Up to now, I still couldn’t believe that I flew with a business class ticket in an AirFrance flight to Paris. It felt so good in the first few hours until the turbulence started. One time I slept soundly, then later on be awakened by the plane shaking, and sometimes by someone snoring nearby. It was still 6AM when the plane landed in Paris. I was so glad that the almost 14 hours flight was over. I definitely hate using the plane lavatory so the first thing that I looked for is the toilet. Stepping into Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport felt like getting into the Ninoy Aquino International Airport 2, but the toilets were much, much better, the area larger.

Before I left Singapore, I searched for a way to get to the hotel. I tried to book a bus ticket online but the transaction failed. I was worried about ending up paying for 50 euros for taxi because since this is a personal detour, I was on my own. Train was not an option for me either because of the warnings I got from my French colleagues. It took me about an hour to finally locate bus station, after of course getting directions from the information counter.

One lesson learned: don’t panic when you have not booked for a transfer from the airport to downtown Paris. One can buy it from the ticket outlet at the airport or from the bus driver. I took the Air France Bus and return ticket (Paris CDG -> Montparnasse -> Paris CDG) costs 27 euros. The Air France bus ticket outlet and station is located at Paris CDG Terminal 2F exit. I can’t remember it clearly but I think the bus stopped at another terminal. The trip from the airport to Montparnasse (the closest one to my hotel) took at least 30 minutes.

Breathing in the chilly air at 5 degrees Celsius felt so great. But I hated it after I walked through the streets of Paris for more than an hour looking for my hotel. It was so windy, my luggage so heavy, and the streets were almost deserted, which I later found out was because it was a Sunday and it was still too early. I asked a guy, who was the only one walking in the street I was on, he tried to help me but he didn’t speak English. I approached a lady who spoke fluent English but she was not from Paris either. Finally, I asked a security guard who gave me the information I needed. I was totally exhausted when I finally found the hotel. Check-in was supposed to be at 2PM but the receptionist was kind enough to allow me to arrange an early check-in for me.

I stayed at the Hotel Innova for two nights. I like it because it is close to one of the stops of the hop-on hop-off tour bus. The room was tiny but with the budget I had, it was good. Here’s the bed…

Here’s the really tiny bathroom that I bump into the walls everytime I take a shower…

And the hairdryer… classic!