Hi all,
Our youngest daughter is flying from Florence to Paris on Air France this Friday night. She lands at 8:00pm at Terminal 2F. We are thinking that we will have her take a taxi into town to meet us. She is 21 and speaks no French. We thought ta taxi was easiest and safest.
We read everything online about catching a proper taxi but I wanted to check here for any extra advice or tips.
Thank you!
Hi CaliMom - that definitely sounds like a time for a taxi. I think you know about the fixed rates for the taxis depending whether you are staying on the Left Bank or Right Bank.
She should have a piece of paper with her with the name of the hotel (if there is one), the address, AND THE ARRONDISSEMENT written on it to show the person running the taxi line and to give to the driver. That way there is no confusion on where she needs to go.
The only thing is to tell her to follow the TAXI signs when she comes out after baggage claim (whether she collects baggage or not!). I think they are pretty good these days about keeping OUT the taxi touts from the terminals, but she should NOT go with anyone who approaches her IN the terminal and offers her a taxi. She just needs to FOLLOW THE TAXI SIGNS and get in the official line and all will be fine.
I always count on about two hours from the plane touching down to arriving where I need to be in Paris. It can certainly take less time, but it will be a nice surprise if it does.
Taxis are 53 euros from CDG to the Right Bank
58 euros from CDG to the Left Bank.
If she follows the signage carefully and waves off anyone approaching her IN the terminal with a firm No Merci, she should make her way to the proper outdoor taxi rank through Exit door 11a and pay no more than the amount listed at the bottom of this list:
“Taxi stands are located outside each CDG terminal, upon arrival follow the signs Taxis.
Terminal 1. Exit 24 (Arrivals level)
Terminal 2A. Exit 6
Terminal 2C Exit 14
Terminal 2D Exit 7
Terminal 2E Exit 10a (Arrivals level)
Terminal 2F. Exit 11a (Arrivals level)
Terminal 2G in front of the terminal
Terminal 3 in front of the terminal
Licensed taxis in Paris are normal cars with a “Taxi Parisien” sign on the roof, a taxi fare meter and a badge with the driver’s license number.
Please note that flat-rate fares have been introduced for journeys between Paris and Charles de Gaulle airport :
Charles de Gaulle airport ↔ Paris ″Rive Droite″ (″Right Bank″) = €53
Charles de Gaulle airport ↔ Paris ″Rive Gauche″ (″Left Bank″) = €58”
Kim: doesn’t she also need the correct fare amount in Euros? I think I read that taxis don’t take credit cards.
Most taxis these days take cards, but in order to be sure, yes it would be a good idea to have the cash on hand.
When she gets to the head of the line and the dispatcher she shows the credit card and he gets her a cab that takes it -- as an added precaution, show it to the driver and make sure. If she is nervous about it, have the exact Euro amount -- no tip required or expected.
The main thing is to not let anyone divert her from the cab line -- sometimes scammers will approach 'marks' and tell them 'oh that is not the cab line for Paris, it is over here' or just offer a cab -- those are scammers and charge far above thef 53 or 58 Euro fixed price. The line is well marked -- she just goes and gets in line and deal only with the dispatcher at the head of the line, not anyone who approaches her mid way in line.
She just flashes her credit card and if the next driver cannot take her, she´s first in line for one that will. No need to have cash, but there is a no-fee HSBC ATM in Terminal 2 next to Baggage du Monde. The Travelex ATMs in the airport have a service upcharge.
Ok great! She is not checking luggage. And she was planning on using her credit card. I
"no tip required or expected"
I've seen long discussions on this point. Is it the consensus view?
We've had the annoying experience of a CDG taxi claiming to take credit cards, then have the driver claim none of our cards would work. Odd that they worked everywhere else we tried in France.
Regarding the tip: no tip is expected on those flat fares to the airport, but rounding up 58€ to 60€ if the driver was nice, helped with bags, etc will be welcomed.
As for city fares: rounding the fare up to the nearest euro is pretty standard (but again, totally optional).
The new fares seem designed to create tips don't they.
I tip when genuine extra service is provided: I had an arm in a cast and the driver came into the apartment lobby and got my bags and then fetched a cart at the airport. On another occasion I failed to leave the apartment key and the driver drove back so I could drop it -- maybe a km out of his way -- he didn't charge as he could have for that and I tipped him well for it. We once also had a crazy traffic jam very slow trip to the 13th and I felt bad for him having to spend twice the usual time for the fixed fee and did tip him for that.
But normal service? Not expected. Not necessary.
