Yes, the market is definitely worth the time. It is like going to a museum of local culture: cheese, freshly baked pastries, horse meat, rotisserie chicken, women trying on lingerie, etc. Also, along the near-by Commerce street there are a lot of small shops, restaurants and caffes. Mostly local crowd, very entertaining. The metro stop, Grenelle- La Motte,is a major crossing of tree major lines which would take you just about to any touristy place in Paris. It is a very easy commute. Enjoy!

horse meat

That market is on Sundays not Saturdays.

Agree with Smooth but the transfer bus from T1 to the central RER is chaotic. Best to make sure your flight lands into T2 which has an 'in-house' TGV / RER station and can be walked to with a trolley if necessary. T1 to T2 transfer can also be a complete pain and can take 30 minuts to an hour. Also the stop is outside and cold/wet if having to wait in the winter.

The T2 route is simple and straightforward but if money is not a problem then use the taxi but be ready to queue. It is far easier.

If it helps this is the number of a taxi driver I use in Paris: Mr Issadi +33(0)6 60 99 96 33 who will pick you up from arrivals if you ook in advance. I have found him reliable. Beware if booking by phone Parisien taxis will frequently charge you the cost of coming to fetch you ie the meter runs from the time they leave till the time they drop you off. If travelling from the airport fix a price in advance.

If this is the Holiday Inn (Holiday Inn Express) I think it is, ie the small one, then go for the highest floor possible facing onto the road directly outside the entrance since this gives a great romantic view of the Eiffel tower lit up at night. Lower floors have this view masked by other buldings.

My worst adventure was trying to get from our office in La Defense to the Eurostar at Gare du Nord via metro/RER...at rush hour...with a suitcase wider than the entry turnstyles in the metro station...with my boss, who is claustrophobic. Having to change trains twice, and then run the 800m dash to get to the actual Eurostar boarding, then upstairs, then down the ramps...phew!

Next time we'll take a taxi, even if it is rush hour.

Anyone know when "rush hour" is in Paris?

My daughter, age 9, and I will arrive CDG on British Midland about 1:00 p.m. We will be going to the rue cler area with three carry-ons. Any ideas for us?

Thanks,

Dick

Groundhogbrit writes: "best to make sure your flight lands into T2 ".
It made me smile. How do you reason with the pilots to land at T2? Should I explain to them that T2 is more convinient for RER connections? United Airlines insists on using T1 every time I fly to CDG.
Jokes aside, if I am to try to get from T1 to T2, how do I do it ( short of asking the pilots to give me a ride on B777 )? Is there a shuttle? Where does it stop at T1? How is it marked? Is it true that it might take up to an hour to transfer between the terminals?
For THEPLA: I'd second an earlier suggestion of asking for a room on the top floor, with a view. You can see the Eiffel Tour, and the market is right under your windows. Have fun in Paris! And when you get back, would you please let us know what transportation have you ended up using to get to the hotel. Good luck!

I just got back and will give a recap on the commute to/from CDG. When we arrived, I admit being very "green" and new to Paris I took a cab to the hotel. We hooked up with another couple that flew in from FL and the four of us got a cab for 300 francs. It was hard to get a cab to take four people. The meter said 218 francs but somehow we had to pay 300. That was the last cab we took. The metro/train system is awsome and easy to get anywhere for 8 francs. We bought a 10 ticket for 55 francs to last the long weekend. On the way home we took a metro to an RER for 48 francs each directly to the airport in about an hour. If you have more bags than you can carry up and down stairs easily do not take the trains. One side note on the trains, get a train/metro map and in about 5 seconds you can get anywhere. Just follow color/numbers and always look at the map to see the final destination for your line/direction. Once in the station just follow the signs to that line and direction.

Getting from T1 to T2, here is a lil' secret if you have no checked luggage:

As you exit your satellite, head into the tunnel as if you were going to Satellite 3. There, you'll see a door taking you down to tarmac level. There is a "tarmac" bus that will take you, via the taxiways, to Term. 2. You'll get off runway side at Term. 2 and you can clear customs/immigration there if you need to. It's fast and quite fun.

I am fascinated by the idea of a bus from Sat 3 to CDG2. I had never heard of it. If it works, and I intend to try it on 10 Nov, I will be overjoyed. the haul over to the RER station is a joke. It is worth having change where poss for the ticket machine as the queues are horrendous.

Anyone know when "rush hour" is in Paris?


Rush hour in Paris kicks off at about 5, and is at its worse between 6 and 7. That is a great time to arrive as it should be pretty quiet then. It may be worth considering a cab on the way there. Beware anyone approaching you in the Terminal, and the "Taxis" immedately a the the door, make sure that you get a proper Taxi Parisien. If the interior resmbles an ash try on wheels, reject it there's plenty more where they came from.

I smiled when I read that thelpa paid FF300 as I thought it should be about that. They charge you for every single bag. Thanks to all for some excellent tips, I usually arrive in Paris late and jump into a cab in order to get from door to door without tramping round stations. I will be training/busing it into Paris this friday as I am in no particular hurry, and the traffic will be slow going at 9.00am

Interesting that after all that advice, you took a taxi!! At any rate, for what its worth after the fact, for newbies to Paris who don't want to get ripped off, and are terrified by the complications of not speaking French, I would suggest the Air France Bus to Charles DeGaulle Etoile (the second of two stops after leaving CDG) and then a cab to the hotel. The cabs are parked right by the bus stop. That way you won't have to haul luggage around. It is reasonable, uncomplicated and hassle free. After all, you don't want to start your first trip to the greatest city on the face of the earth on a sour note. If you are slightly more adventurous (and packed light), after stepping off the Air France Coach, take the Metro to the stop closest to your hotel. Once settled in your hotel, take the Metro everywhere. After 1:00 a.m., (after the Metro is closed), you can walk most anyplace or take taxis.


[This message has been edited by ILuvParis (edited 11-09-2000).]

ILuvParis... Thanks for the tips...
What stop is Porte Maillot for the Air France
bus? I assume taxis are easy there too.

Porte Maillot is the first stop. And I do agree with ILuvParis's advice as a reasonable price compromise.

Note also that a different Air France bus goes to the Gare de Lyon train station and then to Montparnasse (across from the Meridien hotel). Taxis are readily available at both of these locations.

Depending on the location of your hotel, you might find this bus better suited to your needs. (Gare de Lyon has good access to the Republique area; Montparnasse is close to St Germain des Pres.)

Thanks billhall. I also agree with Wideman. One other thing for those of you who insist on taking a taxi TO the airport. If you are leaving on a weekday morning, give yourself LOTS of time not just for the traffic, but to get a cab in the first place. If you are staying at a small hotel, you may have to go to a taxi stand (marked on most decent maps) and during rush hour it can be nearly impossible to get a cab to stop.