Leavenworth

What is the quickest way from CDG to I'ile Saint Louis? We will be on a cruise prior to our stay in Paris and will have at least 3 pieces of luggage to haul around public transportation. We were thinking of taking an Air France coach but can't figure out how far from I'ile Saint Louis it will drop us off and how readily availabe taxis are to take us from the drop off to our hotel. We would take a taxi from the airport but I have read on this and other forums that we may get stuck in traffic and take up to 2 hours to get into the center of Paris.
Also does anyone have any restaurants you can recommend on the island or close by. Thanks for any help.

starrsville

What day and time to you arrive at CDG? I'd take a taxi. I've not heard anyone on this board that has had a 2 hour taxi ride. Someone recently posted that their taxi ride on a Sunday afternoon was 36 euros.

janisj

"at least 3 pieces of luggage " could mean anything - two small roll aboards and a carry on, or three huge bags, or ??

But if you are like a lot of cruisers with masses of large luggage - take a taxi in from CDG.

kerouac

The RER B will drop you off on Ile de la Cité. Get off at the Saint Michel-Notre Dame stop and use the exit at the back of the station. Escalators will take you all the way up to the surface. Then you just walk along the left side of Notre Dame, and you will be on Ile Saint Louis in 5 minutes.

Leavenworth

We arrive at 5:45pm.on a Friday night. We'll have 3 rolling bags that clip together I would say medium size. We don't travel like some crusisers but we also don't travel with just carry-on luggage. I would prefer taking a taxi to remove the hassle but want to get into Paris as quickly as possible.
I'm surprised at 36 euros. I had heard that it was about 75.I like the 36 much better!!!

kerouac

Traffic can indeed be dreadful on a Friday evening. No problem getting to the Paris city limits since most traffic is fleeing Paris, but once you are plunging into the center, you are in trouble.
Anyway, the RER takes 30 minutes. Fare is 8.10 € per ticket.

ira

Hi L,

A cab will be about 55E.

A shuttle will be about 35E.

See www.parishuttle.com, www.beeshuttle.com,
www.paris-blue-airport-shuttle.fr/index_en.php

Nina66

Take a shuttle. It will drop you off at your hotel front door. and it will be able to accommodate your luggage. It's not only cheaper, but if you should get stuck in traffic, you won't have to worry about a ticking taxi meter. Just relax and enjoy the drive. You'll be getting a free tour of the city while you say to yourself ...'we're in Paris, we're in Paris.'

It's not worth the hassle and of expense taking the Air France bus and taking taxi to the Ille. That will probably cost the same if not more than the shuttle.

Ditto for public transportation. You _may_ save a few, maybe 10 Euro over the shuttle, but IMHO it just isn't worth the hassle, and then walking to your hotel - even the five minute walk from Cite to St. Louis can be a pain with luggage.

We taken the shuttle from CDG many times, a couple of those trips were to St. Louis, never had a problem.

You have a nice trip in store, start it off in a peaceful orderly way.

Nina

Christina

I don't remember reading the post about 36 euro, but do not believe that is what it will cost you to Ile St Louis with all the luggage. I've only had a fare that low when I was going to the 9th arrondisement, not too far into Paris through the St Denis portes, and there was almost no traffic. Also, that probably didn't include a tip. I don't know who told you it would likely cost 75, though, that isn't any more likely than the 36.

starrsville

Here's the 36 euro trip report -
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34832782

LeeParis

My first time in Paris I stayed on the Ile Saint Louis. We took a taxi from Orly (this was back in 1997) to the hotel. Don't remember much about the traffic since I was gazing wide-eyed at Paris.

One restaurant we ate at (twice) on the island is Auberge de la Reine Blanche. We liked it a lot...but that was 9 years ago. Since it is still there (I was in Paris this past June for 2 nights and made a point of going to the Ile Saint Louis to reminisce!) I assume they are still attracting customers.

And, of course, you must try ice cream and/or sorbet at Berthillon on the island. Yummy. Not as sweet as Americans may be used to but so good!

LeeParis

francophile03

When we took a taxi from CDG to our Ile St. Louis hotels it always cost us about 45 euro.

I highly recommend Le Tastevin restaurant that's located on rue St. Louis en l'Ile if you favor traditional cooking. I also like its cozy, homey dining room, and the patient and welcoming staff.

http://www.letastevin-paris.com

nessundorma

The cafe Le Flore en l'ile has a fantastic view of the back of Notre Dame, and when I rented an apartment on the Ile, my husband and I made a point of heading down there every morning for breakfast. We are late risers, so the cafe was empty, and we'd take a windowside table and plan our day. The cafe serves a 20e omelet breakfast that is big enough to share (the 3-egg omelet comes with a basket filled with brioche, plain and chocolate croissants and toast), plus coffee and orange juice are included. The cafe also serves an *excellent* hot chocolate (chocolat chaud ancienne), one I prefer to Angelica and other famed tea shops. It used to be the that cafe also served Berthillon ice cream, but I don't know that they still do.

SuzieC

LOL, my first trip from CDG to Paris was 2 hours in a taxi. We arrived at about 6:15, got through the system, picked up our bags and in the cab at say, 7:00... 2 hours trip to the City...BAD accident between CDG and Paris...the meter ticked away.
90E's...but that said, my travel partner SuzieM and I are the only people I have ever heard of that experienced that!
I'd taxi as well, still.

Seamus

Taxi would definitely be easiest; cost will be affected by waiting time in traffic and at that time of day it could be problematic. Count on a minimum of 50 euro. The AF coach would drop you at Gare De Lyon from where you could walk (about 15-20 minutes) or cab, which would cost 10 euro or less. The cost of a shuttle for 2 is usually as much or more than a taxi.

Leavenworth

Thanks to everyone for all your help. I have been a forum reader for a long time but this is my first posting and I'm so pleased with the number of suggestions that I'm sure this will be the first of many future postings. My husband and I love to travel so I know I will be looking for more advice! Thanks again

kerouac

To avoid our constant debates on the mode of transportation from the airport, in the future please open with phrases like "I am a baggage wimp and need my comfort" or "I'll walk a mile to save 50 cents" or "I have no sense of orientation and can't follow signs" or "after a sleepless night on a plane, I really enjoy carrying large loads up and down stairs" -- etc. Then we can cut right to the useful information!

francophile03

I wonder no one ever thought of that bit of helpful advice, kerouac.