Cowboy1968

P.S. You don't need to get into a metro station to buy a ticket for the bus. The driver sellls single ride tickets for €2, which in slightly more compared to the t+ carnet price.

Gretchen

And reinforcing the poster that asked about 5--take a taxi without ANY doubt. Shepherding a group through turnstiles with luggage and up and down stairs makes no sense. It is not difficult to get a vehicle for that number from the official taxi queue--not from anyone who approaches you.

nannibray

Thanks, Gretchen and ParisAmsterdam.
Taxi will certainly be easier! As far as tipping for the 5 of us, do I just "round up" the fare
or is a larger tip appropriate?
I assume their will be a surcharge for the extra people or just for the extra bags??

Would it be best for us to "reserve" our arrival driver for our departure a week later, or should we reserve our departure by calling a taxi company?
Is the fare determined at the airport taxi line, or will the fare be metered?
Thank you.

Sarastro

I am not sure of your Paris destination but for most locations, expect the taxi metered fare to be 50€ to 55€. In addition to the metered fare, there will be a 3€ charge for each of the 4th and 5th passengers, plus a 1€ charge for each bag placed into the trunk (the first is at no charge). Expect to pay 60€ to 65€ for 5 passengers.

There is no need to tip a taxi driver. If he helps with the luggage, I round up the tab to the nearest 5€ which is plenty for a tip.

For the return, call the day before departure. Allow 1 hour en route to the airport. It will take less but I like to error on the side of caution. If it is raining, I might add 15 to 30 minutes to the pickup time just to be sure.

Taxi G7
http://www.taxisg7.com/
English speaking operator 01 41 27 66 99

AlessandraZoe

I usually tip 10%, nannibray. Half the time, rounding up at 10% work out to be the same anyway.

Our old practice was to order a taxi reservation at our hotel desk the day before departure (see possible problem below***), but now that we've been to Paris enough and have stayed in the same area enough, we know which taxi ranks on the street always have someone who shows up.

For our apartment on Rue Fabert, it was the La Tour Maubourg rank (you can see taxi ranks on Google). If you get a taxi at a rank, you are not charged from the time the driver left his station.

*** Our past problem: Once upon a time, ages ago in heavy rain, our hotel "reserved" taxi did not show. The hotel concierge, a lovely person, was so upset, and kept calling and calling. He personally walked us up the street to the Air France bus.

As to timing... I have to tell you that my husband and I spend a lot of time telling everyone that getting THROUGH CDG can be longer than one thinks. So do think about all contingencies. A bomb threat in the airport meant we almost missed our flight.

We think 45 minutes to airport and 2 hours to get through the CDG hassle--and this timing includes the fact that we a) do not check luggage and b) have access to priority lanes.

So we usually allot around 3-4 hours for departure from where we stay in Paris as a minimum.

My sister allots two hours. She's nuts.

nannibray

Sarastro and AlessandraZoe -- THANKS.
So it looks like I should use Taxi G7 to order a taxi in English. Is that right?
Alessandra - I printed the taxi ranks in the 7th but will it do me any good if I do not understand French?
Our apartment is on l'Universite' at Rue Malar. Would the Tour Eiffel 01 45 55 85 41 be best for me?
or should I can the English speaking Taxi G7? If so, will they send a taxi that is close to me or could it possibly come from a long distance thus adding to the fare?

Sue4

Lots of great ideas here since I last checked in. Thanks! Granted, the taxi would definitely be easiest, but being alone I kind of hate to spend 50 euros on that. The Roissybus sounds good, but I hesitate to get on the bus 42 with the suitcase plus carry-on (though small). I DO have leftover tickets, though, so I don't have to buy one. I guess a lot depends on how crowded the bus is at the time. Maybe wouldn't be too crowded mid-morning - the Metro either? But this is Paris in the Spring!

The Metro to Ecole Militaire might also be difficult with the bags if crowded - I've never taken them with a suitcase. I'm sure all these things are why people opt to take taxis from the airport! I still like the idea of the Air France Bus to Montparnasse, as long as I wouldn't have trouble finding a taxi from there. I'm sure I'm leaning toward that because I've done it a lot. My flight usually lands at Terminal 2A, and the bus stop is right there.

Another question, do the taxis take credit cards? I'm not sure how much leftover euros I have, and I don't want to bother with getting money at the airport. May have to do that, though, or get some euros before I leave.

AlessandraZoe, were you happy with the Relais Bosquet? I've been looking at it for awhile, and finally decided to try the 7th, and that hotel.

Seamus

nannibray - while you are there make it a point to stop by Michel Chaudun chocolatier at 149 Rue de l'Université,right at the corner with r. Malar. Some of the best chocolate I have ever eaten.

Sarastro

<i>I still like the idea of the Air France Bus to Montparnasse, as long as I wouldn't have trouble finding a taxi from there.</i>

The AF bus #4 does make a stop at Gare de Lyon before it reaches Montparnasse. It will cost you 17.50€ and from the drop off point, you´ll either need to walk across the street and catch a cab at the Pullman hotel or walk to the front of the train station where the taxis depart. I should think that the fare to the far side of the 7th might be around 10€, maybe a bit less if you depart from the train station taxi stands. With this option you will have effectively circled the entire city just to reach your hotel.

<i>Another question, do the taxis take credit cards?</i>

All Taxi G7 and Taxi Bleu have taxis equipped to access credit cards. I am not sure about Alpha taxi.

It is rather easy to obtain cash at either an airport or a Montparnasse ATM.

jpie

"I still like the idea of the Air France Bus to Montparnasse, as long as I wouldn't have trouble finding a taxi from there. I'm sure I'm leaning toward that because I've done it a lot. My flight usually lands at Terminal 2A, and the bus stop is right there."

As I mentioned the Air France 2 line goes to Porte Maillot and you can catch a cab at the Meridian Hotel right across from the stop. Here is the link to this "line"

http://www.lescarsairfrance.com/en/o...an-line-2.html

In distance it may be about the same as to Montparnasse but for where you are going I think you will find it simpler perhaps since Porte Maillot is right next to the peripherique. As you see it has the 2 b stop at CDG.

GinnyJo

Great advice, everyone – thank you. Based on this thread my husband and I are planning to take a taxi from CDG to the 7th when we arrive. However, we are departing by 10:25 am train to Amsterdam from Gare du Nord. We’ll each have one wheeled suitcase plus a briefcase. Is it realistic for us to navigate the metro with the luggage and at this time in the morning; will it be rush hour? How much time would you allow? We have purchased train tickets on line but will need to pick them up at the station.

Sarastro

Pick up your tickets in advance. You can get them at any rail station or SNCF boutique but do not wait to do this.

I would allow 30 minutes from your hotel to Gare du Nord. Depending upon where in the 7th your hotel is, you might be able to take either the 39 bus (east side) or the 42 bus (west side) to Gare du Nord.

GinnyJo

Thanks. Do you think the bus would be more reliable in traffic than the subway? This will be our first time visiting Paris.

jpie

The subway is more likely to be easier to plan on due to traffic but I would actually consider a cab. It shouldn't cost too much simpler with the luggage. You can order it the night before to pick you up. If it were me I would want to at the gare around 9:30 at the latest and I would pick up tickets in advance as noted. The trip by cab is about 10-15 minutes maximum in normal traffic that time of day.

Here is a fare calculator for the G7 taxi if you want to get an idea:

http://www.taxisg7.com/estimation-ta...t5j372rh6irai0

GinnyJo

Thanks so much!

jpie

Also I just wanted to mention to you that if yo take a cab to tell the driver you are going to Amsterdam versus a train staying in France. He can probably get you closer that way.