Arrival and Departure Dates
Arrival for the January Europe and Islam program is Thursday, December 28, 2017. Students should arrive to Paris on this day no later than 3 pm, as there is an afternoon walking tour that all participants are expected to attend.
Students will depart from Istanbul, Turkey, on Sunday, January 14, 2018, according to individual schedules.
Airports
There are two major airports in Paris: Charles de Gaulle and Orly. The Charles de Gaulle airport is also referred to as CDG or Roissy. Most students will arrive at Charles de Gaulle. Please make sure you know which airport you are arriving to. If you are coming directly from the US, you will arrive at CDG. If you are travelling within Europe or if you are not coming from a North American destination, you could be arriving at Orly, or even at Beauvais Airport (only RyanAir flights).
To ensure we meet you at the airport, please fill out this form with flight information if you have not already.
We will meet you at the airport, but not in baggage claim or before you have gone through customs and/or immigration. We will meet you outside of these areas after you exit customs/immigration.
Your bags may decide to take a later flight (don’t panic). If the airline loses your luggage you must file a report with the airline while you are still in the baggage area. It is much more difficult to file this report once you’ve left the baggage claim area.
If your flight is delayed, please make sure to call the CISabroad Emergency phone so that we can inform our onsite team of your delay. We will do everything we can to pick you up from the airport, even if your flight is delayed, but if we cannot meet you there, we will provide you with detailed information on how to take transportation to your housing.
A Pre-Arrival sheet will be e-mailed to you 1-2 weeks before you arrive onsite. This will contain more detailed information on your arrival as well as specific phone numbers and contact information if there are any issues with your flight or airport pickup.
One important thing to keep in mind is that the Paris airports are VERY far from the city center, and transportation can be complex and costly. Also, please plan on travelling for 1½ to 2 hours to arrive to your destination.
Plan Ahead
- Be sure to check your flight itinerary to know where your flight will arrive. There are several terminals at Charles de Gaulle: Terminal 1; Terminals 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E and 2F; and Terminal 3.
- Be sure you can walk long distances up and down stairs with your luggage, especially if you are planning to take the train/metro or bus options.
- You should arrive to Paris with sufficient Euros in cash to pay for your transport to the city, a phone card, etc. Most taxis and buses will not accept credit cards, while the train ticket counter might. If you reserve a shuttle, you can pay by credit card.
- Reservations: follow signs for the Air France coach at the airport, or ask information where the closest stop is to your arrival gate.
Terminal 1: Exit 32 on the Arrivals level
Terminal 2A-2C: Exit C2
Terminal 2E-2F: Gallery level, Entrance 3
Terminal 2G: This terminal is linked to Terminal 2F (Entrance 2.10) by the free N2 shuttle bus. The N2 shuttle bus runs from 05:30 to 23:00 (11pm).
Maximum service frequency: every 6 minutes.
Average journey time: 15 minutes
Terminal 3: get off at Terminal 1 and take the free CDGVAL shuttle train to the Terminal 3 stop.
- Payment: 15 Euros – purchase your tickets in cash on the bus.
- Duration: About 45mn – 1.5 hours (depending on traffic)
- GARE DE LYON: This is your stop!
- Our hotel is located at 31 Bis Diderot (Ibis Gare de Lyon Diderot – click here for a map)
AIR FRANCE SHUTTLE BUS: The Air France shuttle bus is accessible to everyone, even if you are not flying on an Air France flight. It stops in front of Gare de Lyon at 20 bis, Blvd Diderot (the bus stop is well labeled “Air France Shuttle Bus”) and it costs 15 Euros one-way. There is another stop at Montparnasse, on the Rue du Commandant Muchotte, next to the Meridien Hotel – you DON’T want that one!
***METRO STOP: Line 1 or 14: Gare de Lyon (exit rue Legraverend).
For extra information on airports around the world, including maps and estimated arrival times, check out Flightstats.com.