Charles de Gaulle International Airport

The Charles de Gaulle International Airport is located 25 km from the center of Paris. It accessible via both A1 and A3. If you are planning to drive to the Charles de Gaulle International Airport from Paris Porte de la Chapelle, you will take A1 to Exit 6, which is marked "Aeroport Paris-Charles de Gaulle." Unless you run into traffic problems, this trip will take around 30 minutes. If you are heading to the airport from Porte de Bagnolet, then you will take A3 to Exit 3, which will take you to A1. From A1 you will take Exit 6 and proceed as mentioned above. This trip will also take around 30 minutes.

While driving to the airport is not that difficult, once you get there you will have to find a parking lot and pay to park your car. You may find it more convenient to take public transportation. The Roissy Bus service runs a shuttle from the Paris Opera to the Charles de Gaulle International Airport. For an affordable price, you can avoid the hassle of dealing with your vehicle once you arrive at the airport.

You may also find it convenient to take the train to the airport. The TGV High Speed Train has a direct link train to the Charles de Gaulle airport from the SNCF French Railways station. The train takes you to Terminal 2, and from the terminal you can take shuttles to any other terminal you may need to access. You can also use a taxi to get to the airport.

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Once you have arrived at the airport, the first thing you will need to do is check in for your flight. It is important to arrive well ahead of your departure time so that you will have sufficient time to check in. If you are traveling internationally, you will want to have at least three hours from the time you arrive at the airport until you need to board your plane. For travel within the European Union, two hours should be sufficient.

When you check in, you will want to have your bags ready to be checked. Present your passport to the ticketing official along with your reservation information. Answer the questions you are asked and confirm your seat. Then you are ready to head to the security gate. If you need to change your currency, you will find currency exchange ATMs near the check in counter and also in the terminals.

Many airlines will allow you to check yourself in at a self-service kiosk. If your airline allows you to do this, take advantage of this service. You will save time and get to your gate quicker if you do. If you have questions, there will be personnel available to answer them.

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The security checkpoint at the Charles de Gaulle International Airport is an important part of your travel experience. You are allowed to take a bag with you on the plane as a carry on. This bag must not have any pointed items in it, such as scissors or tweezers. You also may not have items that could be used as a weapon, including blunt items that could be used to hit someone. You also may not pack pretend or replica weapons, including toys. Your carry on cannot weigh more than 5 kg.

Before you head through the security checkpoint, take a moment to make sure that you have all of your documents in hand. If you have a visa or passport allowing you to leave France and enter the country you will be visiting, then have that ready. If you are a French citizen, your ID card is sufficient as long as you are not leaving the European Union. Otherwise, you will need to have at least a passport in order to leave the country.

If you are traveling within the European Union, you will not have to fill out any formal customs papers. However, you will need a passport or ID card in order to enter your destination country. There are currently 27 countries in the European Union that allow this freedom of travel.

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Once you are in the Charles de Gaulle International Airport, you will find several services that will help make your travels more comfortable and free of hassle. Terminals 1 and 2 both have prayer areas, which are quiet areas set aside for people of religion to spend time in reflection and prayer. These areas are non-denominational and are appropriate for people of any religious belief.

The Charles de Gaulle International Airport also has two post office areas, one in Terminal 1 and one in Terminal 2. Here you can buy stamps and mail letters or postcards. Also, you can visit the Renapur stations to have your leather clothing serviced. These stations will shine your shoes or do repairs to other leather clothing items.

If you find that you need medical attention while at the airport, you will want to head to one of the medical centers. There is one in each terminal, as well as at the arrival area. These are open 24 hours a day and are staffed with nurses and medical personnel that can help you assess your situation to determine if you need further medical treatment. There are also three drugstores in the airport that you can use to purchase first aid supplies and over the counter medications when needed.

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If you are traveling through the Charles de Gaulle International Airport for business reasons, you will want to bring your laptop with you. While you are in the terminal, you can be checking email and getting ready for your big presentation. You will find several work areas throughout the terminals in the Charles de Gaulle airport where you can plug in your computer and organize your materials while you work.

You can also access Wi-Fi Internet with a special Wi-Fi card that you can purchase at the Relay Newsagents stores. If your laptop is Wi-Fi ready, you can be utilizing every minute that you are waiting for your flight. If you do not have a Wi-Fi enabled computer, look for the Internet access points throughout the terminals in the duty-free and public areas.

