I thinkthat the airport van is the best bet for price and convenience. If you are going to the 5th arr. I doubt if you'll be first off but what's the rush...your room wont be ready if you're on an overnight flight from the US.

I'm staying at the Hotel St Jacques (32 Rue des Ecoles), and I'm arriving at 11:30 am. Does that make any kind of difference in terms of traffic?

Mid-day traffic is pretty congested, but nowhere near as much as rush hour. That said, one advantage of a door-to-door shuttle is that you don't care how long it takes.

I went solo in November of 2003 - more of a big roller bag than a "pack light"... I took the AirFrance Bus, VERY EASY by the way (I think 12E's). At its first stop, which I believe was the Galleries Lafayette, even at 6:00 AM...there was a line of cabs. I got the "next" one in line, and 5E's later was at the apartment near St. Severin...easy as pie. I'll probably do this again! I am on vacation, and I can certainly let someone else shlep a little bit... I tipped the drive a couple of E's.

Air France doesn't go anywhere near Galeries Lafayette - are you sure you didn't take the Roissybus?

So Susie, you took a bus to a cab for the same total price as taking a small van with no changes. How is this a benefit? Both get you to the same place for the same price but one has no changes.

Hmmm.

"Air France doesn't go anywhere near Galeries Lafayette - are you sure you didn't take the Roissybus?"

There's a Galleries Lafayette store right by Montparnasse station... perhaps this is what SuzieC is referring to?

er... am I embarrassed? Actually sitting here all red faced? Yep!
OK, the first stop is Porte Maillot; the second is the Congress... ummmmm...that big building sorta kinda LOOKED like a fancy store at 6:00 am in the dark! LOL...
As to why? I was alone on my first solo venture, tired, excited and willing to pay a little bit for comfort and ease...it was winter and I didn't exactly choose to pack lightly.
Yep, a shuttle would have worked, as well. Of course!

Can anyone recommend a specific shuttle service that is reliable and can be booked online?