I'm arriving at 7:45am at CDG and need to tell the shuttle service I'm using what time I wish to be picked up. I'm planning to have a carry on suit case, so no need to wait for it in the luggage claim area. I do need to get some euros at an ATM, so I'd like to find out what time I can expect to walk out the door of CDG. 9:30am?

Thanks!

Monica

Last time I used a shuttle, I gave the flight info and -they- determined what time for the pickup. However, the instruction was to call upon arrival - can't remember if it was before or after getting bags.

I would say about forty minutes. We bring some euros with us so as not have to bother with the machine at the airport. If you are traveling alone, then a shuttle is a good value.

I wouldn't expect it to be as long as 9:30, as I've never had to wait that long at CDG for passport control, but I don't usually wait in line at ATMs as I always have euro from prior trips. I'd probably say 9 am, but 9:30 would be safer, of course. The one time I used an ATM at CDG I would guess the wait in line was perhaps 10 minutes, 15 tops.

Thanks for the information! The company I'm using has an online booking and it does ask for the pick up time. I'll check to see if I can email them directly.

Monica

Have you considered skipping the shuttle and either a) taking the Air France bus (which shows up every 15 minutes and then delivers to you to one of several convenient locations in Paris) or b) taking a cab? Cabs at CDG are almost always plentiful, in very good condition and with driven by knowledgeable (albeit not necessarily friendly) drivers. If you're travelling alone, a cab is an expensive option (the Air France bus is a better deal). However, for 2 or more, a cab is not significantly more expensive than a shuttle and you don't have to wait for other passengers, or wait for your shuttle bus to show up.

Kate W,
My family of 4 will be traveling to Paris in May and need to get from CDG to our hotel. I wasn't going to do a cab because of the expense - do you know about what a cab would cost? (our hotel is near Les Invalides)

francelover:

With a family of four, the cost might be about the same to take a cab as it would to take a shuttle or the Air France cars. We pay between 36 and 45 euros to take a taxi to the southwest corner of the 16th arrondissement (about as far away from CDG as you can be and still be within the Paris city walls). On the other hand, the driver doesn't have to fight city traffic because he just takes the Peripherique (the ring road that runs just on the border of the city and the suburbs). I would guess that a taxi to where you are going would cost about the same as what it costs us - perhaps a few euros more. (I think the price for up to 3 people is constant, but there is an extra charge for the fourth person.) There are a fair number of station wagon-type taxis at CDG, so you should all fit into the taxi with your luggage, unless you're packing 2 large suitcases each.

Are you travelling with kids 11 and under? If so, then the Air France bus to Arc de Triomphe would cost 33 euros one way in total for 4 people (assuming that you bought return tickets). Then you'd need a cab to your hotel - maybe another 5-6 euros. So, the taxi would be somewhat more expensive, but not prohibitively so.

Putting the address here [and Paris] will yield a map showing buses and metro. Air France buses or the Roissy Bus plus a city bus is an economical way to go if the routes work out.

http://www35.ratp.info/Proxi/proxi.php?

Merci beaucoup, Kate W and RonZ!!

No Kate, I had not considered the Air France bus. I am traveling alone (my friend arrives 2 days before me) and will have just one suitcase and purse. On my previous trips, I've taken the RER to the St. Michele stop and walked to my hotel (Balcons). This time it would mean stopping and changing to the metro at Chatelet, which I understand is huge and sometimes not safe. I don't sleep well on planes, so I thought I'd spend a little extra and use one of the shuttle services. A taxi would be too expensive.

I'll have to check out to see where the various drop off points are for the Air France bus. I assume there will be taxi's waiting for people?

Thanks,

Monica

Monica,
I am leaving this evening and have booked with Yellowvan for my pick up.
It only asks for my airline and arrival time. Then I phone a toll free number before I pick up my luggage and they are suppose to tell me exactly where they will be waiting for me. They drive us right to our apartment door. I am also planning on using them for returns. My daughter was in Paris 2 weeks ago and had used them with no haslles both ways. I will be back in 10 days and will let you know if all went well. When reserving online you do not need to put any credit card numbers, you pay cash to the driver.

Lyban,

Thanks for the information. How much is the service? Are you picking up a telephone card to call them or do you have your own cell phone?

Looking forward to hearing about your experience when you return.

Have a great time!

Monica

If you are going to that hotel again, I guess it is closest to Odeon metro. The Air France bus has two lines and one stops near the Arc and the other Gares de Lyon and Montparnasse. That's not a bad option for you, as you can take the metro directly from Gare de Montparnasse to Odeon stop. Montparnasse is a huge metro/RER center, also, though, I don't know which is bigger, it or Chatelet. I wouldn't worry about safety so much at that hour, but I guess I do prefer Montparnasse to Chatelet in some ways.

A shuttle sounds like a good idea, also.

Monica,
Here is the site for yellowvan
http://www.yellowvanshuttle.com
Aparrently they give you a number to call from any phone at the airport. No coins needed. That is what we will be using.
I think I get a mobile phone to use for local calls while in Paris from the fellow we are renting from. I will see if this is the case. But no problems for yellowvan because you don't need anything.
Monica. I have your email. I can let you know how it works.