Gare du Nord to hotel

From Gare du Nord, I either take the metro or use https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/train/train-services/mon-chauffeur. I have taken taxis from Gare du Nord and a couple of drivers have attempted to rip me off. It’s annoying but manageable if you know the rules. There are no fixed rates rates for metered taxis from Gare du Nord. The taxi line is on Rue de Maubeuge on the west side and not the front of the station. If you go out the front and get in a taxi out there, they will try to rip you off because they know you don’t know what you are doing. Or take Metro Line 4 to Saint Germain Des Pres if you don’t have too much luggage and can manage it.

How much luggage will you have? The Metro (subway) would normally get you there almost directly. I understand the #4 line is under construction and may be closed, though. Google Maps shows a direct bus, the #39, that is almost as fast and direct, takes about half an hour including walking to and from the bus stops.

But if you really want to take a taxi, that might be easiest. Just ask someone at the train station (someone who works there or at the TI) how to find a legitimate taxi stand.

We will have 2 checked suitcases which I’m still trying to decide on, and 2 small carry on duffels. Likely sizes for suitcases with wheels will be a 22 inch and a 24 inch. My husband and I will each have a suitcase and a carry on duffel. I’d love to take a taxi but also don’t want the hassle of an illegal taxi trying to rip us off. I’m going to look at a map to understand where the legitimate taxi stand is as suggested by JHK. I’m also going to look for further information on metro construction. We will be in Paris in mid December so not sure if we’d be affected by construction.

That's more luggage than what I would want to carry up and down metro stairs: there are typically 50-80 steps between metro platform level and ground level. It is doable if you are fit, though, and construction on line 4 is only a problem late nights and Sunday mornings.

Taking a taxi is easy. Illegal taxis are not allowed in the official taxi line.

If someone comes up to you and asks where you are going, or if you need a taxi, walk away.

At the front of the official taxi line there may be someone directing you to a cab. They will probably ask how many people to direct you to the right size cab. You can tell the difference.

The line is usually long.

If you are not sure, there are security people around. Just ask.

Getting an official taxi after arrival is easy peasy. Just head to the taxi line as quickly as possible. The line grows fast but it moves fast too as the official taxis are lined up waiting to be motioned through by a taxi manager. Only get into a taxi that comes through the line. While we were waiting on our taxi to pull up there was a guy parked just outside of the little wooden barriers motioning for me to come on up there. I just ignored him and waited for the offical taxi to pull up.

Unfortunately, there are some taxi drives who thrive on cheating unsuspecting tourists they pick up at Gare du Nord. If you ask the wrong types of questions, or do not speak French, drivers here are known to cheat passengers. There are no fixed fares from Gare du Nord (unless you are going to CDG or ORY), all charges are calculated from a running meter. Most addresses in Paris should be no more than 20€ to 25€. There are no luggage fees, nor fees to carry wheelchairs.

One way to avoid the overcharge problem is to arrange with the SNCF for ground transportation when you book train tickets:

https://monchauffeur.sncf-connect.com/reserver-un-taxi-vtc

Yes. And the taxi line is NOT outside the front of the gare. Follow the signs. It's a side entrance. As long as you follow the signs, you're golden.

There have been reports of scam artist IN THE official cab line at Nord, trying to charge a fixed fee etc. So be alert; make sure they turn on the meter. If possible take the train instead. But it does mean luggage on steep stairs.

Have your hotel name and address printed on a 3x5 card and hand it to the driver when you get in the cab.

"Illegal taxis are not allowed in the official taxi line."
They may be legal taxis but some are also scammers. Two things can be true at the same time. I have had at least three taxi drivers from the official taxi line at Gare du Nord try to scam me by claiming that there is a fixed rate and not turning on the meter. It's not difficult to deal with them but I am usually exhaustedly returning from a day trip to Lindon and not wanting to deal with it so now I either take the metro or use the link I posted in my initial response. My destination is on Line 5 and I have no luggage so I just grab the metro and travel 7 stops but when I have luggage or am traveling with my Metro hating husband, I prearrange pickup.

The bus would certainly be a lot easier then than the Metro since you would avoid all of those steps. The locals riding the bus might not like you getting on with all of those bags, but I'll bet you would manage. If you will have a working smart phone (recommended) you can track the bus's progress as you are riding on it (e.g. on Google Maps, which will also tell you which stop to get off if you use it for directions) so know where to get off. Metro in that sense is easier since there are fewer stops that are easier to note.

Cela dit,that said, everyone warns about this but I've never had an illegal taxi experience in Paris.

Honestly, buses used to be OK in Paris but this year they are a disaster. Waits are very long, there are roadworks everywhere, and (this one is not new) it is basically not possible to sit if you have big luggage.

I just thought of another alternative: the RER B has escalators to the platforms at Gare du Nord, and an elevator at Saint-Michel, which leaves you 1/2 mile from the Millesime hotel.

Thank you to everyone for giving me options to consider. They are all very helpful.
balso, can you please elaborate on the RER B and Saint Michele elevator? I’m not sure what you mean exactly. My last time in Paris was 18 years ago, so this is basically a new experience for me. Thanks.

The RER B goes between Gare du Nord and St Michel-Notre Dame. At St Michel, The exit "rue Xavier Privas" has an elevator that goes directly from the platform to the street of that name. From that street, you are 1/2 mile away from your hotel.
If the elevator is out of order, follow the signs to metro line 10; there are escalators to a long transfer corridor (with moving walkway). Keep going straight at the end of the corridor, and there you can exit the station through a short flight of stairs to Boulevard Saint Germain.

To sum it up, the alternatives are:

• taxi, with a low risk of scams that are easy to circumvent when there are two of you (in case of major issue, one of you can seek out the hotel receptionist)
• metro line 4, with stairs, but short walks
• RER B, without stairs, but longer walk at the end

With the luggage you mention, I'd take a taxi, followed by the RER, followed by line 4.
I would not give the bus a second thought for the reasons I mentioned.

Awesome balso, thanks for your detailed response. My husband and I are pretty fit so 1/2 mile with luggage can be done if we choose this option. I’d prefer a taxi so will do my best to make sure we have a legitimate one. In the event we have to walk a little with luggage, we will be fine. Thanks to all for your help.