I've never used Uber before but we are thinking it's what we'll take from Gare du Nord to the Intercontinental Paris Marceau. Does anyone know how much Uber would cost for this route? Is Uber pretty safe?

Thank you!

Uber sets the rate based upon the demand at the actual time of your request. IF you got one right now (midnight paris time) it would be 15.03. A cab is about 24.

I might suggest using Uber at home a few times just to familiarize yourself with it. I consider it safe enough to call for rides for my 94 year old mother, and use Lyft all over NYC. How's your French? Don't you want to know what it's like to use the app in English before you try it in France?

Uber was very easy to use in Paris. If you use the app you download in the U.S., it will all be in English. As in other countries, there are "surge" times where the fare is higher. It's a little hard to predict how much it will cost, but it will be less expensive than a taxi for sure.

>>but it will be less expensive than a taxi for sure.<<

Not 'for sure'. Surge pricing can make uber more expensive than just taking a cab. It is cheaper a lot of the time - but not always.

It might be useful to point out that due to new licensing regulations, the number of Uber vehicles has gone down considerably. There were 25,000 cars in 2017 and that was reduced by 8000 at the beginning of the year. Because of this, there is much more surge pricing and some routes that cost 14 euros in a taxi can cost up to 40 euros by Uber.

More details here: https://actu.orange.fr/france/les-ta...0000YkAsL.html

Even with the new licensing regulations I always find Uber cheaper than a taxi. The biggest difference I notice is that it can take a bit longer for the car to arrive. One thing to be careful about; if you get a higher price quoted, you can wait a little while and you might find the price lower. Just don't ask for a new quote quickly and repeatedly because then you are actually bidding against yourself. Times when you will find the prices higher are when it's raining, during rush hour, and sometimes very late at night. If you're not comfortable giving directions in French, Uber is great because you don't have to tell the driver anything. For example, yesterday I hailed a taxi from the street (in the rain). Short trip but I didn't want to walk in the rain. I told the driver 85 rue des Martyrs in French. Well my pronounciation of Martyrs sounded like rue de Matisse (in the 19eme) to him. It took a lot of back and forth to clarify what I meant. And even then, he dropped me off about a block from where I really wanted to go. He said "No street numbers". Not a problem because I could use my phone to see what direction to go. The ride was 8 euro. Had I called Uber, it would have been 6 only because 6 is the minimum fare.

Uber cars are always clean and the drivers are always polite. Another app you can try is Chauffer Privee. One of my local friends swears by it. I think the cars may be even nicer, but the rides are generally a bit more expensive than Uber. Some drivers drive for both and you can see two different smart phones attached to their dash.

Frankly, except for journalists who test both systems for their articles, I do not understand how anybody can say "I always find Uber cheaper than a taxi." (or the opposite for that matter)

However, the article that I linked made it clear that taxis are cheaper, including to the airport.

The problem we had with Uber in Paris is that traffic is very bad at Gare du Nord whenever we arrive. It is much quicker to grab a taxi from the taxi rank than wait for the Uber to fight through traffic. Also, trying to find the Uber was confusing as we didn't know the street names etc.

I agree with jamikins. I can never find a reasonable excuse to use Uber in Paris, and Gare du Nord has a quick-moving taxi rank that is filled with legitimate taxis Parisiens. Plus, I don't want to wait or deal with an app.

Lots of good points brought up. Even if Uber is cheaper it sounds like the taxi is going to be faster and easier. As long as the taxi will hold 3 adults I think we'll end up going that route!
Thank you to everyone for your help and input!

ANY taxi will hold 3 adults easily. It's when you get to 5 people that you have to ask the attendant to help you out - and that happens quickly.

And there are taxis that can hold more than 5 people if necessary, at no extra cost. This is not a problem at CDG where there is an agent to assist everybody, but it is always good to know that a customer has the right to choose any taxi waiting in a queue. So if you have your heart set on riding in a Mercedes, even if there are Peugeots and Renaults waiting ahead, you can choose the car you want. (This should also address any concerns about "clean" cars often mentioned by Uber supporters.)

Kerouac, i’m Curious, have you ever taken an Uber?

I haven't even taken a taxi in more than 5 years. I prefer to think about my carbon footprint. Internal combustion engines will be banned in the city starting in 2030. Still twelve years to go...

Belinda, I’m curious. Have you ever taken a taxi?

Xcountry did you see my post above? I took a taxi two days ago when it was raining and I walked back home when it wasn’t.

It's because I am not a user that I find these debates so fascinating, like buying a bicycle for a fish. Actually, I used quite a few taxis before my mother died because the city of Paris has a transportation system for the disabled which just costs 2 euros per ride. Even though they have dedicated vehicles, they usually would send a taxi under contract. I would make it very clear that my mother was in a wheelchair and that in the later years she was no longer able to get up for the "transfer" but a lot of times it was just an ordinary taxi anyway. I was completely impressed how every single taxi driver did their utmost to help me drag my mother out of the wheelchair and seat her in the taxi even when the need to do so was a surprise for them. I have no idea if Uber also participates in this program but probably not due to the surge pricing and such. Voluntary slaves will always go after the big money. Who wouldn't?

I am curious about one thing that is regularly mentioned about Uber -- the fact that their cars are clean. I have not yet been in a dirty taxi in Paris (but in NYC yes, in Amman yes, in Casablanca yes, in Havana yes, in Nairobi yes, in Rio yes), so it all seems like a non issue to me.

Believe it or not I knew the answer was yes. Just setting you up for a winning line.

I also find it super-amusing that people mention that Uber cars are "so clean." I've been in a zillion regular taxis in Paris and never found one that wasn't immaculate.