large group

I%26#39;m traveling thru Paris Oct 2006 with a group of 35-40. We only have 3-4 hours on a Sunday in Paris. I would be grateful for any and all help.

1)Does anyone know of a tour company that would pick us up at CDG, take us to the Eiffel Tower, and a place to do some inexpensive shopping? From what I have read this mode of travel may take over an hour to get into Paris. Since we will be there on a Sunday and I don%26#39;t know if traffic is less busy then or not this may be the best option.

2)We have considered taking the RATP, but we are not sure that this is possible with a group. If it is where could we store our carry on baggage (the airport does not have lockers)? Also what routes should we take?

Thank you for any help or ideas.

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When you say %26quot;..3-4 hours..%26quot; do you mean simply between inboaund flight arrival and outbound flight departure??...OR...you estimate that you will have %26#39;3-4 hour%26#39; after you figure that time it will take to clear formalities at CDG, transfer from CDG into Paris, then transfer back out to CDG re-check-in with your airline, clear through airport security and make it to your departure gate?.

If all you%26#39;ve got is %26#39;3-4 hours between inbound flight and outbound flight, you%26#39;re pretty much stuck at CDG, touring through the duty-free shops that may be open or having your backsides molded to the shape of airport waiting lounge seats.

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We will have 3-4 hours of actual %26quot;free time%26quot;.

Thank you for responding to my questions.

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I personally don%26#39;t know of any tour companies who do that. But I%26#39;m sure an internet search would produce something.

I think you are stretching yourself though. I think that going to the Eiffel Tower would be pretty much all you have time for. Taking 35-40 people shopping from the ET (and on Sunday many shops are closed, by the way) will add enormous amounts of time plus the fear that someone will wander off, get lost, be late, etc.

Taking the RER/metro would be equally difficult due to the size of your group.

Personally, as someone who has led student groups on trips, I would probably opt to stay at CDG. Not fun, but the safest option with a group that size. %26quot;If it can go wrong, it will%26quot;.

Les

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I%26#39;d contact the Paris Tourist Office.

They may be able to arrange a sightseeing tour by bus into the city for your group and get you all back in time at CDG.

It won%26#39;t be free, but at least you could store your luggage on the bus and no one will get lost.

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I believe that your best bet will be to contact Gray Line (aka Cityrama in Paris). You can charter a bus with them to do just about anything you want.

Gray Line France - Paris

CITYRAMA TERMINAL DEPARTURE,

2 RUE DES PYRAMIDES

75001 PARIS

FRANCE

Phone: 33 1-44-55-60-00

Email: GLPARIS@CITYRAMA.FR

www.etix.com/travel/servlet/onlineSale…

If you simply want transportation to/from a drop-off point in Paris, the bus itself shouldn%26#39;t be more than $250-300 per hour. If you wanted to organize multiple stops and have them furnish a guide for you, it will be more. Use their form to complete as much information as you can, and they will quickly get back to you with a price.

Note: The above notes are provided for informational purposes only, and are not meant as an endorsement of your wacky idea by the poster. Should you choose to use the information provided, and one or more of your party becomes lost, disoriented and/or otherwise doesn%26#39;t get on the bus and misses his/her flight; should construction on the peripherique cause you to arrive in Paris with just barely enough time to turn back around to make it to the airport; or, should an accident cause the bus to arrive late for your scheduled return to CDG, thereby causing all parties to miss their connection, the poster assumes no liability whatsoever! LOL