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Is it safe to take train from CDG by 10 PM?

Is it safe to take train from CDG by 10 PM?

Old Sep 20th, 2016, 09:41 AM
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Is it safe to take train from CDG by 10 PM?

My husband and I are arriving at 9 PM in CDG. We are planning to have no checked in baggage. So I think we will be out by 10-10:30 PM. Is it safe to take the train going to our hotel or should we take a taxi? We will be staying at Hotel Acropole. This is our first time and any advice will be greatly appreciated!
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Old Sep 20th, 2016, 10:13 AM
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Is it safe to take train from CDG by 10 PM?
Posted by: marione05 on Sep 20, 16 at 1:41pm
We will be staying at Hotel Acropole.


Take RER line B from CDG to Denfert-Rochereau and a short taxi ride to the hotel. Write down the name and address of the hotel and show it to the driver before you get into the taxi so there won't be any misunderstanding.
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Old Sep 20th, 2016, 10:23 AM
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If this is your first time in Paris, take a taxi from the official taxi queue located near any Customs exit. Cost is 55€. Do not accept rides from clandestine drivers soliciting from within the terminals.

The RER is not dangerous but you will be arriving in the dark and your hotel is located on the far edge of Paris. Take the train back to the airport if you like but spend the 55€ for a taxi which will deliver from door to door.
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Old Sep 20th, 2016, 10:33 AM
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Hi spaarne, thank you for your suggestion. Do you have an idea on the cost of the RER B and short taxi ride? Just want to compare.

Hi Sarastro, thanks also for the suggestion. Yes, it's our first time. But we're pretty experienced with trains in Tokyo, not sure though how similar it is in Paris. Is 55 euro flat rate? Do we have to give a tip? Just want to know the driver's expectations.
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Old Sep 20th, 2016, 10:46 AM
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To give you specifics marione05, the RER B, connecting to any métro station in Paris is 10€. If two of you are traveling, that is 20€. There is no métro station relatively close to your hotel which is why spaarne suggested the taxi link. There is a taxi stand near Denfert Rochereau on blvd. Raspail but you´ll need to do a bit of walking to find it. The minimum taxi charge is 7€, allow 10€ to your hotel or 30€ total. Taxi drivers are not tipped.

Yes, 55€ is more than 30€ but arriving in a strange city late at night is not the time to attempt to save a few euros. Take the taxi from the airport.
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Old Sep 20th, 2016, 10:51 AM
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hard to tell, and it isn't necessarily the time of day. There was a violent, mentally ill man in that train the last time I took it but he got in around the center (around Luxembourg or Notre Dame), and after throwing things around, cursing people and generally yelling and creating a scene, he got off luckily in a stop or two, maybe around Gare du Nord. I just kept quiet and tried to move away from him as he was right next to me but that made him even angrier. Another woman sitting next to me did the same thing. We were rather frightened as we didn't know what he would do and he could have assaulted us. But that was at 8 am.

I think those kind of people are street people who are more in the center of Paris, don't know.
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Old Sep 20th, 2016, 11:08 AM
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Thanks for the details Sarastro! We're more leaning towards the taxi, you are right on your point.

But just out of curiosity, when I try google maps. It shows that we can transfer from RER B to a T3a at Cité Universitaire or transfer to a Metro 4 at Denfert-Rochereau. How safe are these other options and why were they left out on both of your suggestions?
Just wondering how reliable is the google maps if we use it while in France and Italy.

Also, what is your take on taking uber?

Apologies for having lots of question, just want to get acquainted with all modes of transportation available...
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Old Sep 20th, 2016, 12:10 PM
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Additional considerations.
Taxis at smaller metro stations are harder to find than at major stations.
If it is raining when you arrive, it gets even harder to find an unoccupied taxi.
I have never felt unsafe in metro/RER. I have had unpleasant experiences when I had to take overcrowded trains when there was a transport strike and everyone was yelling at each other. I also had my share of strange, not dangerous, guys sitting next to me.
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Old Sep 20th, 2016, 12:19 PM
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T3 is a tramway.
Goes outside metro. So you exit and maybe it is ok with your ticket maybe not. Don't remember.
Just take a taxi. Easy. Safe. Fast. After a long flight there are worse ways to spend 20euros.
Just ask tap water next lunch or dinner and save on cost of drinks.
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Old Sep 20th, 2016, 02:02 PM
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No free transfer between the Metro/RER and trams so OP will need an additional ticket.

OP, If you are going to use mass transit (and I think a taxi is better), it does not make sense to exit at Denfert-Rochereau and take a taxi or to try to find the tram. I'd change at Denfert to Metro Line 4 to Porte d'Orleans. By the way, your hotel is really close to the Metro station. How manageable is your luggage? Do you really want to deal with that at 10 PM in a city that you are visiting for the first time?
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Old Sep 20th, 2016, 02:17 PM
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By the way, your hotel is really close to the Metro station.

