Pre-booked taxis make changing in Paris even easier

By Daniel Elkan

Many train journeys to ski resorts involve a change of station in Paris. While this is quite simple using the Metro or taxi rank (or even walking, if its Gare du Nord to Gare de L'Est) we thought it would be easier if a taxi driver could meet you at the end of the Eurostar platform and drive you to your onward station.

So, we found several reliable Paris taxi companies and asked them to make these journeys possible specifically for skiers and snowboarders coming from the UK, with booking online or by phone.

I tested one of these services, Verture,  from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon on my way to the French ski resort, Megeve. It was a doddle.

The taxi driver was waiting at the end of the platform with a placard with my name on it. He loaded my suitcase and snowboard bag into the taxi (parked outside Gare du Nord station) and we were off. The cab, a Toyota Prius hybrid vehicle, had a TV screen, but I was more interested in the views of famous or interesting Parisien buildings, which the driver helpfully pointed on the 15-minute journey.

Traffic can get heavy in Paris on weekdays 5-7pm and weekend evenings, when you need to allow an extra 20 minutes per journey.

Fares, which are paid in advance, are reasonable. The best deal for the single traveller is a €20 'shared taxi', which means the taxi company may pick up other skiers from the same train. Four people sharing a private taxi pay €50, or eight sharing a people carrier pay €89. Luggage, including skis and snowboards, are carried at no extra charge. Even if your train arrives late (rare in Europe), the taxi driver waits for you at no extra cost, which is reassuring.

All these services can be booked in advance from the guide to changing in Paris pages on snowcarbon. Bookings can be amended to change the number of people, and if you need to cancel the booking, this can be done with just 48 hours notice.