There will be 6 of us staying in an apt. near the Musee D'Orsay. Our flight home leaves on a Sat. at 1:35pm, thinking we should be at the airport around 11:30am. How long should we expect it to take to get to airport - 45 minutes or an hour?

Also, most posts I read say taxi to CDG is about 45-55 euros, however we will need 2 as there are 6 of us. I found a limousine service that will pick us up at our apt. in an 8 passenger van (so should fit all our luggage) for 110 euros. This is equal to the price of 2 taxi rides at the high point so I'm thinking of doing this, unless anyone can convince me that taxi rides are significantly cheaper.

The taxi fare is just about right. At the apartment where we stayed, there was a list of airport transport options and phone numbers next to the phone. Everyone who answered spoke English. You can check rates ahead of time. The taxi driver we selected gave us a flat rate. If you phone for a taxi the day before and advise the number in your party and number of bags, they will send an appropriately-sized vehicle and charge only a few euros more, and not send two taxis.

We allow 3-1/2 hours.

Keep in mind that you are supposed to be checked in by a certain time, and at your gate 1/2 hour or more before departure time.

Once we were dropped at the wrong terminal at CDG (because the terminal had changed since our tickets were printed and we did not know that). So, we had to wait for the airport shuttle and haul ourselves and our bags to the proper terminal, which took nearly an hour.

Another time, the gate was changed between the time we checked in and boarding. New gate was all the way down the other end.

Usually, it's only 1/2 hour from the 7th to the airport, but on one trip, where was an accident which delayed us (quite a while, don't remember exactly how long).

Another time, it took us over an hour to check in due to long, long lines.

And, you just never know about the lines at security.

We are always glad to have allowed so much time, even though, more often than not, we have two hours or more until boarding once we're checked in and through security. But, CDG has fabulous shopping and places to relax and enjoy refreshments. And, having lots of time to spare is surely better than missing your flight.

It would normally take closer to 45 minutes, but I would not make definite planes on that assumption, as it can obviously change on any day at any time, depending on something unusual happening on some street or the highway. Once my ride was extended by about 15 min because it was a day of some major protests in Paris, and they had blocked some street in the 7th, so my taxi had to go out of his way a bit. Other times, there have been accidents, or some road construction work.

I would never cut things as close as you are at the airport, but I don't ever want to miss my international flight home because I got to the airport late by 10 minutes. If you are only flying locally, or to a neighboring European country, then that should be okay.

I think the 110 euro is a bit high in comparison to the taxis, as you know, but it would be good for you all to be together. I wouldn't tip them at that rate, that's for sure. A taxi won't be significantly cheaper.

Christina - so do you think arriving at the airport 2hrs. before the flight is not enought time? We live in a very small town with a small airport so don't really have to get there too early, even with international flights because we always have a connection. Is 2hrs. not enough time?

djbooks - you said you allow 3.5 hours. Is that at the airport or 3.5 hrs. from when you leave central Paris? Do you think we can find one taxi that could fit 6 people AND our luggage??

hi JGG - Two hours in advance of a flight from an international airport is not nearly enough. Three is the minimum as you NEVER know what will happen. CDG is sort is a pain and the lines to check in and the lines for xray security can be really long. We just flew back from Paris to Chicago on Sunday. The lines were really long to the point where my husband looked at me and said. "Moo..." cause we felt like cattle.

You also have to go through security twice really. When you get to the check in, they ask you a series of questions and they are more specific than what they ask here. "Tell me who packed your bags, tell me where your bags were after you packed them, describe to me the electronics that are in your bags, did anyone ask you to carry a package for them, where did you spend your time...". Its not bad but just more time consuming.

That precedes the "xray" check in that you are used to here.

Each time we were dropped off by the taxi at the arrival terminal rather than the departure. So you end up going against the tide of people coming in and CDG is small and crowded till you get through the whole security stuff.

I think you should get to the airport with at least 3 hours to spare. The worst that could happen is that you have time to shop at CDG and hang out.

Sorry - can't help you with the one thing taxi for 6. We stayed in the 6th, took a taxi on a sunday morning. It cost 50E but sundays are more expensive. Took about 40 minutes - there was no traffic. I dont see how the taxi could fit 6 and all the luggage. Our might have fit 4 but not sure if they allow people in the front seat in Paris like they do in Chicago.

Hope this helps and hope you have a fantastic stay in Paris.

I was curious so I googled "paris airport shuttle" and I found several companies. The cheapest was www.airportshuttleparis.com which lists a price of 13.50E/person for six or more.

I think I allow about what djkbooks said -- 3.5 hours, and that includes the travel time from Paris, so 3.5 hours from when you leave your hotel. That's for a major international flight out of CDG.

Checkin and security can take quite a while, you just never know -- sometimes you breeze right through, and sometimes there is something unusual (like when there was some major student travel group on the plane I was on and those people caused all kinds of problems in the checkin line).

It's the fact that it's an international flight and the size of the plane or number of passengers, I think, rather than a specific airport. Also, I always fly AF and they do a lot of business out of CDG, so the checkin line may consist of a couple major flights within a few hours of each other.

I don't think any taxi takes 6 people in one car. That really is a van.

They are just making a good deal on that as they won't have to drive around and pick anyone up, so 110 euro is a good profit for them. That's why I wouldn't tip them (I wouldn't tip a group van, anyway, probably).

Even Paris Airport Shuttle, which I think is one of the more expensive companies, only charges 100 euro for a private van from Paris to CDG:
http://www.paris-airport-shuttle.com/

Bee Shuttle only charges 15 euro a person, so that would only be 90 euro total for 6, although that could be a van where they stop to pick up a couple more people.
http://www.bee-shuttle.com/shuttle-us.asp

I'd leave for the airport at LEAST 3 hours before the flight, in reality, I'd probably allow closer to 4 hours. When I was in Paris in November, the traffic going to the airport was horrendous and it took over an 1 1/2 hours to get there. And..you can't predict what the security situation etc will be at the airport. It's just not worth the stress to me to cut it too close....you can always wander around the airport and shop for a while!

margy

Thanks everyone for your replies. Went ahead and booked the shuttle for 100 euros give by Christina- I think that is a good price for all 6 of us, and we don't have to deal with stops for others. Booked it so we leave the city 4 hours before our flight. I would much rather be there early than worry about missing the flight. Thanks again for all the info. we leave tomorrow - so glad to get this taken care of before we go.

jgg has probably left by now, but for others, if you phone to book a taxi for a party of six with bags, they will appropriate a vehicle to accommodate your party and bags.

Christina is absolutely correct. It is definitely optimal to figure on 3-4 hours. Sometimes, we have 2-3 hours to pass, once through security, but other times we've been lucky to catch our flight home.

Thanks Christina for the Bee shuttle. I think the one my hotel called was named "Chateau" and they charged $25 but luckily I was the only passenger and was there in less than 30 minutes.