Ozziez

I have been trying to work out how to get to the apartment we’ll be renting in Paris in December. I have read masses of Fodors posts on this topic but have found very few on how to get to Montmartre.

We are a family of 5 (2 adults, 17 year old, 12 year old and 10 year old). We will be half-way through our European holiday so jet-lag shouldn’t be a problem. We will have 5 suitcases (each measuring about 65cm x 26cms i.e. large).

We arrive at Charles de Gaulle airport, terminal 2B, (from Venice) at 11:55 on a Sunday morning.
We need to get to 12 Rue Charles Nodier, 75018, Paris.

From the research I’ve done, it seems as though we have seven options:
1. Take a taxi – I suppose this would have to a mini-bus sized taxi?
2. use a private car service – does anyone have any recent recommendations about who to use?
3. take the bus from the airport to the RER station, take the RER to Gare du Nord, take the Metro in the direction of Porte Dauphine and get off at Anvers, and then walk to the apartment
4. take the bus from the airport to the RER station, take the RER to Gare du Nord, and then get a taxi from Gare du Nord to the apartment
5. take the Roissybus shuttle to Opera-rue Scribe and then take a taxi to the apartment
6. take the Air France Bus to Charles de Gaulle Etoile and take a taxi from there to the apartment
7. take the Air France Bus to Charles de Gaulle Etoile and then take the metro in the direction of Nation and get off at Anvers and then walk to the apartment.

I have no idea how hard/easy any of these options are. Also, I have no idea of what getting round Paris is like as I was last there as a teenager – many moons ago!

If anyone could advise me as to what to do I would be very, very, very grateful. I am reaching the stage of trip-planning fatigue where I just want to be told what to do – please!

StCirq

With 5 people, I'd take a taxi. Just go to the taxi stand and they will put you in an appropriately sized vehicle. Montmartre is pretty much on the route from CDG into the center of Paris, so it should cost you, even with bags, at most about 10- euros a person (50 euro). Personally, I'd never do the RER-metro schlep with that many people, 3 of them kids.

yk

With 5 of you, if you take the RER, just tickets alone will cost you close to €40 (4 adults, 1 child). Take a taxi.

Just be aware that you will be charged a luggage fee in addition to the taxi fare. I think it's €1 per piece. There is also an extra charge for persons #4 and #5 on the taxi (no charge for 3 people or less).

Robespierre

Once you're in the city, all 3 kids can ride for the rest of the day on <i>Tickets Jeunes</i> that cost 3,20&euro; for Zones 1-3. The corresponding adult ticket is called <i>Mobilis</i>.

If you're <i>really</i> pinching pennies, the kids can ride all the way to the apartment on city buses using a 5-zone TJ that costs 6,40&euro;.

All the tariffs are laid out here: http://www.ratp.info/informer/titres_de_transport.php

ira

Hi Ozz,

www.ratp.fr will give you directions for any two points in the Paris region by bus, RER and metro.

Ozziez

Thank you so much! It is such a relief to just be told what to do! Are all the taxi drivers at CDG licensed and above-board, or do I need to be careful (like I've been told I'll have to be in Rome) when choosing a taxi?

yk

Ozziez - you just go line up at the taxi stand like everyone else. Those are legit taxis at the stand.

StCirq

Go to the taxi stand. Don't accept any offers from anyone, even while you're standing in line. There will be a guy (probably with a whistle) who will direct you to a taxi. Make sure it says Taxi Parisien on the top.

Robespierre

(The taxi, not the guy.)

Christina

No one but a licensed taxi is allowed to be in the official taxi queue. Last time I was at CDG (sept) I was surprised at how many big vans there were in line, I think some even took 6-7 people.

Unlicensed taxi drivers will often approach you within the airport, in the hallway just before you go out to the taxi queue. They have a bunch of BS about how they are legit, but no legal driver will approach you within the airport.

Ozziez

Thanks very much everyone. We will take your advice and get a taxi from the airport.