Our hotel in Paris does not make arrangements for a driver to pick us up at CDG. I assume there is an official taxi stand. We will be arriving on Swiss Air so is there be a particular area where we should look? I don't want to end up in a gypsy cab. As an alternative is there a good reliable car service we could use?

Hi
We are using TRV Transport. I checked out several and their price was good and I liked the fact that they meet you at the baggage place gate with your name. We are using Orly but they service CDG, too They were very prompt in getting back to me.

The website has annoying sound so turn the computer down when you go there.

Getting a legitimate taxi at CDG is not a problem. The taxi stands are clearly signed and marked in the airport. Lines can be more or less long depending on what flights just arrived. I've never heard of gypsy cabs in Paris the way you hear about them in NYC.

I booked Grey Shuttle based on another member's recommendation. They use shuttle vans but with private service and also meet you at baggage.

here is the info on taxis and everything else at CDG :i left it in French because it gives you more info with taxi tel numbers and all.

http://www.aeroportsdeparis.fr/Adp/fr-FR/Passagers/Arri...tterAeroport/EnTaxi/

One of the advantages of a shuttle or private service is that you have a set price. If you arrive at CDG in the morning, as many flights from the U.S. do, you can hit morning traffic and the price of a cab can zoom. On our last trip, we had to take a cab in order to catch a train at Montparnasse, and it was a 65€ ride because of the traffic.

TRV wants Euro 75 for four persons for a ride to or from Paris to CDG or Orly. I doubt you'll ever have to pay that much in a cab.

I have just booked a shuttle from CDG to our hotel...one recommended by the hotel.
Golden Air.E22 per person and they are happy to pick up from anywhere at CDG which suits us as we will not be flying in but dropping off a car at Renault Eurodrive.
:-) Judith.

quote:

TRV wants Euro 75 for four persons for a ride to or from Paris to CDG or Orly.

For 3 people it is costing us €65 which isn't too much more than the cost of 3 people on a group type shuttle.There isn't any extra luggage charge. Wonder why price goes up with 4 people--which I know it does. Can you get a taxi for 4 people with luggage?

Yes, the cost for a fourth passenger is 2.70. Cab drivers don't really like taking a fourth passenger (who will travel in the front if it's a regular car), and if you wave one down in the street, will perhaps turn you down. But when taking a cab at the airport, there'll be a big line of cabs among which surely one that's a van ("monospace" is the french name), or a sedan. Enough for four and luggage. It'd be nice if shuttle services were cheaper than cabs, but they are not. Parisians either take a cab, or the metro, which isn't too practical with luggage, in my opinion. My last taxi ride to Orly from the center of Paris cost me around €30. CDG is a little further, costs around €45.

Jane, I checked TRV and they want a credit card in case of late cancellation or no show. If our flight is delayed for an extended period of time do you think we will be charged.

Carole

Carole, I think they explain that on the site but I forget what they said. That's a good question. Think I'll go look it up. Well--just looked and it doesn't say. I think if we were charged for a plane that was late or didn't get there, I would challenge it on the visa bill. But--I clearly should have asked that question of them. Trying to do too many things at once, I guess.

Carole, this is the answer TRV sent when I e-mailed them the question:

Hello,
Yes our driver will be wait for you, don't worry about that.
Thanks

TRV TRANSPORT

Thanks. That's reassuring.

I used Paris Shuttle in August 2005 and somehow had booked the date a day before I arrived. When I rang after arrival they said I was not expected but would arrange a driver who was in the area.
I had to wait longer than planned but was just glad that I had a drive into my Paris hotel. No extra charge even though it was my fault.

Carole, update on this: I would not recommend TRV. They were not there to meet us when we arrived at 10:30 PM. They did not show up until 11. We were on our way out of the airport to catch a taxi when a man came in with a paper with our name. He claimed that the internet said our plane would not arrive until 10:40 which did not explain not showing until 11:00. We had our baggage and were waiting for 20 minutes. This was not a good service.

Jane, thanks for the "thumbs down". I checked Paris Shuttle and they want 100 euros which makes me think it might just be better to take a taxi.

When you pay for a shuttle, you are paying for the driver's and car's time to get to the airport at a certain time as well as to take you into the city, it seems to me. When you take a cab, you only pay for the time it takes to get into Paris, because the cab drivers are there waiting for the next arrival.

And given the traffic congestion around Paris, predicting how long it will take to get from the city to the airport is pretty much impossible. Same with the amount of time it might take to get into the city.

Slow travel by it's very definition.

Maybe you are also paying for someone to wait for you with a sign showing your name. Pretty costly.

quote:

Originally posted by Jane:
Can you get a taxi for 4 people with luggage?

Jane, David,
I have bookd taxis for 5 persons even. I specified the number of persons when booking and Taxi Bleu sent me a station wagon. The driver knew he was picking up 5 persons and was cheerful and accommodating about making room for everyone and every piece of luggage.
If I remember correctly, the taxi out to Orly for the 5 of us came to under 60 euro - airport charge, luggage charge and tips included. Good deal. Much more convenient and economical, not to mention reliable, than the shuttle lottery.
Getting a taxi to take four persons from the airport has not been a problem in recent years, in my experience. When the driver balked, I would ask if I could pay more for the 4th person. That has always worked.
Bon voyage.

quote:

Originally posted by Americana in Parigi:

I have bookd taxis for 5 persons even. I specified the number of persons when booking and Taxi Bleu sent me a station wagon.

We are a family of 5 and have also booked normal taxis, usually through a hotel. Ordinarily, they send a minivan. There is a surcharge, but it's still less expensive than a shuttle. We have also gotten taxis at CDG without a problem.

Last June, I was traveling without my husband but with 4 children in tow . Even at Gare de Lyon, I was able to find a taxi to take all of us and 5 bags to our hotel.