URBER Question and October weather Question

I assume you mean Uber. Uber has variable pricing so the price varies. Most people I know who want to be driven from CDG to Paris use taxis because connecting with and finding your Uber driver at CDG can be challenging and because Uber drivers are not allowed to use the bus lanes. There is a official taxi line at each terminal. Do not go with touts who approach you. There are literally arrows painted on the ground leading to the official taxi line. Write your destination address including the postal code and the fixed rate on a piece of paper and give it to the driver after saying Bonjour. It’s 53€ for up to four people to destinations in the Right Bank and 58€ for the Left Bank. By the way, depending on your destination, the train can be quite simple even for those who speak no French but fresh from a flight, I’d take a taxi.
Yes, it can be rainy and it can be warm and cool. Normandy is typically cooler than Paris. Pack layers and a light raincoat.

I take the RERB to my hotel in Paris & vice versa instead of overpaying for a taxi or Uber and then sitting in traffic. Public transportation is economical and fast. 👍

I am a taxi person from the airport, lol!! I am usually tired and not willing to do a with a train and luggage after a 10 hour flight from the West Coast!

I agree with JHK...go to the official taxi rank and get in line. It moves quickly as they load about 4 cabs at a time so don't be put off if it looks like a long line. When you get to the head of the line the line manager will usually point you to a cab. He may have people off to the side waiting for larger vehicles so he may motion someone in front of you. I usually tape the name of the hotel to a 3x5 index card to hand to the driver. I have it on my phone just want to keep that in my hand, lol. No tips necessary but you can round up to 55 or 60 depending on your destination. IF you want to use a credit card hold it up before you get into the cab and ask OK?

I always take a waterproof rain layer to France. IF you are going toward the end of the month and are not very cold tolerant you might want a puffy vest or jacket layer. That will not add much weight to your suitcase! If you don't have puffy layers and are a Costco member, they have the 32 degree puffy vests/jackets back in stock. They are very inexpensive and are a good durable layer!

If you don't speak much French, then an official taxi is better, more drivers speak english. Regardless, write down where you are staying on a 3x5 card to hand to a driver.

I will also vote for taxi. Much more convenient at CDG than Uber.

Only take the train if you can easily walk up and town many flights of stairs with your luggage and also safeguard your possessions from pickpockets.

I just returned from Paris two days ago. The taxi from the airport is super easy and the taxi lines are well marked. There are taxi line-ups right outside each terminal. The cost is, as noted above, a set price so no surprises. I also strongly suggest (thanks to other posters on this forum) downloading the "G7" free app for your phone before going to Paris. This is the "official" app to book a taxi while in Paris. You'll need to be in wifi range, though, to use it. I booked a 6:30 am taxi to the airport the night before leaving to return home, and it worked great. You'll need to input your name and a cc number when you are downloading it, and then once you need to use it, all is quite easy, and in English.

Also: go to www.timeanddate.com to find the history of the weather on this date on various years in the past at your various destinations. Makes it easy to plan what to pack. FYI: Highs this past week in Paris were in the low-mid 80's, lows in the 60's. I use the weather channel app to see the likely weather for the next ten days almost anywhere.

When is your trip? That will make a difference regarding weather.

As for airport transportation, I would take a taxi instead if Uber. It’s a set price. A train is cheaper if you are traveling alone, but can be a hassle with luggage.

You will want to use the metro system, even if you don’t speak any French. Get the app: Bonjour RATP. Get familiar with the various lines. Otherwise you will be doing ALOT of walking or spending a fortune on Uber within the city. Traffic is terrible. The metro isn’t too difficult. Identify which line you need to take and which direction you need to go (the last stop on the line). Identify where you need to change trains. Buy a day pass or week pass, depending on how long you’ll be there. The guide books give good details about how to use the system.

Or ask your hotel to quote you a town car rental, it might not be that much and it's super convenient. plus you feel like a VIP.

Be aware the drive into town from CDG will seem endless and not very attractive. You'll think you've made a mistake until you pop out on the banks of the Seine and see the true city for the first time.

Thanks to all those experience travelers offering valued suggestions. Sorry I was not clear the month I was traveling. The month is mid October staying both in Paris in a Air b and b and Normandy at the coast. I can tolerate more warm than cold and my concern with the cold comes from reading some reviews of the Air b and b we are staying which states the room's heater doesn't always heat the room or work at all. It's the reason to ask . With climate change seems Paris is having a warm trend but in Normandy I am guessing the weather will be much cooler. The taxi seems the easiest to travel to town since getting to the Metro has many stairs. I don't mind stairs but luggage on stairs may be a hassle with stations having no elevators.

