I agree with Travelnut on the stop -- Denfert is on of my favorite RER stops because it always seems the smallest and easiest to navigate. If you do take the RER, I definitely would go to that one, not Gare du Nord for sure. See no advantage to that.

I can't remember exact details on getting out at La Motte Picquet, but am pretty sure that involves several flights of outside stairs (it does on entry). That station is above ground and those stairs might be even more difficult to navigate than regular ones inside with a large bag like that. That is a fairly large suitcase.

Thanks sfowler! I'm sure I will.

After years of hassling with the RER payment I think I have it right this time. I brought back enough 2euro coins from Italy to buy tickets at the CDG. About 8 euro per ticket. (Sorry, this doesn't really help you sharkmom.)

The machines won't take chipless cards. (Though one time I swear I somehow got a ticket with a card. Maybe it was my ATM/debit card?) They won't take bills either. The line for an RER ticket agent is almost always long when I'm there.

I'll have to wait and see what they do to foil my plan this time. Un greve? :-)

Well...I ended up taking a taxi. It was NOT a good choice. The traffic from CDG to the 7th was horrendous. It took nearly 2 hours to get to my hotel and the fare was 68 euros.

This was at 10 AM in the morning last Thursday. Oh well...Paris was great, despite the slow start to the visit. Now I'm in London and it's COLD!

Margy

Sorry for your long taxi ride. I would have recommended taking the taxi as well. However, I arrived in Paris at 6:30am and was on the road within an hour so traffic didn't seem so bad to me. I guess timing is everything.

I believe this was the first day of the SCNF strike. She was LUCKY!!!

Margy,
I am sorry about the taxi ride. In retrospect, would you suggest taking a private shuttle? I have found several that can be pre-booked for 35 -40 Euro for 2 persons.
http://parishotels-net.com/Airport_S...vice_Paris.htm
and
http://www.airport-connection.com/rates.asp

I am thinking about booking one. Any thoughts pro or con for either of these?

If you are alone, it is an economical way to travel. If there are two, and certainly more, then a taxi is just about a "wash".

Come on people... The RER and metro isn't that bad! In fact, i love it!

I've been returning to Paris every year since 2002. And i've travelled from CDG to Dupleix on the 6 line, and Ledru-Rollin on 8 line, with luggages and all. In fact, my first time in Paris with my family, the 5 of us lugged our luggages through the RER and the metro (much to the ire of Parisians everywhere. I'm talking about the huge Samsonite suitcases.)

Of course, we learnt our lesson: Don't bring huge samsonite luggages anywhere... Seriously, use the metro. If all you have are a carry-on bag and one of those dragging suitcases, you're fit to go.

Just know your end stations, follow the correspondances signs, keep singing "I love Paris" to yourself, and walk like you own the metro! Be a Parisian and thumb your nose at everyone!!!

Just kidding. Love Paris, love their metro. Would move there just because of it. Have fun in Paris!

The American State Department has long been afflicted with a paranoia of such depth that it might well qualify as psychosis. There is no particular danger in taking the train. The real problem is dragging luggage through the system. Sitting in traffic in a taxi might be time-consuming, but at least you're sitting in comfort and not standing with bags under your arms on a chilly train platform.

No...there wasn't any train strike when I arrived...that happened after I left Paris. As for a shuttle, I've taken one successfully several times, but there is still the traffic issue with a shuttle.

I would definately take the RER next time as I had originally planned!

Margy

I love standing on a chilly train platform with bags under my arms. It means my Parisian adventure is about to begin. I have used the RER from CDG several times, with a big suitcase the first time, then just carry-one once I learned to travel light. The last time though we took the Roissybus to Opera and a taxi from there, because my daughter was moving to Paris for a year and had lots of luggage. That worked fine too.