paris cdg

[markpb]

The last time I was there and stayed in the Opera area, I had contacted my hotel and for 70 euro or so I benefited from an airport collection and drop off: shared mini bus but saved me the hassle of the transports!

Which is ironic because the Roissy bus starts at Opera, runs express to the airport and costs €10. If you were anywere else in Paris, I'd understand it

Would any first time couple (or more) really avoid that expense and choose metro, bus, shuttle over point-to-point taxi ?

We regularly do. I think the only time I've ever taken a taxi over public transport was Orlando because it required two buses and we had a lot of luggage. We've managed to make our way from airports using metro systems in most European countries (including Athens with it's different alphabet). Partly I don't see it as any hassle (normally), I don't see the point in spending what is usually ten to fifteen times the price and partly because it familiarises us with a metro system we'll probably end up using anyway over the course of the holiday.

 

[dereko1969]

Any sort of 5 minute research should make using the public transport in another city easy to handle. Cost is a factor but if you're going to be travelling around using public transport in the city you're visiting it's as well to prepare and use it from the get go. If you find it tricky getting a bus and a metro or 2 trains then I'd question how enjoyable you're going to find it travelling around the city itself for the rest of the holiday.

 

[oldnick]

People on this site are evidently more sophisticated and better travellers than most people. And certainly they like to skimp on a few euros !

If ,after a few hours trip from home to the airport, and if you have never been to a large city before and you are two or three persons with luggage , then if getting to your hotel in half the time in comfort for an extra cost of €15 per person is too great a cost then I do confess surprise.

There are exceptions - Athens metro directly goes to within a few hundred metres of 80% of Athens hotels, is much quicker than taking a taxi(and is signposted in Latin alphabet as well as Greek)

 

[AgathaC]

Any first time visitor travelling with one or two other people and with luggage who doesn't use a taxi is bonkers or really mean.

I am not sure which category I fall into, hopefully neither. I used the Air France bus as a first timer and found it to be a very good, and straightforward method of transport. I sometimes contact a hotel before travelling to get their advice re transport from the airport. Alternatively, I do some research on Tripadvisor, and occasionally post a specific question there re the best method to use.

 

[evanio]

There are obviously diverse opinions regarding which mode of transport to use and I have used most of them in different cities but when I am on a return journey to an airport my main concern is reliability of the transport provider.When I arrive in Paris I dont really care where I end up as i am sure I can find where I am going eventually but on my return to the airport the most important thing is that the transport gets me there on time.As regards cost the difference becomes less if there are a number of people travelling.So what I am looking for is info on reliable door to door transfer at a reasonable cost. Many thanks to all who have contributed .

 

[Mongola]

Which is ironic because the Roissy bus starts at Opera, runs express to the airport and costs €10. If you were anywere else in Paris, I'd understand it


Being a Parisian, I am aware of that. It is s very handy shuttle and would usually take it before catching a train from St Lazare if heading to the family home. I was attending a friend's birthday in the area and had booked a hotel for one night only and did not feel like being on the bus! I enjoyed the door to door service!