We are a party of 5 that will be in Paris arriving Sunday, March 12. Best way to get to hotel? No bus and metro, as we will have too much luggage. Should we take a shuttle? If so which one do you recommend? Are there taxis (vans) large enough for all of us? We will be staying near Opera in the 9th. Thanks for your help.

I just booked Bluevan.com because they were the cheapest for the 2 of us (E14.50 a person). I got a good internet confirmation, but I still have no idea if they will actually show up on time.

forget a shuttle. A cab will be about 50 euro- do the math. You are 5 but I did notice that there are some van like cabs that can accomidate 5 people. I must admit that I saw this at the Gare du Nord so I am not sure if these would be common at Roissy but I assume so. Has anyone seen them there too?

Is taking a taxi like NYC where it is a flat rate? Or does the mileage (and cost) keep ticking mile by mile/minute by minute?

Four of us took the Blue Van Shuttle to the airport and were very happy with it. It picked us up at our hotel and was quite reasonable. Five with a lot of luggage is a squeeze in a taxi. Some of them charge extra for the bags. We booked the shuttle online and they were there to get us with no problem. We used them both ways.

Hi H,

With 5 people, you are more likely to take 2 cabs than one people mover.

Cab is about 55E + a few E for the luggage. However, the meter runs, so a traffic jam can be costly.

Shuttle is about 18E pp, flat rate.

I know you said no bus, but am not sure you understand that the airport Roissy bus is just for transports from the airport to the Opera location (next to the Opera Garnier on rue Scribe). It isn't like a regular city bus where you are going to fight the locals going to work or anything. They have special places to put your luggage. I also would not want to take a city bus with luggage (I have the metro), but have taken airport buses and quite like them.

If you have tons and tons of luggage for each person, I would agree you should go privately. If each person has one suitcase of about 22" and a carryon, that is normal and what I've always had on those buses.

ON the other hand, maybe you are not that close to the Opera Garnier when you say in the 9th near the Opera--I know some hotels and apartments will say that and they may be a 1-2 km away.

ttt

To add to Christina's excellent advice: even if the hotel is some distance from Opéra, you will have no difficulty hiring one or more taxis at the bus stop, because the cabbies know there are a lot of folks in your exact situation.

<i><b>Bienvenue &agrave; Paris!</b></i>

At CDG there are often cabs that are minivans which hold 5 people. You pay the metered fare plus 1 euro per bag starting with the 2nd bag, and 2.70 euros per person 4th and over. Those charges will not appear on the meter.

I think taxis in paris are very nice and find that a shuttle adds a layer of complexity and unpreditability that is not worth the small possible savings.

My husband and I used Paris Shuttle (www.parishuttle.com) when we visited Paris in January.

We found it convenient and efficient, plus a great way to get a feel for the city. Both vans we used seated 8 very comfortably.

We paid &euro;19 per person each way, but I think if your group is larger the rate per person is cheaper.

Enjoy Paris. We loved it.
-Aisling