Staying at Hotel College de France , opinions on whether it is worth the 69 euros for the convenience of the hotel shuttle vs public transport from CDG tour the hotel. Jetlag might be an issue, but I believe the public transportation is pretty straightforward. Again, just interested in opinions.

That should read "to the hotel." Typing on a kindle.

We found the RER convenient:

<i>From Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport: Take the RER B, towards Robinson/Saint-Remy-les-Chevreuses, at the front of the train, alight at "Saint-Michel - Notre-Dame - Cluny-la-Sorbonne" station, take the Boulevard Saint-Germain exit, walk in the direction of traffic flow.
Rue Thenard is on your right (3rd street, after number 63). </i>

And we always find it convenient to save 60 euros when we can.

Thanks, 29FEB. I would much rather spend the money on fun things...like, crepes, baguettes, fromage, croque monsieurs... Thanks for the easy directions, too. Did you buy a book of carnet at CDG?

69 euros is too much to pay for a potentially unreliable shuttle or one that may need to accommodate passengers other than yourself. Take a taxi, or the Air France bus or the Roissy bus plus taxi if necessary, or take the RER, but not a shuttle.

StCirq, I would just be taking the shuttle from the airport to the hotel, and it's a hotel shuttle. So time is no issue, but the cost seems very high. Just wondering if, factoring the fatigue of jetlag into it, the extra convenience is worth paying for. It's a personal decision, but I'm interested in others' opinions.

Actually, it's private transportation "in our new, air-conditioned French Renault." They pick you up at the airport, holding a sign with your name on it.

zoo...I took a quick look at your hotel which looks lovely but I can guarantee you they are offering you the services of a transfer or taxi they work with ...it is not their taxi and certainly they can arrange for that and they will be there with a "sign with your name on it". While there is a margin of error that someone may not be there or be late it is convenient and sometimes after a long flight the best option. You do sound like the other options may be fine with you or you can grab you own taxi for slightly less money. Personal preference. If it really is a car owned by a small hotel well I will stand corrected and I would think if it is "their" car they would have every interest in making sure to get there comfortably.

A hotel with 29 rooms does not possess its own shuttle. They are just outsourcing the transportation to some other company, reliable or not.

I've taken a taxi from CDG into downtown Paris and another time the RER. The taxi (like all cars, shuttles, etc) was stuck in traffic in some areas, whereas the RER was more direct and very relaxing.

My opinion based on experience:

"Private" shuttle/car service: they were to be there waiting with a sign, but weren't. Wouldn't do it again.

Shared shuttle: a PIA. Wouldn't do it again.

Taxi: perfectly alright, but

RER: what we prefer. It isn't the easiest thing in the world, but it isn't difficult. We are coming from the US on an overnight flight, and it's a little trying; we aren't young and are usually tired. When we get out in Paris, we hop in a taxi to our hotel. Total is never more than 30 euro for two of us. If we had a really nearby hotel, I guess we would walk from the RER. When staying in the Marais, we get out at Gare du Nord; otherwise, St Michel, then take a quick taxi. Never had a problem. We like saving a few euro, and not sitting in traffic.

Your hotel is arranging for someone to meet you at an inflated price.
You can arrange a shuttle transport to your hotel for about 30E or so.
You can take a taxi all by yourself for probably about 50E.
If you are comfortable doing the RER and the transfers, and the trekking up and down stairs (maybe) and walking the last half mile to your hotel, have at it.
BUT be aware that your hotel has farmed this out and it is too much by what you could do all by yourself, including a taxi.

IMHO for this much money a taxi is much more reliable and convenient.

Of, if you want to be thrifty - take the train.

A random car service at this price is just a waste.

I've stayed at that hotel. The RER stop is very close to the hotel. For me, the cost savings and location made using the RER a pretty attractive choice.

Even if the money isn't a factor, if it was me, I could guarantee that mine would be the last hotel in the schedule. Been there, done that, and it's incredibly annoying.

Great advice from all. I enjoy being out and about and think we'll stick with public transportation. Especially in light of the benefits of cost and avoiding crazy traffic.

Roissy Bus is another alternative for you to consider. Drops you at Opera metro station and costs about 10euro or so per person.

I took the RER from CDG into Paris on my last visit in May. Our RER train got stuck for about 20 minutes just before we got to Gare du Nord station - seemed like forever of course because I was tired after a long flight and just wanted to get to my hotel and get going. So, even RER trains can get stuck like a taxi.

Still, I'd take RER again. It worked well enough to get to my hotel. I had to connect to another RER train and walk from the second RER stop to my hotel. RER to RER connections seem to work fine. If you have to connect from RER to a Metro it could be a lot of walking at connection so keep that in mind; some connections between stations involve a lot more walking between platforms than you can see on a little map.

Once upon a time I knew the Paris transport system well. That was 30 years ago. Hopefully it will come back to me. My concern is the jetlag, but we should manage okay.

Well, you don't have to wing it. Figure out how to get to your hotel by Metro or RER (or bus) beyond the airport RER ahead of time. You can try this site to try to navigate using the address of your hotel:

http://www.ratp.fr/itineraires/en/ra...herche-avancee

If it's too complicated to get to your hotel by RER/Metro/Bus, either take a taxi from the RER stop in central Paris to your hotel or find another way from the airport as suggested by others above.