I recently heard about the Air France bus. How much does it cost to take the Air France bus from CDG airport into Paris? <BR><BR>My three options for two people:<BR><BR>1) Air France bus<BR>2) Parishuttle<BR>3) Taxi<BR><BR>Please help! Rita

For the Air France/CDG bus, here is the website you should study:<BR><BR>http://www.adp.fr/webadp/a_cont01_an.nsf/$$Affich?ReadForm&cle=X5005205211D321BDC3285597144 125687E006DB86E<BR><BR>As you'll see, the Air France bus requires 10 euros per person. With two people, that's your best bargain other than taking the train ( and if you were to pose a question about taking the train, you'd get a landslide response of "no, don't do that with luggage!!!). <BR><BR>We sometimes take the Air France bus; we sometimes take the taxi. We travel with at least a party of four, so the taxi becomes a very reasonable expenditure for us. With two persons, it's not a bargain. Therefore,the Air France bus is great if you're near one of the stops. They store the luggage underneath (no luggage limitations), the seats are comfy and clean, the climate control is great, and traffic therefore poses no problem.<BR><BR>ParisShuttle receives high marks on this board, but even if you contact Mark Harris (do a search for that information) and get his discount, I think you still will be paying $15 per person.

Hi Rita<BR><BR>We returned from Paris on Friday (sigh!) We took the "Blue van" from the airport, and they drop you at your Hotel. We paid 29 Euro for 2 persons. You can book beforehand, and then have to call them as soon as you arrive - by the time you have your luggage, been through customs, they are there to pick you up. I think they are called Airport shuttle - anyway you'll find their address on this board!<BR><BR>But I do not think there is any diference between them and Mark's shuttle service - and it is very convenient!<BR><BR>Enjoy Paris!<BR><BR>Kindest regards.<BR><BR>Helen Malan

Helen we've tried both Blue Van & Parishuttle over the last 3 months and have to say that there was a difference between the two.<BR>Maybe it was exceptional but the Blue Van we took must have been a least 5 years old , had no working seat belts , the passenger door would not close properly without the driver giving it a hefty kick & the driver had an unhealthy obsession with talking on his phone whilst driving.<BR>In contrast the Parishuttle vehicle could not have been more than 6 months old ,with the exception of their web address the vehicle was classy & discreet & the driver was very presentable , may well have been a uniform.<BR>For one euro more we would definitely take the Parishuttle again as you cannot put a price on safety & comfort.<BR><BR>My wife took the Airfrance bus once and says she will never do this again as the struggle with the luggage from Invalides to her hotel , which was not that far away , put a real dampener on her holiday.<BR>Never tried a taxi but as we normally stay on the left bank the distance involved from CDG maybe too expensive.<BR>

Take the Metro, if you take the RER in from CDG you can then connect wherever you need to go for only $1 or 2. You might as well get used to it, it is the ONLY way to get around Paris.

With regard to the RER--it is about $7. And contrary to what SA says you can connect to another Metro without any further fare. However you must negotiate stairs and turnstiles with your luggage. It is not impossible but it is not comfortable often. The gate agent can open the gate next tothe turnstiles to let you through if you can get their attention.

Kieron: There is no Air France bus from CDG that stops at Invalides. Stops are Place Charles De Gaulle and Porte Maillot for one line; Montparnasse and Gare de Lyon for the other. <BR><BR>Perhaps she rode it from Orly. There is a stop on that line.<BR><BR>Rita, you do have to consider the length of your walk, though. When we used the Air France bus, our walk from our hotel to Gare de Montparnasse was no longer than our walk from the plane at CDG to the outside exit (if a person can't handle his luggage that far, he's going to have other problems than just airport transportation ).<BR>

Amy I slap my wrists it was Montparnasse ( blush )<BR>

You are going to be tired and probably somewhat disoriented at the end of your trip; we had to wait for over an hour for our luggage - the handlers kept going on mini-strikes. Spend the extra Euro or so and use PariShuttle; the call at the airport is toll free and the van is outside the door they assign to you on the phone. We have used them four times, and the drivers are very pleasant and helpful. We used the Metro to get all over town, but I would not want to do it with luggage, esp. if you have more than one bag and am not "young." If you contact Mark Harris, the manager, he will give you a small discount for being a Fodor users. It's not a lot but helps pay the driver's tip. Be kind to yourself.

The RER fare has gone up considerably since I was there in Feb. I guess w/the Euro & all ??

I've taken the AF bus several times and find it very nice and convenient, but there is the problem then at the endpoint of getting to your hotel if you are not within walking distance.<BR><BR>SA, I don't think the RER cost has gone up much, your estimate is just incorrect if you meant that it was only $1-2 total to take the RER from the airport. It's never been that it's always been around US$5-8, depending on exchange rate for years and years, as long as I remember. $1 is about the price of a regular zone 1-2 metro ticket, the fare in from CDG on the RER has never been that low. You must be remembering incorrectly.

Rita:<BR>I have used the AF bus to Montparnesse and was pleased. However, it depends on the location of your hotel. Mine were always within walking distance of the hotels I stayd in.<BR>Good luck!

Hi to all! Thanks for your imput. I made a decision and booked Parishuttle via Mark. He responded immediately to my request and confirmed our reservation within an hour. I also booked our return trip to CDG. Total cost round trip for two will be $60. We have no idea exactly where the hotel is, and I like the idea of being catered to because it is a vacation. We leave in 18 days.<BR><BR>Thanks again.<BR><BR>Rita

ttt

We'll be trying Parishuttle in a couple of weeks and we did receive a discount so the cost is $15/pp. <BR><BR>We've taken the Air France bus before and hated it. First of all, the attendant and driver were brusque and unfriendly. Also we had to walk a bit to our hotel which was near the Porte Maillot stop. There are limited bus stops.<BR><BR>I would not take a taxi unless I had to. I don't believe it'll be cheaper than the shuttle and no, we don't mind dropping others off first. Some people will cite that as a good reason to take the taxi. I still feel a taxi will be more expensive for us.

Kieron - maybe we just strike it lucky - our Blue Van was new, AC working, driver very responsible! <BR><BR>I'll use ParisShuttle next time - with the discount they are cheaper, and I have just heard good things about them!<BR><BR>Helen

How does the Paris Shuttle compare in price to a taxi?

I know math is difficult, Nigel, but if you read the above posts you will find the answer to your question, a number of times. There is no totally exact quote however that anyone can give you.

Hi Nigel:<BR><BR>When we were in Paris, a couple in our group told us it cost them $50 using a taxi from CDG to the hotel in Paris (one way) compared with our $30 using Parishuttle so it is definitely cheaper to use Parishuttle. Our hotel was located in the Porte de Clichy area.<BR><BR><BR>Rita

Rita,<BR><BR>Hope it all works out for you, I know if its your first time in Paris, and you don't know your way around, a shuttle is probably good - are you arriving at night? Otherwise, I'd take the RER everytime, my parents use it whenever they go over from London, so much cheaper and faster...but, as you say, its your holiday! enjoy it!