If you are traveling with a group of people for business reasons, consider saving time by having your meeting at the airport. You can all fly in to the Charles de Gaulle International Airport, have your meeting, and then catch your flight home in one day. There are rooms and offices that can be rented for one to fifty people, depending on what your needs are. You can also rent sound and audio-visual equipment to help with your meeting. The airport also offers a full catering service for business meetings held in their facilities.

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If you are traveling for pleasure rather than business, the Charles de Gaulle International Airport gives you several entertainment options to help you pass the time while you wait for your flight, especially if you are waiting with children. Guilli is a play area for younger children. Older children will want to head over to the PlayStation areas, where they can play their favorite video games in individual kiosks throughout the terminal. These kiosks are free of charge, and are provided as a way to let the kids burn some energy while waiting for your flight.

Besides these organized play areas, the terminals at the Charles de Gaulle International Airport also have several free play areas. Toddlers will enjoy the handling game modules, which are large, colorful walls with games built right in. The conventional play areas have attractions such as ball pits, toboggans, and climbing equipment. Parents will not need to worry, because the conventional play areas are on impact absorbing floors to keep the kids safe while they burn off their energy.

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Any time you travel, there is always someone asking you to bring them back a gift or souvenir. At the Charles de Gaulle International Airport, you have several places you can shop for any gifts or travel items you may have overlooked during your travels. From fragrances to skincare, everything the lady in your life needs is available at the airport. Beauty stores include Beauty Unlimited, Multistore, and Men's Lounge.

If you would rather bring home some fine French wines or foods, consider shopping at Paris Gourmand, Gastronomie, Pure and Rare, or French Days. You could purchase smoked duck breast, fine chocolates, or fine wines from the airport, without the need to pay tax on these products. If you would rather shop for the latest electronics, consider shopping at Virgin, which has electronics, movies, and music. Sometimes when you fly, you will arrive at the airport and realize that you have forgotten your reading material. You can purchase reading material at Virgin as well.

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While you are waiting for your flight, take some time to enjoy some of the food that France is famous for. From cafes to bars to fine restaurants, just about every type of food you want is available at the Charles de Gaulle International Airport. In Terminal 1 you can get a drink at the Caffe Ritazza or the Bar du Point de Rencontre. The Hippopotamus and La Terresse de Paris restaurants provide you with the chance to sit down and enjoy a quiet meal before your flight. If you are in a hurry, you can grab a bite to eat at Bar Manhattan, the Café Londres, Brioche Doree, or McDonalds.

Terminal 2 offers even more dining options. There are fifteen bars in this terminal, including the Bill Bentley Pub, L'Amuse Bouche, France Café Expresse, and the Illy Café. You can sit down and enjoy your dinner at the Brasserie Flo, Fontaine des Halles, Salmon House, or Hippoptamus, among other restaurants. Of course, this terminal also has fast food options, including Pizza Hut, Maxim's bar, TJ's Café, Columbus Café, and Paul.

While Terminal 3 has the least amount of food options, it does have two bars and two restaurants. The bars are Caffe Ritazza and Bar de I'escale. The restaurants are L'Escale Parisienne and Pergola Café International.

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If you are traveling through the Charles de Gaulle International Airport and have special needs, you will have your needs met by the airport staff. Before your flight, be sure to inform the airline of your special needs. This will ensure that the assistance you require will be available on your flight. Be sure to allow yourself enough time to get to your gate and make your connections with your disability. The staff of your airline will make sure that you get to your gate and make your connections, but you will want to ask for this help. You are able to keep your wheelchair with you and check it at the gate so that you will be as comfortable as possible. Remember to board early so that you can store your wheelchair before the rush for seats on the plane begins.

All of the amenities in the airport are adapted for wheelchair users. Restrooms are equipped with larger stalls for wheelchair users, and the shuttle busses at the airports are equipped with ramps and wheelchair spaces. The public phones are low enough for wheelchair users to access, and there are waiting areas throughout the terminals specifically for those needing special assistance.

If you have a hearing impairment, be sure to inform the staff about it so that they can alert you when it is time to board your plane. You will find information desks in Terminals 1 and 3 that are equipped with a magnetic loop that you can use with your hearing aid. Also, messages in sign language are broadcast through the airport's TV media system. The goal of the staff at the Charles de Gaulle International Airport is to make your trip as smooth as possible.

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