We leave for Paris on Friday. Our hotel just contacted me that they have a direct pickup service. The attraction is "Your driver will be waiting for you in the arrival gate." It is 79 Euros vs ?65 Euros? for the Left Bank after waiting for a taxi in the taxi lane. Is this a good deal? I understand that official taxis can use the Taxi-Only Lane driving into Paris and perhaps this service cannot. I'm wondering what the veterans here think. TIA.
Posted by
119 posts
My hotel says 90 euros for the Montparnasse area (14th arr). I feel 79 is a good deal.
Posted by
Paris
10187 posts
I would take the official taxi for 65 euros. To me it would be more trouble than the extra 14 euros would be worth to find a specific driver. I would rather just go to the taxi lane and take the first taxi that comes.
If the taxis still ran on meters, a car service could be a smart idea. But since the authorities switched the taxis between town and the airports to fixed-rate taxis, I don’t see the appeal of a car service and its higher price.
Posted by
913 posts
We were in Paris last month. The CDG official taxi line is so straight forward and moves so quickly. There was a very short line when we were there.
I can’t imagine trying to find your hotel shuttle driver and coordinating that as opposed to the ease of the official taxi line. Personally I think “meet you at your arrival gate” seems a little misleading. I saw a crowded area after going through immigration (that the public can access) on our way to the taxi line that looked like shuttle drivers, limo drivers and unofficial people trying to convince you to get in their taxi. (No!) You’d have to figure out who you are looking for in a sea of people and who knows how far away they have to park. The official taxis in their own separate area are lined up right in front of you. Just follow the signs to the official taxi line. It’s a fixed rate from CDG/Left bank or right bank.
PS. Not needed going from the airport, but The G7 taxi app is so user friendly in the city. It’s like the Uber app but it’s the official Paris taxi’s and the cars are so nice. Used it to get between several places in the city and to the train station when we left Paris.
Posted by
OP
1047 posts
Thanks everyone. I hadn't thought of the "sea of people" and trying to figure out where our driver was or how far away their car was. We have always just gotten into the taxi lane and gotten a taxi. That is probably what we'll choose to do.