Most of the hotels at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport are located at Roissypole, which is the ground transportation hub roughly halfway between Terminals 1 (the flying saucer) and Terminal 2. The only hotel that is directly accessible from one of the terminals is the Sheraton over the railway station in Terminal 2.
Location
The CitizenM at Roissypole is hard to miss. After you leave the station building through the western exit, you just keep on walking and the hotel is straight up ahead. It’s about three minutes on foot.
Check-In
The check-in at the CitizenM hotels is supposedly self-service, which suits me fine. Even so, no sooner have I started the process that two of the hotel’s friendly staff more or less pounce on me and offer to help, so that eventually, the three of us check me in collaboratively. Once I’m checked in, my room number is displayed on screen or I can have it printed on my receipt.
The CitizenM hotels, of course, are known for their usually moderate prices and their designer furniture, provided by the Vitra company, which holds the European licence to manufacture some iconic designs like the famous Eames Lounger.
The CitizenM Staff & Service
One thing that always strikes me at the CitizenMs is that the staff are usually quite young and genuinely friendly, even though I’m quite sure their contracts probably aren’t that great. Interactions are limited to the people at reception and the breakfast staff.
CitizenM High Floor Room
My room is up on the third floor and faces south. It always impresses me that wherever you go, the rooms at the CitizenM always look more or less the same, with only small differences to distinguish them. The rooms are fairly small and best suited for individual use. Although I guess you can also make it work with two adults, but it’s tight.
Right behind the entrance to the room there’s a narrow wardrobe, which suggests that the room is not intended for anyone planning a longer stay. There’s also hardly any room to store a suitcase.
Right after the wardrobe comes the toilet and shower unit, with the sink on the opposite side. Straight up ahead is the bed, which stretches from side to side.
The view from my room is not bad and looks out onto the taxiway that leads to the sprawling apron of Terminal 2. Although, granted, the traffic is a bit monotonous. It’s mostly either Air France or Easyjet. The CitizenMs are generally quite well insulated for noise.
And so, we come to the toilet and shower unit with its funky mood lighting, and the Knight of Malta shower test: the easiest way to tell the age of your CitizenM, is actually the shower. The older properties have a shower curtain, whereas the newer ones have a glass door.
Alas, this establishment was one of the first in France, hence the shower curtain. And it’s not good. Water pressure and temperature control are great, but the spillage is very bad, caused mainly by the spray. As a result, it’s either mopping it up with the extra towel or having to sit on the toilet with wet feet.
CitizenM Dining
The CitizenM breakfast is something I always greatly enjoy. It’s quite an extensive spread with a good variety of hot and cold dishes. It’s also possible to get lunch or dinner at the restaurant, although choices are quite limited and most dishes taste as though they were pre-fabricated and just warmed up in the microwave.
Conclusion
Over the years I’ve stayed at many CitizenMs, and I’ve always enjoyed my stays. I think their hotels manage to strike a delicate balance, offering stylish and comfortable accommodations, usually in great locations, that are moderately priced.
Yes! We have a double appearance of the Rimowa.
Which in your opinion is the best airport hotel at CDG?
I think previously I would have said the Pullman at Roissypole, but that appears to have changed hands and I haven’t been back since. Which basically leaves the CitizenM, really. The Hilton is ancient and they haven’t done any work on it in a long time. And the Sheraton at T2 is the same.
Good to know. I must say, in my younger days I never understood the use case for airport hotels but now appreciate they really do come in handy when you have a very late arrival or a departure the next morning at oh my god o’clock.
You make it sound like you’re ancient. In any case, probably most people prefer staying in a hotel close to the city. However, in places like Paris, where the city is quite far out, sometimes you may simply not want to travel all the way into the city – especially if you’re only there on a layover.
That’s because I am ancient. 😉
In my younger days I would schlep it all the way in to the city for a city hotel, even with a late night arrival and early departure, just because I didn’t see the value proposition of airport hotels. But I appreciate them now a lot more.
Not bad for an airport hotel, even if a bit on the small side.