I've been reading the posts daily for months,and found it so helpful with planning our trip. Now our trip is only a few weeks away I've decided it's time to start asking some specific questions.

We arrive at CDG about 7am on a Friday morning after a very long flight from Australia. Does anybody know how long and how much a taxi is from the airport to the 5th arrondissement? There are two of us. I think after a long flight it might be the smart idea to catch a taxi rather than try and work out the train system with jet lag. What do you all think? Thanks in advance for your help.

Hi OZ,

A cab will be about 55-60E. If you run into traffic, it could be more.

A shuttle will be about 18E pp, and the rate dosen't change if you have traffic.

See www.beeshuttle.com
www.paris-blue-airport-shuttle.fr/index_en.php
www.parishuttle.com

We have arrived at that time often and the cab fare has never been more than 60E--in the worst traffic. Usually about 45E with tip.

Thanks Ira for the shuttle information.

Gretchen - in Australia we don't normally tip. What would be the acceptable tip for the taxi?

Thanks

A couple of euro--not much. In the restaurants you do not tip--it is included in the bill/price.

Are taxis big enough for 2 adults, 2 kids, and 4 smallish suitcases?

There are lots of mini-van size taxis that can easily hold 4 people and your luggage. We've never had any problem getting one.

I usually figure 45 to 50 euros to or from CDG. Even with terrible traffic it has never cost us as much as 60 euros.

"I think after a long flight it might be the smart idea to catch a taxi rather than try and work out the train system with jet lag."

Well, maybe. But there is at least one thread on this forum from a poster who plans to get off the plane at CDG and immediately board a train to Rennes. I assume when she gets there, she'll get a cab to her hotel.

I have always wondered why people think taking a train into Paris is somehow different than what one does at a destination further away.

As far as "working out the train system" - there's nothing to work out. You go to the RER station in Terminal 2, buy a ticket, and get on the next train. All trains go to Paris.

Since you asked what we think: find out what RER stop is closest to your hotel, pay 8,10€ pp for tickets, ride to the Vè, and hail a cab when you get there. If you're lodgings are close to the St-Michel or Luxembourg stations, it might be a comfortable walk.

Thanks Robespierre for the advice. We just had two french girls stay with us for four nights (members of the hospitality club). They left me with a RER/Metro map and explained how easy it is to catch the train from CDG. I'm feeling brave now after talking with them so that is what we will attempt. We will catch the RER to Luxembourg and then hop in a taxi.

Traffic into Paris on a Friday morning would be horrendous.

So taking the RER we would avoid the traffic, wouldn't we? Our taxi ride would then be just a short one from Luxumbourg.

Yes, but beware "too short" rides. The cabbies aren't supposed to refuse fares that they think are too short, but some do it anyway. (I don't understand why they do - unless they've figured out they'll lose money.)

You can finesse the issue by choosing an RER stop that gives the taxi driver a little longer run.

Here is the map I recommend for seeing the relationship of train routes and streets: http://www.ratp.info/orienter/f_plan...eur&fm=pdf

I have been "researching" the "best" way to get from CDG to the 5th as well. The RER looks EXTREMELY easy. No transfers and goes right to the St Michel stop, which just happens to be a very short distance from my hotel. I found very good route maps by doing a Google search for RER. It just seemed a little crazy to spend that much money on a cab or shuttle when the train looks so very easy. A little pre-planning and self-education about what stops you need, etc and I think the train would be no problem at all, IMHO.

I would definitely take the RER if my hotel were within walking distance of the stop. However, maybe I've missed it, but I don't think ozetraveller actually said where she was going in the 5th. If it is a VERY short drive from Luxumbourg, I would take note of the idea that cabs may not want to take you.

This is true all over the world, it's not necessarily losing money on that particular ride, but the fact that they lose their place in the taxi queue and spend more time going back and waiting in line again to get another fare, as well as the travel to the taxi queue, which no one is paying for. If they do that a lot with short rides, I don't think they make as much as longer routes. I'm sure it is because they've figured out they'll lose money, I can't think of any other reason.

I'm not sure how far it is from the train station to our accommodation. I was told if we took the bus to do the following: "You get off at Luxembourg.
When you are looking to the cross road (with a fountain in the middle and the garden on your right), on your right is rue Gay Lussac. There you take the first bus 21 or 27 you see. (You have not to cross rue Gay Lussac).
The bus runs along rue Gay Lussac. At the end of rue Gay Lussac, it turns left. You get off at the first stop after that. The name of the stop is Berthollet-Vauquelin (it will be the third stop for you)." It doesn't seem too far by bus - will a taxi take us that short distance? I'm worried about getting a bus with ourluggage and also maybe missing our stop.

If you don't mind pulling your luggage, you could go on to RER-Port Royal, then walk - Mappy says it's about a 12-minute walk, going 810 meters.

You come out of the RER and go left on blvd Port Royal (sort of going behind the station) until you get to rue Berthollet, there turn left.

The bus stop Berthollet-Vauquelin is located where rue Berthollet meets rue Claude Bernard.

Here's where you find what RER, Metro and bus lines are available at a particular address:

http://www35.ratp.info/Proxi/proxi.php?

And city bus routes here:

http://www.ratp.info/orienter/f_plan...&nompdf=42