Concerning the actual buying of the tickets... Since we'll be going from CDG to the Luxembourg stop (Zone 5 to Zone 1) do I need to specify the specifics of my ticket purchase? Or just tell them I need a 4 tickets (2 for the return).
Thanks
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What's unpleasant about taking AF's bus? I took this back in December and found it to be quite pleasant, without the concerns for safety that I sometimes I feel catching the RER 'B' at St-Michel/Notre-Dame or Gare-du-Nord.
What is unpleasant about taking the Air France bus is the fact that the French do not know how to stand in a line - anywhere. Everyone just tries to clamor aboard without any regard for the comfort or well being of his/her fellow passengers. I find this to be a French cultural difference. They refuse to form a queue anywhere we would normally think it appropriate - post office, grocery store, train station, theater, or, in particular the AIR FRANCE ROISSY BUS. This drives most Americans nuts but is something one must contend with when visiting France.
Take the RER B blue line to Paris. You can buy the ticket on a vending machine or at the ticket counter. Price is the same, machine is usually faster. I am not quite sure which station you have to get off. Probably either change trains from RER to metro at Chatelet or Les Halles and then get off at St. Germain des Pres, or, if it is closer to Jardin du Luxembourg or St. Michel you can take RER B directly there.
As I said, take RER B directly to Luxembourg, then walk. Should be no more than five minutes in a very nice area, no hills.
You probably walk by a Cafe that's called Rostand on the corner with Boulvd. St. Michel. Have a lait chaud vanille there. Delicious.
Thanks to everyone for suggestions and instructions on getting from CDG to Paris. It was as "adverstised" Jumped on the RER and got off at Luxembourg station and our hotel was a short 5 minute walk. Saw Cafe Rostand.
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It is not super easy to use but works. They say it will be between 45 and 59 Euros and between 25 and 29 minutes. The price differential is pretty huge. I suppose that accounts for extra passengers or pieces of luggage.
Anyway, consider my question answered. I hope the link helps some here.
They say it will be between 45 and 59 Euros and between 25 and 29 minutes. The price differential is pretty huge. I suppose that accounts for extra passengers or pieces of luggage.
No, I think it just accounts for the variability in traffic flow. Paris taxi fares are calculated using a combination of time and distance. Extra passengers and pieces of luggage have fixed fees that would then be added if needed.
I need to get my family (2 adults, 3 kids, oldest being 12) back and forth between CDG and Paris. It's been awhile, and I've been spoiled in other European cities by incredibly cheap public transport to the airport (one of the few bargains in Western Europe for Americans).
It doesn't appear that any of my options for CDG are particularly good value. The RER seems to be about 8 euros per adult (and the rules indicate my 12 year old is an adult -- is that actually enforced?) and about 5 1/2 euros for kids. That's about 35 euros (or more than US$50) for my family each way -- not the deal of a lifetime.
The Air France bus goes near our Etoile hotel and, if I purchase a roundtrip ticket and get a "group discount" (4 or more) it seems comparable in cost and perhaps slightly more convenient.
I also see I can't get 5 people into a Paris taxi, so that seems out of the question. I priced a couple "shuttle" services, but they seem at least twice the price of the RER or AF shuttle.
Does anybody have any other suggestions for family transport between CDG and Paris? Are there any family discounts I'm overlooking? I also looked at various Paris transport passes, but they don't seem to actually save you any money over buying your airport train tickets and then buying the carnets to ride the Metro during your Paris stay. Are there any private guys with, say, a minivan, that I could hire for 40 or 50 euros to get to the airport?
iahphx, at the airport you will be able to get a mini-van style taxi that will take all five of you. There will be an extra fee for passengers 4 and 5 (€2.80 each, I think).
If the AF bus goes near your hotel, that would be much more hassle-free and comfortable than the RER.
iahphx, at the airport you will be able to get a mini-van style taxi that will take all five of you. There will be an extra fee for passengers 4 and 5 (€2.80 each, I think).
If the AF bus goes near your hotel, that would be much more hassle-free and comfortable than the RER.
