I've never carried luggage on the RER or Metro in Paris. How difficult is it to manage a 22" rollaboard with a small tote on top?
DH has a slightly larger rolling hanging bag with tote. Is this do-able?

Yes - but I wouldn't even think of trying it during commuting hours.

Depending on the route, the RER cars may have two seating decks, one above and one below the platform level, where there is luggage space.

Métro and the other RER cars have space adjacent to the doors where you can sit on a jump seat and hold your suitcases in front of you on the floor.

People do it every day, including during rush hour.

It all depends on your exact route inside the city.

It's pretty easy, don't sweat it.

kerouac, you of all people should know that there very often isn't room to stuff one more <i>person</i> in a car, much less one with luggage.

crckwc1, this is not a piece of cake if the system is running at or near capacity.

Also be prepared for lots of stairs.

<i>kerouac, you of all people should know that there very often isn't room to stuff one more person in a car, much less one with luggage</i>

I'm not saying it is desirable to do this during rush hour. However, if somebody were doing a straight shot to Gare du Nord or Saint Michel on the RER, there is absolutely no reason to worry about it.

<i>Also be prepared for lots of stairs.</i>

One should always be prepared, but the RATP has made quite a bit of progress in that department, whenever it is possible. The RER is totally equipped with escalators and elevators. The metro is more hit &amp; miss.

No, not during commuting hours. It's a royal PITA.

Are you saying that even though every other person does it -- French tourists, European tourists, Asian tourists, South American tourists, etc. -- and I see them do it every day since my metro goes through several major train stations at rush hour -- Americans are supposed to abstain?

I'm also interested in using the RER/Metro since I am arriving alone with a 19&quot; or 22&quot; luggage (we've always used shuttle service). Sorry for my ignorance but what time are the commuting hours? 8am-10am?? I arrive CDG at 7:30am barring no delays. Thanks.

On weekdays, coming in from the suburbs, I'd say 7:30 to 9:30. Inside the city, it would be slightly later.

I just used the RER/Metro combo a few weeks back. I am a NY'er who has used the subeay all my life and I use the subway/airtrain to get to JFK on mnay occasions and I am not a kid.

The RER train I rode, was a crowded commuter line with narrow aisles and little legroom for passenegers where the seats face one another. No matter how polite I tried to be my medium sized suitcase was a problem. It was however during the morning rush.

The Metro, as noted, has many stairacses. And like the NYC subway is very unfriendly for the disabled which is relevant to the travler with luggage in that escalators were few and far between and the stairs are many.

The RER/Metro combo, however, is much, much cheaper than a cab.

I did this when my DS and I arrived at CDG in June. The RER part was not bad, and I think we avoided the worst of the morning crush (we were taking the train at around 10). It would have been harder at 8:30! The train was still pretty crowded. What was difficult was the Metro part -- two stops, neither with elevators, both with lots of stairs. I was worn out by the time we arrived at our hotel. So I think you would want to take a look at the stops involved and how much walking you might have to do within the RER/Metro journey. Having said that, it was a huge cost savings. On the way back we took a taxi to the Gare du Nord and the RER from there -- much easier.

We did that, while traveling with three kids...never again! The problem was that one of the long escalators from the metro was out of order, and the youngest two couldn't carry their bags all the way up themselves. Just make sure you can easily carry your own luggage up a long flight of stairs, and you'll be fine.

Also, if you do the same thing when you return to the airport (assuming that is where you are going), make sure you know which terminal you want. It wasn't written anywhere and we were running around the train car, asking folks where we should stop for American Airlines.

crckwc1,

Doable? Yes. Advisable? Not so much so.

We tried it out to Orly last year. The stairs are definitely a PITA and it isn't something I'd do again nor recommend unless there isn't an alternative

How about my situation?

We will arrive at CDG at 7:30am on a Friday. Our hotel is next to the Voltaire stop on Line 9.

My plan is to take RER to Gare du Nord, then change for Metro Line 5 to Republique, then change for Line 9 to Voltaire.

Should I reconsider, instead of taking the Metro from Gare du Nord, we should take a bus instead (I think there is at least 1 or 2 bus lines that run between G du Nord and Voltaire).

If we take the bus, we'll have to pay for the bus ride, right? Whereas if we take the Metro, that is covered by the RER ticket.

I don't think an extra 1.40&euro; would break your budget for the bus ride.

I know, kerouac. Do you think the bus option is better than the Metro? We will only have a 20&quot; carryon each.

I know I'm a broken record on this topic, but I hate taking the city bus with luggage.

I am not fond of taking the RER / Metro combo even with hand luggage only.
If it works for your destination,
I prefer AF or Roissy bus from or to CDG, and taxi to or from my hotel.
The cost is higher , of course.