What are your recommendations for a flight out at 11:00 on a Friday am from Paris city center to CDG airport? Which is faster and more reliable. Don't want to get caught in traffic an be late for my flight. Thanks
We have always taken the RER out to CDG and given ourselves plenty of time to negotiate any check-in and security lines. We would much rather arrive early, get checked-in, go through security, and enjoy a last coffee and croissant before leaving Paris instead of rushing and feeling stressed out over possibly missing the flight.
I usually have my hotel call me a taxi the night before departure. I usually ask for it 4 hours before my flight, so 7A for an 11A flight if it is back to the US.
Options:
RER-B, I have done this on my own. Easy enough.
Uber: I will be doing this from CDG to Paris center next week: https://www.uber.com, I already have an account I use in San Francisco & San Diego.
Taxis G7: https://www.g7.fr, +330141276699, they have an App like Uber, you can call the night before to reserve or call the morning of. They have English speaking operators.
Train is faster, vehicles can take up to an hour (more if traffic/taxi strikes). In 2014 it took my taxi about 50 minutes from the city center, 5th ARR, to CDG on a Saturday morning to catch a 10:30 flight. I arrive around 07:50.
Since your worry about traffic eliminates road transport, you can find train info here:
www.parisbytrain.com
http://www.ratp.fr/en/ratp/c_21879/visiting-paris/
RER B is simple, then there is a shuttle train to each of the terminals from there. We used the Navigo Decouverte card around Paris for zones 1-5 for 21.50 Euros (Mon-Sun) It was great!
Thanks. I think we will give the train a try. My last experience several years ago was the traffic was so jammed that we were late getting to the airport. This was pre 911 so we were still able to make our flight. I don't want to take any chances this time.