Train or Cab from Charles de Gualle?

If you are traveling as a family, you will probably find it easier and more economical to travel by taxi. The fixed rate to the Right Bank (Rive Droit) is 50 Euro, and the fixed rate to the Left Bank (Rive Gauche), where the 6th and 7th Arrondissements are located is 55 Euro. There are also buses and trains/Metro routes that will get you to your destination, but it could get confusing and expensive depending upon how many of you are traveling.

I'm not sure what you mean about family friendly. There are places in the Montmartre area where there are a lot of sex shops and adult businesses, but that is a small part of Paris. People live in many neighborhoods, and travel between sights is generally easy because of the excellent Metro and bus routes.

It appears that you many not have Rick Steves' latest book on France or Paris. These guides are really detailed, and would really allow you to plan your adventure with an eye to getting it right the first time. There are very few of us on these forums who actually work for Rick Steves, so you are getting honest input about guidebooks and other resources. The link will get you started. https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/guidebooks#france

It would be very helpful for us if you could give us some details about your trip, about your budget, about how many are in your group, and what your desires are.

Sure thing! Thanks for the info. There will be 3 of us in our group (one 12 yr old child). I think we can navigate the train/bus with little trouble. Just wanted to know if someone recommended one over the other. We went to Barcelona 2 years ago and stayed in a family oriented neighborhood; It just seemed more our speed. Other parts of Barcelona were more bar scene and single person atmosphere. Wondering if 6 and 7 would be similar to family neighborhood?

If you're staying near Luxembourg Gardens which I recommend, you can take the RER B to Luxembourg. So easy and so fast. The very idea of sitting in traffic stuck in a taxi from/to the airport is something we avoid at all costs.

the arrondissements are large and varied so the atmosphere depends a lot on precisely where in the district. That said, I have stayed in about half of the arrondissements and the 7th was by far my least favorite; it is not central and on one occasion was the most barren and deadly dull place we stayed. It was the only place where we haven't had several bakeries within an easy walk of the apartment. The 6th is lovely and tends to be what people think of when they think of Paris. The 4th and 5th are also excellent and perhaps more interesting to a kid depending on where one stays.

With 3 people I'd take a taxi; the train will be about 32 Euro for the 3 of you and a taxi 50 or 55. If you take the train and can handle your luggage up and down stairs, the only drawback is pickpockets. You must mind your small valuables e.g. handbags, computer bags etc and you must be pick pocket proof. No wallets in pockets or backpacks. Paris has little violent personal crime but highly skilled pickpockets, generally organized crime families from other parts of Europe, are ubiquitous on public transport and crowded tourist sites like the Louvre, Orsay, Eiffel Tower etc. It isn't hard to be pickpocket proof, but it is necessary.

There's a trade-off here: cab fare versus how much effort it will be to haul all your luggage onto a train and off again, plus the distance from the train stop to your hotel.

Many visits under my belt , since 1972 / ad a child myself , as a young adult , as a middle aged adult , and as a mom taking her own kids ( youngest was 11 )

Stay in 6 th - 7th is not as central for walking about , and I think kids like walking about .

A taxi is really the easiest , and I’ve done both train and taxi - you’re tired after a long flight , 3 of you is going to be 32 euros total by train and you may stil have to walk , hauling luggage, taxi is 55 , door to door .

4 th and 5 th ate super central too / all depends on which area of each arrondissement you stay in ?,each area has busier and quieter parts .

You should also look at hotels , not all hotels even have triple rooms (assuming you don’t choose some big chain hotel )

Anyone asking train or taxi from CDG should definitely take a taxi.

Taxis offer door to door service. If you are well oriented in Paris, you'll have no problem with your bearings and directions when popping out of a métro station; but if it's your first time in the city, knowing how to find your hotel from the closest métro station is not always obvious. Add in a child and luggage to overall fatigue and you'll appreciate what taxis offer. Save the train for next time when you know what to expect. CDG taxi fares are fixed at 50€/55€ for addresses to the Right/Left Bank respectively.

Suggestions for areas to stay which are near popular tourist destinations include almost anywhere within a single digit arrondissement, particularly from the 1st to the 3rd and the 5th through the 7th (but in the 7th east of les Invalides). It really does not matter greatly as there are good hotels all over the city. Just be sure to state you are 3 people and reserve for 3.

Thank you so much to all of you for your thoughts, suggestions, and feedback. The information you provided has been very helpful!