Taxi better to take from airport or RER?
 

I am arriving in Paris Sat morning and am curious if anyone knows the cost of taking a cab from the airport to the Latin Quarter or if it is significantly cheaper to use the RER and Metro. Please help!!!!
There will be two of us traveling

The RER/metro works. I've done it twice. Never again. Unless money is very tight, take a taxi. The thing that made me say "never again" was the last time, we were traveling with three kids and one of the motro escalators was broken, so I had to carry my suitcase, and my youngest child's suitcase, up the steep stairs.

That is very unfortunate - sorry!

Thank you for your reply, I am very curious about the cost of a cab as well. Anyone know what that would be?

About 40 Euro from CDG airport.

I believe the cost of the RER/Metro whether the escalators are working or not is a little less than 9 Euro one way.

I suspect a cab will cost at least 30-35 Euros depending on time of day/traffic and I am certain others will confirm/deny.

Is that significant to you?

Perfect answers - thank you very much

Since we travel with a carry on and one other bag, we have taken the RER and it's convenient (& cheap) for us. If you have larger luggage or heavy bags or don't mind the cost-take a shuttle or taxi.

I've taken RER, Air France bus, Roissybus and Shuttle (to airport).

Depending on where you are staying, you could:
- take cab directly
- take shuttle, which may or may not go directly to your hotel, depends on who else is sharing with you.
- take RER to closest stop, then walk/Metro/cab it
- take bus to their pre-determined end points, then walk/Metro/cab

Personally, I like RER, because it is cheap, fast, and not dependant on road traffic. It also has connections to Metro at all stops in Central Paris. I travel with one large bag, and the train is not a problem. Likewise, buses were comfortable and punctual. My shuttle experience worked out well, but standing outside appartment hoping he would show, then him dropping off people along the way made me a little nervous about making flight, but it turned out fine.

All the options are good. If you were in Latin Quarter near Luxembourg or St Michel RER Latin Quarter stops, could be a easy walk to your hotel.

Lots of comments here on this topic. I think what people just need to know is that you have several choices, all can be fine. Don't rule any out. There are bad stories for all of the transport choices, but overall they have a good system for getting people to central Paris.

The couple of times we used a taxi the cost was much closer to 40-50euro. We do fine on the RER, however we've been to Paris before and know what the tunnels, stairs, etc are like. Our hotel is 2-3 blocks from the station, without need to transfer to the metro. We each only have our own bag and carryon to deal with, so it's no problem to go up a flight of stairs with it.

If you're new to Paris or to train/subway use, I'd take a taxi to the hotel. Later, you can decide if you'd like to try the return by RER.

If you take the RER to the Latin Quarter, print out a Google map from whichever station you use (St. Michel or Luxembourg) to your hotel.

Where in the Quartier Latin are you headed? If it is near the St Michel or the Luxembourg stop, the RER couldn't be simpler. If not, be prepared for a longish walk, above or under ground.

I have rather a horror of being stuck in Paris traffic, which is possible even on a Saturday. The times I have taken the RER to/from CDG, it was largely empty -- though we had the unwanted company of wandering-musician panhandlers (A couple of them rather good, in fact, so we did give them money)

I, too, prefer the taxi, but have found in recent years that it is closer to 50 euro than 40.

<b>Taxi better to take from airport or RER?</b>

Answer: both.

The train line (RER B) goes right down Blvd. St-Michel, which divides the Latin Quarter (Ve arrondissement) from St-Germain (VIe).

Ride the train to the station nearest your hotel (St-Michel, Luxembourg) for 8,10&euro;, then take a taxi the rest of the way (see tinyurl.com/2mvxne for fares). That's what you'd do if you went to, say, Dijon or Berlin, isn't it?

Except in very special circumstances, a taxi is preferable to public transportation, especially if you have anything more than a handbag. If money is so tight that you can't afford a taxi to and from the airport, you may wish to rethink your entire trip, as the cost of taxi rides is only a very small fraction of the total cost of a typical trip to Paris.

Don't think I'd agree with &quot;except in very special circumstances&quot; take public transit.
I was there in November. I had a large (~12&quot;x36&quot;x18&quot;) bag. Left baggage claim at T1 at 10:30. Shuttle to RER station, had coffee and croissant there. Take train. At 11:25, I'm at St Michel. Switch to Metro, by 12:15, after taking a longer route, I'm at my metro stop in 16th, Mirabeau. 5 minute walk, at my hotel. I think that's fast, and the price was right.

Was price the only reason took RER, no. Was convenience, sure. Was it fast, clean, with some entertainement (accordion player), sure.
If I had my elderly father with me, no. If I had my family with me, no reason not. I've also took the Air France bus to the airport from Montparnasse, 14 euros. Got there on time, comfortable, scenic...why not take it? Note that yes, ther could be some walking between RER and M, but then again, in Paris, you are going to be doing a lot of walking anyways, and perhaps using RER (versailles?) and Metro regularly, so why not from airport?

I don't say never take a taxi, but with all of the options available, it should not be the first choice...just another choice.

We took the RER to the Latin Quarter - no dramas as we were staying on Rue Severin. It is fast.