I have been reading through some old threads, but still have a little confusion on this, so please indulge another few question:

We plan to take the train (RER B) from CDG into Paris. As I recall from a previous trip, tickets can only be bought from the machine if one has a proper French credit card or the correct change. I don't think we will have either, so unless something has change, we will have to stand in line at the ticket window, correct?

Since we have to change from the RER to the Metro to get to our apartment, I'm wondering if we are not better off getting a taxi (even though the budget is very tight for us). If we were to get a taxi, would it make more sense, budget wise, to get it at CDG or to leave the RER at (A)Gare du Nord, or (B)Les Halles/Chatelet, and then take a taxi from there to our apartment at Rue de Pecquay, near Rue Rambeuteau, at the top of the 4th?

A big concern here for me is trudging our luggage (although we pack light, DH will have a laptop and some bulky professional photo equipment, as he will be shooting an event) through the Les Halles/Chatelet station, to the Chatelet stop for Metro line 11.

Any idea of how much a taxi would cost from Gare du Nord to the apartment? This would, of course, be added to the 16+ Euro of the RER from CDG? I guess I want to avoid Les Halles/Chatelet. Any thoughts?

I also thought of exiting at Les Halles from the RER and getting in a taxi. Would a taxi mind a short trip?

I hope this is clear and I appreciate any feedback.

you can take Air France bus to Arc de Triophe and Metro from there, or a Roissy (?) bus to the Opera Garnier and taxi from there .
RER is faster but sometimes a pain..

I took a cab from Gare du Nord to my apt in the 3rd -- very close to where you're headed and it cost 7.00 E at around 9:30 pm (very little traffic).

I bought RER tickets from a live person from Gare du Nord up to CDG when I arrived via Eurostar from London and had to go up to CDG to meet my Mom who was flying in. I don't think you need either correct change or a French Credit card for either. I took about $50 Euros with me that I bought from my bank in the States just to have the cash on hand.

On another trip, a cab to/from the airport to our hotel for four of us was $45 Euro, so if you want to bypass the whole train experience and just cab it into the city, it's not something that would break the bank either as long as you're not arriving during rush hour during a weekday when it could cost more.

Jules

At the airport only, you do need change or the proper credit card to buy from a machine. So you will need to go to the ticket window and buy from a clerk. The one time I did this (so far) it only took about 10 minutes. (The lines next door at the TGV windows were much longer.)

Once we took a taxi from Gare du Nord to the 5th and it was 10E, so yours should be less than that.

Hi T,

A shuttle to your apt will be about 19E pp.

See www.beeshuttle.com
www.paris-blue-airport-shuttle.fr
www.parishuttle.com

With the gear you mention, and Chatelet-les-Halles being the worst rabbit warren there is, take the shuttle.

I hear you, Ira and Wally, but our shuttle experiences have sort of sucked for the money. 19E each and maybe a tip just doesn't work if the shuttle has to go all over the place before dropping us off, as compared to the taxi fare.

But the 16.20 E for the RER to Gare du Nord, plus taxi, of let's say up to 10E including tip, would work. 26.20 is just what I would like to pay!

Thanks everyone for your help and information. I am assuming that traffic won't be too bad at 11:30 am on a weekday, from Gd Nord to Rambeuteau, so 10E ought to cover that nicely.

I did want to avoid Chatelet with luggage, so this looks like the best (cheap) option.

Advice from a thifty guy: Don't even think about taking the RER with bulky photographic equipment. Take a cab from the airport. It will cost around 50 euros, and it will be worth every cent.

hmmm, just when I'd made up my mind. DH is the photo person, and he is WAY more thrifty than am I. Dave, I'll leave it up to him. There, that feels good!!

You could take the Roissy Bus, then the 29 city bus.

RonZ: does bus 29 come near enough to Rue de Pecquay? That is off Rue Rambeuteau in the 4th, just east of the Pompidou.

Tuscanlifeedit, you can see the bus stops on a 'quartier' map on RATP. fr
The stop is nearly at the corner you describe.

Wow! Great information. Thank you, RonZ and Travelnut. Ok, it is Roissy bus to Bus 29 heading east, right?