MmePerdu

Sue4 - I suggest buying the Navigo Découverte transport pass on arrival, RER included, rather than just the RER ticket if it otherwise makes sense. There was no line to buy the pass when I arrived about 3 months ago. A terrific deal, even for less than a week, and very convenient.

http://parisbytrain.com/paris-train-...go-decouverte/

Sue4

MmePerdu, thanks for that suggestion. I already have the pass with picture, so would just need the refill for the current week - I'm getting in on a Tuesday. I understand that now it includes 6 zones, including CDG. I think it's well worth it for the convenience and ease. That line I mentioned for the tickets was actually some kind of glitch that day, as everyone was upset about it.

If I decide to take theRER from CDG, then taxi to hotel in the 7th ( near Ave Bosquet, can anyone tell me the best stop to get off and find a taxi easily? St. Michel, Luxembourg? I'm not sure about taxis around those areas. And are there stairs to climb at those stops?

One of the options my hotel mentions is Roissy Bus to Opera. I think there is a taxi stand fairly nearby? I don't want to do a lot of walking with the suitcase and carry-on, even if it rolls easily!

RonZ

The closest Metro station to Ave Bosquet is Ecole Militaire. Take the Roissy Bus, then Metro Line 8 from the Opera station, direction Ballard. The maximum taxi charge is now €55.

Sarastro

<i> But the last time I did that there was a HUGE line for the RER ticket. </i>

At terminal 2, there are 4 clusters of multiple ticket machines so any line to purchase RER tickets generally moves quickly. There is no need to go to the sales window to purchase RER tickets. The machines take coin or chipped credit cards. Each cluster has at least one change machine.

If for some reason you need to go to the service window and the line is lengthy, take the CDGVAL to Roissypôle which is the second RER stop at CDG. The sales window there rarely has a long line.


<i>I already have the pass with picture, so would just need the refill for the current week - I'm getting in on a Tuesday. I understand that now it includes 6 zones, including CDG.</i>

To avoid confusing others, the Navigo Découverte is not a pass. It is only a blank card onto which various types of fares may be loaded. The fare structure was changed some years ago and zone 6 was eliminated. There has always been a fare which includes zone 1-5 coverage. The only relatively recent change was that the cost has been lowered to 22.15€ per week (73€ per month). However, as other fare options are also available, if someone wants zone 1-5 coverage, he must be sure to purchase zone 1-5 coverage and not one of the other possibilities.

fuzzbucket

Sue4 - why not just make it easy on yourself when you arrive in Paris and take a taxi all the way? I've never understood why people try to save a few euros on arrival, when they will be tired, lost, hauling luggage and will waste time getting in and out of various systems just to get to their lodging.

I believe the closest RER station to avenue Bosquet is Invalides. If your hotel is not far from the RER station, the driver might refuse to take you. The minimum charge for getting into a taxi is 7 EU, which might not be enough for him to bother with. But there is a taxi stand right outside the RER exit, if you want to try that.

When you leave Paris, you might think about taking the RER etc to the airport - but I'd advise a taxi.

MmePerdu

"I've never understood why people try to save a few euros.."

No, you wouldn't, would you.

TDudette

When DH and I were younger and poorer, we took the shared shuttles to our hotels.

Now, although not as cheap, the flat rate for the taxis makes taking them SOO convenient. There are cabs outfitted for credit cards as well (just ask the guy directing the taxis). My credit card has chip technology so it wasn't a problem.

fuzzbucket

Mme Perdu - Oh, do shut up.
On the contrary, I love saving money, but there's a point to be made for making "false economies".

If you are coming off a long-haul flight, with luggage, want to avoid stairs and long walks, don't really know where you're going
- and most of all -
if you have already considered taking a taxi part of the way...
it makes no sense to get all tied up in knots to save a few euros.

MmePerdu

The best way to "save a few euros" is to do one's homework and why many come here to do just that, won't not know where they're going or "get all tied up in knots". Absurd.

And as for "Mme Perdu - Oh, do shut up", fat chance.

kerouac

I agree with both MmePerdu and fuzzbucket, although it hardly seems possible.

Saving a few euros always makes sense to me (yes, even if I have just spent $1000 on a plane ticket), but at the same time I find it rather useless to combine a 'cheap' RER trip with a taxi once I have arrived in Paris. Aggravation and comfort also have a monetary value to me and needing to take a taxi once I had arrived in Paris would aggravate me considerably.

