From CDG to Our Apartment

        Congratulations!  You’ve arrived in Paris – well the outskirts of Paris.  Your plane landed at Aeroport de Charles de Gaulle and you are only 31 km, about 30 minutes away from the heart of the city.

Important point:  Before deplaning, find out which terminal you will need to return to for your return flight home.  Signage throughout France is not good.  Signs will give you directions to Terminal 1, Terminal 2, etc., but you need to know which terminal your airline will fly from.  For instance, American arrives and departs from Terminal 2A.  Not even Paris cab drivers know where airlines are assigned and there are no signs on the highway leading to the airport identifying airlines by terminal. 

Airport to Paris by cab:  Collect your bags and head for the exit (“Sortie”).  Look for the signs for Taxis and find the queue.  Get in line.  The cab driver will assist you with the luggage.  Unless your French is as good as Jeanne’s, be sure to have your destination written on a card to hand the driver.  If you are  headed to our apartment, the address is 25, avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie, Paris, 75016.

In normal conditions, a cab ride is about 50 euros and takes about 40 minutes.  During rush hour, the cab ride can last an hour or more and cost 90 euros.  We’ve started taking the RER B train.

Airport to Paris by RER train:  There is a really good website at

http://parisbytrain.com/charles-de-gaulle-airport-cdg-to-paris-by-train/ which takes you through the process of getting from CDG to the city with pictures and everything.  Follow the signs to the RER.  The ticket machines sell tickets for either the SNFC or the RER – you will want the RER.  The RER machines are fairly easy to follow – select English and follow the instructions.  Each ticket will need a ticket (“billet”) for travel in Paris and Ille de France.  The machines accept paper euros and do not take American “credit cards” but they should accept bank debit cards with smart chips and pin numbers.  (It may be a good idea to have 10 euros (per person) in coins to purchase tickets – just in case.)

With tickets in hand – don’t throw them away, you’ll need them again.  Proceed to the train.  The conductor may ask to see the tickets and you will need to use them again! 

If you are headed to our apartment, you will take the RER B train to Chatelet-Les Halles.  When you arrive at the Chatlete-Les Halles train station, look for the Metro signs.  The Metro lines are designed by numbers – 1 through 14 – encased in a colored circle.  You are looking for the #1 line which is usually depicted in a yellow circle.

At some point in time, you will exit the Chatelet-Les Halles RER Station and enter the Chatelet Metro Station.  You need to run you billet (ticket) through the turnstile device.  (Remember, I said to keep it hany.)

As you walk through the Chatelet Metro Station, find #1 line in the direction of La Defense.  (The east end of the #1 line is Chateau de Vincennes; the western most station is La Defense.  When taking the Metro you need to know which direction you want to go.)

Exit the #1 Line at George V station.  When you get to street level you will be on the Champs Elysees; find the Louis Vuitton store.  The store abuts avenue George V. 

Walk down Avenue George V – stay on the same side of the street as Louis Vuitton.  When you pass the George V Hotel (4 Seasons), turn right.  This is avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie. The next street you should cross is Avenue Marceau (a wide street).  Walk another short block and cross Rue George Bizet.  Only ½ block to go.  Our apartment is No. 25; it has a sliding glass door at the entry.