Novice traveler needing advice on transportation from Paris airport (CDG) to Rue Cler area.

Maria,

Here are a few options you could consider.....

• Bus to central Paris and then Taxi to your hotel - http://www.francetravelplanner.com/go/paris/trans/air/af_bus_cdg.html (probably the easiest and one of the cheapest options)
• Taxi from the airport (as I recall they now have a fixed rate from the airport, but of course this will be more expensive).
• RER "B" and then Metro to Ecole Militaire Metro station (the cheapest option but as you're not used to public transport, this probably wouldn't be the best choice).
• Shuttle (there are lots listed on the internet - check the guidebook to see if they have any preferred firms listed - http://europeforvisitors.com/paris/articles/paris-cdg-ground-transportation-taxis-and-shuttles.htm).
• You could also check the CDG website under "Transport" - http://www.parisaeroport.fr/en/homepage

I'd suggest picking up a copy of at least the RS Pocket Paris guidebook as there's a lot of information there that will help to plan efficient touring.

Maria, It has been a few years since I made this trip, so I'll differ to the RATP web site listed below.

Take the RER-B from Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 1 to Saint-Michel Notre-Dame. From Saint-Michel Notre-Dame take the RER-C to Invalides. From Invalides take Metro Line 8 to Ecole Militaire (direction Ballard).

Check out www.ratp.fr/en/ratp/c_21879/visiting-paris/

Have you looked at your hotel's website for exact directions using public transit? Most often than not, hotels post the most straightforward ways to access them (that anyone can follow).

the easiest choice is a cab. The cheapest is public transit. You decide...

The flat-rate cost is 55 euro (see https://www.thelocal.fr/20160229/flat-rate-for-paris-airport-taxis-comes-into-force) each way, add in 5E for a tip. The cost for 2 RER tickets is 20E. So is 40E each way worth the convenience?

BTW if you take a cab from the airport be sure to take it from an official airport taxi stand. People are said to come along waving signs that say "taxi" but they will steer you to a car that is not an official cab and the rate you pay is the one they feel like charging. And at the stand, before you put your bags into the cab, make sure the driver agrees the trip is flat-rate. Sometimes drivers "forget" and start the meter running, then will expect you to pay what the meter shows.

If you go the RER route, here's a tip. The ticket machines take Euro bills which you are not likely to have, and many US credit cards won't work. The lines at the manned train-station booth are long. So go to one of the tourist-info desks in the airport as shown here: http://en.visitparisregion.com/practical-info/tourist-information-desks-100180.html They sell the RER tickets, they happily take US credit cards, and there is almost never a line. You will walk by several of these in the CDG terminal

Hi Maria, just get a taxi. The flat rate to Rue Cler should be 55 euro. In my opinion, trying to figure out a new city after a long, tiring flight is not the time to be adventurous or economical. Just get in the taxi line and relax.

You are a short walk to the Eiffel Tower and my favorite Italian restaurant, Alfio, 43 avenue de la bourdonnais. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu but my favorites are the spaghetti bolognese and the pizza.

I hope you enjoy your trip to Paris (my favorite city)!

Choose practicality over frugality. Use a Taxi. Always the best after a TRANS Atlantic fight for visitors unfamiliar with public transport.

Why be stressed when you land?

Bon Voyage.

I agree to splurge and take a cab. My husband and I use public transportation for the majority of our travel within Europe but every now and then it is nice to just take a cab and let someone else figure out the logistics. There will be plenty of cabs at the cab stand and they will deposit you right at the door of your hotel unless your hotel is literally ON Rue Cler and then they will drop you at the end of the block!! That is wonderful neighborhood and the food markets are picture worthy!!! If you have a picnic for lunches from the markets while you are there instead of eating in a restaurant you will make up the cost of the cab...

Taxi..
your first experience with big city transport should not be when exhausted, jet lagged and carrying luggage.

Count it as a cost of vacation .

Frankly.. if you had stayed in a more convenient location I would have been less likely to suggest a taxi.. but since you chose Rue Cler its not so easy to just get on RER from airport and get off in Paris and walk to hotel.. you would have to transfer to a metro line or take a bus.. since your hotel is no where near the RER stations the airport line services.

The flat rate to rue Cler is not "should be 55 EU" - it "will be" 55 EU, period.

Follow the overhead signs to the Taxi stand, and remember that legitimate drivers always remain in their taxis. Don't let anyone tempt you to get out of line for "a good deal" - it won't be.

