Arriving in Paris, travel to apartment

Old Jan 20th, 2015, 10:23 PM
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Arriving in Paris, travel to apartment

We will arrive in Paris (CDG) on a Sunday in August, theoretically at 13:30. We have to get ourselves from CDG to our apartment in the Marais, nearest metro stop is St Paul, on Metro Line 1.

How long, roughly, would it take to clear immigration at CDG, and get to St Paul? Any helpful tips (or should I say "suggestions", as I don't want to open up a conversation on "tipping") as to getting to the Marais.

Our first visit to Paris, so we are somewhat ignorant, and thanks in advance for all info and suggestions.
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Old Jan 20th, 2015, 11:03 PM
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Proceed to the official taxi queue, curbside from the Customs exits. Do not accept offers from clandestine drivers soliciting from within the terminals. Hand the driver your destination address written on a piece of paper to preclude any misunderstanding.

On a Sunday, expect to pay around 55€ to the St Paul area. There is no need to tip the driver but there could be a 1€ bag fee, in addition to the metered fee, for the second and subsequent bag placed into the trunk.
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Old Jan 20th, 2015, 11:12 PM
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In reference to your question about timing, I would allow from 90 minutes to two hours from the time you disembark the aircraft to when you might reach your accommodations in Paris.
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Old Jan 21st, 2015, 12:48 AM
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Peter..Paris! How wonderful. As Sarasto says, taxi is the easiest way. We have found Paris taxi drivers efficient and courteous. On three recent occasions they went above and beyond helping us. The taxi rank is well managed and you will be directed to the next vacant taxi by an organiser.

We always round up the fare, just as we do in Australia. It's helpful too, to have a Google map print out of location for the driver ( and yourselves) but don't be alarmed if the driver goes the long way round. There are quite a few one way streets in Paris especially the smaller streets.

Hope you have a fantastic time. Paris is such a beautiful city, you might find it a close second to Venice
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Old Jan 21st, 2015, 01:47 AM
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What libretto2 said! I'll be reslly keen to read your impressions of Paris.

And yes, I'd allow a couple of hours from landing until you are at the apartment.

If you want to catch the train then you will need to walk (signposted and easy) to the RER and catch that into paris and change to the metro system. Assuming you land on time etc that would be ok. Luggage is a nuisance on peak hour trains.
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Old Jan 21st, 2015, 01:51 AM
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shame there's no alilaguna or vaporetto to get you there, Peter.

then you'd feel really at home.
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Old Jan 21st, 2015, 02:19 AM
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Another vote for a taxi from the queue, but I am surprised by these estimates of two hours to get to your apartment, because my most recent ride in on a Sunday was only about 25 minutes and I was in my hotel room in maybe a little over an hour. But I didn't check a bag, and maybe passport control in January is miles lighter than in August.

August heat and the possibility of August thunderstorms would make me plan on taking a taxi to the doorstep rather than be dragging luggage around.
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Old Jan 21st, 2015, 02:42 AM
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Sandra, mine specifically said 'from landing' ie wheels touching the runway.
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Old Jan 21st, 2015, 03:04 AM
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Yes, and just the other day the wheels of my plane touched the runway at about 10.50 and I was checking into my hotel at noon. So I am surprised by these estimates of two hours -- but like I said, a Sunday in January may be different from a Sunday in August.
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Old Jan 21st, 2015, 03:21 AM
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(Maybe I should add I was flying in from outside the Schengen zone so I need to go through passport control as well. But I was in a taxi within 40 minutes or so of landing. I suspect the real difference is whether or not one is checking luggage -- but I didn't say the 2 hour estimate was wrong, just that it surprised me having just done it much less time).
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Old Jan 21st, 2015, 04:01 AM
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Peter, the key thing to understand is that you have several reasonable choices, each with trade-offs in comfort and price:

- Easiest and most expensive is the taxi, as described.

- Least expensive is the train/subway combination, for about 10 euros per person. From CDG, take the train (RER) to Chatelet station, then connect to subway (Metro) line 1 in the direction of Chateau de Vincennes. Travel 1 stop to St Paul station. While this saves some money over a taxi, it's a tough way to save that money, especially with luggage: lots and lots of walking with plenty of stairs, and a very good likelihood that you'll take a wrong turn or two.

- Middle ground: Take the Roissybus from CDG to central Paris (Opera) for 11 euros pp. From Opera, take a taxi to your destination for about 10-12 euro.

