Paris Transportation
 

Greetings,

I am arriving in Paris on December 23 at 5:30 pm. I will have a party of 5 with me. We are renting an apartment in the 5th district.

I wanted to see if anyone here can recommend what type of transportation we use. I had a car service through the hotel when we last went to Paris. I will contact the rental company as well.

Thanks in advance,
Dawn

It would be helpful if you said exactly where in the fifth you are going, as it can make a big big difference in terms of convenience to an RER or metro stop and number of possible transfers, or distance walking to the apt.

However, given you have five people and are arriving at night, I'll go out on a limb and say you should get a taxi or some car service. I don't see the point of public train/metro for all those people to some unknown area in the 5th. If it really were right near Luxembourg RER stop (or St Michel for that matter), then the RER would be a bit cheaper but herding a gang of five with baggage doesn't sound like fun to me.

It also really makes a difference the age and capabilities of those five people -- are some infants or toddlers, are some elderly, etc.?

Dawn-
See these 2 recent threads re: CDG to Paris
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35166835
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35168076

Dawn:

Shuttle-Inter comes highly recommended. Cost for 5 would be €80 for private car/van service into Paris from CDG.

http://www.shuttle-inter.com/

We used Airport Connection Paris from CDG to the 6th, in September, 47 euros for 2 people in a shared van. Made the reservation on the web. Worked fine, no waiting, highly recommended.

Christina - I am not 100% sure - I need to go back and look exactly the address - the street is -Ecoles?

Thank you for the other threads YK -
Weekender I will look on there - it

Does not seem to make sense to do the shared van when you paid 47 Euros for 2 people marketsquare - if I have 5?

No toddlers - no elderly - too much luggage if I know dh ...

All the airport transfer choices, pro and con, are here: tinyurl.com/mpjhn

Decide what matters most to you. If I were going to Rue des Écoles, I wouldn't hesitate to ride the RER to St-Michel for 8,40€ and walk from there.

weekender - that looks great and very easy.

Robespierre - I prefer public transportation. I will look into it!

We are on way more of a budget with this trip as well so even the 30 E difference - well- will make a differnce!

Robes - that is an AMAZING fact sheet! wow!

Dawn - I am all for public transportation (as we took the RER from CDG to our hotel in Paris), but here are a few issues with your trip:

1) You *may* be arriving around rush hour and I don't know how busy the RER can get. (*may* because it depends on whether your flight is on time and how long it takes for you to get thru immigration/pick up luggage and get to RER station)

2) If you have lots of big pieces of luggage, it can be difficult with the RER as the only luggage racks are overhead.

3) At least one or two posters have mentioned recently here that they had trouble getting off the RER train at their stop w/their luggage because of how crowded the train was.

4) Can anyone verify if St-Michel's stop has escalator or stairs only?

5) Are you arriving on a redeye from the West Coast? If yes, you may be too tired and jet-lagged to deal with public transportation.

Me thinks taxi *may* be cheaper than a private shuttle, but traffic during rush hour can be a problem with a taxi.

I've negotiated the RER with luggage during rush hour without trauma. I don't try to sit in any of the bench seats away from the doors. There are pull-down jump seats adjacent to the doors with enough room in front of them to sit with your luggage in front of you. They almost certainly will be available when you get on, since the trains originate at CDG. If you can't find an unoccupied seat, you can stand in the area between the doors, or even sit on your luggage!

Dawn, another thing to consider is how familiar you are with the area where your aparmtment is. If you want to do the RER route, make sure you look on Google map and print out the map along with walking directions from St-Michel station to the apartment. Keep in mind that it'll be dark when your plane touches down.

Sometimes I find it harder to navigate in unfamiliar neighborhoods in the evening than during the day time.

Dawn:

I have taken the RER in from CDG a number of times without a problem. That being said, you are a group of 5 and I would be a little concerned about the chances of being separated somewhere in transit.

I don't see that as a show-stopper. If everybody knows where to get off, you can regroup at the station - or the hotel!

I've also taken the RER several times from CDG to Central Paris. What helps simplify this method is that there is only train to take, so the complexity of having to determine which train/track is removed.

Once on, the only thing to watch for is your stop be it St Michel or Luxembourg. Depending on your exact destiniation, a walk or short metro ride could be in order.

I don't think I'd worry about somehow someone getting separated. If you get on at CDG, you will have your spot "staked out", as compared to entering RER mid-route during rush hour.

The only issue, as afar as I can tell, is for you to judge whether the stress level you may be at when landing (if any!) can handle walking to the RER station, buying tickets,etc...getting off at station, orienting yourself, and then transitioning to walking or Metro'ing to your destination...with luggage.

