Travel Plans October 2011

Airport transfer Paris

Charles de Gaulle to Orly
Air France operates a bus transfer service between Charles de Gaulle airport and Orly airport. The bus departs from Terminal 1 and Terminals 2A -2F (the same points as the Air France bus to Paris) and it runs every 30 minutes from 5:55am to 10:30pm. The price is 19.00€ one-way.

Orly to Paris
Both the Air France bus and the RATP bus leave from both terminals of Orly for travel into Paris. The Air France bus stops in Paris are adjacent to Metro stations Montparnasse and Invalides. The RATP bus stop (Orlybus)is adjacent to Metro station Denfert Rochereau. The Noctilien Night Bus line 131 runs hourly between 00:00 and 04:00am from Orly Ouest and Orly Sud terminals to four stops in Paris, including Gare d'Austerlitz and Gare de Lyon. The fare is 5.40€ (Navigo Pass zones 1-4 is also accepted).

Charles de Gaulle to Paris
Air France has two bus lines running from Charles de Gaulle airport into Paris. The first line runs every 15 minutes and has two stops in Paris: Place de l'Etoile and Porte Maillot. The Air France bus departs from Charles de Gaulle terminal 1 & 2 between 5.45am and 11pm. The second Air France bus line runs every 30 minutes (between 7am and 9pm) and stops in Paris at Gare de Lyon and Montparnasse.
The RATP bus departs from all three terminals every 15 minutes. It arrives in Paris and stops at Place de l'Opéra alongside the American Express office. Service is from 6am to 10.30pm.
The Noctilien Night Bus runs hourly from approximately 00:00 - 5:00am between Charles de Gaulle airport and Paris. The line 140 stops at airport Terminals 1, 2F and 3 and arrives in Paris at the Gare du Nord and Gare de L'Est train stations, two other lines serve the Paris suburbs.
Travel time from the airport to Paris is approximately 50 minutes and the fare is 7.20€ (Navigo Pass zones 1-5 is also accepted).

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Arrival/Departure: Paris: Airport Transfer

Orly / Charles de Gaulle - Paris Airport Transfer You will most likely arrive at one of the two international airports that serve Paris. Roissy / Charles de Gaulle (CDG) is located 23km (16 miles) north-east of Paris, and the smaller Orly (ORY) airport is slightly closer to the city and located 13km (8 miles) to the South. Orly primarily serves domestic flights and international destinations in Southern Europe and around the Mediterranean, while Charles de Gaulle is the primary airport for international and long haul flights, as well as many low cost carriers. When planning Paris airport transportation, you should note that both airports are served by taxi, Paris airport shuttle, the Paris Metro, as well as the Air France Bus and the RATP airport bus lines. Any of these different means of transportation can get you to anywhere within the city limits but each differs in cost and how long it will take you to reach your destination. In the event that you arrive in Beauvais via Ryan Air, you will need to use the Coach service operated by Ryan Air (see airport bus, below) or arrange a private limousine service.

Note: Some of the prices mentioned below are estimates.

Reserve Paris Airport Transportation

Paris Airport Limousine

Paris Airport Shuttle

Charles de Gaulle Hotels Orly Airport Hotels Beauvais Airport Hotels

Paris Taxis: Paris Taxi service from both airports is excellent. Upon arrival follow the signs to "Taxis" after picking up your luggage. You will generally need to wait in line at the taxi stand but lines move quickly (Orly has two different taxi lines, Paris and Les Banlieues (the suburbs). Many drivers don't speak English so you may find it useful to have your destination address written on a piece of paper. The name of the nearest Metro stop can also be helpful for finding addresses that are not well known. Finding a taxi to the airport can be more troublesome. Depending on the time of day, it is often impossible to find a taxi in the city, especially on rainy days in the Summer. In order to ensure your timely arrival at the airport, it is best to try to reserve a taxi several hours in advance, as most Paris taxi services will not accept reservations prior to the day of travel. If you are staying in a hotel the reception desk can usually arrange a taxi pickup at the desired time, as they often have special arrangements with taxi services. Travel time to Charles de Gaulle airport from the Center of Paris should take approximately 40 minutes, and travel time to Orly airprot is approximately 30 minutes, but travel time can vary and it could up to 50% longer or more depending on the time of day, traffic and your exact location. Beware, Paris taxis start the meter from the moment the taxi driver leaves to pick you up, so when the taxi arrives, the meter will already show more than the minimum charge. Fees vary according to time of day and your point of origin or departure in the city. Additional charges include approximately 1€ per piece of luggage as well as an airport fee of approximately 1€. Many drivers will not accept more than three passengers, but if you find one that does, the taxi is authorized to charge an additional fee for the fourth passenger.

