Help me find my parents in Suggestion for a meeHelp me find my parents in Charles de Gaulle airport, Paris, Terminal 1
May 29, 2010 4:10 PM Subscribe
Suggestion for a meeting point at Charles de Gaulle airport, Paris, Terminal 1? I'm meeting my parents at this airport in a few days. We arrive on different flights and different airlines around 1/2 hour from each other, both flying in from the US.
None of us have been to this airport. Where should we meet up? I've found maps online, but they are vague and I'd like a more concrete suggestion. Ideally we'd all like to arrive, get our bags and go through customs independently, then meet up afterwards. Once we meet, we'll be getting a taxi into the city together.
We also would like to buy some museum passes at the airport, so a spot where this works out would be great. Please suggest a simple, convenient meeting place for us in Terminal 1. Thanks.
None of us have been to this airport. Where should we meet up? I've found maps online, but they are vague and I'd like a more concrete suggestion. Ideally we'd all like to arrive, get our bags and go through customs independently, then meet up afterwards. Once we meet, we'll be getting a taxi into the city together.
We also would like to buy some museum passes at the airport, so a spot where this works out would be great. Please suggest a simple, convenient meeting place for us in Terminal 1. Thanks.
Meeting up can be tricky. Terminal 1 is huge and can be very chaotic, especially when you are jet lagged. This site has a decent map of terminal 1. (Maps are PDFs).
Your best bet is to meet where you will be purchasing the museum passes, at Tourist Information Area, Arrivals level, Gate 4. Pick up the passes and walk counterclockwise from Gate 4 to Gate 20 to catch a cab.
Have you considered taking a shuttle instead of a cab? The cabs are wonderful, especially after a long flight, but can be expensive. Be prepared to pay anywhere from 50 € - 80 € for the ride. Parishuttles starts at 20 €, Paris Airport Shuttles at 27 €, they can be booked before you leave and both rates decrease depending upon how many people are in the vehicle. Enjoy Paris!
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 5:23 PM on May 29, 2010
Your best bet is to meet where you will be purchasing the museum passes, at Tourist Information Area, Arrivals level, Gate 4. Pick up the passes and walk counterclockwise from Gate 4 to Gate 20 to catch a cab.
Have you considered taking a shuttle instead of a cab? The cabs are wonderful, especially after a long flight, but can be expensive. Be prepared to pay anywhere from 50 € - 80 € for the ride. Parishuttles starts at 20 €, Paris Airport Shuttles at 27 €, they can be booked before you leave and both rates decrease depending upon how many people are in the vehicle. Enjoy Paris!
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 5:23 PM on May 29, 2010
I wouldn't even take a shuttle. Depending on where you're going, the RER goes right into Paris. Cheapest, by far, option. Unless you take bicycles!
The taxi stand is quite diminutive at CDG (in relation to the entire airport), it wouldn't make the worse meet up point. There's shuttles near for the other terminals, as well as getting to the RER. If you don't know French, there's ticket machines that can be set to English.
posted by alex_skazat at 5:49 PM on May 29, 2010
The taxi stand is quite diminutive at CDG (in relation to the entire airport), it wouldn't make the worse meet up point. There's shuttles near for the other terminals, as well as getting to the RER. If you don't know French, there's ticket machines that can be set to English.
posted by alex_skazat at 5:49 PM on May 29, 2010
Response by poster: We're going to meet at the Tourist Info area. It was impossible to tell if that was past customs or not on the maps we saw.
Thanks.
posted by jeff-o-matic at 7:45 PM on May 29, 2010
Thanks.
posted by jeff-o-matic at 7:45 PM on May 29, 2010
Yeah, the train goes right through Paris and is much cheaper than a cab.
That said, JUST MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THAT TO OPEN THE TRAIN DOORS, YOU PUSH THE "OPEN THE DOOR" BUTTON. THEY DO NOT OPEN ON THEIR OWN EACH STOP LIKE AN NYC SUBWAY.
posted by Threeway Handshake at 9:57 PM on May 29, 2010
That said, JUST MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THAT TO OPEN THE TRAIN DOORS, YOU PUSH THE "OPEN THE DOOR" BUTTON. THEY DO NOT OPEN ON THEIR OWN EACH STOP LIKE AN NYC SUBWAY.
posted by Threeway Handshake at 9:57 PM on May 29, 2010
I always use the starbucks in terminal one as a fallback meeting location. There is only one starbucks in terminal one and it is on the public side of customs. It's on the official map you can get on the CDG website. And definitely take the rer into Paris. It's very easy, much cheaper than private transport, and you can use your rer ticket on the metro (once) so it will get you wherever you want to be in Paris.
posted by tractorfeed at 2:39 AM on May 30, 2010
posted by tractorfeed at 2:39 AM on May 30, 2010
I would advise taking a taxi rather than the RER if this is your first trip to Paris, unless you are all fairly mobile, don't have too much luggage, and deal well with jet lag. If you take the RER, you must first take a shuttle bus to the RER station for Terminal 1, and then, on arriving in Paris, you will almost certainly need to transfer to the Metro, which will involve long walks and, almost certainly, hauling your luggage up or down a few flights of stairs. When I was in my 20s and didn't have much money, I would take the RER even if I was hauling a carryon and a couple of checked bags. Now I take a taxi and consider the money well spent.
And if there are three of you, a taxi is not going to be much more expensive than a shuttle. The Air France buses ("cars" in French) are about the only alternative I would consider, especially if your destination is near one of their stops.
posted by brianogilvie at 8:29 AM on May 30, 2010
And if there are three of you, a taxi is not going to be much more expensive than a shuttle. The Air France buses ("cars" in French) are about the only alternative I would consider, especially if your destination is near one of their stops.
posted by brianogilvie at 8:29 AM on May 30, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by hamandcheese at 5:21 PM on May 29, 2010