Paris airport to city - taxi or shuttle

@Marilyn, There's a good chance your cab driver wasn't native French-speaking which would be a reason he didn't understand your accent. Good for you for trying to say it in French, though.
And I agree with the others about taking a cab and having your daughter carry her own luggage.

Did you ask your hotel? Sometimes they offer good advice.

Susan,, there is no tough descion here, take a taxi. There are taxis that fit more then 4 people.. just go to the offical taxi stand and there is a person who will ask you size of your group and when it is your turn you will be given the next cab for your group size. I can also personally recommend Inter-Shuttle , which is not a shuttle bus, but a private car company. I have used them twice. The best thing about them is they do not ask you to pre pay ,, or to phone when you arrive(which for me was important as I do not take my cell and did not want to have to find and buy a phone card on arrival) . If for any reason they are not there for you ,, there is no skin off your nose to simply get in the taxi line. win win situation. Note, I have travelled with teens, and frankly your daughter had better be able to handle ALL her luggage by herself,, unless you are rich and staying somewhere 4 +, 5 star,, you will likely lug your own stuff everywhere. I don't let my kids ruin their expensive vacations by demanding special treatment,, " you pack it , you carry it" works for us. Ps tell her the less she takes the more room she will have to pack home fashions,, which is preferable to trying to impress the french with her clothes,, probaly easier to wow her friends with the finds she brings back.

I'm with Pat, take a taxi. Have the address of where you are staying printed out so if your cab driver( like mine) doesn't understand your accent- (I tried to spek French) He will understand where to take you.
Have a great time. PS have your daughter practice carrying her full suitcase up and down the stairs a few times. That will help her decide what can stay behind.

Thanks everyone for the input. Very good ideas about ensuring my daughter is fully informed about the downside of taking a lot of clothes! I didn't see any discussion about the cost differences between taxis and private shuttle, though. I guess you all feel we can get 4 suitcases and a couple of carry ons plus four of us in the taxi, the question comes down to which costs less to the Marais and is the easiest. I know I can book a private transfer van for 60 euros in advance.

A taxi is about the same depending on the time of day. The difference comes in if the transfer van is a fixed price plus tip, whereas the taxi meter will keep turning while you're stuck in a traffic jam. French taxi drivers have to pass rigorous exams that require them to memorize every street in the capital. I don't know what the requirements are for the services. Nowadays everyone has a gps anyway.

You party will not fit in the standard taxi. You will need something bigger on the order of a small van. There are available but not as numerous. The simple solution is for your daughter to carry ALL of her own luggage and make her practice the week before.

Susan... We used to take a shuttle, but they are really expensive and unreliable for the most part. Now we take a cab. If you are coming into CDG the cab line is outside and vans pull in as well as smaller cabs. Make sure you get in the line for regular Paris taxis. There will be someone helping people get in as you approach the front of the line...If you do not speak French just point to one of the bigger cabs and he will help you.They have cabs the size of our minivans.

Thanks everyone. Very helpful - we'll plan to take a taxi.

Our hotel made taxi arrangements for both directions, for both trips in Paris. The prices wer quoted in advance and all we had to do was pay the driver. No surprises at either the beginning or end of the trips.