Hi. As a treat, I'm planning to use taxi's in Paris for a few trips. I speak a VERY little French. My first will be from Gare du Nord at about 6pm on the Eurostar. Going to a small hotel in the Marais. I assume this would be about 20 euros. Do taxi's take credit cards? Is there anything I should know?
Thanks very much!
Have your hotel name and complete address written out on a sticky note or index card so you can just hand it to the driver. At Gare du Nord go directly to the taxi rank, do not pay any attention to anyone who comes up to you asking if you want a cab and don't get into a cab somewhere other than the main taxi rank.
If you need Euro, I think I have read there are Euro ATMS at the St Pancras Station in London. I have not done this so hopefully someone will have a better answer than mine. I would prefer NOT to stop at the Gare du Nord to get Euro as I have had an interesting experience with a Roma petition girl/woman there and I want to walk confidently thru the station without stopping for money when I get off the Eurostar.
editing to add: There was a thread recently from a guy who had gotten in to a taxi not at the taxi rank at Gare du Nord and paid more than he should have and IIRC the driver did not start the meter. I have done a search and can't find it so either I am using the wrong search terms or it has been removed.
You should plan to have euros to pay for the taxi in cash. Don't assume all Paris taxis will accept credit cards, let alone an American credit card that doesn't have the chip & pin feature of European credit cards.
Obviously, you could ask the taxi driver, but if he says no, it will be more awkward for you at the station taxi rank, if the first one or two taxis you try to use don't take credit cards.
There is a cash machine (ATM) at St Pancras which dispenses Euros. In the waiting area, after you check in, right at the back. I have never used it myself, I always have a few Euros on me. Last but one time I was there it was out of service being repaired.
There is also a manned exchange desk in the waiting area, so as last resort you could change some £££ (or $$$) into €€€ so you have enough for the taxi and your first meal.
As Pam says, always have the name AND FULL ADDRESS of your hotel written on a piece of paper to show the taxi driver, then lack of French is no problem.
There cash machines in Gare du Nord, but they may take some finding. I don't have an issue with Gare du Nord, except it can be confusing where to go the first time, but I probably don't look like a typical tourist target.
Great posts from Pam and Chris.
Here is what you could say to the taxi driver, these are how the words should sound (and not their actual spelling in French):
Bohn zhur, muh-suhr, ah seht ah-drehs (hand him your index card with the address written on it), see voo playh.
Translation: Hello, sir (the French prefer more formality in verbal interactions, than we do here), please take me to this address (handing him the index card).
This is exactly what I said on my recent trip to Paris, and it worked just fine.
I will just add one more thing and that is that when I am organizing my documents/itinerary/hotel res/train res, I print out an extra copy of the email reservation confirmation from the hotels that I am going to take a taxi to. I cut the addresses out and tape it to the above mentioned sticky notes or index cards and clip it to the hotel reservation. That way it's handy as it will be the next thing up in the stack after my Eurostar Reservation so I don't have to fumble for it. It is also handy to have your first hotel written out so you can easily find it if you need it for your landing card to go thru your first passport control at your arrival airport.
Sorry, I have not gone electronic with my paperwork yet!
Great detailed advice from Pam in her last post.
Read her advice twice, for a complicated European itinerary, you'll want to be more detailed in your planning, compared to if you were planning a complicated itinerary in the US.
I took 2 taxis in Paris recently. One guy guessed where the hotel was on Ile St. Louis and we got there. The other guy we picked up on the Champs, he entered the hotel into his GPS and also got us there.
Do have a correct, exact address and help the driver if needed. Also be prepared to tip them, even though there seem to be 2 schools of thought about that. The first driver not only wanted and expected a tip, we dickered over how much it should be (in my high school French).
Tipping in Europe: See "Travel Tips > Money > Tipping in Europe" for RS take on the subject.
If the OP comes back, I have more locations of ATMs in St Pancras which dispense euro.
While the original poster may not have returned, I find the thread very informative as we will also be travelling by Eurostar from St. Pancras to Gare du Nord. Nigel, please do share your additional info. Thanks!
Kent, it's only been two days! Maybe the OP is busy researching, packing, or isn't getting reply notifications.
Actually, Nigel, I was thinking the same thing as MP and wondered if you would mind giving the info. In looking at the schematic map of St Pancras I see several places that look likely for obtaining money. I guess my question is, are the ATMs/Cashpoints for Euro just in the International Departure area or do the machines in the main part of the station give you a choice of GBPs or Euro? Thanks!
Actually it appears to have been only one day. This is the unconditional part :-). The thread stands on its own and is of value whether or not the OP comes back to acknowledge every Tom, Dick, or Harry that responded.
There are several Raphaels Bank ATMs in the main parts of St Pancras International which vend both Pounds Sterling and Euro.
I used one yesterday, near the lift up to the East Midlands Trains platforms.
Anyone who asks for a tip in Paris, give them nothing,they would only dare to pull a stunt like that on a tourist, locals would tell them where to go! I
Well no, the rule seems to be to round up the fare, which I did, he wanted a euro more, it's not going to kill me and might make a difference to him.
Thank you so much Nigel. I appreciate the information. When I took the Eurostar last year I walked in thru the taxi dropoff and was immediately thru security without looking around the rest of the station. I will take a look around when next I go and get Euro if needed.
Thanks for the fantastic info! This was great and I'll use the helpful info provided soon. I found the cash sites in at pancreas which was fantastic info, and I'm following the other recommendations as well. And yes, sorry I wasn't able to respond for a few days I had an issue getting wifi and an emergency issue to deal with. Appreciate those that continued on anyway as this is very helpful to me. Thanks very much !
Kent, Joan would be so proud of you.
