CDG Airport Transportation to Paris

Take a cab from the airport--set fee of 45/50 Euros; no wait; no long walk.

Taxi from the official taxi rank is a fixed price of 50 EUR to locations on the Right Bank, and 55 EUR to locations on the Left Bank.

Or just take the RER + métro. €10.30 per person to anywhere in Paris city. As quick if not quicker than a taxi.

most economical and stress-free transportation from CDG Airport to Paris

Pick one or the other. They seem to be mutually exclusive.

We took “Le Bus Direct” from CDG this week as we were staying near Gare de Lyon (it also stops at Gare de Montparnasse). There are other lines that go to (I think) the Eiffel Tower, Disneyland, etc. It was €19; we paid the driver (€18 if purchased in advance). For us it’s stress free b/c they put your luggage in the hold for you, and you enjoy the ride. Our bus made no stops until Gare de Lyon. They run only every 20-30 minutes, so there may be a wait. Today waiting at Gare de Lyon we had the option to just take a cab (although last week the taxis were on strike lol) when it seemed to be taking a long time for the bus to come (since we hadn’t booked in advance).

Where are you staying? I just came back Monday and we stayed in the Rue Cler area. Since there isn't any real direct public transportation (meaning that we'd either have to take a bus then the metro or the RER then the metro) we took a taxi.Honestly, it was the easiest and the least stressful, but not the most cost effective. Just make sure you follow official airport signs to the taxi queue. There have been reports here of scammers directing jet lagged travelers to another exit to an unofficial taxi. But as long as you know what door number the official taxi queue is, it's easy. For the return trip, have your hotel make you a reservation for a "taxi normale" the night before, and you'll just pay the flat rate (either 50 or 55 euros), plus a small reservation fee.

If I have a 13:20 flight from CDG to the US, how much time should I allow for from my train arrival @ Gare de Lyon? If we arrive @ 08:13 am, this should be plenty of time, non? Thnks

Is that 50 euro per person or per vehicle?

Thank you,

Lorie

50 for up to 4 people in a taxi to the Right Bank in Paris.

50 euros is per vehicle, all cabs charge per vehicle (up to 4 passengers, above which there is a supplement in the vehicles that can take more people).
As for a five hour gap between train arrival and flight departure from CDG, it is fine, but of course any major delay (above one hour) will jeopardise your chances of making it. Personally, I'd take the earliest possible train, if there is an earlier one. At worst it'd help me crash and sleep thru the flight.

Having traveled in Europe since 1960 I have experienced a fair number of ridiculous delays including a Thalys coming in 5 hours late and a plane once coming in 5 hours late from the US to Amsterdam. I always make it a rule to be in the town where my high stakes flight is the night before. Most times that early train arriving at 8:15 will be fine -- but what if someone jumps in front of the train and you sit in the countryside for several hours? (happened to us). I never plan high stakes flights that would cost me huge amounts to miss without crazy conservative timing. Note that generally travel insurance will not cover missed connections because they expect people to schedule with plenty of time.

And from CDG -- if you are travel savy and know how to be pickpocket proof and can easily haul your bags up and down lots and lots of steep stairs then the 10.30 ticket on the RER/metro is a good choice and usually pretty speedy. If there are more than two of you the savings start to diminish and if you have heavy luggage and are jet lagged and carrying all your valuables without knowing the drill on being pickpocket proof -- well having 20K on your credit card by the time you get to your hotel is not a great welcome to Paris. This is a very very safe city for violent crime -- but pickpocketing is organized crime and very very efficient. 50 E to the right bank and 55 to the left is a real bargain and when you have 4 or 5 people it starts to break even. (it is 4 Euro each extra for each passenger 5-7 -- but no tip needed or expected and no other hidden costs from the airport)

From CDG, I've always taken the RER B. I'd say it's the most economical, roughly ten euro to get downtown plus another 1.50 for the metro. Each time I've been, I arrived from Iceland with my passport already stamped, carry on only in hand - so no issues with passport lines or wait for luggage. I've found it takes me right at one hour to walk to the little electric train that gets you around the airport, get off at the RER station, buy a ticket at an automated machine (try a card twice before giving up, eventually it spits out a ticket) and be on a train headed into Paris. It's probably close to an hour to get a taxi - plus passport and luggage time.

I normally get off at Gare Nord (another 45-50 minutes) then catch a Metro to get walking distance from my lodging (15-30 minutes depending on connections). A taxi to your hotel can be much more or slightly less time depending on traffic. The taxi is probably the least stressful because you don't have to worry about your stop or connections.

I agree with Janet about spending a night before your return flight. Nothing lowers stress more than having some time to lose. Nothing raises stress more than hurrying because you may miss your flight.

https://www.ratp.fr/en/titres-et-tarifs/t-tickets

The RER fare from CdG airport into the city includes a free transfer to the central Metro trains.

For travelling in Zone 1 and 2, the old carnet of 10 cardboard tickets will be replace in mid-June by Easy Navigo. It's an electronic card good for 10 trips at the same price as the carnet, plus a one-time charge of a couple of euros for the card itself.

RER is ok and probably least expensive but there is the luggage/stairs/transfer thing. LeBus is good reducing that aspect for a little more money but possibly adding a walk or short taxi depending on final destination.

Try telling Goggle to translate the French web site, or you can do it yourself with an online French to English dictionary.

I'm seeking advice for the most economical and stress-free transportation from CDG Airport to Paris.

Economical and stress-free are mutually exclusive ideas. Anyone asking this question, which is everyone on his first trip, should simply take a taxi from the official taxi queue. It may cost more than other options but you can always take the train back to the airport when you have a feel for the city and what is involved.

For travelling in Zone 1 and 2, the old carnet of 10 cardboard tickets

Tickets T+ are not generally zone specific (the exceptions being night buses or bus 350/351 to CDG). T+ tickets are good anywhere on the métro (which, by the way, has a few stations in zone 3), buses, tramways, and funicular. The T+ may also be used on the RER but travel is limited to zone 1 (basically Paris only) and it is incumbent upon the traveler to know where he is and to not exceed this limit.