Taxi a good option for family of four w/luggage--from CDG to Montmartre?
Jun 15th, 2012, 09:07 PM
#1
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Taxi a good option for family of four w/luggage--from CDG to Montmartre?
We are trying to decide how best to get from the British Airways terminal to Montmartre. My wife says we should take the RER & then the metro. I would much prefer to take a taxi--reason being that we will be coming off an 18-hour journey (multi-stops) with a 10-year old and 6-year old...and that I think we will all be tired. Plus--I can't imagine us pullling "Wheelie Luggage" or suitcases through the RER/Metro stations.
But I'm wondering about the cost of a taxi--and more importantly, will one cab be enough for the four of us??
Thoughts, anyone???
But I'm wondering about the cost of a taxi--and more importantly, will one cab be enough for the four of us??
Thoughts, anyone???
Jun 15th, 2012, 09:20 PM
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Given your circumstances, a taxi is the only option I should consider. You do not want to be dragging luggage and children through the RER/metro, particularly as the La Chapelle metro station at Gare du Nord (most likely the station you will want to use to reach areas near Montmartre) is closed for repair work.
Taxis from CDG will cost 45€ to 50€ to Montmartre plus the driver may add, to the basic fare, 3€ for the 4th passenger and 1€ per bag (after the first bag which is free) placed into the trunk. It would be very unlikely that the total fare would approach 60€.
Do not accept offers from clandestine taxi drivers soliciting from within the terminals. Proceed to the taxi queue, curbside at each terminal. You might want to have your hotel's address written on a piece of paper to give to the driver to preclude any confusion.
Taxis from CDG will cost 45€ to 50€ to Montmartre plus the driver may add, to the basic fare, 3€ for the 4th passenger and 1€ per bag (after the first bag which is free) placed into the trunk. It would be very unlikely that the total fare would approach 60€.
Do not accept offers from clandestine taxi drivers soliciting from within the terminals. Proceed to the taxi queue, curbside at each terminal. You might want to have your hotel's address written on a piece of paper to give to the driver to preclude any confusion.
Jun 15th, 2012, 09:31 PM
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I agree with Sarastro's advice, and add that you will not have trouble finding a large taxi at the airport.
We had 5 people plus luggage, and the person organizing the taxis atvCDG simply flagged the next van that was waiting in the queue. For our departures, I've used G2 to reserve a taxi, either through their English-speaking phone line or online; they've been very reliable. (And with a group, a taxi is cost-effective.)
We had 5 people plus luggage, and the person organizing the taxis atvCDG simply flagged the next van that was waiting in the queue. For our departures, I've used G2 to reserve a taxi, either through their English-speaking phone line or online; they've been very reliable. (And with a group, a taxi is cost-effective.)
Jun 15th, 2012, 09:48 PM
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We just returned from a trip to Europe, including a cab ride from CDG to St. Germain, with our family of 4. We found that we fit just fine, even with luggage, into a regular-sized cab. Hubby had a 24-inch rolling bag, the other three of us had 21-inch rolling bags. We each also had some sort of small bag that we kept on our laps.
Jun 16th, 2012, 02:51 AM
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Lots of people wheel luggage through the Metro, but given that you will just be arriving with tired children, I completely agree with the recommendation of a taxi, at least when you are arriving. I did the RER/Metro thing to that general area a few years ago with a 9-year-old, so it's not impossible, but we had already been in that time zone for two weeks and had only one rolling bag between us.
Some Metro connections involve several up-and-downs that are nothing when you're unencumbered but quite daunting after a long flight.
Depending on where you are going after that, you may be more comfortable getting back to the station using public transportation. Don't overlook the bus option. We recently spent two nights at the Hotel des Arts Montmartre, and on the morning we left for Charles de Gaulle Airport we simply took a bus from the Blanche stop (a short downhill walk from the hotel) to the Gare du Nord, where we caught the RER. It could not have been easier, and we were four people (two adults, a 13- and an 8-year old) with luggage.
Some Metro connections involve several up-and-downs that are nothing when you're unencumbered but quite daunting after a long flight.
Depending on where you are going after that, you may be more comfortable getting back to the station using public transportation. Don't overlook the bus option. We recently spent two nights at the Hotel des Arts Montmartre, and on the morning we left for Charles de Gaulle Airport we simply took a bus from the Blanche stop (a short downhill walk from the hotel) to the Gare du Nord, where we caught the RER. It could not have been easier, and we were four people (two adults, a 13- and an 8-year old) with luggage.
Jun 16th, 2012, 04:58 AM
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Anecdote: Since we had been to Paris twice before, my husband talked me into doing the Metro from CDG to our hotel near les Jardins de Plants. Five staircases, six correspondences, and ten new blisters later, my husband had to ply me with massive amounts of a really Burgundy that I could speak to him again.
Our rule of thumb now is that if it the hotel is not within spitting distance of RER B, we shall ALWAYS take the taxi IN from CDG.
As others have suggested, there are lots of ways to get back to the airport, and you can play around with those options at your leisure.
But for the sake of your marriage, the happiness of your children, and for the happiness of we who post....
Take the taxi!
Our rule of thumb now is that if it the hotel is not within spitting distance of RER B, we shall ALWAYS take the taxi IN from CDG.
As others have suggested, there are lots of ways to get back to the airport, and you can play around with those options at your leisure.
But for the sake of your marriage, the happiness of your children, and for the happiness of we who post....
Take the taxi!
Jun 16th, 2012, 11:13 AM
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Taxi is the only thing that makes sense.
At that point the kids will likely be sleepy and cranky and someone needs to hold onto the 6 year old - leaving one adult and a 10 year old to deal with all your luggage getting to and on and off a train and Metro. Madness!
At that point the kids will likely be sleepy and cranky and someone needs to hold onto the 6 year old - leaving one adult and a 10 year old to deal with all your luggage getting to and on and off a train and Metro. Madness!
