Hi Ben,
Thank you so much for creating this website and taking time to answering our questions. It is very helpful for us, first time Paris visitors.
We're a group of 5. We will arrive in Paris (CDG airport) on a Sunday and stay till the next Sat. We are planning on buying the Navigo Decouverte pass, but wonder how would we cover the first day in Paris. Should we buy a one day pass to use that to get to our hotel from the airport, or better to use taxi for our group?
Do we have to buy 2 types of pass or just one to load a day pass first then load a weekly pass on Monday?
I'm looking forward to your advice.
Thank you
1 answer
Hi there,
Yes, taxi is a potential option depending on how much luggage your group is traveling with and you don't need public transit coverage for the rest of the day you arrive. Normally the large sedan taxis are able to take 4 passengers + 2 large suitcases + 2 carry-ons. So for 5 people that'd require a minivan taxi, but it might be too much luggage if each person has their own luggage.
If your baggage situation allows you to all fit in a minivan taxi, then the cost would be a flat rate of 56€ for northern half of Paris (Right Bank, north of the Seine river) and 65€ for the Left Bank (south of the Seine). But there are small surcharges depending on baggage quantity and party beyond 4 people (if I remember correctly). So it'll likely be a small amount above those flat rates.
The official Charles de Gaulle Airport website taxi page lists two taxi companies (on the French language version only: https://www.parisaeroport.fr/passagers/acces/paris-charles-de-gaulle/taxi) which offer online booking of taxis.
If you're looking for Sunday public transport coverage instead of taxi, then a Navigo Day Pass put onto a Navigo Decouverte card would be your best choice for each person. You can buy and load both the Navigo Day Pass and the Navigo Week Pass onto the same Navigo card. Ask the ticket agent to make the day pass active immediately. It should be obvious for the agent, since it is Sunday and the Week Pass is not active till the following day, but just in case s/he needs confirmation.
So to sum up, if you don't need any other transport for your arrival day, taxi would be preferable if you can all fit in one. Otherwise, individual day pass for everyone would be your next best option and taking the RER B into Paris.
Please let me know if you need any further advice.
Have a great trip and thanks for the kind words about the ste.