What is the best way to get to CDG in Paris from downtown. We need to be at the airport by 7:00 am. If using shuttle vans...recommended companies?
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
The "normal" method is the RER (express métro). Are you familiar with the RER and métro in Paris, or is this your first visit?
"shuttle vans" are not common in Europe. The other option is a taxi, there is a flat rate from Paris city to CDG, I forget the amount, others will probably supply the answer.
Posted by
OP
Bend, OR
50 posts
We used a shuttle service but that was years ago. We are familiar with the metro, but not using it to get to the CDG airport. How well does the RER work?
Posted by
Idaho, USA
7674 posts
We just returned from Paris. The taxi flat rate from our hotel in the St. Germaine area was 60 Euro. I planned that we would have the NaviGo Metro/RER cards since that was more cost effective for our 3 days there, and it allows us to jump on a Metro anytime vs. considering buying more tickets. The cost for the NaviGo was less for the whole time than a taxi just to the airport.
We caught the RER near the Luxembourg garden. Many of the people riding it early in the morning were commuters to work. I brought a small flashlight with me when I travel, but we didn't need it to walk to the RER stop - plenty of street lights and early morning runners.
Posted by
Idaho, USA
7674 posts
I should add, the RER B branches out to two locations at the end - make sure you board the one going to CDG. The reader boards in the RER station were showing which one was arriving to board, but just so you're aware. It comes about every 15 minutes.
Posted by
Paris
10043 posts
The taxi rate depends on the location of your hotel. It's 50 € from the Right Bank to CDG, and 55€ from the Left Bank. Plus a 7€ reservation fee for reserving ahead (i.e. if you call the night before) or 4€ or 5€ if reserving for immediate departure.
Posted by
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
4085 posts
Posted by
OP
Bend, OR
50 posts
UPDATE....we tried to get an airport shuttle but had some challenges. So we walked into a hotel listed in Rick's France Guidebook, with our guidebook in hand. When they saw the guidebook, they were very helpful and made a reservation for us.
Posted by
Boston, MA
1829 posts
Taxi is a fixed rate so if there is more than 1 of you, the cost is really quite reasonable.
Was 55 euro I believe and with the typical traffic it seemed like the taxi got the bad end of the deal the couple of times we took this ride.
With luggage and more than 1 person, I would not go any other way.