Price: Charles De Gaulle Airport: 40€ - 70€ + Orly Airport: 25€ - 50€ +

Verdict: A taxi is probably the most convenient means of Paris airport transportation, but it can often be expensive. Travel to the city is easiest because there are almost always taxis waiting to pick up customers. Travel to the airport is more difficult. At rush hour (morning and afternoon) it is best to call a taxi several hours in advance of your departure time. Although the Metro is often quicker during peak hours, a taxi is much more convenient.

Paris Airport Shuttle: Paris Airport Shuttle services are available between the city center and both Charles de Gaulle and Orly. Reservations can be made days, weeks or months in advance, but they must generally be made at least 48 hours in advance. When arriving at the airport you must call a special toll free number (before picking up your baggage) and you will be given a meeting point at your terminal. Once the shuttle arrives it will generally complete its circuit of the terminals to pick up other passengers (as the bus does) then it will drop you off at your final destination in Paris. For departures you will be given a pickup time that will guarantee your arrival at the airport the required amount of time before your departure.

Price (inside of Paris city limits) : 21€/person for one person 17€/person for two people or more

Verdict: The Paris airport shuttle is probably the best value for the money for travellers who want convenience for an economical price when choosing a Paris airport transfer. The price is approximately equal to the bus + taxi combination, but once aboard the shuttle no additional waiting and transfers are required (as is the case with the bus or metro). Additional advantages include advance reservation, door to door service, an English speaking driver, a fixed price as well as 24 hour service. Drawbacks include the waiting time for the shuttle upon arrival at the airport (it could be more than the 15 min wait for the bus) and the additional time required to drop off / pick up other passengers. Travelers going to and from the suburbs will need to find other Paris airport transportation, as the airport shuttle only serves points inside the city limits.

More Information: Paris Net - Airport shuttle

Paris Airport Bus: Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports are both served by the Air France bus, the RATP bus and a Night Bus. Transfer time is approximately 45 minutes depending on traffic conditions. Air France also offers a bus transfer service between Charles de Gaulle airport and Orly airport (details below). When arriving in Paris you must follow the signs in the airport to the bus stop and then purchase a ticket at the stand or from the driver. Once you have arrived at the bus stop in Paris you must still find a way to reach your final destination. That usually means that once the bus drops you off, you will need to take the Metro or a taxi. When going to the airport this process is reversed and you must find transportation from home to the bus stop.

Charles de Gaulle: Air France has two bus lines running from Charles de Gaulle airport into Paris. The first line runs every fifteen minutes and has two stops in Paris: Place de l'Etoile and Porte Maillot. The Air France bus departs from Charles de Gaulle terminal 1 & 2 (i.e. not terminal 3 which is primarily for charters and low-cost carriers like EasyJet) between 5:45AM and 11PM. The second Air France bus line runs every 30 minutes (between 7AM and 9PM) and stops in Paris at Gare de Lyon and Montparnasse. The RATP bus departs from all three terminals (including Terminal 3 - where charter flights and low cost airlines generally arrive) every 15 minutes. It arrives in Paris and stops at Place de l'Opéra alongside the American Express office. Service is from 6AM to 10:30PM. The Noctilien Night Bus runs hourly from approximately 00:00 - 5:00AM between Charles de Gaulle airport and Paris. The line 140 stops at airport Terminals 1, 2F and 3 and arrives in Paris at the Gare du Nord and Gare de L'Est train stations, two other lines serve the Paris suburbs. Travel time from the airport to Paris is approximately 50 minutes and the fare is 7.20€ (Navigo Pass zones 1-5 is also accepted).

