Paris-Charles De Gaulle to Le Bel Ami
 

What's the best way to get from CDG to Le Bel Ami hotel in Saint Germain? Looking for direct trip. Taxi's more than we'd like to pay.

If by "direct", you mean without any stopping or transferring, then taxi is the only way.

Otherwise, I'd recommend taking the Air France bus to either Gare de Lyon or Gare Montparnasse and then taking a taxi from there. The bus will be 11-14 euros pp; the taxi could run anywhere from 5-7 euros (more if you have a lot of bags).

Using elle's figures,which are accurate, that is 42E for 2..a taxi will run about 45!

Sorry hit the reply too soon..we used Paris Shuttle at 36E for 2 people in November and were pleased

RER B to St-Michel Notre-Dame
Métro Ligne 4 (Direction Porte d;orléans) to St-Germain des Prés
Walk 20 meters to hotel
€7.85

If someone can afford to stay at Le Bel Ami..where rates start at 260E a night..I don't think saving 20E and dragging luggage while jet-lagged, dirty and tired and up and down stairs and thru streets should be a problem!

What part of "Taxi's more than we'd like to pay" don't you understand?

Agree with Jody. Taxi=45E

I think if you don't want to take a taxi, and by direct you do mean nonstop, the only option is one of those airport shuttle vans and they will be a little cheaper, as Jody mentioned. There are a couple of them people regularly mention on here. Even then it will not be direct in that some people on the van may be driven to their hotels before you, but you won't have to get out and you will be taken to your hotel.

OK, Robespierre, now I'll ask you:
What part of "direct trip" do YOU not understand?

I think the problem here is that the average person assumes a taxi is going to be way more than any kind of bus. But when the facts are in and a person discovers the only other direct route involves a bus with other people and other stops and costs "almost" as much as a taxi, the information may be looked at in a different light.

Just like suggesting a non direct RER/Metro route that saves a LOT of money may be more convincing once the poster sees how much the shuttles are.

I see nothing wrong with giving the poster MORE information than he asked for, considering the options.

Hi liv,

I don't think that you can do it for much less than a cab.

See www.parishuttel.com and www.beeshuttle.com

((I))

Patrick, that would make sense if other posters hadn't already pointed out the fact that shuttles cost as much or more than a taxi, making them <i>also</i> more than livtotrvl wants to pay.

I don't know what's &quot;indirect&quot; about a train that stops outside the hotel. Or what's &quot;direct&quot; about a bus that wanders its own route, dropping off other parties for an hour before you get to your hotel.

Furthermore: it may not have occurred to some that the <u>reason</u> livtotrvl can afford to stay at Le Bel Ami is that s/he habitually doesn't waste money on indulgences.

Huh? First of all livtotrvl never stated a dollar amount. I felt he may very well be just guessing that the taxi is the most expensive, or may be under the misunderstanding of how expensive either it or the shuttles really are. Who knows?

You don't understand what is NOT &quot;direct trip&quot; about taking an RER and having to change to the metro at St. Michel and then still probably having to get to a hotel from whatever metro stop? What part of that not being a &quot;direct trip&quot; do you not understand? It seems to me that that fails to meet the original request for &quot;direct trip&quot; just as much or more than the explanations about taxis or shuttle fail to meet the nebulous &quot;more than we want to pay&quot; without stating what they do want to pay. At least &quot;direct trip&quot; can be more easily and specifically interpreted. And sorry, I was unaware that any train went direct from CDG and stopped right &quot;outside the hotel&quot;. Could you point that one out again?

Boy - you guys are nasty!
livtotrvl - pop for the taxi from the airport! We did on our last trip to Paris and it was worth the extra! Very quick, very comfortable, could see the city, didn't have to worry about being tired or getting on the wrong metro.
When we left Paris, we were wide-awake and savvy about the trains - so we took the metro/train back to CDG.

huh, kbrennan? Who's being nasty? I see a lot of people here trying to help each other out. Of course, there are varying opinions that are being &quot;intelligently&quot; discussed. Is that your idea of nasty?

Well, I certainly hope livtotrvl can sort thru the intelligent discussion!

&lt;&lt; that would make sense if other posters hadn't already pointed out the fact that shuttles cost as much or more than a taxi, making them also more than livtotrvl wants to pay.I don't know what's &quot;indirect&quot; about a train that stops outside the hotel.&gt;

huh... first, posters didn't point out that shuttles cost as much or more than a taxi -- taxi was estimated at 45 euro (which could go up a little, I know from experience, up to 50), and a shuttle is around 36 euro for two. I don't think that makes a shuttle as much or more.

Also, a train that stops near the hotel is obviously not direct by any definition of that term, because you have to transfer to get onto the metro line that stops near the hotel.

I agree with Patrick, lots of times when people ask these questions, they don't really understand the comparison prices. Livtotrvl has requirements that many budget RER/metro people willing to do all that do not (requiring a direct trip). Why do you take this metro/RER stuff so personally, Robespierre -- you'd think you owned stock in it or something. There are other options and reasonable people can think they are preferable.

I always take a taxi myself (although I would take the AF or Roissybus if I were right within walking distance of the stop, or the RER in the same case if no transfers were required) -- and shuttles don't appeal to me. It's just not the way I want to save 10 euro on my trip, the cost of a couple cups of coffee. However, even though I don't prefer them, I think a shuttle might suit this person best.

Let's see: the parameters are:

<i>best</i> - &quot;superior to any other&quot;
<i>direct</i> - &quot;not stopping or deviating&quot;
<i>cheap</i> - &quot;less expensive than a taxi&quot;

No solution found.

Wow, thanks for all the responses. Didn't realize it would create all the discussion. I guess I was hoping there was a train that went directly from the airport to a stop within 5 min walking distance to the hotel. Otherwise possibly a shuttle if it is significantly less than a taxi. I realize traffic is unpredictable so the taxi rate could vary.

We found a rate much better than the 260E for the hotel and although we would normally not even pay that much for a hotel room at the Ritz, this is my first trip to Paris so the location and quality of hotel was very important to me (still keeping my eyes open for a last minute deal). Transportation to and from the airport is obviously required but not something I want to pay a lot for.

Take a taxi unless you consider the 10-15 euros savings for 2 people 'significantly less'.