CYNCITYFAN

Hi all,

I will be arriving at CDG in terminal 2.

I need to meet up with my party in terminal 1.

I have researched the CDG website and know what door I need to find the shuttle bus (it said to look for the red bus) from the NWA area of terminal 2.

This will be my 3rd trip to Paris, but I have never had to go looking for my party at another terminal. As far as I can tell based on the CDG website, my party will be waiting at door/gate/exit 22 at terminal 1, level 3 near the shuttle pick up/drop off. From there we will get back on to catch the RER and the fun will begin.

My questions are:
Do I need to explain to the driver that I wish to go to terminal 1 or just hop on? How “normal” is it for a traveler to have to go from terminal 2 to terminal 1? Will the shuttle take me to terminal 1 directly at or near door/gate/exit 22, level 3 (départ/departures)? When the shuttle gets to terminal 1, will it be obvious that I am there (signage, big round terminal, announcement), or do I kindly ask the bus driver to tell me when I arrive at terminal 1? Is in fact, the shuttle red colored (Navettes Aéroports de Paris)? I ask this last question b/c based on the CDG website, it seems there is a green line and a lavender line too.

I have never been to terminal 2, nor have I ever needed to meet up with friends who have never been to Paris in the airport. Both other times I traveled to Paris, I came from terminal 1 and was alone.

Thx in advance for your replies, I will be checking back for your info!

~Jay

kerouac

It would have been better if your party had been able to come to meet you at terminal 2, because then you wouldn't have to take another shuttle to the RER station.

Anyway, the shuttles connect terminals 1, 2 & 3 all the time and are clearly marked, even though at least 50% of the people getting on a shuttle marked "terminal 1" seem to ask the driver "is this going to terminal 1?"
Terminal 1 being the big round building, as you already know, just get off the shuttle when it gets there. Just go to arrivals and your party will come out of the appropriate doors. Don't be surprised if terminal 1 is a complete mess, because it is in the middle of major renovation, but the fact that it is round makes everything easy to find -- door 2, door 4, door 6, door 8, etc.

After you have met your party, you will have to take another shuttle to the CDG1 RER station. Just look for the signs "Paris by train." The fare is 8.10 euros per person to Paris, including the connection to the metro.

CYNCITYFAN

Thx! I will just hop on the shuttle and cruise on over to terminal 1. Seems simple enough for me.

My friends are complete novices when it comes to this airport. I have no trouble going from terminal 1 to the RER. And I think it is best for them to stay put, while I find them. I was there last time in late Oct, and before that April (both times in 2006). I am well aware that things look very messy these days in terminal 1. I don’t need one of them going astray looking for me… I am also thinking that this is a responsibility I am ill prepared to deal with ('babysitting' several adults for the first 12 hours). My plane arrives at terminal 2, two hours after everyone else lands at terminal 1.

One thing Kerouac: you say that they will be at arrivals? I told them how and where to get to door 22 on level three (departures). I think this is the exit for the shuttles. Has this changed with all the construction? I will be leaving in just over 2 weeks. The CDG website says level 3, door/exit 22. But I am curious if maybe this is outdated info. Or did I get it wrong, and level three is actually arrivals?

PS. I realized that I switched the “C” & “G” in the title of this post… oops!!!! [Insert red faced icon here]. I’m not that much of a novice, just dyslexic! LOL!!!

Thx again!

~Jay

LarryJ

The shuttle bus stop for terminal 1 is at door 22. Welcome to CDG the world's most confusing airport. If you take the RER into Paris from the station at terminal 2 the wait at the ticket counter can take close to an hour and the automatic ticket machines will not take American credit cards while at terminal 1 it should take only a minute or two at the ticket counter. The RER at terminal 1 is a good idea for you.

Larry J

JeanneB

I recently was to meet 2 first-timers at CDG. We met at the Sheraton Hotel located in Terminal 2, steps from the RER station.

CDG experts here on Fodor's helped me devise specific directions to get them to the hotel. There's a large lobby bar with comfortable chairs where they can relax while waiting for you. When you get there, you just go down the escalator outside the hotel door and you're at the RER.

My friends were also very nervous about CDG. They found the hotel with no problem.

kerouac

Obviously, if they're arriving two hours earlier, they have plenty of time to get to the shuttle bus location. But anyway, as I said earlier, it's pretty hard to get lost at CDG1 once you are in the central core. However, they may die of boredom while waiting.

CYNCITYFAN

LOL @ kerouac! That is what i am afraid of. So if I revise my directions for my buddies, how would I tell them to get to the above mentioned Sheraton Hotel located in Terminal 2 (the one JeanneB posted about), or any other point of interest in terminal 2?

All I need is for them to get lost en route to terminal 2. I don't know enough to give them directions to terminal 2 or to even to pick a point in terminal 2 for them to hang out in. Believe it or not, I am not looking after students here, but ppl in their late 20s and early 30s. If one of them gets lost, I will never hear the end of it!

janisj

I agree w/ JeanneB - have them meet you at the Sheraton. Heck - if they aren't sharp enough to find their way from T-1 to the Sheraton, do you REALLY want to travel w/ them?

