susoir

Unfortunately, you can't count on a quick and easy taxi ride from CDG just because it's a Sunday. Three weeks ago, on Sunday, March 18, my friend and I arrived at CDG at 2:45 in the afternoon. Thinking it would save time over the RER, we took a taxi from the airport into the city (5th Arr.). There was very heavy, stop-and-go traffic coming into Paris. The taxi ride took about an hour, and cost about 70 euros.

Heading home, we took the RER back to CDG, as we had done several times before, and found it to be faster and less aggravating (and of course, less expensive) than the taxi ride.

If you have a lot of luggage or your hotel isn't near an RER stop, a taxi may be your best solution, but you should be prepared for the possibility that it will be pretty expensive.

Kwoo

Thanks to susoir, and again to mms. I will have to think about this. We are staying at Hotel Bonapart, Rue Bonaparte, in the 6th. I'll check to see if there is a RER station nearby. Are there escalators at the RER stations? I guess one of my concerns is carrying/pulling luggage up stairs or down stairs.

annhig

I'll check to see if there is a RER station nearby. Are there escalators at the RER stations?>>

kwoo - see my post dated March 30th. the Bonaparte is not THAT far from the Luxembourg RER across the other side of the luxembourg gardens; there are supposed to be lifts [aka elevators] at RER stations but when we were there 2 years ago they were doing it up, so we had to use the stairs.

somewhere on the internet it should tell you whether the renovations included a lift.

bretonick

Virtually all RER stations have escalators - and certainly the main ones in central Paris, where the RER is quite deep. But not all metro stations have escalators.
There's quite a lot of information on many of the questions raised on this page, on http://about-france.com/paris.htm and on http://about-france.com/budget-paris.htm. There is also a comparison of the different options for getting to and from Paris airports

kayd

As for where to buy the museum pass, if you do not intend to use it on your first day in Paris, go to any museum or monument (whether it is one you want to visit or not) near closing time, when there are no lines. Just buy the passes and leave; now you are ready to jump to the head of the line and activate the card at your first museum visit the next day.

lantana

Great tip, kayd. Thanks!

StCirq

You don't reserve the Air France shuttle (navette) in advance, and you don't have to be an Air France passenger to use it. You do have to know where to pick it up, though; it doesn't travel around picking people up from each exit door at the airport.

http://www.bonjourlafrance.com/air-f...dg-airport.htm

Kwoo

Thanks, annhig. I must have missed your March 30 post because there are so many posts that I scrolled right past it.

thanks St. Cirq for the link. I will check that out. Now I need to print out this thread & highlight relevant information.

annhig

no probs, kwoo. i know how it is when you go away for a while and then find loads of replies.

do you know that you can use the little man function for finding out walking distances and times [eg from RER Luxembourg stop to your hotel] ?

kathyre

My tip is for the Orsay museum. After entering, walk through the gallery of sculpture, all the way to the end of the museum where you will see a large sign for Impressionism with an up arrow. Follow this and you will find the escalator!!! which will take you to the 5th floor. These are the most popular galleries, so do them first. Then, go back down to where you entered and do the post-impressionists. I love the museum pass because you can pop in and out, and return to museums at a whim. It also saves hours of waiting in line.

elizbuth

We've gone from CDG to Paris on the RER and found it difficult with luggage and so many steps. With cabs the cost depends on the traffic and once our driver was falling asleep at the wheel! For just the two of us we prefer the Air France bus. You're above ground, the ticket can be pre-printed at home, they leave CDG every 20-30 minutes, and for two people they are inexpensive even when you add a cab ride to the hotel.

Kwoo

Thanks again to everyone who have responded. Annhig,thanks for the tip about the little man function. It's a 15-minute walk from RER Luxembourg to HOtel Bonaparte. That isn't too bad but of course we will have luggage. The nearest metro station is Saint Sulpice. I'm still debating between taking a taxi from CDG, the RER or the Air France shuttle bus. I admit the lazy part of me is voting for the taxi but at least I have about 3 months to decide.

kathyre, thanks for the tip about the Orsay Museum & we do plan on purchasing the Paris Museum Pass.

kayd, thanks for your tip about buying the museum pass at the end of the day when the museums are closing & there aren't any lines. I think I will do that on Sunday, the day we arrive, and then activate the pass on Monday for the next 4 days. I'm aware that some museums close on Monday & some close on Tuesday, so I will plan accordingly. I assume since we will do this near closing time, it doesn't matter if we go to the Louvre to buy the pass, or a less popular museum, like the Rodin, right?

