I am not familiar with Paris Shuttle-perhaps they are quite good.

I am familiar with the many posts about shuttle services from CDG in general. They tell of how great they are, until the time they don't pick you up as planned and you're left wandering around the airport on jetlag wondering what happened. Sort of like the great motorcycles stories that always seem to end with the accident.

As I indicated, maybe Paris Shuttle always comes through-I just don't know.

So what is the best way to get from CDG to Trocadero, and how long would it take? I'd be arriving either at 0600 or 0755 on a Thursday morning and meeting a friend there for breakfast. I would only have a bookbag. It looks like I could either take the AF shuttle to Etoile and connect to Metro 6 to Trocadero, or the RER to Chatelet and then metros 1 and 6. How bad would rush hour traffic be at that time of day?

RER from CDG
 

It is easy to catch the RER from CDG as there are signs giving directions throughout the airport.

I have arrived at CDG at 7AM several times and found that the RER was not crowded leaving CDG as that is/was the starting point. Cost to Denfort Stop on RER B is 8,7 Euros and I think that is the standard cost from/to CDG from/to anywhere in the 2 Paris zones.

Although the RER was not crowded when we embarked, once the train started moving and picking up passengers, it became more crowded. However it was not overcrowded and was OK. We each had a carry-on rolling suitcase and backpacks, and had seats all the way.

Overall, we have found the RER less crowded than the Metro during rush hour. I cannot speak about the Metro in the AM to your destination. However, I think that it would travel the RER/Metro method rather than land travel for cost and time.

The cost of a RER trip from CDG to any station in zone 1 is the same.
Then, the fastest from CDG to Trocadero by RER would involve RER A between Chatelet and Charles de Gaulle.
The crowd in public transport depends on the line you are using and when.
RER B can be over crowded inside Paris at high peak hours (8:30-9:15). At peak hours, you will have a metro or RER every 2 mins in Paris (5-10 mins at CDG).

About the Car AF, I wouldn't take it if you arrive at 0755 due to the traffic jams on highways to Paris.

I am working off a list of transport companies the my hotel site provided. So far two of them that the hotel lists require CC to reserve, but they report you have to pay the driver cash - http://www.shuttle-inter.com and http://www.parisairportservice.com/.

www.parishuttle.com has allowed me to book and reserve with CC online and that appears to be the payment that will be used. More expensive, but I am not sure I want the extra 100 Euro on me for the whole trip when I can just pay via CC. Will keep this saga updated.

Just came back from a trip to Paris (not my first), although, it was my first time taking the Air France shuttle- took it from Paris (Gare de Lyon) to CDG. Taking the shuttle was rather easy, and if ever friends or family were traveling to Paris for the first time, I'd recommend they take the Air France shuttle over the RER (at least to get to Paris). The shuttle is safe, convenient, and relatively cheap. The shuttle is only 16.50 euros for a one way, and about 25 euros for a round trip. Cash payable to the driver. There's someone to load and unload your heavy bags into the storage area of the bus for you.

Taking the shuttle from Paris to CDG, the bags were separated in the storage compartments depending on which terminal and gate people were being dropped off at. Best to look all that info up before you head to CDG. Once we got to CDG, there was someone to offload our luggage there as well.

At CDG, I disembarked the shuttle just as a Disney Paris charter bus was picking up people from CDG. Poor souls taking the Disney charter bus had to load their own luggage into the storage compartments of the Disney bus. Seeing that made me appreciate the value of the Air France shuttle bus.

The Air France shuttle doesn't stop at too many locations. I had to get from the Chatalet/ Hotel de Ville area to Gare de Lyon, which was the closest shuttle stop to me. Taking the metro to Gare de Lyon would've required me to haul a 50 lb bag up and down the stairs of the metro, which I was trying to avoid. So, I took a taxi from the Chatalet/ Hotel de Ville area to Gare de Lyon.

A side note about the taxi company G7 which was mentioned upthread: the website requires a French mobile number to make a reservation online because the website will send a text to the mobile number with a code as a verification step. Since I didn't have a mobile number that worked, I called G7 to make a reservation for 9AM. The guy at G7 told me there would be a 5 euro surcharge for pickup reservations of between 7-9AM. I asked for a revised pickup reservation at 9:30 AM. He then said the surcharge actually applied to all pickup requests between 7-10AM. Rather than deal with that nonsense, I just took a chance and chose to walk towards the closest metro station hoping to catch a taxi. Not a minute after I started walking, I was able to get a taxi. The taxi from the Hotel de Ville area to Gare de Lyon ended up costing around 13 euros. MUCH LESS than the 25-35 euros quoted online and over the phone by taxi company G7.

