"Saving" for a CDG taxi - how do you "save" 5 euro a day?
#23
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,127
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As stated both now and many times before, choosing to use either a taxi or the RER is a personal choice. But it appears that one person in particular cannot accept this and needs to make sarcastic comments about those who choose to take a taxi everytime there is a thread like this one.
#25
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If we all made the same amount of money and had the same travel budget, then maybe this conversation would be productive. But it is just silly. Some people travel very inexpensively, and others spend thousands/day.
Someone who is only spending $25/night on a hostel bed isn't going to spend 40-50Euros on a taxi when transit is available! Someone spending $400/night and has suitcases to carry isn't going to think twice about the cost of a taxi. It is all so individual. There is nothing "wrong" with either choice, it totally depends on individual finances and priorities.
I happen to fall on the side of taking transit and spending on the other small comforts - not having to worry about saving 5 Euros/day. I travel light and ENJOY public transit, so additional travel time is no big deal to me.
Someone who is only spending $25/night on a hostel bed isn't going to spend 40-50Euros on a taxi when transit is available! Someone spending $400/night and has suitcases to carry isn't going to think twice about the cost of a taxi. It is all so individual. There is nothing "wrong" with either choice, it totally depends on individual finances and priorities.
I happen to fall on the side of taking transit and spending on the other small comforts - not having to worry about saving 5 Euros/day. I travel light and ENJOY public transit, so additional travel time is no big deal to me.
#26
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,642
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't think taking a taxi instead of the RER after a long flight from the West Coast falls anywhere near the category of "spending like there's no tomorrow."
Most people here fall in between spending the bare bones at all times and tossing euros around like confetti.
I know when we flew from the West Coast to Paris, we were beat upon arrival. We took cabs so we could close our eyes for part of the journey (somewhere after the Ikea and before the Arc de Triomphe) and not have to worry about watching our possessions every minute or moving them out of the way of other travelers. If that makes us unforgivably profligate in some Fodorite eyes, tant pis.
Obviously Robespierre finds it hideously wasteful when someone takes a taxi from CDG instead of mass transit. But they're not spending HIS money. What they with their own is their business and there's no place for sarcastic hectoring to take a different approach.
Most people here fall in between spending the bare bones at all times and tossing euros around like confetti.
I know when we flew from the West Coast to Paris, we were beat upon arrival. We took cabs so we could close our eyes for part of the journey (somewhere after the Ikea and before the Arc de Triomphe) and not have to worry about watching our possessions every minute or moving them out of the way of other travelers. If that makes us unforgivably profligate in some Fodorite eyes, tant pis.
Obviously Robespierre finds it hideously wasteful when someone takes a taxi from CDG instead of mass transit. But they're not spending HIS money. What they with their own is their business and there's no place for sarcastic hectoring to take a different approach.
#28
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 952
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
People!!!! Besides saving a nickle by drinking water instead of coke, you are also not putting that sugary crap in your body.
Not drinking that coke in order to afford a cab also saves your health so you can take another trip!
Gail
Not drinking that coke in order to afford a cab also saves your health so you can take another trip!
Gail
#29
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 19,419
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Whatever you people say, there IS a way to save on public transportation.
For example, you can save a couple of euros by walking a bus route.
Now imagine how much more you'd save if you'd walk the same route, only instead of taking a taxi, not instead of taking a bus!
Just use your brain for enormous savings!!!
Add to this all the money you can save by watching others drink soda.
And then on advice of our beloved Rick wrap-up 1/2 of the breakfast buffet and hide in your pocket.
So, how much is our saving total comes to?
If seriously, for me taxi is a luxury. Let's compare Zurich airpot-to-hotel: taxi approx. 60 franks, shuttle 19 franks. Yes, 10 minutes longer. I survived.
For example, you can save a couple of euros by walking a bus route.
Now imagine how much more you'd save if you'd walk the same route, only instead of taking a taxi, not instead of taking a bus!
Just use your brain for enormous savings!!!
Add to this all the money you can save by watching others drink soda.
And then on advice of our beloved Rick wrap-up 1/2 of the breakfast buffet and hide in your pocket.
So, how much is our saving total comes to?
If seriously, for me taxi is a luxury. Let's compare Zurich airpot-to-hotel: taxi approx. 60 franks, shuttle 19 franks. Yes, 10 minutes longer. I survived.
#31
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,000
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
By the way, if you're really strapped (such as wandering minstrels or meandering wastrels), you can also take the city bus N°350 or 351 for two or three (depending on your off-point) tickets 't'.
I trust this mention of a further possibility will not be construed as sarcastic hectoring.
I trust this mention of a further possibility will not be construed as sarcastic hectoring.
#34
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,214
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
When you set the sniping aside, this is an interesting post.
For the last several trips, we've decided that a cab to and from the airport is worth the expense to us (and we can afford it now, where earlier it was more of an issue). But there are other places that we spend more than many people would choose (or be able) to spend - restaurants. And other places that we probably spend less than people with our income usually spend (hotels).
I would never buy a Coke in Europe - but then, I rarely drink them at home, so my choice is to spend cafe money on wine or coffee!
I avoid over-priced (to me) resturant breakfasts - we don't eat big breakfasts, so it's an unnecessary expense for us. Instead, we have a coffee and croissant at an outside cafe. And we pay more to sit at a table. And then I use up any savings on buying interesting items from a local bakery or patisserie!
Anyway, when you get to the point where you have more money than you need for food, clothing and shelter, it becomes a matter of choices (the biggest in this context, of course, to travel or not, and to travel to Europe or not). And it's interesting to see the choices that others make.
For the last several trips, we've decided that a cab to and from the airport is worth the expense to us (and we can afford it now, where earlier it was more of an issue). But there are other places that we spend more than many people would choose (or be able) to spend - restaurants. And other places that we probably spend less than people with our income usually spend (hotels).
I would never buy a Coke in Europe - but then, I rarely drink them at home, so my choice is to spend cafe money on wine or coffee!
I avoid over-priced (to me) resturant breakfasts - we don't eat big breakfasts, so it's an unnecessary expense for us. Instead, we have a coffee and croissant at an outside cafe. And we pay more to sit at a table. And then I use up any savings on buying interesting items from a local bakery or patisserie!
Anyway, when you get to the point where you have more money than you need for food, clothing and shelter, it becomes a matter of choices (the biggest in this context, of course, to travel or not, and to travel to Europe or not). And it's interesting to see the choices that others make.