Interestingly, depending upon the map referenced, the hotel is either near Porte d´Orléans or about 500 to 600 meters to the west.

Mapbox shows your hotel well to the west of the métro station, Mappy shows it near the station. Mappy is usually accurate.
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Old Sep 20th, 2016, 02:27 PM
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The Hôtel Acropole is about 10 meters from one of the exits of the Porte d'Orléans metro station, as you can see by taking a look at the photo on Google Street View.
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Old Sep 20th, 2016, 05:22 PM
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Instead of google to plan transport use the official Paris transport website ratp.fr and check the interactive map and route planner. Depending on your dates you may want to purchase the Navigo Découverte (Navigo Semaine) for your transport needs. Find out about tickets, fares and passes at: http://vianavigo.com/en/tickets-and-fares/
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Old Sep 20th, 2016, 06:36 PM
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Interesting that some maps show the hotels as being 500 to 600 meters away from the station. In actuality, you exit the Porte d'Orleans station and you are on the side of Blvd Brune with the hotel. The tram stop is front of you and you turn right on Blvd Brune and walk less than 50 meters.
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Old Sep 20th, 2016, 10:45 PM
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I wouldn't go to the trouble of taking the RER then trying to find a taxi at this time of night.

I would take a regular taxi from CDG directly to your hotel.
When you are ready to leave Paris, you could take the RER, etc to save money.

Uber is not allowed to pick up clients at airports or train stations. Uber in Paris is not always cheaper, there is often surge pricing. A regular taxi Parisien is the best choice to and from the airport.

Write down the complete address of your hotel, including the Postal Code, and add "Forfait CDG - 55 EU". This will avoid any confusion.

You do not have to tip the driver, but if you want to, 1 or 2 EU is sufficient.
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Old Sep 21st, 2016, 06:40 AM
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marione05 on Sep 20, 16 at 3:08pm
Thanks for the details Sarastro! We're more leaning towards the taxi, you are right on your point.
But just out of curiosity, when I try google maps. It shows that we can transfer from RER B to a T3a at Cité Universitaire or transfer to a Metro 4 at Denfert-Rochereau. How safe are these other options and why were they left out on both of your suggestions?
Just wondering how reliable is the google maps if we use it while in France and Italy.


A couple more points.

The transfer at Denfert-Rochereau from RER line B to Metro 4 direction Porte d'Orleans should be very easy. Signage in the Metro stations is excellent. As an example see http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap...2-P1020072.jpg, at a different station.

The problem with different internet sources giving different directions to your hotel is that Port d'Orleans has two (at least) exits and the sources show one or the other. My print map of Paris, Michelin #10 Paris Atlas par Arrondissements, shows two. If you exit at Blvd. Brune you are almost in front of your hotel. Just walk about 50 feet straight ahead, west, when you get to the street.

Is it safe? I would say that Paris in that neighborhood is as safe as Peoria. I lived in the center of Paris for about half a year and never had any issues, except a near encounter with a terrorist act. My 25 y/o daughter lived about half a mile east of Porte d'Orleans for a month and never had a problem.

In general (there are always exceptions) personal safety is not the problem in European cities as it is in the USA. The problem in Paris, especially in tourist populated venues, is pickpockets and luggage thieves. Guard yourself and possessions. Keep valuables in an inside pocket or money belt. Have one hand on your luggage and purse at all times. If you are bumped or distracted for no logical reason you may have been victimized. The vermin are skilled professionals.

Google maps are very good. The satellite images and street view are valuable supplements. However, I prefer Michelin maps, both print and on line. See the site https://www.viamichelin.com/web/Maps. In Paris there are several bookstores in the Latin Quarter with a huge selection of maps. Stroll Blvd. Saint Michel from Blvd. Saint Germain to the Seine.
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Old Sep 21st, 2016, 10:32 AM
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Thank you everyone for very informative responses! These are very helpful. It's my first post here and glad that lot of people are responsive and willing to share specifics. Will take these notes, especially the websites for directions.
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Old Sep 21st, 2016, 10:37 AM
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I'm no Paris expert, but I would not attempt public transportation after getting off a long plane ride, in a city I have never been before, where I don't speak the language (assuming here), and late at night. It's not about "danger" per se but just not a good way to start a european vacation imho.
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Old Sep 23rd, 2016, 08:55 AM
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If You decide to go by rer, take a non stop train (at That time of the Day, one out of two is non stop). It almost catches the omnibus when coming to Paris and You Will feel Much more Secure.
Watch out for night work, but, if there are, they usually start later at 11pm
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Old Sep 23rd, 2016, 11:38 AM
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>

I really don't know why you say that. I live in a big city in the US and have had more problems in Paris that I have back home, such as that incident on the RER. Sure, we have occasional assaults or thefts on the metro where I live also (Wash DC), but I've seen a lot more problems in the metro and RER in Paris than I do back home. I was hit once by some guy just coming up behind me and hitting me in the back when I was minding my own business sitting in a square near the Pompidou center, also, in broad daylight.
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