We arrive from JFK to CDG at 7am on a Wed. (28 Feb). There are 5 of us, each with carry on suitcase and a backpack. Oldest is 71, with mild health issues. The hotel is booked through booking.com and they offer a car reservation for 89euro for 5 people, monitor flight time, pick up at airport drop off at hotel, 54 rue Monge. I've never booked a car through booking.com before - does anyone have any experience? Also, if we just walked to the taxi stand, could we get a taxi for 5 people, is that still a set rate? I'm assuming with the 5 of us, a car service or taxi wouldn't be that much more than the metro. Does anyone have a recommendation for an alternative car service? If the metro is really the fastest at that time of day and a lot cheaper, then we'll do it, but I just figured with the number of us, it may not be a big savings.
Thank you.
Posted by
Florida (previously California)
3702 posts
"Also, if we just walked to the taxi stand, could we get a taxi for 5 people, is that still a set rate?"
I would just go ahead and get a taxi from the regular line. There might be a little bit of a wait for a vehicle that can fit five people and their luggage but I guarantee you that the walk to the official taxi line from the exit from customs will be shorter than the walk to wherever the car service's vehicle is parked. The flat rate to any location on the Right Bank is 55€ and is 62€ for the Left Bank for a party of 4. You pay an extra 4.50€ for the fifth passenger.
Edit: The Metro does not go to CDG. The train that goes there is the RER, a commuter type line, and the cost will be 57€ for five people, assuming none of the five is a child. You do not say exactly where you are staying in Paris so I have no idea if mass transit will the fastest method of transfer. If you are not staying at a stop on the RER B line, you will have to change trains to either another RER line or the Metro to get to your destination and that might not be something that you want to do. I'd take a taxi.
Posted by
Chicago
8063 posts
Absolutely the ordinary taxi line. There are van cabs and if one is not to hand when you approach the head of the line, the dispatcher will call one up from the queue. While finding a van cab in the city is trickier, there are plenty at the airport. (and you can order one up a couple nights before the return to CDG on the g7 cab English speaking phone line; arranging one costs 7 Euro reservation fee -- well worth it). The meter will show 62 plus the 4.50 for the additional person. There are no other fees. Have your address written down to hand the driver and write 66.50 E on the paper so he knows, you know. The van cabs hold 7 passengers and so handle 5 easily. The ticket on the RER has gone up slightly so it is now almost 59 for 5 and then you have to haul luggage up stairs when you change to the metro and find your lodging on foot -- get a cab for not much more and have door to door service.
In some terminals there are actually footprints on the floor leading to the taxi line; do not respond to anyone who approaches you with 'need a taxi' or tries to tell you that the signed official taxi queue is 'only for the suburbs, Paris taxis are over here.' These are crooks who will scam you. The last couple of times we came in there was no wait at all for a cab, we just walked to the line and there were not more than one or two parties ahead of us. On other occasions we waited 15 minutes or so in line -- but there is a steady stream of taxis at the airport and it is efficient and fast. If you want to use a credit card, make sure you ask -- they are required to, but some have 'broken card ports' -- just hold up the card and make clear you want to pay by card. Personally, we always pay by cash and I have the cash in hand for the correct amount when I get in. No tip is necessary. A couple of Euros is not amiss if the cabbie is very helpful. (I had a broken elbow and the driver came into the apartment building and carried my luggage for example and I tipped him. Another time I forgot to drop the keys when I left the apartment and had him double back a few blocks so I could do that -- he could have charged extra but didn't, so I tipped him for this extra effort)
Posted by
Bend, Oregon
2324 posts
I agree with the others that a taxi from the official line is the easiest way. We traveled as a family of 4 with lots of luggage. When we entered the official taxi line, there was an employee there. I told him we are 4 people with big bags. He pulled us aside to a separate area for larger groups and after a short wait directed us to a minivan taxi. I had the hotel band and address printed out and handed it to the driver. Couldn’t be easier.
If you need a taxi back to the airport, I would recommend arranging one in advance. Your hotel can do this (tell them you need a van), or you can use the G7 app. There will be a fee of about 7€ to arrange the taxi in advance, but the base rate is the same each direction from/to the airport (plus the extra person).
Posted by
OP
221 posts
Thank you all for the information. It sounds like the official taxi line is the way to go. I'll be sure we go directly to the taxi line, and not listen to any offers shouted to us along the way. We had that happen once in Rome, didn't cost much more but we walked a long way to the parking garage - I learned my lesson.
We'll be staying in the 5th, at 54 Rue Monge, which is convenient to a couple of metro stops for our time in Paris, but the taxi definitely sounds best for getting from the airport to the hotel. We are all returning on different days, so for one or two at a time it might be fine to take the metro and RER to the airport on return. Thanks again, all good info!
Posted by
Atlanta, GA, USA
322 posts
A couple of notes. Make sure you tell the taxi driver that you know it’s a flat fee. Just like everywhere else the world occasionally you get a scam artist. I’ve never had any problem and I’ve taken cabs from the airport a lot, but I always have the name of the place I’m going and the fare on a piece of paper that I hand them.( My French is atrocious.)
Number two they are supposed to take credit cards. Some of them say they don’t - just don’t get in his cab. My last flight time through the line the cab right closest to the exit was telling everyone he didn’t take credit cards, they were probably four groups in front of us. Three of them walked to another cab the fourth one comes up and she just starts to walk by. She’s a French woman and he suddenly says “ oh I just remember my machine is fixed”. she proceeded to give him hell. (my friend is with me fluent in French. ). She then proceeds to take the next five families in line and put them in other cabs while making this guy wait while she tells him off. The taxi dispenser comes back from taking a break and finds this mess and she proceeds to read him the riot act. we were standing there with our cab driver Just watching this whole scene. He didn’t want to get in we didn’t want miss it either. This woman had already taken pictures of the cab, and was telling the taxi dispenser that she was filing an official complaint with someone it was just great.
Posted by
1 posts
Sounds like a correct offer for 5 people.
Taxi price from the airport to anywhere in Paris is about 45€ for 3 people maximum, so that sounds pretty fair.
Other option is trying to get a 5 people taxi directly at the airport. That's possible, there are a few minivans. But never listen to non-official people offering taxis on the way to the official line.
Posted by
Chicago
8063 posts
It is not 'about 45 E for 3 anywhere in Paris; it is precisely 55 for 4 and luggage to the right bank and 62 for 4 and luggage to the left bank. Until the next price change. Each additional person up to 7 is 4.50. No other extra fees for luggage, time of day or whatever.
Posted by
Massachusetts
846 posts
Here is information about taxis at CDG:
https://www.parisaeroport.fr/en/passengers/access/paris-charles-de-gaulle/taxi