IWhat is the best and safest way to get from the airport to Montparnasse? I am a woman traveling alone to meet up with my tour at Hotel Lenox Montparnasse.
Posted by
Chicago
8466 posts
Paris is safe; this is not an issue. The biggest risk of public transport is pickpockets, so if you were to take public transport you would want to be sure your passport, phone, money, cards etc were well stowed and not where a skilled picker could get them.
The easiest is an official taxi from the ranks at CDG. They are well signed -- never go with anyone who offers a taxi 'need a taxi'. 'taxis over here'. etc. The official rank is well signed go there and get in line and the dispatcher will put you in a cab when you get to the head of the line. On our last two trips there has been virtually no wait -- maybe 3 people ahead of us. The longest we have waited in line is 15 or 20 minutes. Cabs will cost 65 to the left bank which includes Montparnasse. Have your address printed for the cabbie and some people like to go ahead and put 65 Euro on that paper. Make sure when you pull out the meter isn't running but 65 is on the meter.
The public transport route is RER B to Denfert Rochereau and then transfer to the 6 metro to Montparnasse then walk to your hotel. There will be stairs to haul the suitcase up and down. A taxi is money well spent in your situation.
Posted by
Florida (previously California)
3912 posts
Personal safety is not an issue. Pickpockets might be if you take mass transit and you might encounter a rip off artists at the airport. You can take a fixed rate taxi to the hotel. It will cost 65€ and is what I would do in your shoes. You should not accept a ride from anyone who approaches you. Follow the signs to the official taxi line. Official taxi stand locations are listed at https://www.parisaeroport.fr/en/passengers/access/paris-charles-de-gaulle/taxi under "Location of Taxi Ranks." If you want to take mass transit, it will cost about 12 euros. I suggest taking the RER B to Port Royal station and walking approximately 13 minutes to the hotel.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14605 posts
I’m a solo woman as well and I vote for a taxi too! What terminal are you arriving at? I just came in thru 2E (flying Delta) and there was enhanced signage for taxis. Look on the floor for blue circles that have footprints and say taxi. I was approached by several people asking if I wanted a taxi and my strategy is to ignore, look at the blue circle and go out the door to the line. I usually count on a few minutes in line to pull out my hotel address but there was literally no one in front of me so I just stepped to the side to get myself organized.
On the slip of paper (or I tape to a 3x5 card) also write 65€ out to the side.
I hope you are going a day or so ahead?
Posted by
northern CA
2734 posts
The Air France cars buses, now called RoissyBus or just Le Bus iirc, have a stop right at Gare Montparnasse,
and the stops at CDG are very easy to find, the drivers are pleasant, so are the fellow passengers, and you have a better view from the windows than in a taxi. And it costs about one third of what a taxi does.
If you do decide to go with a taxi, reserve one ahead over the website -- price is the same and you can pay ahead so no worries about cash or your card or phone not working right at the start.
https://www.about-paris.com/le-bus-cdg-line-4-to-gare-de-montparnasse.html
It looks like the walk from there to the Hotel Lenox is less than 10 minutes.
Just take a moment to get yourself oriented when you get off the coach bus.
Posted by
northern CA
2734 posts
Adding to say that the hotel website says 600 meters walk but the google maps directions say more like 750 meters. I'm saying that unless you have mobility concerns walking from the stop to the hotel is the best choice.
Posted by
northern CA
2734 posts
and and with the money and time you save you can drop your bag at the hotel and then go up the street to La Coupole and have an apero -- they have Saint Marcellin and they use Valrhona chocolate in the chocolat chaud.
Just sayin'
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10559 posts
Avi, Your post is several years incorrect. The bus to Montparnasse was stopped at least four years ago.
RoissyBus is completely different. That is the RATP bus that goes to the Opera. This information will send people down a rabbit hole.
Janet, Pam, and JHK gave you excellent information about the taxis.