Paris - Is there anywhere on the outskirts that's safe/cheap to stay?

[Rosacharmosa]

We are taking DD to disneyland paris in the Easter holidays and thought it might be a nice to do a day or so in Paris while we are there. However I'm not quite sure where to stay.

We will have the car (taking le shuttle from Folkstone) so staying somewhere very central probably won't work, aside from the cost!

I like the idea of an air bnb near to a train station so we can leave the car there and head into Paris by train, but I've read that quite a lot of the Paris suburbs aren't very safe?

Has anyone done anything similar or knows paris that could recommend anywhere? We are 2 adults and 1 child, happy to travel up to an hour.

I've done this. We actually stayed in a chain hotel on the outskirts of Chartres (think it was a Kyriad, not sure). That meant we got to see Chartres as well.

Trains to Paris from Chartres were surprisingly expensive, but much cheaper once you crossed into the Ile de France region, so we drove to a small town called Dourdan - pretty in itself, with free parking- and caught the RER into Paris.

Paris suburbs vary, but the sketchy ones are usually closer to the city. Perhaps you could stay in the vague Eurodisney area, in a location that's convenient for both there and the centre?

Chantilly is beautiful. Not especially cheap but very safe. Easy train straight into Paris.

I've just had a quick look at Google maps and Meaux for example looks good- a pretty town with lots of cheap chain hotels (don't know about the AirBnB situation), about 6-7 miles from Eurodisney, with Transilien trains into Paris Gare de l'Est that take about 30- 40 minutes.

Somewhere like Maisons Lafitte could work. But think that’s on wrong side of Paris. I took boys into Paris when they were young - much preferred it to Disneyland! We stayed in a simple hotel near Disneyland and logistically it worked well. Lots of nice parts of Paris. The French word for suburbs is banlieu which can be translated or rather imply rough housing estates…. Reality is Paris has a mixture a bit like London.

I did this and stayed in an Air BnB is Bussy St Georges. It was perfect for us, right by the train station. 10 mins to Disney and about half an hour to central Paris on RER Line A. It was a very small, quiet town but it had a large supermarket and a few restaurants.

We stayed once at the Novotel at Lac de Creteil (safe parking and pool). There is an Ibis there too. It's 30 mins to central Paris on RER.

We stayed near the Val d’Europe shopping centre twice. Once in the Adagio aparthotel and once we rented a lovely two bed apartment through VRBO. Walking distance to the RER and one stop or a bus ride to DLP and direct to central Paris.

We stayed in an Airbnb in Chelles during the Olympics and it was quite easy to get in and out of central Paris. A quiet residential area with a few restaurants and bars in the main street, not far from the station and with no problems parking. Anywhere on that line would probably work well.

Have you already booked your accommodation for the parks? It was a long time ago when we went, but we stayed in a rental apartment a couple of miles from the theme park and did a day travelling into Paris by train, I think from the station at Disney. So, staying in the same place to visit both. (Or is that what you meant? )

Montreuil is lovely.

We stayed in Versailles which was nice and safe and we went round the palace gardens. Parking was fine. Pretty easy train ride into Central Paris.

My dc loved Paris more than a day at Disney! It’s a fantastic city and much more memorable than imported American “fun”. I’d not take a car. Easier to go via tunnel and stay in Paris.

Sceaux . It’s not the cheapest but will be cheaper than paris. RER B so a few short stops into saint michel Luxembourg notre dame etc. it’s a very pretty town. A gorgeous park which is worth a visit and nice restaurants/ cafés.

That’s so far away though. It’s probably further than disney from Paris

30 minutes on the train. I've done the journey many times.

Yep, don't get fooled by the suburb mistranslation. Banlieues are not the equivalent of what we think of suburbs.

I live to the west of Paris, on the super fast RER line (20 mins from centre). Coming from Calais, you could stay in either ML as above OP says, or my branch line, Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Both are château towns w international communities and super posh. Anywhere up to Rueil-Malmaison would be fine (Empress Josephine's house is stunning and worth a visit. Then take the RER A to Disney.

Or, stay in Versailles if you want to visit the château there.

I agree with PP, no need for a car. It'll just get in the way.

Use shuttle buses to get to Disney if your hotel is not nearby, then book an air bnb in Central Paris. If you want to be outside the city a bit, the area around the Jardin d'Acclimatation on the edge of Bois de Boulogne is gorgeous (apparently some parts of Bois de B are unsafe but this part is very pretty, safe and neighbourly.)

I guess it depends whereabouts in UK OP lives, as to whether it's easier/cheaper for them to drive, or take the train. Otherwise, agree that the Eurostar would be most convenient option.