I'm going to Paris for the first time in Sept. I've travelled a lot to Italy and UK but never to France. My choices are to fly into London and take the Eurostar into Paris then metro to hotel, or fly directly into CDG and deal with getting to the hotel from there. I've heard that getting to/from CDG can be a nightmare. Any advice will be much appreciated. Thanks.

Fly into CDG! Getting from there to your hotel should be no problem at all. There are many options, including the RER/Metro, the Air France bus, and taxi.

The CDG reputation comes from the difficulties encountered by people changing planes there with short connection times. It has nothing to do with connections into the city.

Chris is right about CDG. Flying into CDG and getting into the city is not the problem. There are taxis, buses, shuttles, and RER trains to get you into Paris, at a variety of prices and speeds. You choose the one that works for you and, most importantly, your luggage. It's not hard.

People who have found CDG difficult are those who need to make connections on their way to other destinations, and who have found that their tickets/reservations don't leave them enough time to make their way from one terminal to another.

I think the negative opinions of CDG have gotten out of hand on this forum and among American travelers.

When I lived in San Francisco, a lot of people I knew who lived in Silicon Valley, south of SF, used to complain about SFO airport like that. They created a buzz that wouldn't stop and poisoned their own existence.

Oh, San José airport is so much better and easier, they moaned. Why does SFO have to be so busy and so confusing? Creating such a buzz is dangerous because it builds up the negatives in people's minds and they end up being stressed out before they even get to the airport. They predict they are going to hate the airport and, guess what, they end up hating the airport no matter what...

Let's not do that with CDG. It's a fine airport.

By the way, has anybody tried the new people-mover train at CDG yet? That must be a huge improvement when it comes from getting from Aérogare 1 to Aérogare 2 and other airport destinations. I'll probably have a chance to try it out in September, on my next trip back to the U.S.

I totally agree, Ken! I've never had any sort of problem at CDG except having to rush one time when we didn't have enough time to make the connection.

The last time I flew out of San Jose, about two years ago, there were no bathrooms after you'd gone through security! I don't remember if it was a temporary situation or not, but it made a big bad impression on me!

well its about time talk is nice for CDG. i thought i was the only one defending it. Nothing is perfect ,but i fly out and in there almost every month;doing it for years...no problems.
well posted signs are all over and the system is very modern.

We flew into and out of CDG last June on U.S. Air and had no problems either way. Used a shuttle to and from airport to hotel in the 1st.

This year we are flying Air France and hope it goes as smoothly.

Unless you are spending time in England, why bother with the train. I never found Heathrow a great airport.

Wow, thanks for all the input. I'll definitely use CDG. Now, if I can just luck into one of those dips in the airline ticket prices.... Guess I'll be checking Kayak late into the night.

I am one of those who have never had a problem making a connection, making the TGV, getting to/from Paris, or making it through immigration. I have lost luggage going through CDG several times, but that happens everywhere. I cannot imagine that it would be easier to do it from London that just flying directly to CDG.

I too have never had any problem at CDG that I haven't had at other big airports. Has anybody used the new people-mover train yet?

I agree no problem with CDG arriving or departing - we have used RER , shuttle and taxi- no problems with any but the RER was the quickest.

quote:

Has anybody used the new people-mover train yet

yes ckenb, it is very efficient and fast; takes walking and hoping in shuttles much better improvement.
My only concerned is when everybody will be aware of it and start using it then it will be the time to judge its efficiency. Right now many people are still using the old shuttle route.

Thanks everyone, CDG it is. Now, does anyone have a good idea for a meeting point? There are 3 of us all flying in on different airlines, no one has every been to Paris before. We're using American, British Air and Lufthansa.

You and we need to know what terminals all the different flights come into. Everything about meeting up once on the ground depends on that.

http://www.aeroportsdeparis.fr/Adp/en-GB/Passagers/Depa...nsEtGuidesPratiques/

you can find maps that can tell you the area where you can meet your folks;lacking more precise information from you.

Thanks pedmar! The first time I tried the like it didn't work, but worked just fine today. I think we can work it out from all the info there.

happy gathering

We opted for an Airport Connection shared shuttle van for our trip from and to CDG. Yes, it was more expensive than the RER -- but I don't regret the choice, because we were coming off a red-eye flight and it was such a relief to not have to do anything but follow the driver and collapse into his minivan. We had also read that pickpockets and the like tend to prey on RER passengers such as ourselves, who would have probably nodded off on the trainride into the city. The fatigue issue would probably be moot for European travelers?

In retrospect, we were well-enough acquainted with the metro-rer system to have taken the RER from Paris to CDG confidently. That is probably what we will do next time.

Loie and I have used both the RER and taxis to go between Paris (5th arr) and CDG. The real issue is how close one can get to one's apartment or hotel using public transport, and how much luggage one is schlepping.

Dragging three or four suitcases through the streets of Paris isn't a pretty picture. I'm with MWC: the taxi or especially for a party of six, van, is worth the cost.

Thanks everyone. I'm leaning towards the shuttle van idea too - it's so much easier. The only hitch is if one of our flights is delayed, but we'll just come up with a contingency plan if that happens. I'm sure there are plenty of display signs around showing which flights are in and which are not.

Years ago, during my initial analysis of Paris, I thought briefly about taking the shuttle or other convenience from CDG to Paris. I have taken a taxi every time. After a long airline trip, I don't want anything but a taxi. Just insist that they do not drive at their typical 90 mph.

What is considered morning rush hour in Paris? My daughter will be landing around 7:40 a.m. By the time she gets her luggage and out the door to the taxi...will this be "rush hour" traffic, getting from CDG down to the 14th arr?

rush hour is from 7-9am and 5-7pm.
but great when you are looking at the Eiffel tower
not from the airport but if she enters Paris thru porte de la Chapelle off the peripherique she will see Sacre Coeur!

Depending on where she is going in the 14th arrondisement, the Air France bus may be a pleasant and convenient option.

A good report about CDG: Got a call from my daughter this morning after she arrived in Paris. Nothing but good things to say about CDG - Easy to navigate, people were very helpful, and "cool rolly things you put your luggage on to wheel through the airport" (she was very impressed by that). It must be France's equivalent of Mother's Day, because an airport rep was handing out beautiful flowers to all the women. All in all, a very smooth experience!