CDG to Rue Cler Area- Taxi or Shuttle?

The shuttles run at about 20 to 25 euro a head, taxi for four about 75 to 80 euro plus tip. If you're on a tight budget, the RER is looking better and better. We usually save the shuttle trip for the day we head home. But, if you're that tired when you land in CDG... Have fun.

I hate to contradict the guys, but I see the words "alone with my three daughters" and think--taxi straight to the hotel, especially if you are coming in overnight from WA. The pubic transportation system is excellent, but sometimes it's worth taking a taxi. Shuttles are like in the States, crammed and you might have to go around to everyone else' destination first. The difference in price isn't great once you have to pay four shuttle seats.

Ah, Bets gets it! Yes, alone with a 4, 7, and 13 year old. We have been to Europe before- and I ventured out without my husband (actually, I spent the childhood in Germany, so I am comfortable with it) and the kids and public transportation.

I am pretty frugal, and I am usually all about saving money, but I am thinking with the 3 girls, our bags, and having spent the night on 2 planes from Seattle (where I don't sleep, ever, and the 7 year old might have gotten air-sick, as she does), and the thought of stairs, figuring out ticketing machines, changing trains twice, figuring out which train is on which track, being extra vigilant about our bags being picked, trying to find our address, and so on... YECH. So, a taxi will run me about 75 Euros for 4 people plus 4 bags from CDG to Rue Cler?

A taxi from the airport after such a long trip is probably not a bad idea, but if you are on a budget, be prepared to shell out the bucks. We shared a taxi last year with another couple from the airport and the total with tip came to 90-some euros. This past April we took the RER.

90 Euros is high. I found a shuttle service that came recommended on TripAdvisor that charged 65 for 4 people. That might be a better deal. Also, checking out to see if the Roissybus has a discount for children.

Have you considered the Roissy Opera Bus. Slow Travel has some great photos of how to buy tickets and the like. It only requires walking 1 block around the opera to the metro. The Opera stop is on the Balard line that takes you right to the Rue Cler Area.

This is what we are doing with our 2 kids. It seems very simple. Just something to consider.

If you zoom into street view on Google Maps at the Opera stop you can actually see where you get off and how to walk to the metro around the Opera house to the Metro. You can also track your walk to your hotel in Rue Cler at a street view. It may help to feel familiar visually if you are worried about arriving jet lagged.

Kelly, I would almost consider the Roissy + taxi combo (for me). I just don't know if I am up for my very 1st experience with the Paris Metro to be with the girls + luggage + fatigue.

We did a shuttle from our hotel in Rue Cler to CDG. I am glad we did and it only cost us 25 euros. It could probably be arranged thru emails to your hotel. We stayed in Champs du Mars and were planning on taking the RER. Since it was a Sunday, they said that shuttle would be more convenient and quicker, since rail is lighter on a Sunday. I am glad we did more or less because we did not have to use our tired brain to get us to the airport on time.

you know best. if money is not that big a deal, which often times it is not in europe. take a taxi. make sure it is legitimate. i once had a $100 taxi ride in 1996 which was quite a rip off at the time. have fun be safe.

I would shuttle(to save money) to Rue Cler when you arrive and Taxi back to the airport (so you don't miss your flight). The shuttles will continue driving around Paris traffic picking up passengers. My brother missed his flight this way.

For a combination of convenience and a good price, I think the Roissybus to Opera and a taxi from there to your hotel makes sense. The Roissybus fare is €9.10 (no reduced fare for children). A taxi from Opera to your hotel shouldn't cost more than €15.

However, the official Aeroports de Paris site says that the average taxi fare from CDG to the center of Paris is €50. You will need to pay a little more for a 4th passenger and for extra luggage. (The people who reported paying a lot more would dispute that figure, and your actual fare will depend upon traffic conditions. The meter will be running.)

Hi Cate, I suggest booking a shuttle. Long flight + kids + foreign language = feeling overwhelmed. Now picture yourself with your 3 daughters lugging your suitcases being met at the end of the terminal by a driver holding up a sign with your name on it...doesn't that sound like relief? Save trying to take public transport on your return flight when you're more familiar with using it! You didn't say what time your were arriving also but in 07, we arrived at CDG close to midnight, the RER shut down, the bus didn't materialize, so we ended up taking a cab to Gare du Nord for about 100 euro, ouch! And we still had to take the metro to our destination!

We also spent over an hour trying to find our shuttle, not a fun thing to do after an exhausting flight. And then it took forever in traffic to get to our hotel, dropping off another person elsewhere first. The whole thing took us about 3 hours to get to our hotel. Then for the return trip back to the airport, several hours before our scheduled pickup at our hotel, the shuttle service called to say they were very, very sorry but the driver had not shown up for work that day and we were on our own. Luckily, we had our handy Rick Steves guide to tell us how to use the Metro and RER to get to CDG. After finding out how much cheaper,easier and FASTER the RER was, we will never choose the shuttle again. The shuttle ended up being a huge hassle and time waster and nearly caused us to miss our return flight. If my daughters were as young as yours, I think I'd forget the shuttle and just take a cab. Four is really young to carry a bag through RER and Metro stations. Sometimes the most expensive choice is the best answer. With a cab you don't risk the all too common no show or extremely late shuttle and the waste of time as they drop off other clients.

Last summer we paid 68 euros from Montparnasse to CDG around 10 pm. No traffic jams to raise the price but the driver followed the GPS which sent us west and around the city, a slightly longer route.

Various things could have made Bets' fare to CDG 68 euros. Fares are different for time of day, (extra charge for evenings) day of week (higher rate on Sundays & holidays) no. of passengers (additional charge for 4th passenger) and charges for luggage.