parkhill24

Who has taken a taxi lately from CDG to a mid-Paris hotel (ours is on the Left Bank) and how much did it cost? I'm seeing ranges online, travelers and websites, from 45 euros up. One site notes "You pay what's on the meter." Can you challenge that if you feel it's patently wrong? The travelers who paid 90 euros certainly should have. Four years ago we took a private shuttle (Leader) from CDG to our hotel on the Left Bank. Slight delay making connections at CDG, but no problem otherwise.

One more: When traveling by rail in Europe we always buy tickets on the spot, a few days ahead. Never a problem. Now I'm seeing on RailEurope "Act fast: Just four tickets left" for our Paris-Frankfurt trip; the only nonstop train. Is this because it's RailEurope and they have only four? Any reason we can't buy tickets when we get to Paris? I thought they just added cars as needed.

Christina

no, you cannot "challenge" what is on the meter. If you don't even know Parisian regulations and taxi fares, how would you know it was wrong anyway. I have never heard of anyone paying 90 euros for a taxi, where did you get that story. Okay, if the fare were 100 euro and the ride was uneventful with no traffic delays (and you could be seeing this on the meter on the way), you could have someone go into the hotel to get someone, I suppose, if they want to get involved. They might not. I've taken a take many times to the Left Bank and it costs 45-55 euro, and that is recent. The 55 euro was really unusual, there was some traffic problem or blockage on the highway, as I recall. But I know the route and knew perfectly well the driver was just having problems getting through the traffic.

In theory, if you believe you were cheated, you could report it to some officials, but that isn't very realistic for a tourist. I've never actually known anyone to be drastically cheated by a taxi in Paris, not to say it is impossible. I know a lot of people who don't know what they are talking about claiming they were cheated (ie, someone not understanding the extra fees for baggage or pickup at a train station, or that a taxi can charge from where they start if they pick you up at a hotel). I also read on some forum some idiot claiming a taxi cheated him because the fare was 12 euro whereas he had friends taking a taxi about the same route some other day, and their fare was only 10 euro. Stupid stuff like that.

If you have a shuttle service you like, just use it and don't worry.

Don't know Raileurope's advertising policies but it is indeed possible for a train to have no seats left, they do sell out. Given you want some really unusual train trip that is rare, I would assume seats can sell out. They don't just add cars to any train as needed.

RonZ

You pay the metered fare and €1 per bag.

When you call for a cab, the driver starts the meter when heading in your direction.

SaraSmiles99

I think we got ripped off at CDG. We paid 70 euro to get to the Opera area during a non-rush hour. I am not sure how negotiable it is. I asked the driver before we got into the taxi the cost. They are all lined up in the taxi queue and you have to choose the taxis in front of the queue, I think. We were so tired from the redeye flight we just wanted to get to the hotel. At least the driver was really nice and gave us tips and pointed out things as we went. I tipped him another 10 euro for the help.

RonZ

Sara, did you look at the meter?

adrienne

The least expensive French train tickets are purchased 90 days before the journey. Normally, the most expensive tickets will be the walk up purchase tickets.

The fast trains require seat reservations and there are only a few seat reservations allocated for RailEurope pass holders. Perhaps this is what the statement means. Who knows what they mean. You would have to ask RailEurope.

RailEurope is not the only place to buy tickets but they are usually the most expensive place to do so.

German train tickets are also less expensive the farther out you buy them.

<< the only nonstop train >>

I don't see any non-stop Paris to Frankfurt trains. There are trains with several stops but no connections. Perhaps this is what you mean.

I see tickets for as low as E49 for the train w/o connections.

RonZ

Lower french train fares on voyages-SNCF than on Raileurope.

annw

You could email the hotel and ask them what the fare from CDG to their hotel generally is. Of course variables include time of day/traffic/baggage.

Sometimes they might suggest a car service with a fixed price (we did this in Paris; they met us at the arrival gate with a sign with our names on it--don't recall the name of the service, sorry, but the hotel may recommend one).

Patty

I'm seeing PREMS tickets (advance purchase, non-exchangeable, non-refundable) as low as 39 euros for Paris-Frankfurt as opposed to 114 euros for the walk up fare.

The most I've paid for a taxi was 60 euros and that was for very heavy traffic (there was an accident). Usually it's between 45-55. I've never had a problem with taxis in Paris and always take them to/from the airport.

