How to get from centre of Paris to DLRP

[Summer-Caitlin]

I have booked 3 nights in Montparnasse before we head on to DLRP for 4 nights. I am travelling with my husband and 2 year old without a car. Is there a simple way for us to get to DLRP, should we take a taxi? My concern is we may not be that close to the station and we will have a pram and luggage so want to make it as simple as possible. Any advice?

Thanks

 

[A Small World]

DLP is at the end of line A on RER.
There are a few stations in Central Paris which connect onto this line - Charles de Gualle Etoile, Auber, Chatelet, Gare de Lyon, Nation.

You need to check the nearest metro station to your hotel and then work out the best way to one of these stations.

If you are staying at Montparnasse you may be close to Montparnasses metro station which means you can get metro line 4 to Chatelet and then change onto RER to DLP.

The metro is really easy to use - just avoid rush hours - but be warned that there arent lifts in all stations which may be a problem with a pram and luggage

Your hotel details should tell you which is the closest metro station and you can use this map to plan it

http://parisbytrain.com/files/2008/06/metro.pdf

 

[Summer-Caitlin]

Thank you for the reply and the map which was very helpful. We are staying at Hotel De La Paix on Bvd Raspail and Google maps seems to suggest a 5 min car journey to Gare Montparnasse which (depending on the amount of luggage we have) we might even walk! Does the RER to DLRP drop you where the Eurostar would, i.e. would we be able to walk through the Disney village to Sequoia Lodge?

Thanks so much for your help

 

[A Small World]

Yes the RER station is in a similar place to the Eurostar - just a different side of the same building.

Make sure you keep hold of your RER ticket as you need it to exit the barriers at the end.

I think it will cost approx 7E per adult and your 2 yr old will be free.
you can get your ticket from whichever metro station you start at as long as you dont exit at all until the end

 

[A Small World]

Just looking at the metro map again and there is a station Raspail which is probably very close to your hotel. This is on the same line 4 so you can get on here and then change onto the RER at Chatelet so no need to walk/get a taxi to Montparnasse

After 3 days in Paris you will be experts at using the metro

 

[PrettyP]

I would say, yes the metro and train are very easy if you are just adults with little or no luggage, otherwise it can be quite difficult depending on the stations you have to use. Many stations have lots and lots of steps and no lifts and trust me as someone who has done this before with luggage and a child in tow that it is NOT easy.

I know it is much cheaper to use the metro and the train but with a 2 year old and luggage I would advise a shuttle (not a taxi) which is what I did last year. I used Tio Shuttle from Paris to DLP and found them excellent but other posters on disboards have used Ezy Shuttle and RS Transports so you can shop around and see who gives you the best price. Shuttles have a set price so you can budget in advance, unlike a taxi who will charge you on a meter. As far as I remember it should be in the region of about 60 euro to get from Paris to DLP. Yes it is much more expensive but if you can afford it it is a much more relaxing option.

Really consider if both of you can carry a 2 year old and a push-chair and lugguage up and down several flights of stairs. Sometimes in the same metro station you can find yourself going up a flight of stairs, walking down a corridor a bit and then going back down the same amount of stairs in order to get to your train. You then may have to do the same when you change over from the Metro to the RER.

I hope you have a brilliant time! Paris is a wonderful city and then you still have DLP to look forward to afterwards!

 

[Summer-Caitlin]

Thanks for the replies. I am a bit concerned now about using the metro, is it really that difficult to get around if you have a toddler? I had intended to use the metro most of the time but didn't allow for the fact that there may be no lifts. The things I will need to do this trip twice. Once to get to DLRP in the first place and another to get to Gare du Nord after our DLRP stay as our Eurostar tickets depart from there to St Pancras. 60 euros each way is an awful lot extra if we can get there for 14 or so. I am hoping that we won't be taking a huge suitcase, although I am not sure the size of case we will be taking back

 

[PrettyP]

I don't know the stations you will be using well enough to know how many stairs etc there would be.

Don't get me wrong it's not impossible to use the train you just need to be aware in advance of what you'll need to do and decide if you're ok with it. Maybe some other disers would know those stations well enough to be able to let you know or maybe you can do a search on google.

If cost is an issue to you just take the train. You'll get there no matter what!