Flying into Paris

[obinja]

I'm flying to Paris in August and making my way down to Spain by way of Bordeaux. Anybody have any experience with getting to the city from CDG? It's an overnight flight arriving at about 8 in the morning from Washington DC.  I don't sleep well on planes. Therefore I don't expect to be in very good condition to unbox my bike, put it together and cycle into the city. Just wondering if anyone has experience with vans, taxis, etc in Paris. My other thought is to leave my bike home and buy a used bike in France. Any thoughts or experience with this?

[BrianW]

Rick Steves' France or Paris guides have good general info about getting into the city. Both the RER and the Airport bus are pretty easy. I've used both. The bus is a bit easier IMO. I haven't done either with a bike though. I believe you can take bikes on RER train off peak. The bus is a nice city type articulated bus, and getting a boxed bike on might be difficult. There is no underfloor storage like on a motor coach.

Are you staying in Paris for jus one night or more? You could always stay the night at one of the several airport hotels and take the train in for the day. 

[John Nelson]

Do you want to visit Paris? Or is it just in your way on your route to Spain? Any chance you could switch your flight from CDG to Orly? That would get the city out of your path.

[obinja]

Thanks for the advice about Orly. Unfortunately It's too late to change my ticket w/out incurring ungodly fees. But I think there is a shuttle bus or Air France cars or some such to Orly.

[Nicolai Michel]

The RER is cheapest, around EUR 8, but buying the ticket can be a bit confusing for someone not used to it, and lugging a bike box will be a pain, so I recommend the bus called Cars Air France. Anyone can take it, it's super convenient and comfortable, drops you off downtown, and costs around EUR 16.

[Wirelizard]

This Cars Air Bus has enough luggage space for a boxed bike, then?

Asking because I'm flying out of Paris/de Gaulle in the third week of July and the logistics of getting the bike out to the airport has been in the back of my mind!

[Nicolai Michel]

The Cars Air France buses are like Greyhound buses in the US: huge luggage compartment.

Here's the site: http://www.lescarsairfrance.com/en.html

P.S.: In French a "car" is a bus, thus the name.

[Wirelizard]

The Cars Air France buses are like Greyhound buses in the US: huge luggage compartment.

Here's the site: http://www.lescarsairfrance.com/en.html

P.S.: In French a "car" is a bus, thus the name.

Thanks, I'll look into them for the last leg from Paris out to CDG when the time comes!

I'm used to "l'autobus" for bus, but that's my shaky junior high French talking.