Thanks -- that "minivan taxi" is what I had in mind. When I crunch the numbers using current prices, it looks like both the RER and the AF Bus would cost about 40 Euros (US$60), and I'd still have to hoof it to my hotel. Seems like a lousy deal for a family -- although, as you say, I think the AF Bus would be better for me than the RER.
Does anyone have any current pricing info for the minivan? I hope it's not too much more than 50 euros.
The mini-van should be the same price as the regular taxi, see my post above. PLUS the added Louie mentioned.
I suppose it would come in around 60Euro once all is paid.
I think this is totally worth it being that you are with three kids and luggage. I wouldn't do it any other way. No sense in tiring everybody out as soon as you arrive. Not a good way to start the trip. First impressions are so important. You will also be tired and possibly the kids (or even you and your wife) might be cranky after the long flight and waiting for luggage. The Taxi is faster and much more convenient. In this case it is totally worth the extra money in my eyes.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by iahphx
Does anyone have any current pricing info for the minivan? I hope it's not too much more than 50 euros.
It will depend on day of the week (Sundays and holidays are more), time (nights and rush hour are more), and traffic. Northern/eastern locations probably average 50 EUR -- less say midday on Tuesdays with no traffic. Southern/western locations could be more. I'd estimate 55-60 EUR, particularly with extra pax and luggage.
I think this is totally worth it being that you are with three kids and luggage. I wouldn't do it any other way. No sense in tiring everybody out as soon as you arrive. Not a good way to start the trip.
Well, we're only coming from MAD so we shouldn't be too tired. And I'm sure we'll get to the MAD airport by train, as I think the fare is only like 2 euros.
Quote:
Originally Posted by aamilesslave
It will depend on day of the week (Sundays and holidays are more), time (nights and rush hour are more), and traffic. Northern/eastern locations probably average 50 EUR -- less say midday on Tuesdays with no traffic. Southern/western locations could be more. I'd estimate 55-60 EUR, particularly with extra pax and luggage.
We're arriving midday and staying near the Arc de Triomphe, so hopefully it will be on the low end of this range. I hate to pay $85 to get from the airport, but I must say I'd hate even more to pay $60 to take a bus and THEN walk!
To get back, is it easy to have hotel reception call a minivan taxi? Same price for all companies, right (like I don't need to make sure I get an affordable one)? My flight out of CDG leaves around 9:30 am. Am I correct in assuming that traffic OUT of Paris is not bad in "rush hour"?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SeAAttle
A general question about taxis in Paris, but specifically for CDG into the city: Do they take credit cards or is cash only the norm?
Well, Taxis G7 are supposed to accept credit cards, whether booked through the call center or just taken in the queue at CDG. If they don't and you complain, they can be suspended or lose their G7 affiliation altogether.
The process I have experienced when I take a taxi at CDG and do not book with G7 is as follows:
- ask before boarding if the taxi accepts credit cards
- be told that there are ATMs where you can take cash
- disregard the comment and say that I really want to charge it to a credit card
- ask the next drivers whether they accept credit cards; this usually is not a problem as long as I haven't entered into a shouting match with the first cab driver
Note that ORY is different, though, as you have a mix of Parisian Taxis, the only ones allowed to take customers at CDG, and local taxis. The fare structure varies between the two categories and the Parisian Taxis at ORY can refuse to take you to suburban destinations, IIRC.
As my taxi charges out of CDG at night are usually above EUR 100, I have never had a shortage of taxi drivers willing to take my credit card.
I took this back in December and found it to be quite pleasant, without the concerns for safety that I sometimes I feel catching the RER 'B' at St-Michel/Notre-Dame or Gare-du-Nord.
Everyone just tries to clamor aboard without any regard for the comfort or well being of his/her fellow passengers. I find this to be a French cultural difference. They refuse to form a queue anywhere we would normally think it appropriate - post office, grocery store, train station, theater, or, in particular the AIR FRANCE ROISSY BUS. This drives most Americans nuts but is something one must contend with when visiting France.
And I'm sure we'll get to the MAD airport by train, as I think the fare is only like 2 euros.