Especially since they get there so much earlier - they will be more comfortable and it will be easier for you.

(My own personal preference when there is that much time between flights it for the early arrivees to go straight to the hotel and check in and wait there. But it sounds like you don't trust their navigation skills)

kerouac

They can take a shuttle to terminal 2 quite easily -- keeping in mind that terminal 2 has 6 modules (A through F), plus the rail station (RER & TGV). Their best bet would be to get off at the stop for the TGV station, where the Sheraton is, plus other benches and waiting areas, snack shop, newsstand, etc., for the train station. Less boring if they get there early enough, as they can explore terminal 2 with their baggage cart without getting lost -- there are maps absolutely everywhere, in spite of the fact that they seem to be invisible to most Fodorites for some reason.

Michel_Paris

I was at CDG Terminal 1 in November (flew on US Air). I took the RER into the city. To get to the RER station:

Took Elevator 20 down to departure level, then exited door #22. Cross the road to the #2 bus shelter, this is the pickup point for the RER/Terminal 3/Roissypole shuttle. The shuttle is free, and its first stop (10 min ride) was RER station.

Note that there are 2 RER stops at the Airport: terminal 2 and terminals 1&3


Hope this helps

Mike

Maps of the terminals:

http://www.aeroportsdeparis.fr/Adp/e...idesPratiques/

JeanneB

I think the easiest thing to tell them is simply to "take the shuttle bus to Terminal 2". Once there, find INFORMATION and ask which way to the Sheraton (w/ map if possible). It may be a long walk, but I don't see how they could miss it.

CYNCITYFAN

Thx all.

I will have them meet me at the lounge in the Sheraton; so i will send them a revised plan.

It isn't that they aren't sharp enough (LOL), it is just I don't want to be the cause of them missing me b/c I gave them the wrong info (I have the hotel reservations in the city)... and like I said, I would be razzed for life if I told them the wrong thing (e.g. 10 years from now "Remember that one time in Paris where you got us lost in CDG?".


thx again... I am typing up new directions now!

JeanneB

Since the RER station will be right downstairs one of them could go on down and stand in the que for everyone's tickets to the city. There may not be a line, but sometimes it can get backed up. That way, once you arrive, you'll all be ready to hop on the train and start your vacation.

CYNCITYFAN

<<Since the RER station will be right downstairs one of them could go on down and stand in the que for everyone's tickets to the city. There may not be a line, but sometimes it can get backed up. That way, once you arrive, you'll all be ready to hop on the train and start your vacation.>>

We have the RER covered with a 5 zone/3 day pass. After 3 days, we will use Mobilis with the appropriate zones.

LarryJ

Keep in mind when buying passes and you will need to go to CDG. The Mobilis pass is not valid for trips between Paris and CDG regardless of zones bought. A single trip Paris to CDG costs 8.10 euros.

Larry J

CYNCITYFAN

^Good to know Larry. I have never done the Mobilis, reg ticket, or carnets. So for the last day I just ask for a OW ticket to CDG from Nation Station?

MorganB

Thats correct, just go to the ticket window and ask for a ticket to CDG.

LarryJ

No, you can not get the RER train from Nation. You could take the Metro line 2 from there to Gare Nord where you would then take RER line B to CDG. The RER ticket can be bought at any station in Paris. The price is the same 8.10 euros from any station in Paris. There are only one way tickets. Be careful to take the correct line B train as this line splits. Check the message boards at Gare Nord for trains to CDG. The train you want should leave from track 43.

Larry J

CYNCITYFAN

<<No, you can not get the RER train from Nation. You could take the Metro line 2 from there to Gare Nord where you would then take RER line B to CDG. The RER ticket can be bought at any station in Paris. The price is the same 8.10 euros from any station in Paris. There are only one way tickets. Be careful to take the correct line B train as this line splits. Check the message boards at Gare Nord for trains to CDG. The train you want should leave from track 43.

Larry J>>

hmmmm.

I thought I could catch the red line (RER "A&quot to Les Halles and catch RER B3. So are you saying that I cannot buy the OW ticket from Nation Station and use it on line "A" and change to line "B3"??? I know that line "A" goes thru Nation and on to Les Halles. I know what directions and trains to take, I just dont know what ticket(s) to use... and is the OW only good on RER "B3"?

If this is the case, what will it cost to get from Nation to Les Halles? Just a "t" ticket? And then a OW ticket from Les Halles to CDG? My hotel is next to Nation (same as last time). Both times I have been, I just used Paris Visite and mindlessly went where I wanted. I guess I better check the RATP site AGAIN!

LarryJ

With a transportation network of 14 Metro lines, 5 RER lines and a newly opened Tramway there are many combinations of segments to get from one place to another. The one you propose from Nation to CDG via line A to Halles and then line B to CDG is one of these options. It's a little less direct than Metro 2 to La Chapelle / Gare Nord but with fewer stops maybe a little quicker. Yes your RER ticket is good from anywhere in Paris to CDG for 8.10 so long as you don't exit a station anywhere before completing your trip to CDG. Go for it.

Larry J