Fodorite018

kwoo--When I took the RER last summer, I had a bit of a walk as well. The landlord had suggested taking a bus from the RER to near the apt, but I just walked and at first was afraid it was going to be too far but it actually felt really good. I think after being on a plane all night the walking and fresh air, even with my luggage, was quite pleasant. So don't give up on that idea just yet

kayd

Kwoo, the Rodin is nearly as popular as the Louvre. I saw long lines outside there on a cold and windy February Sunday, ditto L'Orangerie on Monday, but of course I breezed right in to both with my museum pass. Look at the list of attractions (don't forget monuments too) where the pass is honored and pick a place you are likely to be close to around 4-5 pm on Sunday.

annhig

The nearest metro station is Saint Sulpice. I'm still debating between taking a taxi from CDG, the RER or the Air France shuttle bus. I admit the lazy part of me is voting for the taxi but at least I have about 3 months to decide.>>

if you settle on the RER and the taxi, i don't think that getting off at the luxembourg stop will be any good as there is no taxi rank nearby. you'd need to get off at the St. michel stop [the one before Luxembourg] where there is a taxi rank in the Place st. michel. opinions seem divided as to whether you can hail cabs in Paris, but I wouldn't want to gamble on the off-chance of finding one that was prepared to stop, if I had a load of luggage.

suebent

Having been to Paris many times in my studies, I have tried all of these ways to reach whatever hotel I have chosen. Of course the taxi is best for "LOTS" of luggage. I really like the Metro because I can getfrom the airport to anywhere in the city, and it is so easy to use - and inexpensive! I only carrry one rollingsuitcase for a weeks stay
so thatis not a problem for me.
Since I study WWII history, The Hotel des Invalides is my favorite - try not to miss it.
Hope you enjoy your trip.

Kwoo

suebent, thanks for your tips, including the HOtel des Invalides. For some reason, it wasn't on my list, but I will add it. I am planning on submitting my itinerary for critiquing!

MaineGG

If you decide to take the Air France bus to Gare Montparnasse, your taxi fare to the hotel should be approx €6.69.

http://www.worldtaximeter.com/paris

Kwoo

MaineGG,
I assume there will be plenty of taxis at Gare Montparnasse, right? According to my research, the one-way fare for the AF bus is 14 euros or 22 euros RT.

ggreen

You've already gotten a lot of good advice on this thread, but I'll add my two cents. I always take the RER from CDG into Paris (and have been doing so for over 20 years), but to be honest, I'd recommend the Air France bus + taxi over the train. Reading the comments here reminded me of how nice it was the few times I took it, and I feel that for a first-time visitor, it's the right balance between economy and ease of use!

A little comparison:
1. The Air France bus is clearly identified at the airport, and services all terminals. The RER has one location, and you may have to travel within the airport to get to it; once you do, you need to get through the turnstile and down an escalator to the platform, and confirm you're taking the right one. Don't forget that the ticket from CDG into the city is different than one from the <i>carnet</i> that you'll use in the main Paris zones.
2. The bus, being a coach, has berths to store your luggage, and the driver will assist. The RER is a commuter train with no real accommodation for luggage - and usually plenty of locals unhappy with having to maneuver around you and yours!
3. The bus has a clear destination with only one or two stops. The train stops throughout the suburbs on its way into the city; you need to be aware of when your stop will be, and be prepared to descend quickly as there's not much time in each station.
4. Even if you aim to only take the RER and not transfer to the Metro, you still may end up maneuvering through corridors and turnstiles within the system. As someone else mentioned, in central Paris the RER is deeper underground than the Metro, which means a hike up, even if it's on escalators. (If you transfer to a Metro line, you're guaranteed of corridors, escalators and turnstiles between one and the other, since they are separate but intertwined systems.)

Lastly, I always end up bringing a nice, ample wheeled suitcase that I regret as I stumble bleary-eyed from plane to train and then along cobblestone streets. (I definitely don't fall into the carry-on only camp of travelers!)

This page has some good information on the bus:
http://francetravelplanner.com/go/pa...f_bus_cdg.html

You'll have plenty of time to take the storied Metro once you've ditched the luggage and shaken off some jet lag. Then it will be a lark, part of your Paris adventure. Don't make that exploration a required part of starting your vacation!