Print the complete address of your destination, include the Postal Code, and hand it to the driver, so there won't be any confusion.

There is no charge for luggage and you don't have to tip. If the driver helps with the luggage, and if you are feeling generous, 2 EU will be greatly appreciated.

If you are coming off a long-haul trip, it's easy to get confused - especially if you have no experience with mass transport. Airports are full of people whose job it is to prey on people just like you. Why risk being a target?

It's too much work to take a bus part of the way, then change to a taxi.
Shuttles can be unreliable, can take a lot longer than a taxi, and might not stop anywhere near your destination.

Since you're only coming for a couple of days, it probably won't be worth trying to figure out the RER/Metro/Bus system. I'd enjoy just walking around and enjoying Paris.

A 10% tip is not normative and not necessary. If the cabbie is very helpful (e.g. I have a broken elbow and our cabbie came into the lobby of my building and carried all my luggage to the cab and loaded it and then unloaded it at the airport -- so I gave him 60 for a 57 Euro charge (7 for booking in advance plus 50 fixed fare)) If the cabbie is very helpful a couple of Euros is appropriate.

If you do decide on the RER/metro and I wouldn't given this rather inconvenient location for public transport, be sure you are pickpocket proof -- money and cards and passports should be stowed in a neck wallet or money belt under your clothes and of course keep a good grip on small valuables like computer bags or purses.

My husband and I are arriving at CDG at 9:30 Saturday morning. This will be our first time arriving there, but both times I flew out of CDG I took the RER B to the airport. Rain is forecast for Saturday and we are taking a taxi to our hotel near Rue Cler. Pat mentioned that the area isn't very convenient. I somewhat agree with that. But this is my 5th trip and the 5th week I'm spending in Paris. And I got a great deal on the hotel, so that helps. It's a nice area and an easy walk to the Eiffel Tower, so I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

When you return to CDG be sure to arrive there 3 hours early (7:00 a.m. for your 10:00 flight). If you plan to take the RER B allow plenty of time. The trains will crowded with people going to work and you might have to wait for a less crowded train. It happened to us once.

Thank you all very much for your assistance. A taxi it is!

You could ask your hotel to arrange a taxi the night before you leave - add about 1 hour for travel time to the airport, plus 3 hours to check in.
But many hotels will add a surprisingly hefty surcharge for this service, so I would ask before you commit.

You can book a taxi yourself with G7 Taxis, in which case the flat fee is still 55 EU, with a reservation fee of 7 EU added, so total will be 62 EU.

You can either call or reserve online, the operators speak English and this is a reliable company which most residents use. Be waiting outside about 5 minutes before the pickup time.
https://www.g7.fr/en/book-taxi

Well, WO, what would you expect on the RS forum? :)

Hotels sometimes offer a "car service".. and a hugely over priced rate( I have heard of 100 euros or even more!!) .

Have hotel call G7 taxis or call them yourselves, they speak English. . or if flight is late enough , we just walk to a taxi stand or flag one down ( we did this our last trip)... Of course we know where a busy taxi stand is in relation to our hotel, and are not Paris novices so its easier for us.

Personally, I think RER B is easy. Signage to get to RER B is everywhere in CDG so follow the signs. There are ticket machines. I found them to be hit and miss. I was always able to buy a ticket but had no confidence than any of my cards would work on any given ocassion. Once into town at Gare Nord, change to the metro to get within a couple of blocks of your hotel.

I was really happy with the RATP app, "Next Stop Paris". As long as your phone has data, it shows which metro to take in which direction, which connections and gives you walking maps at either end. They include RER trains in their coverage.

Given the fact that the OP is a "novice" and not used to public transportation, I would not suggest using the RER and Metro when hauling luggage, especially when changing at Gare du Nord as it's a large station (although that's a method I wouldn't hesitate to use).

As previously suggested, using one of the flat rate Taxis is the best option, especially after a long international flight when tired and jet lagged. In a situation like that I'd have some Euro cash on hand for the Taxi, and have the name and address of the hotel printed on a small piece of paper to show the Taxi driver.

"...I think the RER B is easy." True. You got it. The signage is easy, keep alert and follow the signs written in 3 languages. With little luggage I would take RER B back to the airport...no taxi. You land on a Sat morning, which is one of the best times arriving in Paris.