Airport to Hotel

Public transportation is certainly doable. We stayed at the Lenox in May, 2017 (and will be staying there again in September, 2025). To get from CDG, we took the RER Line B to Denfert-Rochereau and then got on Line 4 to Vavin. The hotel is a short walk from there. We only had carryon.

"Is public transit a doable option with carryon luggage?

I think the answer is "It Depends", lol. I'm a senior, female, solo traveler. I stay where I would have 1 or 2 changes on the Metro from the RER. While I can certainly manage my carry-on up and down stairs I don't like to especially when I am coming off of an International Flight and might not be as alert to my surroundings as I would like.

For myself, as a solo traveler,I budget a taxi from nearly every airport to my hotel. It's worth it to me not to have to worry about pickpockets or whether I am in someone's way with my suitcase. Other people have different views.

We did the exact same thing last year- CDG to Hotel Lenox Montparnasse. The BEST Way (for us, with luggage) was to take a taxi. It is a fixed price. It is a direct airport to door service. The flight left us jet lagged and tired, and we didn't need the hassle of the RER and/or bus or metro. and then walking to the hotel. So even knowing some basic French and having been to Paris twice before, the taxi was a no brainer for us.
So maybe your question is,-- Is there a cheaper way to do it?

The fixed rate for up to four people in a taxi from CDG to the Hotel Lenox in Montparnasse will be 65 euros. If you decide to take the taxi, follow the signs to the taxi line. Do NOT go with anyone who approaches you in the terminal and asks you if you want a taxi ride. Follow the signs to the line, where a dispatcher will put you in a taxi.

For ease of communication (if you don’t speak French)with the dispatcher and driver, you will probably want to have a small card with your hotel name and address written on it.

Thank you all for your advise. Currently leaning toward taking a taxi for all the reasons you have listed. Sometimes I forget my husband and I are getting older and need to take the easy option.

Fixed-rate taxi from CdG to Left Bank -- rate increase a couple of months ago -- now 65 euro. As others have suggested, only use the official taxi queue. No tip required.
More generally, the regional commuter train RER-B from the airport is certainly cheaper. But it IS a commuter train and in central hours
of the day can be very crowded. Think can of sardines. And you may need to change to a Metro line to get close to your hotel.

They would definitely need to change to metro from the RER to get near their hotel.

If I arrive CDG on a weekday, I check the traffic boards near the rental car counters, which I typically pass exiting customs. If I see that A1, between Paris and CDG, is all red indicating heavy traffic, I take the RER B (11.85€). You can either transition to métro 4 at Châtelet and exit at Vavin; or continue on RER B to Denfert Rochereau, transition to métro 6 exiting at Edgar Quinet.

If you arrive on a Saturday or Sunday, when traffic is generally lighter or you see that traffic into Paris is flowing nicely, take a taxi (65€). I have just had too many 90 minute taxi rides to the Left Bank and the train is much faster.

Just a note as rue Delambre to me, always has an Italian influence which brings Italian food to mind, thus, there is a new Italian restaurant nearby on rue de la Grande Chaumière, Osteria del Sesto. It's a simple local restaurant with fabulous food. You may not want to miss it. You will, of course, reserve.

You might recognize rue de la Grande Chaumière for the glass roof atelier, still visible, where Modigliani had his studio, and an interesting scene from Emily in Paris was filmed in front of the hotel next door, Hôtel A La Villa Des Artistes, for a segment in season 3.

Thank you for that advice. We arrive at 10AM on a Monday morning so traffic could still be an issue. Also thanks for the restaurant recommendation. I will definitely try to make a reservation.

The good thing with the fixed-rate fare between the airport and the city is that you don't have to worry about the meter spinning up, up to perilous heights. It's €65 whether it takes 45 minutes or an hour and a half. You just have to steel yourself to realize it is not going to be a quick trip. I think Tocard is younger than you and certainly has more experience coming to Paris, so he is nimbly able to take advantage of the RER-to-metro option. I tend to think that you will prefer the taxi even if it takes longer, because maneuvering around the RER stations and metro stations with luggage isn't much fun, especially for someone trying it for the first time.