Taxi CDG toLeft Bank

We've just returned from France and you are looking at a set fee of 65 euros. You do not have to tip if the trip isn't exceptional although a euro or 2 would be ok. We found many places -restaurants and taxi's were used to the tips US travelers there for the Olympics and often asked for a tip that we found hadn't been mentioned in past visits. Don't feel obligated and if you do choose to tip keep it small.

We found many places -restaurants and taxi's were used to the tips US travelers there for the Olympics and often asked for a tip that we found hadn't been mentioned in past visits.

Many places? We just got back from 2 weeks in Paris and did not encounter a single example of someone asking for a tip.

Yes, just follow the signs to the official taxi line. It moves so quickly and yes it is a fixed rate. Everything is done by credit card. We were there in April. Nobody we encountered was asking for a tip; though you certainly can. tips All of the suggestions about writing an address down on a piece of paper and negotiating the use of a credit card does seem sort of outdated in my opinion. Outside of the ride from CDG; we used the G7 Paris taxi app; which works just like uber; only the official Paris taxis.

Absolutely do go to the official taxi site..there are numerous people trying to get you to use their taxi but don't be tempted. And I agree about being "asked" for a tip. In our September trip we never saw that.

While my question is not 100% related to the original post, I'm very curious why, for lack of a better phrase, "illegal taxis" are allowed at, in this case, CDG? It gets mentioned every time there is a question about airport taxis that you should only get a taxi from the official taxi ranks and NOT anyone else offering a cheaper/faster alternative.

No one allows illegal taxis, clandestine drivers just show up and solicit at the customs exits. Many passengers arrive tired and simply ignore the many warnings about illegal taxis which are not cheaper and certainly not faster. The airport police know about them, caution about using them, but police have other duties as well: catching pickpockets, drug carriers, and even the illegal, plastic wrapping of luggage businesses.

There is just always going to be people who try to cheat and take advantage of others.

Unfortunately, there does not appear to be any way for security to stop the illegal taxi drivers from entering the pathway to the customs exit if they claim they are drivers having been arranged to pick up specific passengers. It would help if signs were posted in that passageway (in English, French, and likely other languages) as passengers enter it advising that taxis may not be solicited there and may only be engaged outside at the taxi stand and anyone soliciting riders there is operating an illegal cab. Would the airport ever do that?

I’ve been in Paris for a week, I have not been asked for a tip anywhere.

Now I will be using G7 to take me back to the train station for my departure and I have that set up with an automatic two or three euro tip built-ins so that’s what they’ll get but considering the cost of the fare that’s not a big tip

Are the illegal taxis truly illegal? Budapest, for instance, has a contracted official taxi company that is the only one allowed to que at arrivals. But, if a driver wants to pay to park his car in the airport lot, then take passengers on foot to the curb, and make them wait till he retrieves his car ... that is not illegal. If you hire a private driver, same will happen. The taxi into town here is 24 euro more or less. For the Paris cost 65 Euro in Budapest you can fly to Malta.

Are the illegal taxis truly illegal?

Not illegal, just unofficial. At least that is my take on it, how I look at it.

At CDG, they really do hound you as you enter the arrivals hall, and they will follow you all the way to the official taxi rank. I can see how an uninformed person could fall for their pitch, but keep your head down and keep walking. There is no good reason to ever take an unofficial taxi at CDG given the fixed pricing to Paris on the official taxis.

As for other cities and airports, it pays to research the taxi / transport situation on a case by case basis.

So, if you fall for it, what? You pay 70 euro for a 65 euro trip? Worse could happen. ANd those guys are at a very large number of airports around the world. Is a cultural thing LOL.

No, they've been known to charge a couple of hundred euros ....anyway the meter will almost ALWAYS show more than 65 (unless you live in my part of town), so it is definitely a losing proposition to go with those who aren't complying with the city ordinance that fixes the taxi fares.

Kim, so they are illegal. You should know me well enough by now that when someone from Hoboken, NJ makes a statement sounding like fact about a topic I doubt many of the locals understand, especially when it indites a person or a group of people; I just gotta ask.

Here its not illegal. Here I am not sure if you will even pay more, the taxis are so regulated it would put them out of business if they got caught toying with the meter (even our Uber here has to be a yellow car with a light on top, not more than so many years old, and have a meter and charge no more than the government mandated rate).

But the company with the airport concession did find a way to fight it. They send their own guys into the arrival hall to ask people if they need a taxi. If you say yes, they walk you outside to the kiosk at the queuing line. I thought that was smart.

BUT YES. Any place you arrive, first walk out of the Arrivals Hall and look for taxi queuing line. The guys in the arrival hall probalby are not going to be the best choice, In places like Sarajevo, that line might not be obvious. In that case you call for a taxi.