To wrap up my quick Vienna getaway, I needed one night in Paris prior to my flight home. While I considered heading into the city, my short stay made that impractical. Thus, I sought out one of Charles de Gaulle’s airport hotels. This time, I decided to go budget by choosing the CitizenM Paris Charles de Gaulle Hotel. It’s very much basic accommodations, but for the price paid, I found it satisfactory for a short stay. I paid just €95.70 for a standard room without breakfast included. As a frame of reference, today’s prices aren’t much different, at €103.55 for the same dates this year.
citizenM Paris Charles de Gaulle Hotel
- 7 Rue de Rome, 93290 Tremblay-en-France, France
- Website: https://www.citizenm.com/hotels/europe/paris/paris-charles-de-gaulle-hotel
- Features: on-site restaurant, bar, iMacs for guest use, Chromecast TVs
What Is citizenM?
I hadn’t heard of citizenM prior to this trip, but it’s actually been around for a little while. Its first hotel opened at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in 2008, while it now counts 34 locations in its portfolio. In fact, 14 of these locations reside in the USA, all in larger metro areas. While the brand advertises itself as “affordable luxury hotels” if you Google it, “luxury” isn’t really an apt description. Rather, I find it akin to the original Ibis concept – budget accommodations targeting younger clientele with a somewhat avant garde design.
Currently, citizenM operates independently, and doesn’t belong to any of the major chains. The chain does operate its own “loyalty” program, though it’s really a discount card more than loyalty program. You can sign up for a membership for free. The only real benefits, though, are 5% discounts off standard rates, and a free welcome drink if you book through the app. You can also pay $12 a month/$120 a year for “My citizenM +”. This gets you, among other things, 15% off standard rates and food & drink purchases, along with free late check-out. So in other words, it’s really a prepaid coupon card. Personally, I don’t care for these schemes, as they largely lock you in to one chain. But I suppose if you like citizenM and plan on staying frequently, I guess you could find value in the program.
Location
The hotel is a short walk from the airport, but you have to get to Terminal 3 first. If arriving at Terminal 1, or the multitude of Terminal 2 concourses, first use the “CDGVal” train to T3. Once you get off the train, first follow the signs to Terminal 3 and the RER B.
Next, follow the signs to the bus station and citizenM, Hilton, and Ibis hotels.
As you step outside the doors, you’ll find yourself in a large open courtyard area. The Roissypole bus station is to the right.
Meanwhile, upon your return, the airport entrance looks like this.
Look straight ahead for the walkway. The left-hand side (right-hand side on return) is covered if it’s raining.
The citizenM is at the end of the walkway, less than 5 minutes from the terminal entrance. The building is quite unmistakable, with the big painting on the side.
The entire trip, from baggage claim at Terminal 2B to the hotel lobby, took about 25 minutes.
Date of stay: May 8, 2022
citizenM Paris Charles de Gaulle Hotel – Check-In and Common Areas
Upon entering, I found the automated check-in kiosks straight ahead. Before I even had a chance to use one, though, a staff member came by to help. After asking if I wanted to add breakfast (no thanks), she completed the process for me and handed me the key. I found the lobby itself quite – interesting. At first glance, it sure seems like they lifted the furniture out of an Air France lounge. I suppose that’s not a bad thing, since Air France lounges typically feature pretty stylish decor. Immediately upon entering are a couple of couches next to a common TV.
Behind this main lobby lounge is a “business center”, so to speak. It’s not really a business center, so much as iMacs for guest use. This also serves as the hotel’s kiosk check in area.
You’ll also notice a second seating area behind behind the communal computers. What will really catch your eye, though, is the avgeek-themed artwork in this area. Notably, the model airplane (I think a DC-3) hanging from the top cabinets.
A dining area behind that wall gives you a back view of the same plane.
This dining area does lack somewhat in utility, however. While one side of the divider has a long couch with tables, the couch on the other side has none. I imagine this makes it a little awkward to eat. And yes, that is a bookshelf full of books to borrow, which leads to another dining area up to the bar.
Speaking of the bar, it is right in front of the elevators, occupying most of the rear of the ground floor. It also doubles as the kitchen when food is served.
On the other side of the bar is another small dining area.
During breakfast hours, the back of the dining area features the hot buffet selection. Although the restaurant offers a la carte selections for lunch and dinner, breakfast is buffet only. Since I planned to visit the lounge before my flight, I didn’t buy breakfast on this stay. The current cost is 19 euro per person, whether purchased in advance or at the hotel.
Meanwhile, to the right of the bar before the elevators are a pair of “living room” areas. Both also continue the aviation theme, with a model zeppelin in one room, and a propeller on the wall in the other.
The guest room corridors carry on the modern theme of the lobby area. These feature eclectic artwork and floor design; the bright red and white even feels a little Virgin-esque.
citizenM Paris Charles de Gaulle Hotel – Guest Rooms
CitizenM keeps it simple when it comes to rooms. There’s one room type at one price, with only discounts for loyalty program members a differentiating point. Nicely, all rates feature free cancellation, up to 2 pm the day 0f arrival for regular rates, or 6 pm for My citizenM members (free or paid). There is, however, one potentially significant limitation. Rooms here include only one bed, with room for two people. Thus if traveling with the family, you likely need to book multiple rooms.
These rooms are quite cozy, measuring roughly 14 square meters. The room features a small bathroom to the left, a small closet and sink to the right, and the bed against the far wall. When I say small bathroom, I mean small. It’s essentially cruise ship size, with even the same half circle design.
The closet, meanwhile, includes a safe at the bottom. I guess this isn’t really intended for luggage storage, but about the only place for it is on top of the safe
The sink area also includes bath towels and a small refrigerator.
Among the items in the sink area is a small dental kit, with a toothbrush, travel-sized toothpaste, and mouthwash.
In front of the bed is a small table and chair to the right, and a nightstand to the left. While the small table really only has space for a lamp, the nightstand actually does have enough space to double as a small desk if you pull up the chair. Aside: that’s a really big bed for such a small room. It’s fairly comfortable, though, if a little on the firm side.
One very helpful feature in this room – universal power ports. There’s the standard European port, but also a UK port, and a North American one. Very helpful if you forgot your adapter, and something even most high-priced hotels don’t offer.
There are also two USB-A ports at the other end of the power strip.
Also on the nightstand is a tablet that controls the room lighting, TV, and climate control. The hotel actually does personalize these with each guest’s name, a nice touch.
Normally, I find these tablets of minimal value, but here, the controls are pretty easy to use. There are only 5 icons to deal with, and the controls are intuitive, and more importantly, large enough to see.
You can also control the blinds straight from the tablet. With the blinds fully down, they do pretty well black out light. In addition, soundproofing is decent, so you aren’t bothered by noise from CDG next door.
One of the more interesting controls is the one to change the lighting color. There’s pretty much limitless combinations to try, which changes the mood lighting by the shower. You’ll notice the purple lighting the first shower picture, which turned to electric blue after playing with the pad.
There’s one last Easter Egg to find in the room. Look at the foot of the bed by the TV; there’s a (rather fashionable) doll waiting for you.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t the sort of place I’d seek out, but for a short stay before a flight the next day, the citizenM got the job done. It’s hard to argue with 103 euro to stay a short walk from the airport. That’s a full 50 euro cheaper than the Hilton next door, a meaningful difference if you just need a bed to sleep in.
