I have been in many airports, and would have to say that CDG, aside from having stunningly gorgeous terminals, the signage, organization, and a polite staff were completely missing. When we arrived, we eventually found our way to the terminal, after hounding any staffer who would pay us any attention at all. Aside from there not being much signage in English, the French was equally absent. Couldn't have been happier to leave that airport. That experience made me appreciate the complete organization of the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta. The busiest airport in the world, is also the easiest to navigate through.

Added to the transport problems between terminals the COMPLETE lack of smoking facilities makes CDG a no go transfer airport to me. Arriving at CDG after a 9 h flight and having less than an hour to your next flight on a different terminal is an experience you'd better miss...

The airport has serious organizational problems. The system of transferring passengers from one terminal to another by crowded bus and a maze of corridors without proper signposting and brusk staff is a nightmare. Then, on top of that, when you are already late and wondering what is happening, some of the staff behave like petty dictators. You could easily miss a connection through the lack of organization. Watch out. It's terrible, awful. A big contrast to Air France's good service on the plane. Shame. Did the architect get a prize? .... ought to be sued for the suffering that passengers have to go through. Someone should take responsibility and sort out this situation.

Chronic problems with ground handling at this airport, seem especially frustrating in the larger Terminal 2 since part of it collapsed and many flights now do not come directly to the terminal due to lack of gates. This can considerable slow down departures. The RER suburban train line that runs directly into Terminal 2 (very convenient) recently added a Terminal 1 stop, but beware--it does not drop you directly into the terminal building but stops at a station that then requires you to go up escalators and then climb into a shuttle bus to Terminal 1. Not very convenient if you have lots of baggage--better to take one of the city-to-airport bus services directly into the terminal.

CDG terminals have a very innovative architectural style that is bright, spacious and modern.

When faced with an arrival at one terminal and departure from another, navigating through the internal maze of corridors and halls can be uncertain and tedious due to the lack of clear signs along the path and it is easy to be delayed. Allow yourself extra time if possible, if not, save the architectural appreciation for your departure gate.