Best way to get from CDG to New Hotel Saint Lazare?
June 4, 2024 11:19 AM Subscribe
Hi, I need to get from Charles de Gaulle to New Hotel Saint Lazare in Paris, next Monday around 18:30. My French is très so-so and I have mobility issues (it's painful for me to walk long distances or stand for more than a few minutes at a time). A pre-ordered Uber is like €100, and the better-rated pre-booked airport taxis are even more. Cheaper airport taxis (e.g., G7, Alpha taxis, around €65) are rated very low on Google. What do you think my best option is?
As much as I like to suggest taking metro or train in the abstract, it is probably not going to be suitable for you based on the limitations you described. I debated about whether to send this reply at all, but just in case you want reassurance that you're right not to choose these modes of transportation...
Most stations require quite a bit of walking, are often are far underground, and once at the track there is frequently not a lot of available seating. There are more elevators than there used to be, but the waits tend to be long and there's nowhere to sit while waiting for the elevator. And, of course, you might have trouble getting seating once on your transit, especially if your mobility issues are less visible and you're not prepared to ask for someone to cede a seated space to you. And of course you have to wrangle any luggage all by yourself.
Buses aren't guaranteed to be much better in terms of walking or seating, but at least they are not so frequently far underground. I've never taken a bus in from CDG into Paris. However, there are two lines that I found: RoissyBus (operated by RATP, the Paris public transit system) and the Ozeroute L-3 (private/parallel bus system? I've never heard of it). Neither of these gets you to the door of your hotel, so you'd still be using a taxi or private car to get the last 1-2 km. Assuming the specific address that andrewesque found, RoissyBus: looks like Opera is where you'd get off. Ozeroute: Looks like Porte de Clichy is where you'd get off. Both of those spots should be well served by ride hailing services, but response time and availability of somewhere to sit would be in question.
posted by the antecedent of that pronoun at 1:44 PM on June 4 [3 favorites]
Most stations require quite a bit of walking, are often are far underground, and once at the track there is frequently not a lot of available seating. There are more elevators than there used to be, but the waits tend to be long and there's nowhere to sit while waiting for the elevator. And, of course, you might have trouble getting seating once on your transit, especially if your mobility issues are less visible and you're not prepared to ask for someone to cede a seated space to you. And of course you have to wrangle any luggage all by yourself.
Buses aren't guaranteed to be much better in terms of walking or seating, but at least they are not so frequently far underground. I've never taken a bus in from CDG into Paris. However, there are two lines that I found: RoissyBus (operated by RATP, the Paris public transit system) and the Ozeroute L-3 (private/parallel bus system? I've never heard of it). Neither of these gets you to the door of your hotel, so you'd still be using a taxi or private car to get the last 1-2 km. Assuming the specific address that andrewesque found, RoissyBus: looks like Opera is where you'd get off. Ozeroute: Looks like Porte de Clichy is where you'd get off. Both of those spots should be well served by ride hailing services, but response time and availability of somewhere to sit would be in question.
posted by the antecedent of that pronoun at 1:44 PM on June 4 [3 favorites]
Not an answer to your question but if you've booked mobility assistance for CDG, I'd recommend based on very bad past experience there to double or triple check that they're aware of it and definitely have you on the list. If you have any kind of disability permit or documentation, bring it just in case.
posted by trig at 2:38 PM on June 4 [2 favorites]
posted by trig at 2:38 PM on June 4 [2 favorites]
If you're visibly disabled, it might serve to let you jump the queue at certain spots. When we were in Paris recently, one of my kids had a walking boot on, and a docent at the Orsay plucked us out of the line, pointed at his boot, and brought us right up to the ticket windows. MAGIC.
Also, the ordinary taxis should be fine.
posted by wenestvedt at 5:03 PM on June 4
Also, the ordinary taxis should be fine.
posted by wenestvedt at 5:03 PM on June 4
Best answer: I was in Paris at the end of last month, and I echo andrewesque's comment about the flat rate. There was a stand in the airport with signs in French and English to indicate this flat rate, and the workers there will tell you the exact price. In my case, they escorted me to the taxi rank.
At the taxi rank, there's a separate worker that sends you to each taxi - they should be able to find one suitable for you.
Warning: The taxi driver may put on the meter or try to tell you a different price. Ignore them and pay the flat rate.
On your return trip back to CDG, a hotel worker can book you a taxi to the airport (flat rate again, book in advance!). At my hotel, the taxi driver came inside the reception area, took my bags, and then the receptionist escorted me to the taxi. At the airport, the driver removed the bags and got me one of the bag push carts (?).
posted by Ms. Moonlight at 1:11 AM on June 5
At the taxi rank, there's a separate worker that sends you to each taxi - they should be able to find one suitable for you.
Warning: The taxi driver may put on the meter or try to tell you a different price. Ignore them and pay the flat rate.
On your return trip back to CDG, a hotel worker can book you a taxi to the airport (flat rate again, book in advance!). At my hotel, the taxi driver came inside the reception area, took my bags, and then the receptionist escorted me to the taxi. At the airport, the driver removed the bags and got me one of the bag push carts (?).
posted by Ms. Moonlight at 1:11 AM on June 5
Not an answer to your question but if you've booked mobility assistance for CDG, I'd recommend based on very bad past experience there to double or triple check that they're aware of it and definitely have you on the list. If you have any kind of disability permit or documentation, bring it just in case.
Seconded.
posted by ellieBOA at 2:46 PM on June 5
Seconded.
posted by ellieBOA at 2:46 PM on June 5
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Your hotel is on the Right Bank (la rive droite), so the flat fare is €56.
There is no need to reserve a taxi in advance as long as you use the legitimate CDG airport taxi line and ignore anyone soliciting you for a ride anywhere else in the airport. Arriving at 18:30 on a Monday is also a time you should be well supplied with taxis. I think with mobility issues this is the best way, assuming you are able to wait in the taxi rank until you get a taxi (if you are not, I'm afraid I'm not properly equipped to answer the question at that point!)
I know you mentioned poor reviews for cheaper airport taxis, and so I will admit that this is more subjective, but I have the strong opinion that reviews of any form of transportation are wildly over-biased towards the negative -- I think that people tend to only leave reviews when they have strong negative experiences. After all, when was the last time you left a review for a cab / subway / train / flight when you had a perfectly unremarkable experience?
posted by andrewesque at 12:18 PM on June 4 [5 favorites]