best way to get from cdg to our paris hotel

Most economical way is the RER regional train line from CDG to Gare du Nord (under 9 Euro) then onto Metro Line 5 (Place D'Italie) down 4 stops to Oberkampf. Your RER ticket allows you to transfer to the Metro. Best if you don't have a lot of luggage to carry.

I second Norm's suggestion.We had always used an expensive shuttle service that took HOURS to finally get to the hotel.We tried the RER method only when our shuttle service canceled on us at the last minute (right before they were supposed to pick us up at our hotel to catch out place at CDG).The RER turned out to be so much faster, cheaper and in the long run (we always had problems fisding a phone and calling the shuttle at the airport then finding the right area they were waiting for us, long waits on other passengers, waiting for other passengers to be dropped off at their hotels, traffic jams...)MUCH easier.We will always use the RER and Metro from now on.

On the other hand...we had good results with the shuttle from CDG to the Rue Cler area. As we were picking up our luggage I called the toll-free number from a convenient public phone, the van met us just as we emerged from the terminal, and took us directly to our hotel. Well worth it in that case.

RER and Metro are fairly easy and quick, but be really careful about pickpockets in those places, especially if you are burdened w/ luggage. My wallet was stolen there before even reaching my hotel, which was not a great start. Also be prepared for hauling luggage up and down stairs in metro stops.

Is this your first time in Paris? If so, you might consider a taxi. It will drop you off at your hotel's front door which might be good if you are tired and fuzzy headed after the flight. Not as cheap as the RER, though.

Agree with Melinda. Take a taxi. After the overnight flight you don't want to have to learn the system.

Even our French teacher takes a taxi. The RER is too much of a hassle.

Helen, because you're asking the question there's a strong chance you are visiting Paris for the first time. If so, the extra cost of a taxi is money well spent in my opinion. Especially if there are two or more of you, the cost differential between a taxi and public transit is not too much. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge cheapskate, just ask my wife. But after I've already shelled out six thousand bones for the family to get to Paris and we come stumbling off that plane looking like bleary-eyed refugees, the prospect of trying to save a few bucks by having to deal with the train and Metro doesn't feel like a good value. Lugging your stuff on and off the train and Metro with all the morning rush hour commuters is also a factor. So "easiest" and "economical" are opposing criteria, you have to decide.

We've tried shuttles/taxis from CDG to Paris three times in the past several years and either get left waiting at the airport because of a traffic jam leading into the airport, or taken hours (it seemed) because of a traffic jam heading out from the airport. So we finally gave up and settled on the RER as the most efficient way of getting to and from....about 30 minutes or less if you get a thru train. You'll be heading out of the airport just as the morning rush hour hits its heaviest time, so be prepared for those delays. Shuttle costs should be 35-40 Euro per couple...taxi about 50 Euro per couple....RER and Metro about 18 Euro per couple.

Again, I'm totally with Norm on this one. The shuttle SOUNDS easier (that's why I foolishly shelled out the extra bucks on the first 3 trips), but we ended up spending hours either waiting around for it, or in traffic. The RER is so much faster, speeding underground to bypass the traffic jams. After flying all night, waiting 3 or so hours to get to the hotel seems like eternity. When arriving in Europe, I just want the fastest way to get to the hotel, unpack and take a shower. The fact that it's much cheaper is just an extra bonus. Besides, if you're new to Paris, you're already learning to use the wonderful Metro system! We did pretty much the same thing for our first trip to Rome and it was easy there, too.

I will echo the last few recommendations that from my experience that traffic in Paris is HORRIBLE and I'd rather take the metro below ground any day. I don't know why anyone bothers to drive at all. Of course, if you're beat you can pay extra for a shuttle and snooze the long trip to your hotel. Personally, I'd rather just get there and have a bed available to me. The metro may sound confusing from over here if you've never used one, but it really is easy to use on-site. They have big colorful maps everywhere and make it easy to use.

I always take the RER-B from CDG airport into Paris, but it work best for me because I only carry a backpack. First, depending on what terminal you fly in to, you may have to take an additional shuttle (bus or rail) before reaching the terminal with the RER station. Then you have to purchase your RER tickets, and descend to the departure platform. The RER trains can be anywhere from half-full to completely packed. At Gare du Nord, you'll need to transfer from the RER to the Metro Line 5, which is a fairly healthy walk. And at Oberkampf station, you'll probably walk up many stairs to reach street level. This is all do-able with a backpack, or maybe a small, light piece of luggage. However, if you are lugging multiple, heavy suitcases through this obstacle course, it can tire you out, and possibly attract pickpockets. Just keep all of this in mind as you make your decision.