Be aware that you can NOT always find a taxi that will take 4 of you despite what the so called &quot; experts &quot; on here may say.<BR>when we arrived last week there was not one taxi willing or big enough to take all 4 of us and there was no way we were going to pay for two separate taxis.<BR>We waited 45 mins for a larger vehicle &amp; by this time rush hour traffic was in full swing resulting in us crawling through the traffic &amp; paying 80 euros ( inclusive of baggage &amp; extra charge for the fourth person )<BR>Our hotel receptionist shook his head in disappointment when we told him our story &amp; booked us a shuttle bus for the return which turned out to be a great experience.<BR>If you want the cheapest transport take the RER definitely not a taxi.

I would definitely take a taxi myself with that many people, but I believe taxi rates will average about 1/3 higher on Sundays for that trip as an official rate matter (Sundays have same rates as night or holidays). Traffic is usually light, though. I just think one should be aware if the taxi fare is a lot higher than people have advised (and the approx. 40 euro fare cited is not for Sunday/holiday surcharge fares, I'd imagine, as I pay that much on weekdays to the Left Bank) that it is not necessarily that the driver is cheating. Within Paris, the rate on Sun/nights/holidays is 1 euro/km but it is only .60 euro/km on weekdays (66% higher) and outside the peripherique it is 1.20 Sundays vs. 1.0 weekdays (+20%); I think the waiting, initiation and baggage/extra person charges are the same.<BR><BR>Unfortunately, Sunday is not the best day to arrive in Paris (aside from taxi fares) when renting an apt. because the larger stores (such as the larger chain supermarkets or general stores) are generally closed. Monoprix discount/grocery stores are not open on Sunday, for example. I don't stay in that area so don't know grocery stores that well, but I think the closest Monoprix is corner of bd de Grenelle and ave de la Motte Picquet (which isn't that close, but might be useful info).

I have read that the taxis in Paris will only take three people. Is this true? <BR><BR>Sue

SOME taxis will only take 3 people. There are now more taxis with larger cars that do take 4 people. There is a &quot;supplement&quot; for the 4th person. It DOES happen--we have DONE it. It is not difficult. within the city you may need to go to a stand to get a cab for 4. It was not at all difficult at CDG--a 5 minute wait perhaps and the hotel ordered one for the return to CDG.

Five years ago it was hard to find a taxi for more than 3 people. Regulations have changed, and there are now more taxis that can take 4 people than ones that can take only 3. We've never had a problem in our last 5 years arriving at CDG at rush hour in June - we've never had to wait for a taxi for 4. The vans and station wagons outnumber the compacts at the airport. Twice now, when traveling alone, I've been driven into Paris all by myself in a van. When I asked the driver if I was going to pay more for the privilege, he shook his head and said &quot;non, c'est le m&ecirc;me compteur, Madame.&quot; So I think not finding a taxi for 4 is the exception to the rule these days. It IS true that an accident can cause havoc with the price. I got into a terrible traffic jam last fall on the way to the airport and paid almost 70 euros - but that's the exception to the rule as well.

I think I am understanding that a taxi for 4 on a Sunday will cost around 55-60 Euros. Correct? Will it be any harder to find a taxi for 4, since it is a Sunday? I guess if we can't get a taxi, we could take the Roissybus to Opera and then on to Ecole Militaire. <BR><BR>Thank you all for your help. Laurie

On a Sunday morning the taxi should be at the low end of that range. I've never been at CDG when there weren't plenty of taxis and more and more are vans or station wagons.

Laurie - There is a supermarket called Leader Price at 43 rue Cler (I just found my receipt for water and yogurt) and it was open on Sunday the 13th of October at 11:30 am. Don't know how late it stays open. <BR>Mara

Oh, Thanks a bunch, s. fowler and Mara.<BR>I appreciate the information! Laurie

Thank you for the information, Laurie. You will have to post a report and let us know how everything went when you return.

I have read all the advice for parties of 4, but what about a party of 5? We will arrive about noon on a Thursday, and we'll each have a suitcase and a backpack.All of us are adults. I have a shuttle service lined up, but to and from our hotel in the 7th will cost us 170 euros round trip. Any advice? Two of us have been to Paris once and got around fine on the metro, but have not tried to do it with luggage or jet lag. Help!<BR>

Most likely 2 taxis will be in order. Approximate cost per taxi from CDG to the city center is around 45 euro so maybe 90-100 euro total-still cheaper than the shuttle and less hassle. Even if they were a bit more than the shuttle, I'd take the taxis.

Deb, I don't think there's anything you can do about that, as that's what you'll have to pay about any way with that many people with so much baggage. That's 85 euro one way for the entire group, or 17 euro pp which I guess is the going rate for a van shuttle and that would be about what you'd pay for two taxis, also. Although it sounds like a lot in aggregate, when you look at it as a cost per person for transportation that far, door to door, it isn't. If you didn't have much baggage, you could take public transportation if your hotel were in a suitable area, and folks were capable adults, but I'm sure you know that-- if you consider doing that, just ask yourself for the aggravation and trouble and energy expenditure whether it's really worth saving that 7-10 euro pp one way for not taking a shuttle.<BR><BR>The main alternative I can think of is that I think there is an airline shuttle bus run by KLM which delivers you to your hotel rather than a standard stop like Air France does--last I heard that was only about US$13 per person and it leaves from terminal 1. For your entire group, that would only save you about $20 per trip, though. But, if you are interested, you'll have to check it out more because I haven't taken it and don't know full details. I'm not sure it runs from hotels to CDG, either, or the current price.

WE stayed at an apartment nearby last week, www.parisperfect.com -- wonderful apartment and neighborhood by the way. The owners gave us a super booklet they wrote with all the info we needed so here it is: Rue Cler is open on Sunday mornings until about 2pm. All the families leave church and rush to get the ingredients for Sunday lunch. So stock up as soon as you arrive. <BR>If you're later than that, there are several little markets open: the closest one is on rue de Grenelle just before Ave. de la Bourdonnais, on the left. Open until late at night.<BR>You're going to love the 7th arr! Taryn<BR>

Taryn, Thanks so much for the info! It was just what I needed! Laurie