Last trip I travelled in from CDG with large suitcase to St Michel, then did two Metro transfers, then walked to my hotel. I landed at 10:30 AM and by 12:30

I've also used the Roissybus and Air France bus. Both are good, but you increase the odds of not being able to walk to your location from their fixed drop-off points.

For me, the RER trip from CDG is my first immersion back into the day to day life of my favorite city.

And as a P.S I would always have a detailed map of Paris on me from the moment I land, not a print-out. I prefer Michelin Blue guide, but there are many others. It should include the Metro and RER lines. I want to know that no matter what street I am on, what Metro line, I can find my way around, not rely on any "condensed" or tourist map.

Hi,

The one that weekender has mentioned is one that I use all the time. Many of my friends, also.

It is a private vehicle service. They will watch your flight for any delays, will be ouside security passport exit door with your name on a sign, take your luggage to a nearby vehicle and you are off.

I have them reserved for my trips arriving Dec. 4th.

Enjoy..

Joan

And as a P.S I would always have a detailed map of Paris on me from the moment I land, not a print-out. I prefer Michelin Blue guide, but there are many others. It should include the Metro and RER lines. I want to know that no matter what street I am on, what Metro line, I can find my way around, not rely on any "condensed" or tourist map.
---
Thanks for this tip. I will follow up on getting this kind of a map. I will be in Paris for 10 nights - and know it will come in handy.

I prefer the public transportation but am wondering if because it will be dark, yes, we will have been flying on a red-eye in coach - I should not just do the van.

But all GREAT stuff!!

The L'Indispensable Le Petit Parisien 3 plans par Arrondissements are great..They have the 3 maps for each arrr.the map, the bu and the metro. You can pick them up all over..easy to spot..dark blue with red and white..

enjoy...

I always have a detailed map with me (I use Streetwise Paris), but if I have to walk somewhere which I'm unsure of, I have a print out Google map <u>in addtion</u> to the Streetwise.

Why? I can get specific walking directions from A to B on Google map and the route is <u>highlighted</u>. I also can print it out on a bigger scale, so I don't have to squint my eyes to look at the detailed map.

My favorite Paris map: http://tinyurl.com/69qvns

Do you have a cell phone with European frequencies? Google will tell you where you are, whether you have phone service or not. youtube.com/watch?v=v6gqipmbcok

Hello,

Like Gracejoan, I also use the one mentioned by Weekender. In fact, Joan introduced me to it. I am also arriving on December 4th and will be Joan's constant eating companion while in Paris! It promises to be a lovely trip and will not go home hungry!

Lilia

Weekender and gracejoan3, thanks for posting your shuttle recommendation. I am bringing a party of 10 to Paris in March and have been trying to decided how to get the group to the hotel. Last year my group of 10 split three taxis, but I like the idea of having to only split into two groups and have it all prearranged and with personalized pick-up. The other plus is that it works out to almost exactly the same price per person as the RER which doesn't have a stop within walking distance of our hotel anyway.

Glad that it looks like it will work for you.

They are nice people. Do tell them that you have heard that they have great service. It never hurts.

Enjoy your planning..

Joan

I rode in from Orly a few years ago in a blue bus-like van that was big enough for the entire flight crew (probably about 7) plus Mme. and me - with a few empty seats, IIRC.

If you could find one of those, I'll bet it would be more economical than splitting into two loads.

Mom, so glad you're getting ready for this trip. After so many problems, good to see things are moving along.
Have a wonderful time. Bundle up, I think it is going to be much chillier than your weather at home.

Bookmarking

&lt;&lt; a blue bus-like van that was big enough for the entire flight crew (probably about 7) plus Mme. and me - with a few empty seats, IIRC &gt;&gt;

Robes, if you can possibly remember a name for this company, please post it as it would be great not to have to split, especially if the price is right.

I got the exact address for the apartment - and on the paper work it indicates that it is a 15 minute walk.. I hope it is not too far off the beaten path (the apartment)

RER: This is the French metro system. You can take the RER B3 from the airport to the Luxembourg stop and walk from there to the apartment (about 15 minutes).

bookmarking

<i>Author: MomDDTravel
Date: 12/01/2008, 01:38 pm

I got the exact address for the apartment - and on the paper work it indicates that it is a 15 minute walk.. I hope it is not too far off the beaten path (the apartment).</i>

Go to www.ratp.fr
Enter the address and hit <i>Plan de quartier</i>
You will see a map of your hotel's neighborhood showing all the nearby bus, M&eacute;tro, and RER (suburban train) stations. Use this map to see if you can save some walking.

Thanks Robs! It is an apartment. I hope the area is okay.