Orly Airport: Both the Air France bus and the RATP bus leave from both terminals of Orly for travel into Paris. The Air France bus stops in Paris are adjacent to Metro stations Montparnasse and Invalides. The RATP bus stop (Orlybus)is adjacent to Metro station Denfert Rochereau. The Noctilien Night Bus line 131 runs hourly between 00:00 and 04:00AM from Orly Ouest and Orly Sud terminals to four stops in Paris, including Gare d'Austerlitz and Gare de Lyon. The fare is 5.40€ (Navigo Pass zones 1-4 is also accepted).

Beauvais: Ryan Air operates a service between Beauvais airport and the 17th arrondissement in Paris. Beauvais airport is about 40 miles from Paris and driving time is approximately one hour. When arriving in Beauvais, follow the signs to the bus, it leaves 20 minutes after flight arrivals. When departing France, you can catch the Ryan Air Coach at "Paris-Beauvais-Shop", 1, boulevard Pershing, close to Metro: Porte Maillot. The bus leaves 2.5 - 3 hours before the scheduled flight time.There is no other scheduled transportation to Beauvais airport, so if you miss the bus you will need to arrange your own transportation.

Transfers between airports: Charles de Gaulle airport to Orly airport: Air France operates a bus transfer service between Charles de Gaulle airport and Orly airport. The bus departs from Terminal 1 and Terminals 2A -2F (the same points as the Air France bus to Paris - see below) and it runs every 30 minutes from 5:55AM to 10:30PM. The price is 19.00€ one-way (children 2-11: 9.50€).

Price: Charles de Gaulle: Air France bus: 15€/person (children 2-11: 7.50€), RATP bus: 9.40€/person Orly: Air France bus: 11,50€/person (children 2-11: 5.50€), RATP bus: 6.40€/person Beauvais: Ryan Air bus: 13€/person

Verdict: The airport bus service can be a good economical option for the budget minded traveler who has more luggage than can be comfortably carried on the Metro or for those who prefer the additional security and comfort offered by the bus when choosing Paris airport transportation. However, if your destination / point of departure is not in close proximity to one of the bus stops, for those traveling in groups of two or more the bus may turn out to offer small savings or perhaps be just as expensive as a taxi. If you don't have private transportation, in order to get to and from the bus station in Paris, you must take another bus, taxi or Metro. All in all, in order to get to and from the bus station, you should count on an additional fee of up to 20€ if you take a taxi (see details on taxis below), and 1.70€/person to take the bus or Metro inside the city limits.

More Information: RATP website, Air France website, Noctilien website.

Metro / RER: The RER is the regional rail system that links the suburbs to the Paris Metro. Trains run every 15 minutes (every eight minutes during peak periods) and the trip takes approximately 35-45 minutes. The RER is seamlessly linked to the Metro and they share the same stations inside the Paris city limits.

There are two RER stations in Charles de Gaulle airport:

Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 1: Terminals 1 and 3 Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2: Terminal 2 and TGV train

When travelling to Paris from CDG airport, you can take the free airport shuttle train - CDGVAL from any airport terminal to either RER station, You can also walk to the RER from Terminals 2 or 3. Once at the terminal buy a ticket that is valid for a ride to the center of Paris (if you have euro coins or a French issued credit card with a smart chip, you can buy a ticket from the ticket machine and skip waiting in line). This ticket is good for a transfer from the RER to the local Metro system and an unlimited number of transfers once you are inside the Metro (as long as you don't exit a metro station). If you know which station is closest to your destination, then you can consult the maps inside the station to find the quickest route. The first RER train departs Airport CDG for Paris at 04:58 and the last train leaves at 23:58.

