CDG to hotel in Rue Cler area

RER/metro: easy, simple, cheap.

It is relatively easy. Research your exact lines of travel and you should be fine (http://www.ratp.info/touristes/index.php?rub=reperer&cat=itineraires&page=itineraires&langue=en). Google RER at CDG, Paris Metro, etc. Wear a moneybelt and follow the signs. Subway systems are amazingly similar, so if you have ridden one in the past, you can figure this one out.
However, if you are truly uncomfortable with the idea of doing metro after your flight, then consider taking the bus to Opera station and taking the short metro ride to the Rue Cler area from there. Rick's Paris book gives all the options.

Kathy - Our family made the same trip last summer. You will be fine. I'm not sure what Metro stop you need but here is the route we used.

Take the RERB from CDG airport (Direction: Saint-Remy-les-Chevreuse to Gare du Nord

Take Metro Line 4 from Gare du Nord(Direction: Porte d'Orleans) to Strasbourg-Saint-Denis

Take Metro Line 8 from Strasbourg-Saint-Denis(Direction: Balard) to Ecole Militaire

The cost is 8.60 euro. There are ticket machines, but they only take coins. There are change machines need the ticket machines that will change 10 & 20 euro notes.

Any questions give a shout out.

Joel has given you the best route by RER and metro, but he's way overcharging you for the ride. :) The fare is 8.50 EUR.

Another option would be to take the Roissybus (referenced by Maryam) nonstop from CDG to Opera (9.10 EUR) and a relatively short taxi ride from there directly to your hotel rather than taking metro line 8 from Opera to Ecole Militaire.

This site is amazing!! Thank you all so much :).

Kathy,

The route described by Joel is precisely the best one to take. I know, as I did the same trip last year (keeping in mind that I was also jet lagged and tired at the time).

The Paris By Train website referenced in a previous reply provides an excellent description of the route (although it somehow seems a bit longer when one is actually walking the route).

You'll probably find that purchasing tickets from the automated ticket Kiosks is much faster than purchase in the staffed ticket office. Depending on how many flights are arriving at that particular time, there could be a HUGE queue (which was the case when I arrived last year). The automated machines will accept Euro cash AND "chip & PIN" credit cards (which is the method I used for payment - worked like a charm!).

As I recall, it's a good idea to retain your ticket as you may need this to exit the Metro as well.

Which Hotel are you staying at on Rue Cler? It's an easy walk from Ecole Militaire station to most of the Hotels in that area.

A "car service" or Shuttle would be considerably more expensive, and would also be subject to traffic which could mean a much longer ride into Paris.

Happy Travels!

I will print out the posts and take them with me. You guys are great. We are staying at Hotel du Champ de Mars.

Kathy - Once you exit the Metro at Ecole Militaire walk up to the corner by the cafe. Turn right on Avenue Bosquet. Proceed on Avenue Bosquet to Rue du Champ de Mars. Turn right on Rue du Champ de Mars to Hotel Champ de Mars. It is about 1/2 kilometer from the metro to the hotel.

If you use google maps to find the location of your hotel, you'll see it is a very easy walk.

By the way the cafe by the metro stop was very nice. I think it is called La Terrasse. There is also a nice bakery on the corner of Avenue Bosquet & Rue du Champ de Mars.

Once again, you are the Bomb!! Thank you! I can't wait til I think of another question, I love getting the answers so much!

Our hotel offered a 22 Euro shuttle. I wouldn't even think about it but by the time we got to our hotel on Rue Cler, I was wishing we had taken it. We were exhausted.

On the bus or metro, watch out for pickpockets. Our neighbors in our hotel last summer lost their wallet and purse on the Roissy bus. Not a good start to a holiday.

We did the Roissy Bus and it seemed to take forever. After a long drive, they let you off at the Opera. You are to get on the Metro but the correct one for Rue Cler is no where to be seen. We walked all the way around the Opera twice and never found it. We asked several people where the metro stop was--they pointed to two nearby ones. They weren't the correct one. You are up and down stairs trying to find the right place,etc. The correct Metro stop is there but I've read since that it is well hidden. We never found it.

We got to Paris at 7:30 am and by the time we got to Rue Cler it was after noon. What a waste of time. At that point, I was so wishing we had taken that hotel shuttle. We were more than exhausted.

I would print out Joels directions. Just follow them step by step. Its amazing how easy it will be when you are actually doing it. I love taking the metro, its fun to me looking for the signs and knowing I am following the maze correctly.

I often pre route myself at hotel and just jot down the lines numbers and direction the line is going in so at transfer spots ( correspondences) I can just glance at slip of paper in pocket so I don't have to pull out a map or pause at maps. I feel more confident when I can confidently walk through metro halls ,, not looking all bewildered and "lost touristy" . Just a thought.

I do have Joel's plans printed out and plan to follow them precisely. And then recover from jetlag in Luxembourg Gardens, as suggested in another thread!

Victoria, do you just pre-plan your route with a metro map? I assume they are available in the Metro stations. Seems like an obvious question I guess.

Kathy,

You can print out a copy of the Paris Metro Map and pack it along. Go to www.aparisguide.com/maps/metro.htm for a PDF copy.

I believe there's also a copy of this in the RS Guidebooks.

Cheers!

Of course! I should have known. :) Thank you.

Kathy,, I tend to bring a guide book with me,, it usually stays in hotel room for referencing in evening, and I usually pick up one of those tourist maps of the metro,, I think its on the back of a Printemps Brochure.

We used a shuttle when we were there in 2007. (Sorry I can't remember the name, but I'm sure I found it on this site.) We were so happy we booked the roundtrip service since there was a transportation strike the day we departed. Apparently those happen quite frequently in France.