The Air B and B is about 10 blocks from the Louvre. Being this my first actual trip to Paris.(I've trained through but did not stop in Paris) I am a little more terrified first with language and second the French shop owners. French is my least known and worse pronounced language so my communication leans towards not talking rather than butcher the language. I'm more fearful to speak in France than other countries visited. I am learning a few phrases. I hope not to offend the French. I am also on the heavier side weight wise. I'm not obese but heard some of the French will make fun, or be unkind towards people with weight issues. I am generally someone who likes all sorts of folks and not rude towards shopkeepers. But I hope as i am eating my croissant and coffee I won't be picked on. Again thanks to all your smart answers to my questions.

I was in Normandy and Paris in October 2018. Normandy was chilly, especially in the morning. As I recall, I wore jeans, a T-shirt, a hoodie, and a windbreaker. In Paris, temperatures were pretty comfortable.

As far as language goes, there is, in general, an appreciation for making an effort to speak French. What drives the French crazy is for someone to walk up to them and start speaking English. Greet shopkeepers with a Bonjour when you enter their shops. Learn a few other phrases, including, „I don’t speak French, do you speak English?“ You will be fine. I found the French (including those in Paris) to be lovely, kind people.

Finally, I was obese at the time of my 2018 visit (happily, not now). No one made fun of me or was unkind to me.

Indoor heating might not be turned on yet in mid-October; in buildings with central heating the theoretical date is usually 15 October but it can slip by a few days.
Make sure to have a comfortable sweater/fleece for cool mornings indoors, just in case.

@blopes25, please don't let your fear of the language keep you from fully enjoying Paris. The most important thing you can do in any shop, restaurant, kiosk, whatever, is to greet the person with 'bonjour, madam' or 'bonjour, monsieur', wait for them to "bonjour' back, and then ask in French if they speak English, if what you need to do is beyond your French skills.

and don't be intimidated by the Metro. I highly recommend searching YouTube for videos about how to ride the Metro. It will make you feel much more confident. Here is one that i watched before I went to Paris the first time: https://youtu.be/T0YS5si8bJs

I think that since this video was made, the Metro has implemented travel cards, instead of having to use the annoying, tiny paper tickets, so maybe you can find a more recent video that covers buying them and getting through the turnstiles - but this is a good overview. The Metro is invaluable for getting around Paris quickly and easily!

I hope you have a wonderful time!

For some YT French lessons, I have started watching Comme une Francaise, she's got an amazing accent and really good, practical lessons.

parisbytrain.com also has practical train info in Paris.

In response to your statement that you have heard "that some of the French will make fun, or be unkind towards people with weight issues," people could say that about almost any country. I come from a family of physically large people (I'm the shortest and smallest at 6 feet tall and wearing a women's XL) and we go to France all the time without ever having had anyone make a comment or been unkind. The chairs and tables are smaller and the space in restaurants is smaller and so that makes some people uncomfortable but though my evidence is anecdotal in that it is based on how my family is treated, I'd say that French people being unkind to you or commenting on your size should be at the bottom of your list of concerns for your upcoming trip. It could happen but it seems unlikely.

I am overweight and have never, ever had any issues in Paris (or France for that matter) with people making fun of me. I spent 2 weeks there in April and 2 weeks last October so have quite a bit of time there. This will be no problem.

I also do not have the "foreign language chip" in my brain. I'd love to speak French but I do not. What I find is if I start out in French they generally appreciate the effort but quickly switch to English, lol. It works great. They are happy and I've done what I can. Do not worry about NOT speaking French but do try even if you think you sound terrible, lol!! BTW, I used to get by with facial expressions but that sort of took a dive with the mask wearing!

Public transportation is economical and fast.

When it's not broken down or held up for some reason, in addition to when there is a strike. (Not that that is always ! But check the RATP website, the Twitter feed of the line, or CityMapper at the moment of departure before choosing one method of transport over another.)

We arrive in Paris the last week of September and are heading to Mont St.Michel for a day too.
The french are no different than most countries; some naturally grumpy personalities, most very friendly to deal with. Liberal use of Bonjour monsieur/madame and Merci when interacting along with a smile usually does the trick. And far more more Europeans speak English than we speak their languages(a fact that constantly amazes me). Weather could be any of the above as it is fall. Hopefully some warm days(but cooler evenings)and the chance of the odd sprinkle, so layers would be appropriate. A light fleece and rain jacket might come in handy.

I've visited Paris 3 different times in October and the weather was different each time. Once it was cold, rainy and gray more than anything. Once it was a mix; cold rainy mornings, clear cool beautiful afternoons. Another time it was blue skies all week with cool mornings and warmer afternoons where I could take my coat off. October in Paris is my favorite time to visit. It's beautiful. Honestly, these days, historical weather records aren't all that useful. I haven't yet been to MSM (darn it!) but I would imagine it would be much cooler on the water than in Paris. Overall, a hooded raincoat and layers are your best bet :-)

Taxi from airport is the easiest. Maybe it has changed, but I recall that Uber wasn't allowed to pick up at CDG?

