My Mom (65), two kids (8 & 11) and myself land in Paris on Tuesday! We are staying in a charming, wonderfully located 4th floor walk-up apartment.

My dilemma is: do I cram everyone into a taxi from CDG into morning rush hour or make the family haul their luggage 6 blocks from the San Michel Metro stop? Which is easier? Either way we still have to carry everything up 4 flights of stairs. I will probably end up carrying about half the luggage myself - my back hurts already just thinking about it.

I would like to get at least a half days' worth of sightseeing out of the family as we land in the morning! I was thinking the open top hop on - hop off bus if it is not raining. Everybody loves museums, shopping and eating. What could be better for that than Paris?

Thanks!

I would definitely go with the taxi. You will all be tired (especially the kids) and will need your energy to climb those stairs.

Have a great time!

Take a taxi - the train with so many people and bags will be a nightmare. They can cram more stuff and people in a cab than seems apparent. Look for a van cabbie in the que.

Take a look at all the alternatives on this web site tinyurl.com/mpjhn
and make up your own mind.

Don't overlook the possibility of riding the train into town and taking a cab from the station.

Several people have recommended taking a shuttle. But you must book ahead of time, like immediately. Search the forum for "Paris shuttle"

Just head for the taxi queue at CDG. If there's a line, it will move quickly. The drivers are expert at efficiently matching up each party and their luggage with a vehicle that will accomodate all.

I'm not sure about the prices for kids, but normally four people in a shuttle will cost about what a taxi costs -- maybe more.

My sympathies with the fourth floor walkup.

A bee shuttle will cost 50€--equivalent to a cab.

definitely - a taxi. There are cheaper ways to get in to town for sure - but after an overnight flight do you really want to schlepp on the RER or deal w/ a shuttle? (if you do decide on the RER - don't have them drag their bags 6 blocks - there is a taxi stand near the station)

If budget is a big decider, have a picnic one day (or more than one) to make up for the extra cost of the taxi.

When 4 of us went to Paris we were told that taxis would not take 4 people plus luggage!!! We took a shuttle

It's true that most cabs will only take 4 people, but they are generally sympathetic when kids are involved, and if any problems at the airport you can ask the dispatcher to help you get an Espace (pronounced es-POSS, which is generic term for a minivan-type vehicle) In any case, I would say DEFINITELY take a cab.

AS a first-day activity you might consider a Bateaux Mouches tour on the Seine, which is an efficient way to see the main sights and get oriented without wearing yourself out. The hop-on-and-off bus might be better for another day when you have more time and energy for walking.

Hi J,

I also suggest a cab or a shuttle from the airport to your apt.

You will be able to get a van large enough for the people and the luggage, either way.

Is that American or European 4th floor?

I wouldn't take the metro and lug baggage 6 blocks from there, and then up 4-5 flights, either. Gads, you have two small children with you.

For me, it would make more sense to use all that money you plan to spend on the hop-on-off bus for a taxi, that bus isn't exactly cheap for that many people. That will cost more than a taxi, although I know you can get two days out of it.

jmcdo - looking forward to your review / information about the apartment!

Thank you to all who replied! We took a taxi to the hotel after all. We had to wait a few extra minutes at the airport while the taxi supervisor arranged for a larger car, but it was no problem at all to fit the four of us and our luggage. The taxi ride would have been fairly quick, but we ran into a protest march and a moving van which stopped for 10 minutes in the narrow, one-lane road.

For those of you looking for an apartment for families, I will share a little about our rooms. I found the apartment through Vacation in Paris rentals. It was ID #84, the two bedroom loft in St. Germain.

The location was fabulous! We were just a little East of Pont Neuf and about a half block south of the Seine. The apartment is easy walking distance to the following train and metro stops: St. Michel (RER lines B & C, metro 4), Odeon (4 & 10) and Pt. Neuf (7).

The room was on the fourth (European floor) which meant we did have to hike up four flights of stairs, but the stairs were deep and shallow so it was not that bad. My kids are young enough to think playing hotel porter is fun so they happily jogged up and down to get the lighter pieces of luggage. It took my mother a little longer to conquer the stairs, but she managed just fine.

The apartment itself is fairly spacious on the first floor. The bathroom is nice, and the kitchen is well-equipped if a little dark. There is a washing machine, but no dryer. We had to put all the clothes on hangers and have the tabletop fan from upstairs blow the clothes dry. A laundromat is just down the street, but it is only open during prime sight-seeing hours. There is a grocery store close by as well, but a little difficult to find. There are a number of bakeries (with chocolate croissants and meringues to die for) within a 5 minute walk. I would go out every morning to find fresh pastries, fruit and cappuccino and get back while the kids were still yawning in their PJ's. They still look at me hopefully every morning, but alas, I can only conjure up Cheerios back in the States.

The upper floor has an extremely low ceiling, and I cracked my head more than once climbing the narrow circular stairway. I am only 5'3"; a taller person would have real problems going upstairs. The most alarming note for parents is that the loft opens to the floor below and by that I mean if you roll off the big futon bed, you could roll all the way to the floor below as there is no wall or real railing - just open space. This would be quite difficult for an adult to do, but a small child could very easily crawl off the edge and fall 9 feet. The owner did want to rent to families with young children. I did not understand why until I saw the open loft. I WOULD NOT DREAM OF BRINGING TODDLERS OR PRE-SCHOOL KIDS HERE!!!

We made the upstairs safer by taking the twin-sized futon bed frame (also in the loft) and wedging it between the stairwell post and the sloping ceiling to act as barrier. I slept on that side and all was well. In fact the kids argued about who got to sleep upstairs under the enormous skylights. The room worked for us because my kids did not play around in the loft; they knew better than to go near the makeshift railing. If your children are too young to follow orders or are the type to peek around every corner, this is NOT the apartment for you. If your family can manage the safety concerns and the four flights of stairs, the apartment is great! It made our stay so much more fun. The building is extremely old and filled with character.

Thanks, jmcdo, for the follow-up. It's always interesting to find out the choices made and the results.

Thanks too for the info on the apartment.

Glad you enjoyed your trip.