but CDG or Orly still win hands down.

There is more shopping and places to eat in Busarus than there is in Beauvais plus far more seats in Busarus too. Imagine a shed with an over priced cafe and a nasty little gift shop in it. With seats for 50 but 600 people wanting to get on a plane and that is Beauvais to a tee

kingshankly

Beauvais is probably tge worst airport I have ever been in just a large shed really. Years ago there used to be an irish bar in a tent in tge car park across the road farcical stuff. Wouldn't really recommend driving to Paris traffic is awful and you'd want to be pretty experienced. The bus drops you in the city next to the metro. I got private transfers a couple of times to Disney still worked out cheaper than using cdg.
Enjoy Paris it never looses its charm no mater how many times you visit it's a stunning remarkable city

Lapin

jamo2oo9 wrote: »

We have already booked a car for hire for two days. We took it as it was more convenient than taking the buses and trains into the city centre. We're staying near the Metro Station, not far from Le Bourget Airport. The car was only 57E to rent for two days so I thought it would cheaper than taking buses and trains around the place.

If you're staying out in Le Bourget, then the car is the handiest means of getting to and from Beauvais. Its a fairly straight forward run.

But I'd park it up when you get there and take the advice above about using public transport to get around Paris.

Le Bourget is outside Paris and not served by the Metro. It is on Line B of the RER, (the rail network that connects Paris with its suburbs and outlying towns), which will take you into the Louvre area in about 15 minutes.

If you're only there for two days you'll end up cursing the car if you bring it into central Paris as it will take up most of your time there.

gramar wrote: »

Getting back to the airport you'll need to be at porte maillot 3 hours before your plane leaves.

Not necessarily.

While its true that buses with corresponding flight numbers leave 3 hours before that flight departs, you don't have to take that bus. If there is another flight going anywhere an hour or so after your flight, you can take the connecting bus for that one. I usually do this. It gives me an extra hour in Paris and an hour less out in Beauvais with time to spare out there. Handy to know, especially for early morning flights.

kingshankly wrote: »

Years ago there used to be an irish bar in a tent in the car park across the road farcical stuff.

Kitty O'Shea's.

In fairness, when Ryanair started using Beauvais, the place was little more than a forgotten airfield with very little commercial traffic. There was no bar in the place and the terminal was nothing more than a glorified nissen hut.

Overnight the place was seeing thousands of passengers a week coming through its doors. The bar (and a gift shop) was set up across the road in a marquee tent while the rest of the airport played catch up and was redevoloped to accommodate the massive increase in numbers. It remained there for a while after the terminal was built.

I don't think there was anyhing farcical about it at all. I was bloody glad of the place on many occasions while waiting on a plane.

Better than no bar at all.