So, I will say this: there are 7 RER B stops inside the city of Paris, there is the Roissybus to Opéra, there are 4 Bus Direct (formerly Air France bus) stops in Paris, and on top of that there are the uber-cheap municipal bus lines 350 and 351 which go to Paris. In most cases, one of these options will take you very close to where you are going without the need of a taxi. If not, dammit take a taxi!

MmePerdu

K, I agree with your summary entirely, including taking a taxi when the alternatives fail to produce a straightforward solution. What I object to is the characterization of inexperience equaling "tied up in knots" when the solution is to do some investigating to learn what's possible. Most travelers who come here to Fodor's, new & experienced, will do just that.

I'll add that the quest to save money and make the transport system work to our advantage begins before booking accommodations, which I suspect even beginners may comprehend, or will for purposes of their 2nd visit.

Christina

okay, if you are going to take the RER part way, I'd just get out at St Michel or Luxembourg, not transfer to line C to get to Invalides. The reason is that this is just going to take time and energy and in fact, it might be better in terms of getting at Taxi on bd St Michel than at Invalides in order to go such a short distance to ave Bosquet. I really would not do that.

There are taxi stands at most major REr/metro stops, including both St Michel and Luxembourg (it's at the end of ave Soufflot). Now as to whether you are guaranteed a taxi will be there, I can't promise as I never take taxis at that locaiton so don't recall. There are tons of tourists around there so I am guessing there will be taxis waiting there (tourists in Luxembourg Gardens, just the general area around there). But if I had to bet, I would bet it more likely to find one around St Michel stop.

For those in the know, I haven't taken a taxi to/from the airport in several years and was wondering about these new flat rates -- do they include the approach fee or not? I suppose at the airport it isn't an issue, but if you were in Paris and called a taxi to your hotel to go to the airport, are they allowed to charge something on top of the 50 or 55 euro flat fee?

vmratcliff

I have used Shuttle-Inter the last dozen or so times and had only one miss when my flight was 4 hours late. Yes it is a little creepy to have your name held up on a sign....but I am traveling from Washington state and at my age 72, it's all I can do to stand at the end of the unending flight! It is the same price as a taxi and is not shared so no winding around to various dropoffs.
I've been very happy with the service and owe it all to advise from Gracejoan who used to be a frequent contributor on this forum. Vicki

Sarastro

<i> It is the same price as a taxi </i>

Not exactly. For example, 4 people going from CDG to the Right Bank would pay Shuttle Inter 65€; a taxi charges 50€ for the same service.

fuzzbucket

Christina - the flat fares are the same when going to or from both airports when using a Parisien taxi:
50 or 55 EU if CDG
30 or 35 EU if ORY.
They are good for 4 passengers and their luggage and there is no "approach fee".

However, if a hotel books a taxi for you, they may tack on as much as they wish for the convenience.

G7Taxis only include an "approach fee" when you reserve ahead of time.

Christina

thanks for the info. I'm not asking about what a hotel tacks on, which I have heard of (unfortunately, one should ask the hotel to be sure).

I thought Parisien taxis were allowed to charge you the fare from where they started until they get to your hotel. Now I admit this is a bit odd if there was a flat fee to go to the airport from all of the Left Bank, but wondered if that was a loophole if it didn't include that.

But I'm still not clear if you are saying they are allowed to charge basically a reservation fee or not? G7 in your example, are they allowed to charge extra for that reservation fee?

TDudette

Christina, based upon my ONE experience going and coming by taxi, it was a flat rate.

Sarastro

I think we are confusing the approach fee with the reservation fee. The rates to/from the airports are fixed. There are no baggage fees, no approach fees.

Other than haling a cab in the street or going to a taxi stand, there is a 4€ dispatch fee anytime you call a taxi. There is a 7€ fee to reserve a taxi for a later pickup. These fees are not charged by the hotel but by the dispatch company, typically Taxi G7, Taxi Bleu (now owned by Taxi G7), or Alpha Taxi.

Departures from the airport at always at a taxi stand and there is no dispatch fee.

vmratcliff

Sarastro..I have found the fare to the left bank to be 55 by taxi and Shuttle-Inter charges me 60 from CDG and 55 back to CDG , so not much difference considering. Perhaps the fare is slightly lower because I have used them so many times for myself and various family members and friends? Not sure really. But again,the convenience after being in the air and transiting for 14+hours makes it worthwhile to me...and I have paid 60 euros in a taxi on more than one occasion as well,though many years ago...there was no set fare..perhaps that has changed. Vicki

Christina

thanks