Paris travel help
 

Hello

My family of 5, 2 adults and 3 kids ages 6, 8 and 10 will be arriving at Charles De Gaulle at about 3 pm. I need to then get to our rental apartment in the Marais near St. Paul metro (Rue des Francs Bourgeois). What is the best and most economical way to get there?
1. Hire private car ahead of time ~ 90 Euro
2. Take a taxi from the airport? Will it be able to accommodate 5 people?
3. Take the metro

Also for the Metro, is it better to just buy carnets or a pass? We arrive on a Thursday.
Thanks so much!

Take a taxi. Yes, there are taxis that accommodate 5 people or more. It will cost a lot less than 90€. It's 55€ to the Right Bank, 60€ to the Left (I think I have that right - haven't taken a taxi from CDG since they introducted flat rates).

As for the métro, it depends on how long you're in Paris and how often you plan to ride the métro/RER/buses. Just don't buy a Paris Visite card - rip-off. A Navigo card might work, but again you haven't said how many days you'll be in Paris or how much public transportation you intend to use.

Best would be your own private limo, I suppose. You know which is most economical of what you name.

Don't hire a private car, this makes no sense when the taxi fare is 50 euro (may be a few euro more for 5). That would probably be cheapest, actually, as I think the ticket from CDG into the city costs about 10 euro. I can't even imagine you would do that with 3 little kids and luggage! That would be a nightmare, that metro stop isn't on the line from the airport, you must know. So you'd have to transfer and walk and walk and walk (because that line doesn't even go through Chatelet/Les Halles, you have to walk to Chatelet.

Just use a regular taxi. Go to the line outside the airport and do not listen to anyone inside the airport who offers you a taxi; a sure fire rip-off! When you get into the taxi queue try to get the dispatchers' attention and hold up five fingers. He then will know to call up a larger taxi, assuming you will also have luggage.

Just to keep things straight, the train to CdG is the RER, regional train service, not the Metro, although some of the RER tracks do run underground. RER connects to the Metro and uses the same tickets. Paris has zone fares; a ticket from a carnet is good for one zone. From the airport you require a multi-zone ticket which will cover both the train and a Metro connection if you need one. Remind your kids to hold on to their tickets, in case of security checks. Some of the RER exit gates need the originating ticket to operate. Discard tickets once through the Exit gates.
www.parisbytrain.com
http://www.ratp.fr/en/ratp/c_21879/visiting-paris/ Go to the Getting Around section for an inter-active trip planner which will be useful throughout your visit. Have the kids practice now so they get into the spirit.

Take a taxi from the official taxi queue. Cost to the Right Bank is 50€ plus 4€ for the 5th passenger. Do not accept offers from clandestine drivers soliciting from within the terminals. Taxi drivers are not tipped.

The métro does not go to the airport. There is a train, the RER B from which you may connect to the métro but the cost would be 3 adult fares @ 10€ each and two children fares at 7€ each or 44€. A taxi will be much easier and a lot faster.

For travel once you are in Paris, everything depends upon how long you are staying and where it is you want to go. Individual tickets, the T+, cost 1.90€ (10 for 14.50€) and are valid on the bus, métro, tramway, funicular, and between a few, in Paris RER stations. For children ages 4-9 inclusive, the ticket T+ is 7.25€ sold in groups of 10.

By all means, take an official taxi and don't take public transport/metro/RER. The price from the airport by train for 5 people will rival the taxi flat rate (55E - 60E, as said above) and it will be complicated for you, with all those luggage and kids. There is no direct train to your area, you will have to change metro. Just a simple no. Take the taxi.

Thanks everyone for your replies. It really helps clarify things. I will definitely take the taxi from outside rather than the metro.

You will have to wait in line for a mini-van which will be able to hold your family and luggage. It won't take long, though.
Flat rates are in effect so you will pay 50 EU to go to the Right Bank, and 4 EU in addition to the flat fee for the 5th passenger.
There are no fees for luggage.
Make certain to follow the overhead signs to the official TAXI stand. Remember that legitimate taxi drivers always remain in their taxis. Do not go with anyone who promises you a "good deal".
It's a good idea to print out the complete address of your hotel, including the Postal Code, and hand it to the driver, so there won't be any confusion.