Metro
Going to Charles de Gaulle airport, you must take the Metro to station Gare du Nord and then board the RER line B, direction Roissy/CDG. You will exit at one of the stations: Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 1 or Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 - TGV. Sometimes it is not easy to recognize which RER trains go to the airport and which turn off towards another destination once outside the city limits. You must be careful to get on the right train and it is usually prudent to ask somebody at the station which train is the correct one. Once you exit the RER you can use the free CDGVAL shuttle to go to the appropriate terminal. CDG airport is huge, so you'll need to allow sufficient time for this stage of the trip. The first RER train departs the Gare du Nord station for CDG airport at 05:25 and the last train leaves at 23:15. 8.70€/person

Going to Orly airport is a little bit easier, you simply take the "Orlyval", which connects to the RER at the Chatelet Metro station (duration 32 minutes) and makes two stops directly adjacent to the terminals: Orly Ouest (Orly West) and Orly Sud (Orly South). You'll need to look at your flight itinerary to see which terminal you are leaving from. Trains run from 06:00 - 23:00. 10.25€/person

English sites with good information

Micheline Train

The train leaves Tana every Saturday and returns from Andasibe every Sunday.
Tana - Andasibe: 22nd October, 8am till noon
Andasibe - Tana: 23rd October, 2pm till 6pm

East of Tana along the RN2 direction Tamatave

Manjakandriana

located 48km from Tana
Manja Hotel with basic rooms
bank, hospital
road splits to Mantasoa and Lake Mantasoa

Mantasoa

means “is pleasant even raw”
located 65km from Tana (about 3 hours, 1,5 hours from the road to Tana)
on the shore of the artificial Lake Mantasoa (suitable for swimming, water sports, fishing)
Jean Laborde
very nice walking area
various hotels
www.mantasoa.com in French
www.travel2mada.com

Mandraka Park

located 61km from Tana
Malagasy-run wooden bungalows
popular amongst locals from Tana
hiking
22 431 27 mandrakapark@moov.mg

Madagascar Exotic

also called Mandraka Reptile Farm
located 72km from Tana
small zoo with reptiles, crocodiles, butterflies, mammals
pets live in not so good conditions
restaurant, mid-range en-suite rooms
opening times: 7am - 5pm, entrance fee 10,000 Ariary, guide 2,000 Ariary for zoo, guide 6,000 Airary zoo and lemurs
22 321 01 or 032 04 108 87

Moramanga

means "cheap mangoes"
taxi-brousse from Tana (5,000 Ariary) takes about 3 hours
train leaves on Monday and Thursday direction Tamatave and returns on Wednesday and Saturday
several hotels and restaurants, bank, post-office, internet-cafes
attractions include a mausoleum and police museum (police history, guns, cannons, murder weapons)
roads split to the north direction Lake Alaotra (RN44)

Andasibe

about 3,5 hours from Tana and 2km from RN2
recommended to take the taxi-brousse from Tana to Moramanga (5,000 Ariary) and from there to Andasibe
train from Moramanga takes 45 minutes (1,800 Ariary)
small village, except a post office is nothing there (no bank, no internet)
several hotels from low to high end

Andasibe-Mantadia National Park

Analamazaotra Forest and Mantadia form the Andasibe-Mantadia National Park
believed to be Madagascar's most popular reserve
open from 6am to 4pm
entrance fee 10,000 Ariary, guides start at 15,000 Ariary (hours)
Association Mitsinjo (NGO) takes care of some of the Analamazaotra Forest - visits at a lower price than national park
offer canopy tour via sliding between platforms constructed high in tree
open from 7am to 5pm and 6.30pm to 9pm
entrance fee including guide starting at 30,000 Ariary (2 hours)
56 832 33 or 033 14 474 89 and mitsinjo@hotmail.com
http://sites.google.com/site/mitsinjo/home
Mitsinjo office on the left, thereafter park entrance to the right