Train CDG--St. Pierre des Corps & Colmar--Paris

I have a couple of suggestions. Go to the SNCF website now and make some practice reservations for earlier dates so you understand how things work and learn about the fare types and change/cancellation policy before you make your actual bookings later.
And visit the Man in Seat 61 for all kinds of information on trains and the stations in France.

Re: train to St. Pierre des Corps from the airport station, forget the 9:43 train. Chances of getting off your plane, through immigration and to the station, even traveling with carry-on only and on time arrival, are slim unless, maybe you're flying first/business class.

Even the 11:17 departure could be iffy. You won't know until you arrive how long it will take to get through immigration.

The trains from Paris to St Pierre des Corps depart from Gare Montparnasse.

The get to the station from the airport it would be best to take a taxi. Otherwise, by public transit you would take the RER B line from the airport and then transfer to the Metro or a bus or walk to Gare Montparnasse.

Yes, the train from Colmar arrives at the Gare de l'Est in Paris. You would take Metro line 4 from the Gare de l'Est Metro station to get to the Denfert-Rochereau Metro station. RER B does not go from the Gare de l'Est.

Jeanm, Thanks for the info on going from CDG to Montparnasse. I didn't realize that was the stop we needed to go to and then on to SPDC.

Why do you mention that it would be easier to get a taxi to Montparnasse rather than train?

Are there any other suggestions/thoughts on which way to get to SPDC? We're really hoping to get there by early afternoon and wondered how the best way to do that was.

I want to be prepared when the tickets open on the 28th.

Thanks!

Why do you mention that it would be easier to get a taxi to Montparnasse rather than train?

Because to take the train to Gare du Montparnasse, you have to take the RER B into somewhere in town, then lug your luggage to change for a line that will get you to Montparnasse station.

It's simply less tiring and easier to have a taxi pick you up at the door of the terminal at CDG and drop you at Montparnasse.

Since the taxis between CDG and the city are a fixed rate, you don't have to worry about the meter spinning out of control if you get stuck in traffic. You just pay the flat €65 fare to the Left Bank (where Montparnasse is).

Thank you, Kim!

Would you have an opinion on which would be better/cheaper/easier for us to do--

1. take a taxi CDG to Monparnasse and then train to SPDC (cheaper to purchase now or at the time of the train)?

2. take one of the timed trains (9:43 am-11:33 pm, 1:17 am-1:04 pm, 4:12 pm-6:03 pm) from CDG to SPDC purchased tomorrow when they go on sale?

I suggested the taxi because you'll be arriving after an overnight flight, most likely with brain fog.

After immigration you can either

1. Follow the signs to the taxi stand, tell them your going to Gare Montparnasse and then arrive at Gare Montparnasse.
2. Follow the signs to the RER station, buy your tickets from the kiosk (don't forget you have brain fog), board the train and

a) get off at the Denfert-Rochereau RER station and transfer to the Metro to Gare Montparnasse (carrying your bags up/down metro stairs

b) get off at the Pont Royale station and find the bus stop for your bus to Gare Montparnasse (no stairs involved)

c) get off at the Denfert-Rochereau RER station and walk about 20 minutes to Gare Montparnasse.

Yes, the taxi is the most expensive option. But, it takes so much stress out of the start of your vacation.

Also, the fixed taxi rate is not per person, but for up to four persons and their luggage, so 32.50 each.

Joby, I wouldn't waste the money on a ticket for a train departing 73 minutes after my estimated arrival of an international flight.

Go to the SNCF website today. Do a pretend booking for March. Get an idea of the different fares by time and class for trains departing from both the CDG station and Gare Montparnasse. Choose a fare and click on the link for changes and cancellation policy. That may help you make a decision.

My head is spinning! IF (and that's a big if) I didn't make any more mistakes than I already did earlier in calculating/estimating costs, this is what I've come up with for costs:

TAXI + TRAIN OPTION:

taxi CDG to Monparnasse (65 euros/$78 for 2 people)

Taxi 65 Euros + train 60 euros = 125 euros/ $150/2 people
ADVANCE PURCHASE

Taxi 65 Euros + train 66 euros = 131 euros/ $157/2 people
DAY OF TRAVEL

TRAIN ONLY OPTION:
CDG to SPDC

11:17 am-1:04 pm ---
137 euros/ $165/ 2 people with cancellation ins.-- ADVANCE PURCHASE

158 EUROS/ $189/ 2 people-- DAY OF TRAVEL ESTIMATED COST

Now, if I haven't made any miscalculations--it looks like the cheaper less worry option would be the TAXI + TRAIN option?

1. Taxi is a set fare plus there is not much difference in cost of train from Montparnasse to SPDC advance versus day of travel costs?
2. We wouldn't have to worry as much about catching the train and if we did purchase in advance, it would only be about 60 euros to replace the missed train tic instead of the whole 150 euros cost at CDG?

This is waaay more complicated than purchasing an airline ticket!!! At least in MY HEAD it is.

Am I correct in my thinking here?

Thanks for the help :)

I know it's confusing. Especially because you won't know what the actual prices are until reservations open up tomorrow.

Ticket prices are fluid. I'm seeing fares as low as €58 per person in March from the airport to St. Pierre... In that case, cheapest & easiest would be the airport train. But, again, you won't know the fare until tomorrow.

I think you need to decide how much your willing to pay in both $$ and inconvenience. And then snatch up the best deal you can get.

Good luck!

Thanks, jeanm :) I guess my other question is given the prices I've posted above (guesstimates), which is the better safer option? Taxi/train or train all the way to SPDC?

This had made me really anxious. I think I've talked myself into it because of all of the questions and stress I've read about people having with buying train tickets :(

Joby, you'll be okay.

Safest, easiest option is the train from CDG TGV station to St. Pierre des Corps. You just have to walk from your arrival terminal to station and wait for your train to board.

Cheaper option could be either one. Train from the airport or the taxi to Gare Montparnasse and then the train.

The tickets will probably go on sale sometime around 6 to 8 am Paris time. That would be 11 pm to 1 am Chicago time tonight. I don't know where you're located.

Maybe you'll discover some €58 tickets from the airport station. Good luck!

these slightly cheaper - in the scheme of the whole trip - tickets come with restrictions. If you get a delay on your flight or one of the more common flight changes, you will have have spent that money and have to buy a new ticket for the train.

Some people prefer to avoid the stress and just pay for a ticket on the day after getting through the airport procedures. Then as long as you know the options you can confidently choose the train straight from the airport or pop into a taxi and get to the Loire from Montparnasse.

Either way I hope you have a fabulous vacation

I want to thank those who posted and shared their thoughts:)

Tickets are purchased --11 am CDG-SPDC for 33 Euros/person for 1st class. I got Colmar-Paris e'st for 73 euros for 2nd class. Both trips are direct and I did get the insurance to help a little if we had to change.

Joby, that's great!

Now you have more money for wine!!