This travel form has been so incredibly helpful I am grateful. I read on a previous post that someone else made that taxis are unreliable in Paris and I should use the G7 ride service. I have made myself an account and I’m trying to schedule a ride from the airport to the train station and it seems to Not be working. I cannot tell if it is because I am not willing to be met at the airport or the train station by a staff person. Of course I am new to this app and I’m not sure why it’s not working. Is this a legitimate app? What do people recommend as my mechanism to get to the train station once I land at Charles de Gaulle. I will be there early Monday morning during traffic and I am concerned that taxi will not work.
Posted by
San Francisco
22 posts
I rarely take taxis in Paris, but I landed at CDG on April 1 when there was lots of snow on the ground. The Roissy buses were delayed, and there were crowds rushing to get to the train. I got in what seemed a very long taxi line, and I was in a taxi headed to the 2nd Arrondissement within 15 minutes. There is a fixed price of 45€ for the right bank. Of course, the driver criticized my handwriting when I gave him my address (c’est mal écrit), and he wasn’t thrilled with my French, but I was in Paris!
From CDG, I’ve taken the train, the bus, pre-ordered shuttle service and private cars, but in the future I plan on just taking getting in the taxi queue.
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
4879 posts
Just use the official taxi queue outside the terminal at the airport and you will be fine. I think the fixed rate is higher now than what was quoted above, (€50-55). Whether you use a taxi, car service, or bus, you'll still be in the same rush hour traffic. It will take as long as it takes. Just tell the driver you want to go to the Gare St. Lazare.
This may provide more info: https://www.parisaeroport.fr/en/passengers/access/paris-charles-de-gaulle/taxi
Posted by
Chicago
8063 posts
G7 IS Paris taxis. They don't take reservations from CDG to Paris unless you need a specialized van with car seats. You just go to the official taxi queue and take one there. It will be 53 Euros. No hazard here unless you go with a tout asking if you need a taxi; those are scammers. The official line is well signed.
Taxis can use the bus lanes so may be slightly faster than car services.
Posted by
City of Seattle
1785 posts
Just took taxi to Gare Montparnasse from CDG 2 days ago. It was 58 euro fixed for the left bank, 5 or so less for right I think.
Perfectly reliable if subject to traffic delays. Get in the taxi line - it moves quickly.
Posted by
Paris
9592 posts
Hi KFK, as some others have said, you can't reserve from the airport into town. There are plentiful taxis at the airport — simply follow the signs for TAXI and get in the line.
The rate is fixed, although the first responder above gave the wrong rate. It will be €53 from CDG to Gare St-Lazare. Write a card with “53€” and “Gare St-Lazare” on it and show it to the person directing the taxi line and then to the taxi driver.
Do NOT be distracted by men coming up to you IN the terminal asking you if you want a taxi. They are touts who will charge you a lot more. Go to the official taxi line.
And yes, G7 is a good, legitimate taxi app for use when you are in Paris. (G7 is a taxi company, not a ride service.)
Have a great trip !
Posted by
OP
Whistler to Olympic National Park
38 posts
Thank you all so very much! This forum is invaluable! Really appreciate it. One last question: do I need euros in cash? Or do I put my credit card. Thank you so much
Posted by
2363 posts
"Or do I put my credit card"
I don't know a thing about the current state of taxis in Paris, only to chime in to say you should use Contactless Pay CCs and DCs as much as possible for payment and similarly, avoid Dipping (inserting) and swiping CCs and DCs as much as possible - it's a security thing.
Posted by
Paris
6905 posts
99% of cabs take credit cards. Sometimes the reader is "broken". To make sure it does not happen: ask "par carte?" (or even in English, credit card will be understood) to confirm with the driver.
The above advice regarding contactless won't work in France, as the max amount for a contactless purchase is 50€. Not sure what security issues are linked to inserting a card anyway; I've never had any such issues with chip-and-PIN cards.
Posted by
2363 posts
Didn't know France was so far behind the financial curveball when it comes to Contactless Pay limits - 50€ seems to be so impractical in today's inflationary world. My personal experience (outside of France), is that I've been limited to MY own bank's limit of $250 (or 200€ equivalent) per transaction.
.
As for security, Contactless Pay provides the best protection available to consumers today, and I'll just leave it as that.
Posted by
San Francisco
14521 posts
The one time I took a taxi from the hotel in Paris to CDG, on the taxi it showed payment could be done with a credit card, when we got to the airport, the driver refused to accept my credit card, said his card device machine was broken (maybe so, maybe not, who knows?). He insisted on cash. Without being fluent in the language, I didn't bother arguing and yielded. I had the cash on me anyway but I wouldn't put it past him that he lied.
I always take the RER between the Paris and CDG paying for the ticket in cash or with the credit card.