Not speaking French is no problem at all. Always say bonjour everywhere when entering a shop or restaurant or approaching a counter for information etc. I haven't read all the comments, but I am sure this has been covered :-). And the metro is super easy to use. You'll have the hang of it in no time. Buses are trickier, but everything is figuroutable :-) Just google "how to use Paris Metro" and I am sure tons of simple explanations will pop up.

I did read a couple comments above and "overweight" caught my eye. My mother was morbidly obese and I traveled to Paris with her several times and nobody ever made fun of her. I will say that it was often a little bit of a problem for her in restaurants with the tiny tables and spaces. Sometimes stairs would be a bit of an issue in some places.

One advantage of taxis and buses is they can drive in lanes that regular drivers, including Übers, can not. Personally, I always stay near are Saint Lazare on landing so I can get to Normandy, so I almost always take the RoissyBus. it is €13-ish per person, leaves right from the CDG arrivals, and brings right you to Opera Garnier, which is a 7-minute walk to the train station. No stairs, now changes, no hassle. The only time I took a taxi was when I had to bring an inordinate amount of heavy luggage. But because of that it was well worth it.

We had a bad experience with Uber last week! We put in our phone that we wanted to go to the Luxembourg Gardens from close to the Picasso Museum. I don’t know how Uber electronics and the driver had him taking us out of Paris into the countryside and farms before we could get hime to turn around. A 10 minute trip took over and hour and we were charged over 75 EUROS! We are contesting the charge. Our driver definitely didn’t understand English and our limited French was little help in getting him to understand he was taking us in the wrong direction.

@ Jim, How long were you on the drive before you got the driver to turn around? Just trying to get a sense of how long a drive it is from the Picasso Museum to seeing farms and countryside. I wonder if a mistake was made in inputting the destination -- maybe Uber autopopulated the destination and did not select Luxembourg Gardens and you did not notice. What was the price quoted on the Uber app when you confirmed the requested ride? If you were quote 75€ for the ride, odds are that it was not for the short trip from the Picasso Museum to Luxembourg Gardens. Are you sure that you got into the correct Uber? What happened to you is so odd that it raises lots of questions.
In my experience Uber drivers are less likely to speak English than taxi drivers. A friend of mine uses Google translate in situations like this. She types what she wants to say and plays the translation on her phone.

@lisalu90 - that's the only possibility - Lux Gardens is under 3 miles from the Picasso Museum per google maps and as soon as you leave the museum, you're headed south towards the Seine from the right bank, so no farmland should be seen!

@ Jim, please report back on what happens with Uber. I am fascinated by the idea that the driver was heading to Luxembourg.

I contacted Uber about the problem of wrong destination and overcharge and they say they will reply within 3-5 days. Uber communications didn't work for me as well as it does in the USA and UK. We did not get the usual visual on locatin of drivers responding to our request and we didn't get a confirmation with suggested fee upon encountering the driver. We now see Uber had us going to Saint-Sulpician-de-Favieres which is not even the St. Supice Church near Luxembourg Gardens. I don't know how the driver had this in his system as all our communications to him and Uber was to go to Luxembourg Gardens, which google maps shows to be only about 10 minutes and 3.3 KM away. We never received an estimate of the cost until we on our way out of town when we saw on the driver phone the estimate was over $50. I questioned why we were going out of town and got no reasonable response other than he kept pointed to his phone with information we couldn’t see. We then checked Google maps and saw that were really going out of town and away from where we wanted to go and finally got the driver to stop and were able to communicate that Luxembourg Gardens was in town near St. Germai, the Pantheon, and Left Bank and not anywhere near where we are heading. He turned around and, we arrived over an hour late and the driver said the fee was 60 euros. I paid knowing I would contest the bill which showed up later at 76 euros because of time and miles charges and frankly glad to be out of the car!!!! In reflection, in the future, if using Uber or cabs for that matter, I will make sure the driver understands the intended destination and receive an estimated cost.

Re not tolerating cold. One thing I always pack if I travel in fall/winter or early spring is a set of silk long johns. They take virtually no space and if you have an unexpected cold snap that extra layer makes a difference if you are out and about and it doesn't get over hot or sweaty as thermals may do. I once shipped all my warm clothes home before heading for Spain in early April and expected warm weather. While not wintry cold, it was cold and I had lightweight clothes. Slipping on those silks under my linen slacks really made it comfortable. A lighteight down vest like those at Uniglo is also good flexible layering. And if you misjudge, it is easy to buy a sweater, or jacket in Paris (they even have a bunch of Uniglo stores, useful for inexpensive layers.