How to cross Paris by taxi?
Taxis can be a painless way to cross Paris, specifically if you have large amounts of luggage. A taxi from the Gare du Nord to (for example) the Gare de Lyon or Gare d’Austerlitz costs around 17-19 euro and takes about 25 minutes. However, be aware that there’s normally a long queue for taxis in the Gare du Nord and other main stations, so always allow no less than an hour or preferably more between trains, see above. Don’t accept taxis or private hire vehicles from touts, utilize the official taxi rank on the side entrance towards the Gare du Nord (the same side of the station since the Eurostar platforms). Make sure the motive force turns the meter on whenever you drive off.
How you can pre-book taxis…
As there’s normally a long queue for taxis in the Gare du Nord as well as other Paris stations, it’s a wise decision to pre-book one. Several companies offer pre-bookable taxis in Paris, including www.taxis-g7.com. To book taxis from G7:
- Call the G7 Taxis English-speaking line on +33 1 41 27 66 99. Lines open 24 hours.
- Bookings can be made from 7 days until An hour before you decide to require taxi.
- A bank card guarantee may be required at certain peak times.
- Book the taxi for around 10-15 minutes following the scheduled arrival of the Eurostar. They’ll offer you a booking reference. The taxi will wait up to 5 minutes unless you arrive promptly (you might be charged for that waiting time!).
- For some reason, their taxis can’t or won’t make use of the official station taxi ranks, so in the Gare du Nord they are going to normally explain how the taxi will wait at 12, Boulevard du Denain, throughout the road directly opposite leading with the station. Similarly, if you are being acquired in the Gare de Lyon, ask to become picked up at number two, Place Louis Arnand, which is outside the Hotel Mercure, just walk away from station to the forecourt and turn left. The taxis have a ‘G7′ sticker in the rear window (see the photo off to the right).
- If you know them you’re arriving by train, some G7 staff will refuse to book taxis for you personally and let you know to call back right then and there of travel. In reality, I suspect these staff are following their company policy, whereas other staff happily conspire with you to pre-book one, having an address it doesn’t look like a station pick-up (which may explain the idea above!). So it’s probably easier to avoid mentioning that you are arriving by train, utilize the ’12, Boulevard du Denain’ address above instead of mentioning the Gare du Nord, and when the staff member refuses to book taxis simply because they suspect you’re arriving by train, either (a) politely insist upon pre-booking a get in one with the above addresses rather than the ‘Gare du Nord’ or ‘Gare de Lyon’, as it might function as the reluctance to get from stations this is the problem, or (b) place the phone down, re-dial and acquire a far more helpful member of staff who will pre-book it for you personally. Yes, you really can pre-book certainly one of their taxis, but some G7 staff tend to be more helpful than these to get around their company’s rather self-defeating and hazy rules about train-related taxi bookings…
- Of course, you could call G7 Taxis right then and there of travel making use of your mobile as soon as your Eurostar exits the Channel Tunnel, after which you’ll be sure you’ve reached France running promptly. That might an excellent option! +33 1 41 27 66 99.
- You just spend the money for taxi driver by the end from the journey within the normal way, based on what the meter says, around 17-19 euros from Gare du Nord for the Gare de Lyon, Gare de Bercy or Gare d’Austerlitz, plus the 5 euro booking fee. The drivers accept both cash (euro) and credit cards. A recent Gare de Lyon to Gare du Nord trip cost 25 euro like the booking fee along with a five minute wait once we were somewhat late.
- If you utilize this service, feedback would be very welcome. It’s reported that they may well not accept taxi bookings through the Paris rush-hour.
Alternatively, visit www.taxi-paris.net (+33 6 07 60 49 14, tim@taxi-paris.net) and book a hassle-free private transfer specifically designed to fulfill trains and take you across Paris to board another train. This service gets good reports, by having an English-speaking driver meeting you on the Eurostar arrival gate along with his car parked right outside the station. The only downside is the fee, around 58 euro per car plus 1 euro per luggage item, 4th & 5th passengers a few euro extra. They may require a 50% deposit. If you employ a reverse phone lookup, feedback could be very welcome.
Wheelchair-accessible taxis…
There exists a pre-bookable wheelchair-accessible taxi service in Paris run by www.taxis-g7.com (the website is merely in French, but try to find ‘plan du site’ then ‘G7 Horizon’). To book, call +33 1 41 27 66 99 (English speaking line) or +33 1 47 39 00 91, making certain i hear you ask for any wheelchair accessible taxi. There may be a 5 euros booking fee, and bookings can be produced from 7 days until An hour before you need the taxi. Gare du Nord to Gare d’Austerlitz for instance costs 17-19 euros per taxi. If you utilize a reverse phone lookup, feedback would be very welcome!