Easy bus pass CDG into Paris

I'm not familiar with this bus (Easy Bus?), but if it leaves you at the Louvre, you wouldn't be far from St. Michel, or you could take a taxi from the drop-off point. For door-to-door service, the best advice is to take a taxi from CDG directly to your hotel. This is especially true if there are several people traveling (3-4), if you have a large suitcase(s), and if you are jet-lagged. A taxi will cost about 50-60 euros. Be sure to get one from the official taxi rank.

Do you know where exactly near the Louvre? If it is on the street Rue de Rivoli you could be near 3 Metro Stops, Tuileries, Palais Royal - Musee du Louvre or Louvre-Rivoli. From those Metro stops you can catch Metro-1 to Chatelet Stop then change over to Metro-4 to Saint Michel. Or you may decide to walk, depending how you feel. Google map can give you an estimate on distance on foot. Another option, one I use, is take the RER-B from CDG to Saint-Michel. They have two lines, one that hits multiple stops prior to Paris Central and one that doesn't stop until Paris Central. Either RER-B train gets you there.

Here is what the Easy Bus website says about the drop-off location:

"Our central stop at Le Palais Royal / Louvre (2 Place Andre Malraux) opposite the Comedy Theatre is 2 minutes walk from the Louvre, Le Palais Royal, 10 minutes walk from L'Opera and less than 1 minutes walk from the nearest Metro station for the Louvre / Palais Royal."

This sounds good, except that seats must be reserved in advance, and who knows if the plane will be on time.

Thanks for the responses. I know that Easy Bus is new and doesn't begin operations until mid March, but it's so cheap it's hard to pass up. It will just be my granddaughter and myself with carry-on bags only, so numbers of people and lots of bags are not an issue. However, the comment on whether the plane will be on time could be an issue. Also, I will need to get money changed and/or a book of carnet somewhere in the airport if that is best. Any suggestions on how much time I should give myself just in case the plane is late or if I decide to look for an ATM to get money?

It's very easy to get to your hotel from there. Just go into the Palais Royal metro station at the Easy Bus end point. Take the metro line 1 to Chatelet. Get off and you have two choices for changing, both easy and on the same side of the metro station: the line 4 goes to St. Michel, or take the RER B to either St. Michel or Luxembourg. It's easier and less crowded to come back up to the surface out of the Luxembourg station than the St. Michel station, in case you have a choice of the two.

Should you just take RER B? That depends on how much Easy Bus is charging and the total price when you add in one metro ticket once you get to Palais Royal. The RER B is a straight shot for about 10 euro. The bus will take longer due to traffic. Time vs. money.

It will just be my granddaughter and myself with carry-on bags only,
so numbers of people and lots of bags are not an issue.

Your carry-on bag (onto the bus) can only weigh 5kg and must meet stringent size requirements. You can also have one checked piece of luggage on the bus. I think that means your airplane carry-on will ride under the bus, and there can only be 1 piece per person. See http://www.easybus.co.uk/en/travel-information/luggage-allowance

Thanks so much for all the responses especially about carry-on weight restrictions and exactly how to continue on from Louvre. It will be much easier to make a decision now.

If you read the Easy Bus site it says that if you are late, they will accommodate you and the first available bus. I don't view a fare of less than 4 euros as much of a gamble. I would go for it.

I will need to get money changed and/or a book of carnet somewhere in the airport if that is best.

Here's the time-saving secret. Go to any Tourist Information booth. See http://en.visitparisregion.com/practical-info/tourist-information-desks-100180.html These are in several terminals and they sell everything you need. Carnets. Museum passes. RER tickets. And they take US credit cards (as of last summer, anyway).

BTW you get a much better exchange rate if you use an ATM card than if you change money. Get 50E or so from your hometown bank so you have some cash when you land, the rest you can get from ATMs. I've heard differing stories on whether airport ATMs are really run by banks or give a bad exchange rate, but the ones in front of banks when you are in Paris are certainly legit.

And, use a money belt or pouch to carry large sums of cash, credit card, passport, etc.

never 'change money' -- use your ATM card and make sure your bank is not one that charges for withdrawals or adds a random 2% onto the conversion as so many do. I would arrive with 100 Euros or so in 20 Euro bills or less. Your bank should be able to do that for you before you go and then you can relax until you find an ATM.

be sure you are pickpocket proof on bus or train. this means no wallets in pockets and a purse that is worn forward under your arm or cross body under your control. If you will use the metro to get to your hotel be sure you can easily handle your bags on stairs and also maintain control of your purse.

Thank you John and Janet for the suggestions regarding money and ATM card. So, so excited and the people on this forum have provided me with so much helpful information that will help eliminate some of the roadblocks and other unexpected problems I would have run into on this trip. I would much rather learn from someone else's mistakes because I'm sure I will be making enough of my own. So much easier to learn the former way.

The RS book (or any guidebook) will have lots of good suggestions. Since we're on the topic of money one they'll mention is to notify your bank and credit card ahead of time that you're traveling so they don't decline your transaction. And write down the phone numbers of your bank(s) on a piece of paper somewhere in case a card were to be lost. Don't write account number on the paper in case that is lost; they'll be able to confirm who you are when you're on the phone. US toll-free numbers won't work in Europe, so write down the regular number.

General ATM info from RS and myself:

Rick Steves Info: http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/money-travel-tips.htm

Verify your debit card will work in Europe & inform the bank of your travel plans
Best to use a European bank’s ATM
-- VISA & Master Card more accepted then AMEX

Avoid these ATM machines: Travelex Money, Fast Cash Bank, Euronet Bankonet = High Fees
Cash is best – European ATMs pull from checking only, not savings
-- If the ATM accepts using a Credit Card, it will require your PIN for cash

CDG Airport: (DAB) HSBC ATMs, Bank based out of New York
Located throughout CDG:
--- Terminal 2E: Gate K41 & at Tourist Info Point after getting luggage
--- Terminal 2F: Gate F22, Left of Security Control & near Info Point after getting luggage
--- Across from the Sheraton Hotel at CDG in the center of Terminal 2

There are also Currency Exchange booths located throughout the Terminals w/ATM machines next to them.

HSBC Banks & ATMs are all over Paris, here are two locations w/in walking distance from the St. Michel area:
51 Boulevard Saint Germain
-- South on Bd. Saint Michel, head East

107 Bd. Saint Germain
-- South on Bd. Saint Michel, head West