I%26#39;m sure this is a silly question, but...
I have booked a car service to pick me up at CDG on Thursday. I am supposed to call an 0800 number on any France Telecom public phone once I have arrived.
Will I need a phonecard to operate the phone (even though the call is free)?
Thanks in advance.
|||
I believe you can call without a card but not all 08 numbers are totally free, some are just charged at cheaper than normal rates. If you have a problem completing your call, you can:
1. Call using a credit card, instructions are in the phone booths in English. Fees are really nominal considering convenience.
2. Purchase a telecarte at any of the numerous Tabac or magazine stores. These are good to carry for emergency purposes anyway.
It seems a bit unusual that a %26quot;car service%26quot; would require a call upon arrival at CDG. Usually they are supplied with your estimated arrival time, airline, and flight number so they are in position when you arrive. I assume you%26#39;ll have a bit of a wait if they do not dispatch until you call confirming you are there.
|||
I agree that%26#39;s an unusual procedure - to me, part of the point of paying the premium for a car service is that they meet you outside of baggage claim and take the bags, etc. If you%26#39;re paying extra and still have to wait for them, you might be just as well off with a taxi!
There are quite a few places in CDG where you can get a phone card if needed (I think a few on the level where the gates are, and also down on the lower level).
|||
At NY airports, %26quot;black cars%26quot; (limos), are made to wait in a holding area just off airport property. Upon arrival, you call an 800# and they usually arrive within 5 or 10 minutes. Maybe this is the case at CDG.
|||
I think that as with US airports, it depends whether they are willing to pay a couple of euros in order to park and actually meet at baggage claim. Personally, I don%26#39;t see much advantage in using a service that makes me wait, rather than being there when I come out with my bags (whether in the US or at CDG). I have used VPALimousines many times, and they always met us right outside the baggage claim area:
VPALimousines
66 Avenue des Champs Elysées-75008 Paris
Tél : 06 62 04 11 12 ou 06 07 34 84 97
Fax : 06 07 34 85 71
Email : vpalimousines@free.fr
|||
Thanks for the feedback everyone. The company I am using is Paris Shuttle. I ended up calling them, just to be certain about the procedure.
They confirmed that I will not need a phonecard to make the call. I guess the reason they need me to call is to confirm that I have made it through customs with my bags.
I booked my trip through American Airlines vacations and this is the company they used for airport transfers, so that%26#39;s why I selected them.
|||
Juilletdix, thanks for explaining. If you%26#39;re using a shuttle (not a private car service) that%26#39;s more understandable. You might want to do a search on this forum about that shuttle service, however, because there are two with almost identical names and one gets bad reviews but the other gets good reviews. If you happen to be booked on the %26quot;wrong%26quot; one, and are able to change, you might want to think about that.
|||
I%26#39;m on the one with only one %26quot;s%26quot;, which seems like it%26#39;s the OK one.
We booked a private shuttle, so I expect this to go okay.
|||
Glad to hear it - enjoy your trip!
|||
Hi Juilletdix,
It is not a silly question, at all!
I was also a bit concerned about it all myself!
I used Parishuttle for my van service to and from the airport back the end of October.
It was very easy. As you are heading to baggage claim you will see the phones clearly marked. I stopped ... made the call...the operator asked me if I had collected my bags at baggage claim yet? I replied...No. She said, after you get your bags/..... go up the stairs...turn right and go out door 208... or some such number.
I stood for approx. 10 - 15 mins before the van arrived.
It was very easy.
No problems at all.
|||
Thanks trechic!
I will remember to call before I get my bags, rather than afterwards.
BTW - I enjoyed reading your trip recaps!!
No comments:
Post a Comment