The Air France shuttle pickup location at Gare de Lyon was actually a little tricky to find though. It's not marked in any visible way from a distance, and it was surrounded by bus stops for other buses. I had to ask the info kiosk within the station for help. I only knew I had the right location b/c there was an info sign in the interior of the bus stop discussing the Air France shuttle.

Good to get some current info on the Paris-CDG trip-thanks for the detailed report.

We used the AF buses for several years from Arc de Triomphe stop. They used to go every 15 minutes but when the price of gas shot up a few years ago, they raised the price and cut service to every 30 minutes. We had a few very long trips due to the longer wait for the bus, heavy traffic (especially in-bound on weekday mornings, which of course is the same for all over-road travel), and long stops, both for pick-ups at CDG and drop-offs at the first stop Porte Maillot. Our last in-bound trip took almost 2 hours from when we stepped outside the terminal to when we got off the bus, and the buses were often crowded, more so due to the switch to fewer buses. The AF buses probably still offer the best balance of a quality ride and price, especially for the single traveler. Good call in avoiding the Metro with a big bag, more so at Chatalet, though many French lug those big babies up and down those stairs.

Trying to hail a cab on the street in Paris for a time critical connection is a bad bet, and I'm glad it worked out in this case for you. A big YMMV on this one. Were you staying at a hotel? Hotels will usually arange a cab which can help on language and cell phone issues. Your contact at G7 must have had the rules wrong, as their English website says the res costs 5€ from 7-10, M-F.

Finally, I would note that with 2 people instead of 1, the trip to CDG is approaching 50 €, which isn't enough savings from a expected 60-75 € cab ride to get me to transfer to the AF bus.

You also have the Roissybus from Opéra direct to CDG. It is less than 10€/pers and runs every 15 min. Ok, you don't have a member of staff loading your luggage as it is a regular long bus.

I see theres the AF or the metro. I'm traveling from CDG at 8am and don't have to be back until 6pm the next day. I'm probably going to stay at the Hilton ADT . I'm traveling with my wife and two children and of course a lot of luggage.

Don't know why nobody has mentioned it but I'm looking at hiring a car from the airport drive and go where I want to and park at the hotel overnight. The AF is going to costs me 2 adults 2 child maybe 70euro return ? I can get a car for that price.

You need to do some research.

First, the Metro does not go to CDG.

Second, I wouldn't stay at CDG unless I had an early flight the next day. It's an outpost that will take you 40 to 90 minutes to traverse to the city, and the same to get back, no matter which method you use. As someone pointed out above, staying in town will give you a place for you and your family to rest. It will also allow you to stay in Paris later in the evening, which is spectacular in itself.

Third, you may be able to get a car for $70 if you're talking about parking at the Hilton ADT, I'd find out what that costs, as it's likely pretty high. Also, consider pricing the lost time to get a rental car, figure out driving into Paris etc. The last cabs I took from CDG to Paris were 40 and 55 Euros-I'd suggest that you find a larger cab (they're called a "brique"-like an SUV or crossover vehicle, but they cost the same as the smaller ones)-and use a cab to get back too (you're hotel can get you one if you book in advance).

From what I can see, parking at the hotel will run you 35 euros.

Why not just take a taxi from the airport? A "Break" or "Monospace" is like a mini-van and will have plenty of room for you. Less hassle overall and will probably cost you the same or less than getting a car, not to mention saving you aggravation from the traffic.

Thanks guys mayBe that is a better option. I was looking at a car from hertz getting a good deal for 40euro per day I figured two days plus parking 100euros. Same as a cab and I can go where I like.
Never been to Paris

If you spend anytime researching your first trip, you will discover that you don't want to rent a car to visit Paris. It would be crazy. Any alternative is better than that. Unless you're a high-roller, you'll probably find public transport, mostly the Metro, to be more than satisfactory.

EUR 20 with 2 passengers OW but EUR 31 OW if you are travelling solo.

In addition to the stated reason above for not renting a car in Paris, this option would reduce your already limited time for the city: determining routes, getting lost, traffic, finding parking, etc.