There's no negotiation and you take the next taxi in the queue. As mentioned, you pay what's on the meter plus the baggage charge and 10 euros would be a huge tip. I tip a few euros for airport runs. For trips within the city, I'll round to the next euro or sometimes just give the exact fare on the meter.

FrenchMystiqueTours

Don't purchase with RailEurope until you have first checked to see if the same ticket is available at a lower price and with more availability on the official French rail site www.voyages-sncf.com. Usually RailEurope has higher prices, fewer tickets and doesn't show all available dates. You can also use the English language companion site www.tgv-europe.com. Here are tips on how to purchase tickets from that site:

http://www.nickbooth.id.au/Tips/FrenchTrain.htm

As noted above, for long distance train travel the cheapest tickets are available 3 months or more from the date of travel. Buying tickets at the last minute will be your most expensive option.

Another great site for checking rail travel schedules all over Europe is http://www.bahn.de/i/view/USA/en/index.shtml

FrankS

Sorry to say, dont email the hotel. They will tell you 50E but it can be 60, 70, 80 or like you said 90E

Its really up to the cab driver

The pay over 250K for a license, and if its slow...guess who pays? Sorry to burst any bubbles, but when I fly on business I take cabs and they will take advantage of you. On pleasure, like everyone else I take the RER

Southam

The fare is up to the driver -- and to the meter. It keeps running in traffic jams, fast or slow traffic. But at the end of the run, you can read it as well as the driver. Certain surcharges may apply but you can find out in advance what they are -- one was mentioned in a post above. Or go to the tourist information office at the airport and see what they say. Sure, drivers can take the scenic route to run up the fare. But if that is such a concern, hire a private service at a fixed fare, probably no bargain but also no debate.

nytraveler

The price is NOT up to the cab driver, the price is what's on the meter plus cost of luggage - as long as you get a Paris taxi. If you get into a taxi from other town - and they have to take you into Paris and then return to their town - the price might be different.

But I have been to Paris numerous times and used cabs there at lest 100 times - and no one has ever tried to cheat me.

Although we did meet an american couple who claimed they were cheated because they asked their hotel to get them a private limousine with meet and greet service - and then were mad that it cost more than a regular cab. Just their own silly fault not to ask what the service would cost - they had assumed it would cost less.

justineparis

Taxis also charge an extra 3-4 euros for the fourth person in a car( legal) as well as the 1 euro per suitcase.

Taxi will run 45-55 give or take. RER is about 10 euros. If you don't have alot of luggage and can carry your bags up stairs then take RER.

FrankS

People who say its not up to the cab driver, have never taken the scenic route.

parkhill24

Thanks to all for your interesting and informative comments. As veteran travelers we're not all that uptight about Paris taxis or French trains, but it was great to have your specific input for our upcoming (late October) trip. As it turned out, RailEurope was our best bet for Paris-Frankfurt train e-tickets. Thanks for the details on that. For European taxis in general, I agree with FrankS -- "It's really up to the cab driver." As for taking Paris cabs "at least 100 times" with no problems, we should all be so lucky. The Germans say "When angels travel..."

Gretchen

Not sure why you say RailEurope was your best bet. They charge for their "service''.

StCirq

<<People who say its not up to the cab driver, have never taken the scenic route>>

People who know what they're doing don't let the driver take "the scenic route." I've taken well more than 100 taxis from CDG into Paris (7ème), and the only time I ever paid more than 55 euros was when there was a huge pileup on the périphérique...and the driver went out of his way to take detours around it to get me to my hotel as quickly as possible. It is absolutely NOT up to the cab driver.

And a taxi license does not cost 250K in Paris. A license, with a new or fairly new vehicle and all equipment, costs about 80,000 euros.

And it's very hard to believe that Rail Europe had the best bet for any Paris-Frankfurt train tickets. An advanced purchase from the SNCF online site is the best deal around for any train tickets originating in France.

Cathinjoetown

The taxi surcharges are posted on the windows in the back seat in French and English. They are the only surcharges that apply unless the passenger has a very unusual request which should be negotiated "up front."

FrankS

And a taxi license does not cost 250K in Paris. A license, with a new or fairly new vehicle and all equipment, costs about 80,000 euros.
<<

ahem St Cirq....the number of permits are capped, unless you want to wait till your 100th birthday you have to buy your permit on the resale mkt. They resell 250k+ partially because dopes like me have travel budgets that allow for detours 'to avoid accidents', and people like you that dont mind wasting $6000 on taxi fares when 95% of the CDG-Paris crowd takes other means like the RER