Just to add to Paul's (excellent and helpful) reply....

In message , Paul Corfield
writes
On Mon, 18 Apr 2005 13:16:42 +0200, "Ralf Hermanns"
wrote:

Hi!

Sorry for posting off-topic concerning the Paris Metro, but since my French
language is very limited, I cannot really post into french groups. I hope to
find English languagepeople here that know Paris a bit, and like to share
some advice.

My French is OK and I've been to Paris loads of times.
I work quite often in Paris and speak French.

Remember that virtually any staff you encounter around the airport will
speak at least some English. However, they can get a bit wound up at
"les Anglo-Saxons" (English-speakers who just *assume* everyone speaks
English). You'll find, if you just being with "Excuse-moi, parlez vous
anglais?" or "Vous pourriez m'aidez?" (Excuse me, do you speak English"
or "Could you help me" people will usually go out of their way to help.

Please also note that the French themselves hardly ever refer to this
airport as "Charles de Gaulle". In everyday usage, they seem to prefer
to call it "Roissy", after the area in which it is located.

My question is: What is the best way to get from Charles-de-Gaulle Airport
(landing: 20 min past 8pm, weekday) to the Porte de Bagnolet, and what
prices can be expected?
I found, using the routeplanner on www.ratp.fr that following can be used:
Bus 351 (45mins, ticket: orange 5? price: ?)

This is a direct bus which looks to be express for quite a part of the
journey.
It is indeed express (subject to the ravages of the A1 autoroute which
can be horrendous but Monday evening into Paris is as free flowing as
you're likely to get!)

As it is rather long you need to validate for the number of
sectors covered. For your trip you will cover 7 sectors and therefore
you need to validate 3 tickets per person.
I *think* you can actually buy a single ticket at the *cost* of three
tickets, if you see what I mean. However, Paul's suggestion of buying
carnets will work out cheaper.

Best thing to do is buy a
couple of Carnets at 10.50 euros which means each trip is 3.15 euros per
person as opposed to buying full price single tickets at 1.40 euros per
ticket which would mean you would pay 4.20 euros per person (3 tickets
per person). Most Paris bus routes are now flat fare but the 351 is not.
I know that all sounds a bit complicated but if you have luggage it will
be far more convenient that using the RER and Metro as you will need to
change twice.
The RER from the Airport is a pain for many destinations and the 351 bus
is indeed a good bet.

Combination of RER, and Metro ligne 4 and 3 (2 changes, 1:05h, ticket/Price:
7,5 Euro?)

I agree with this. My first look at the route involves changing at Gare
du Nord to the Metro. Be warned that the interchange at Gare Du Nord is
very big and the walks are quite long between the lines. You will also
go in and out of ticket gates between the various systems. I can't
recall what the interchange is like between lines 4 and 3 at Republique.
If you think some interchanges in London are long, those in Paris are
often (with a few exceptions) truly unbelievable. I have frequently
walked further than I have travelled on the metro when changing lines.
Some 15 years of visiting Paris pretty intensively have still given me
no mental idea of which interchanges are better or worse for this!

I see that the ratp search result sends you via Chatelet Les Halles -
that's one of the biggest underground stations I've ever been in and
again some of the connections can be quite long.
There are a couple of cross platform possibilities at Chatelet Les
Halles but as Paul said, some of the interchanges can be very long
indeed, putting things like Bank-Monument in the shade.

That said, the signage on the Metro/RER is excellent, once you crack the
system of always following signs for the "direction", ie the number and
ultimate destination of the train you want to catch.

What would a taxi (4 person) for this journey be approx.?

No idea - I rarely if ever use taxis.
Taxis for journeys outside the City of Paris (which CdG is) do not have
to be metered, so you'd need to agree a price with the driver first. I
understand that they often *do* use meters for such journeys; its just
that they're not obliged to.

Whatever it costs will be well in excess of using the 351, though.

How good are the signs around the Airport? Is it easy to find the way from
Terminal 1 to the Bus/RER-Station?
There are plentiful; signs for the RER. The 351 picks up outside
Terminal 1 (arrivals level) and the stop has both the RATP sign and the
"351" in a circle. Don't confuse it with the "Roissybus" which picks
up nearby (and costs more). If in doubt ask for "Autobus RATP"
(pronounced "Air - Aaah - Tehy- Pay"!) and staff will show you!

Bon voyage!
--
Ian Jelf, MITG
Birmingham, UK

Registered Blue Badge Tourist Guide for London and the Heart of England
http://www.bluebadge.demon.co.uk