RER question
 

Hello,

I have been doing lots of searching on here. Myself and my soon to be wife are arriving in Paris (for our honeymoon) at 17:30 p.m. on a Monday next month. In the interest of foregoing traffic, we have elected to use the RER. I was thinking we would disembark at St. Michel (Notre Dame). Our hotel is in the 7th near the Eiffel Tower. She is bringing a 27'' rolling suitcase and I a rolling duffel. I think it would be easier to take a cab from that station to our hotel. Will there be a cab station outside especially closer to 19:00? Or do you have to hail one? I used a shuttle last time and it was great, but arrived before rush hour.
Any help is appreciated!
Jason

Dear Jasontallica,
It is advisable to take the RER B to get into Paris, as you will definately avoid rush hour.
There is a taxi stand just outside the station, and Saint Michel being the tourist hotspot, you should be able to source a taxi easily.
However I would suggest getting off at Denfert Rochereau/Luxembourg as getting a Taxi there is easier. From Saint Michel the taxi should not cost more than 15€ and from Denfert to get into the 7e should be easier via the 15e.
If you want I can give you the Call-a-Cab Number for the 14e, which would make it easier for you. You can call them as you are exiting the metro, thus eliminate waiting time. Let me know, as I have the numbers, as I live in Paris!
Remember if you get off at Saint Michel, you will have to deal with probably more traffic in a cab than if you get off at Denfert Rochereau.
Good Luck

Why not take the RER B to Saint Michel-Notre Dame and make the very easy connection to the RER C just one level above, which will take you to the Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel stop?

Thanks for the responses. I was looking at a metro map and I saw the yellow line going towards the tower along the Seine. That must be the C?

You are absolutely correct.

All this with a pretty huge suitcase, duffel--and I assume carryons hanging around your shoulders.
Please, do yourselves a favor upon arrival. Take a cab--or at least the Air France bus + cab. You can figure out how to return to CDG on the RER. Start your honeymoon in a semblance of style and less stress.
The suitcase is probably going to require opening the gate beside the turnstiles.

Just to add a comment or two. When I landed at CDG, I had a large (36") suitcase with wheels. I had no problem at the RER entrance, just pushed it through ahead of me, then entered the turnstile. On the train itself, by the doors, the seats are on 'springs' and are normally flipped up, so you can put your luggage there and stand/sit nearby.

I also used the Air France bus back to CDG, catching it at Montparnasse. Also a good way to access city centre, but it mandates a taxi/metro afterwards/beforehand

Since the RER takes you close (where exactly is your hotel?) the RER-C would seem to be a good choice.

First of all, may I suggest that you get a decent map of the urban train networks? See how you like this:

http://www.ratp.info/orienter/f_plan...eur&fm=pdf

Changing train lines at St-Michel might be a little arduous. With that much luggage, I would probably get off the B at Luxembourg and cab it from there.

I would use the Denfert-Rochereau station to catch a taxi because it has an elevator. I am not sure about Luxembourg.

Good point - although the escalators at Luxembourg are probably manageable with two rollers. I usually get off there and ride the N° 82 bus to the VIIe if I'm not staying in Antony.

Robespierre, it's OK to ride on Paris buses with lugagge ? :) I've never been there but I think on it in Madrid or Rome and I can't believe your lugagge arrives with you !!

The Saint Michel escalators are just as good as the Luxembourg escalators. As for Denfert-Rochereau and Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel, both stations are at street level or almost (CdM-Tour Eiffel is just under the street with a ramp to get out.).

there isn't any way in the world I would try to do that with luggage, stroller and baby, I think it's really crazy.

However, you are allowed luggage on a bus, but many of them are too crowded at certain times that you could really do that. I've taken the bus lines in the 14th/15th a lot because I tend to stay there, and the bus going along Convention is absolutely packed at certain times of the day, you never could do that.

I think the Luxumbourg escalator would be fine, also, and it's a small, manageable stop as well.

Stroller? Baby? Huh? I wouldn't, either.

On buses, your luggage is supposed to fit across your knees, but I find there's usually plenty of floor space if I don't try to travel during <i>les heures de la presse. Pression? Oui.</i>

ok, I understand.. :)

<i>les heures d'affluence</i>

or &quot;les heures de pointe&quot;

To the poster who mentioned a cab...during rush hour I don't want to sit in a cab for an hour and half while meter is running. This is more of a time saving thing. We leave Arizona at 7 pm Sunday (4 am Paris I believe) and probably won't hit the hotel until almost 7 pm in Paris. If I can save an hour in a cab I will be happy! Thanks for all the replies!
Jason

Gretchen is absolutely right: dragging your luggage through CDG to find the station, taking the RER through the dismal Northern suburbs with the unavoidable Romanian accordeon player butchering &quot;La vie en rose&quot;, re-dragging the luggage to find the taxi stand, sitting in the Paris traffic, come what may, is not my definition of a honey moon. It doesn't compare with a taxi all the way on all accounts:

- Timewise. I am Parisian, live in the Eastern part of town (so much closer to CDG than the 7th), with the RER it takes me 1h30 &quot;door to door&quot; to get home. You land at 17h30, which means that by 18h15 you should be out, and with a cab 45 mn later you should be home and dry in the 7th

- Moneywise. 2 RER tickets = &euro; 17 + taxi from Luxembourg to the 7th with luggage = &euro; 12. Total: &euro; 29. A cab all the way would be, if the worse comes to the worse, &euro; 55, more likely 50. Even in the worse case scenario, the all taxi solution would cost each of you &euro; 13 extra. Small price to pay to start your honeymoon in style and avoid you local transportation hassles in a strange city, probably an unknown language, etc. &euro; 13 compared to what you will have paid in air fare, hotel room, dinners, etc. is less than peanuts.

Remember that what you would do if your destination were, say Amiens, is:

o Fly into CDG
o Take the train to Amiens
o Walk, bus, or taxi to your hotel

Taxis have their place - and it's from the train station to your destination if it's too far to walk.

Unless you have money to burn, &euro;13 each represents one additional restaurant upgrade.