Easiest way from CDG to Paris

Lyle,

One option would be to use the RER "B" train from Paris CDG to the city and then connect with the Metro to your Hotel (possibly at Chatelet Les Halles). As I recall, there are stations at Terminals 1 & 2. I'd have to check further to determine the closest Metro stop to your Hotel.

You could also pre-arrange a Shuttle, which would probably drop you right at the Hotel. There are a couple of firms listed in the France Guidebook.

Another possibility is listed on the Hotel web site:

"An Air France coach terminal is at your service. Buses depart every 30 minutes for Charles de Gaulle Airport and every 12 minutes for Orly Airport from a bus stop opposite our hotel."

I'm assuming you can't get on the same flight as your Wife and Son?

That's a very "high end" Hotel - nice!

Happy travels!

thanks for the help. no we could not get on the same flight. the trip was an incentive for two and we decided to include our 16 year old son. i would save 400 dollars by booking separately. one more question...i can't tell from the rick steve's map where the hotel is. do you have any idea where exactly it is?

Lyle, if you google the hotel name you will get to look at a map showing the exact location.

I would go for the air france bus since it stops outside the hotel...just ask the driver to let you know when to get off...I took the air france bus from Montparnasse to CDG and it was great,winding it's way through Paris you actually get to see alot ! Took a little over half an hour from Montparnasse...from Montparnasse you can get a train or metro anywhere !

The shuttles are getting bad.. overpriced and sometimes they do not come... Golden Air is the worst. We just take a cab.

Easiest is the cab - I have used that before. Although it is pricey when considering it is just one person in the cab. The other comments about the RER are on target though. The system is actually quite easy to use. The RER is just not as "easy" as a cab. The car services at the airport are very pricey and no more convenient than a cab.

thanks for all the help. i did try to google the location, but i have to admit that the map did very little good. i will try it again.

how much would a shuttle cost in comparison to a taxi? i am also very much interested in saving a few dollars!

If you're packing light and can easily schlep your luggage on and off the trains, you can save some euros by taking the RER B from CDG to Denfert-Rochereau and then either Metro line 4 or Metro line 6 to Montparnasse Bienvenue. Either walk to your hotel from there or transfer one more time and take Metro line 13 to Gaite. See this zoomable map of the RER and Metro systems. The fare is €8.40.

For instructions on how to get to either of the two RER stations at CDG, go to the Paris by train site.

Or do as others have suggested and take Air France coach #4 directly from CDG to Gare Montparnasse (one stop at Gare de Lyon). The driver will put your bags in the luggage bay. The fare is €15. While I'm a big fan of the Metro and RER, in this case I'll recommend the Air France coach. No transfers and you'll be dropped off close by your hotel.

Lyle - to help orient you to where you will be in Paris, take the following steps. Go back to the hotel website and copy its street address from it's onsite map. Then go to Google Maps and paste the address into its search window. It will open to a map of the area around the hotel showing that it is very close to the Gare Montparnasse. You can zoom out to see where you will be in relation to the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, etc. Then you can use the "Street View feature to get a 360 degree view of the street in front of the hotel. If you pivot around, you'll see that the Air France stop is across the street. Great location for using the Air France bus to get in.

I took a RS tour and that hotel was not far from Gare Montparnasse. It was so easy to take that bus that was recommended- and cheap (assuming you don't have a lot of luggage, that is). I walked with my carry-on- sized bag right out of customs, bought the ticket from a helpful agent right there and just walked outside to wait for the bus. I didn't have to worry about where to get off and just sat back and watched the early morning sights out the window. I think it was maybe half an hour? It stopped right at the station.

Cab.

Ditto on the cab. We arranged a cab thru Golden Air that never came. We wasted 2 hours sitting at the airport and eventually jumped in a cab that had us at our hotel front door in 20 minutes. I think it cost about 35 Euro.

In my opinion, when you are tired, jetlagged, in need of a shower and hauling all your luggage....pay the extra for the ease of not having to wander around with your luggage. Then when you get to the hotel and are settled....work on figuring out the public transportation. Also, I thought CDG was a very confusing, jumbled airport. I think the luggage area was under construction at the time - but that is one airport that I would take the easy route. Unlike the train from the airport into Rome - that train was fairly easy and I would recommend that one.

Ditto what Amy said. Spend the euros on the taxi. You'll get a ride above ground through some very interesting areas of Paris. You just need to let the driver know where to take you; if you are not comfortable with the language, write down the name and address of the hotel and give the paper to him and say s'il vous plait( see vu play). I promise he'll be good to you.