CDG to Paris hoteI: Inexperienced using train but willing to give it a shot. Tips, advice, cost?

It sounds like your hotel is right off the RER B line, so taking the RER from the airport would be a piece of cake. The tickets are 10 euro, and it will take about 45 mins. The Paris metro/RER system is very easy to use. Here's a link that describes buying the tickets.

http://parisbytrain.com/billet-ile-de-france-train-ticket/

Have a great time in Paris!

I took the train last week from CDG to Gare du Nord. You can buy the ticket at the airport station and it costs 10 euros. The machines took coins or credit cards (might need to be a credit card with chip). There is a change machine by the ticket machines if you need to get coins.

Trains run frequently and I would definitely just take the train into the city. It is the RER B line so you wouldn't even need to change trains.

To get to the train tracks, you insert your ticket at the gate, it pops out the top and you take your ticket and go through the gate. Be sure to keep your ticket as you'll need to repeat the process when you exit your destination station.

What is the name of the hotel? There is an escalator to the station and platform at CDG. I seem to recall there being one at Luxembourg station, but I think there is still one flight of stairs to get up to the street.

We're staying at Hotel Observatoire Luxembourg

Couldn't be easier. Walk to the south exit (that will be the direction the train is heading leaving the station) up to next level, use your ticket to open the exit turnstile, up to street level. There is an escalator to the street, walk straight ahead. The hotel is the narrow building across Rue de l'Abbe de l'Epee.

There is an escalator at Luxembourg. It is sort of hidden but it is there!

Thanks everyone. Definitely taking the train!

Credit Card w/out chip worked for me last year. If using one, ensure its a credit card and not a Debit/ATM card.
Enjoy.

Off topic a bit , but if you are by Luxembourg gardens , it's a beautiful place to stroll through at lunch , grab a sandwhich and drinks and enjoy the afternoon in the park ,

I agree that the RER "B" is the best option since it's so convenient for your hotel and much cheaper than a cab. You can buy a nice dinner or a two-day Museum Pass with what you save just getting in from the airport. Plus it's likely to be faster than a taxi during a normal day.

Hopefully you won't have too much luggage to handle, which is harder by train than by cab. And, of course, pay attention to your surroundings and keep your valuables in a money belt or neck wallet as advised elsewhere on this site, as pickpockets target that RER train full of jet-lagged travelers. Not to discourage you from going that way, just a reminder to be careful.

instead of buying at the ticket machine you can go to any of the TI locations in the airport. See http://en.visitparisregion.com/practical-info/tourist-information-desks-100180.html for a list of locations. They speak English, accept credit cards, and can sell you RER tickets and well as a 10-pack (carnet) for the Metro. Seldom more than 1 person ahead of you, for some reason they are not that busy (people are lined up 15-deep, on the other hand, at the staffed train booth)

Be sure you are pickpocket proof. You are at your most vulnerable carrying all your stuff and luggage is a neon sign. No one is likely to grab luggage or anything like that, but pickpockets love people distracted by lugging stuff. Don't have a wallet in your pocket; I use a money belt in this situation although not otherwise. Make sure valuables are well secured and not in pockets or backpacks. If you have a computer bag, purse or other small item with high value, be sure you always have your hand on it, don't set it on the floor at your feet or on a seat.

This is an easy shot in from the airport. 65 Euro is probably a little high for a cab, but it does depend on traffic. We came in at noon yesterday and it was 45 to an apartment in Montmartre with fairly heavy traffic on the peripherique.

Its easy to take the RER, just follow the exit sign and I think the hotel is literally just outside. I've stayed at Hotel Observatoire 2x, although the last time was about 5 years ago, its a great location for exploring Paris.

If your stay falls between Monday-Sunday, you may want to consider getting a Navigo Decouverte card for your RER, metro and bus travel. It's 21.25€ for unlimited travel for a week, plus 5€ for the card.

Since it's 10€ each way to/from CDG this makes the rest of your travel for the week almost free.

We just came back from 2 weeks in Paris and bought the navigo passé . It works great , it's good for all 5 zones , the rer trains , subways , buses , the furnicular up to sacre couer , the train and bus to fountainbleau . After the first week you recharge the card for 21.25 and you are good to go for another week. Has a chip in the card , scan it as you go through the turnstiles, scan on the buses. Saved us a lot of money , and didn't have to worry about getting the carnet of tickets . Enjoy

Dave, Did you purchase your Navigo Card prior to arrival in CDG or at the airport?

We will probably be staying at a Hotel in the Montparnasse area of Paris, can we catch the RER train from CDG to a station in that area?
Is there adequate storage on the RER for our luggage?

Thanks

You buy the Navigo card at the CDG train station (or any manned Metro of RER station for that matter). Bring a 1" by 1.25" passport type photo with you. The ticket agent will laminate it to your pass.
Since everyone boarding at the airport will have luggage, you can count on it, but keep it with you at all times. The RER B cars are fairly open, more like subway cars.
Closest stop is either Port Royal or Denfert-Rochereau. At Denfert-Rochereau there are Metro connections to Montparnasse.

You can purchase it at a ticket booth at the airport , then take the rer b into Paris , no problem with luggage as long as you don't pack too much , we have learned to pack lightly when travelling in Europe. Go to the Paris metro site to get the info and see the maps. There is also an app you can download on your phone . Also get a small folding map at the booth of the metro . After a day or so , you will have the metro figured out and be able to get around Paris very easily