I will be arriving in Paris next Tuesday from NY. This is my first trip overseas and using a passport. I have looked at the CDG airport map (www.aeroportsdepartis.fr), but it's not clear as to where you go to find customs. I will be arriving at Terminal 2A.

Could someone familiar with CDG please walk me thru the process--where to get the luggage, where to find customs, and then where to find a taxi.

Merci!

assuming cdg is your final destination you will look for the suitcase sign .. and follow it.

know your flight number as sometimes there is a screen to tell you which "section" ( can´t think of correct word for this!)it will come out on.

I haven't been to CDG but every other airport I've been to both in US, Asia and Europe customs is right after baggage claim. You can't exit the airport without passing by customs.

In Europe customs is essentially non existent. You simply walk out the door after you collect your bags. If you have something to declare then you are supposed to report it to a customs agent, otherwise you just exit baggage claim without stopping or talking to any agent.

Is there a specific reason you want to seek out French customs?

You don;t have to "find" Customs - it's between you and the exit..

Here's the process:

You exit the plane and follow the crowd to Immigration where you wait on aline until it's your turn. You will approach a little booth and the official will look at your Passport. Frequently they ask why you're there - you say "vacation".

Then you follow the pictures of suitcases to the baggage claim.

You get your bag(s) - get a free cart if you have both a checked and a carry-on.

You then head towards the exit. Customs is between you and the exit. You go through the Green lane (nothing to declare). Just walk straight through - don;t hesitate or look for someone to talk to - just walk right through and out into the lobby.

There you will see signs for "taxi". Follow then and get on the end of the line - it shouldn;t take long.

CDG is my final destination. Since I would have nothing to declare, it sounds like I'm not required to go thru Customs, correct? I just go thru Immigration after exiting the plane, then pick up my bags and find a taxi. That sounds pretty simple.

One other question....when I return to NY, I'm sure I will have purchased some items to bring home. Will I have to go thru Customs then??

Thanks for all your help, everyone.

You definitely will go through Customs -- it is just that you may not realize it. You can't avoid it since customs is between you and the exits. If you have nothing to declare that is the exit you use, and you walk past the customs desks. But there are customs agents there so if they do decide to stop you (doesn't usually happen) you may be interviewed.

In NY, or any US gateway, all passengers must pass through customs. You have no choice. You can't get from baggage claim to the exit without doing so.

You will hand the US customs agent your declaration form (everybody must fill one out - they'll give it to you on the plane).

Coming back to the US - you'll get a form to fill out while you're on the plane. When you get back to NY - you follow the crowd, and you'll go through the whole customs process in the US - much more complex than most countries.... Don't be nervous, really just follow the crowd, and if you have questions - just ask, most people are more than happy to help you. Have a great first trip to Europe!!!!

Thank you all for clearing this up for me.

Now if I could only control the weather...looks like the high temps will be in the low 60's. I hope they still seat people outdoors at the cafes despite the cool weather.

To the follow the crowd advisors: We arrived at CDG in Feb 06 (2E) and when we exited, everyone, literally, everyone was looking around for the "crowd" to follow. It was three or four minutes of walking around the room we entered before someone (thank goodness) saw the customs line around a corner and down the hall. We lemmings then followed . . . Maybe it was the construction, but it began to get a little disconcerting.