(There are a few other options, including the Air France bus to Gare de Lyon and then taxi.)
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Old Jan 21st, 2015, 04:33 AM
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I would agree that 1.5 to 2 hours is reasonable - assuming you need to wait for checked luggage - from wheels down to actually arriving at the apartment.

Of course it will depend on if your plan is on time, how long it takes to get a jetway, how many other international flights land at t he same time and how long it takes to get your luggage. I've had this take the best part of an hour when a LOT of flights landed at the same time - but that was more like 8/9 am.
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Old Jan 21st, 2015, 05:01 AM
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You could take public transport but taxi is easier (though more expensive) after a long flight and if you'll have a lot of luggage. Anyway, here are some tips you might find useful regarding public transport, maps and tourist info:

To learn how to get around Paris by métro/bus/RER use www.ratp.fr. Here is a link to a route planner:

http://www.ratp.fr/itineraires/en/ra...herche-avancee

Here is an interactive map of the system:

http://www.ratp.fr/plan-interactif/carteidf.php?lang=uk

Since parts of this website are only in French you can also use www.transilien.com or www.vianavigo.com. Via Navigo probably has the most complete English website. Keep in mind that all these sites are time and date sensitive and they will use Paris time, not your local time.

Another thing to keep in mind is that they all default to the next available departure. So you may get one route that looks very complicated (multiple métro/bus connections) but scroll forward through the next few departures and you'll often find the simplest connections for your journey.

To learn about the various types of transport passes look here:

http://vianavigo.com/en/tickets-and-fares/

A good website to learn how to use public transport in Paris is www.parisbytrain.com. It will likely answer any of your questions about what is the métro, what is the RER, what kinds of tickets you need, how to buy tickets, what kinds of passes are available etc.

Buy a good detailed map of Paris of around the scale 1:12,000 and it will show all streets and street names, museums, monuments, gardens, parks, sites, attractions and the location of all RER and métro stops. A handy booklet to buy is called ''Plan de Paris par Arrondissement, L'Indispensable''. It is available in the Relay bookstores you'll find in the main line train stations and RER stations. It can be bought in many other places as well, such as bookstores, magazine/news stands, many touristy souvenir stores, larger supermarkets, tabac stores etc.

In any métro or RER station with an information booth you can get free maps of the Paris transport system and use those in conjunction with your street maps to figure out how to get around and determine where you are.

You can figure out walking times and distances between sites by using a mapping website like www.mappy.com or a similar website.

You can look at the Paris tourist office website for info about what to see and do in Paris as well as learn about the various passes for visits and public transport: http://en.parisinfo.com/

For taxi cost estimates see here:
www.taxisg7.com/estimation-tarif-duree-course
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Old Jan 21st, 2015, 05:30 PM
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Thanks to everyone for your helpful advice. Looks like a couple of hours from Landing to the Marais, as we will have to wait at the baggage carousel.
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Old Jan 21st, 2015, 07:36 PM
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And I thank you too; we are doing a similar trip to an apartment in the Marais in March.

Since we are in an apartment, what is the best way to arrange for a taxi back to CDG at the end of our trip? No desk/concierge to call for one is what I mean. My French is, well, not up to most conversations.
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Old Jan 21st, 2015, 08:50 PM
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There are several taxi companies in Paris with English h speaking operators and drivers.
I think we used this one

http://www.taxisg7.com/order-taxi/order-taxi-telephone
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Old Jan 21st, 2015, 09:36 PM
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Thank you.
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Old Jan 22nd, 2015, 12:25 AM
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Taxi G7 also has an English speaking operator at 01 41 27 66 99.

However, for the return, you might consider taking the RER B3 at 9.75€ which connects from any métro station in Paris.
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Old Jan 22nd, 2015, 06:31 AM
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I took Roissy and taxi , but. I was alone with hand luggage .
for two people, taxi from CDG might be 10- 12 euros moe...worth it.
AF bus is even more expensive.
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Old Jan 22nd, 2015, 06:41 AM
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my wife and I took a taxi from outside CDG to the Marais. The cost was 48 euros, but it was fairly early on a Saturday morning so there was no traffic jams. Admittedly it was a few years ago, so the price may have gone up. However, relative to the cost of your airfare, it is still quite cheap. We had some French, but we still wrote down the address on a piece of paper sand handed it to the driver to make sure he knew exactly our destination.
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