ssander

Hi all...

We'll be arriving in Terminal 1 in May (assuming USAir doesn't change their usual arrival terminal because of the merger with American). We'll take the CDGVAL to terminal 3 to load up our Navigo cards and head into Paris via RER B.

Looking at the plans on the CDG website, it appears things have changed since our last flight in 2009 and my instructions on how to get to the CDGVAL are obsolete.

It looks like access to the CDGVAL is at level 0, but the multi-level interactive plan on the website doesn't seem to have the elevators lined up from level to level.

Do all the elevators go from level 3 to level 0, only some of them, or none of them forcing me to change elevators somewhere between level 3 (arrivals) and level 0 (CDGVAL)?

...or am I totally confused and need a Fodorite to set me straight starting from scratch?

Thanks.
SS

Sarastro

Once you exit customs (baggage claim) at Terminal 1 there are big signs indicating CDGVAL. Follow the signs, take the elevator down to the level indicated and proceed to the CDGVAL entrance. The free luggage carts are not allowed on the train. You will be going to Roissypol (not exactly Terminal 3).

The ticket machines at Roissypol usually accept magnetic strip credit card, the ticket machines at Terminal 2 do not.

If you are using Navigo cards for going to Paris, will you really need zone 1-5 coverage, required for CDG to Paris, or will you basically be staying in central Paris only. I ask because it is possible to purchase zone 1-2 coverage and then purchase a one time fare, CDG into Paris, at a rate less than the normal ticket rate (approx. 8.50€ vs. 9.75€). Depending upon your plans, this option can save you money.

kerouac

It's easy to get down to the CDGVal, either by the elevators or the escalators.

ssander

Thanks...got it. (Roissypol is the same CDGVAK stop as Terminal 3, right?)

I figured I'd just have to follow the signs, but I wanted to be sure. Since we're arriving on a Tue, we'll put the Carte Orange (or is it called "passe semaine" now) on our Navagos and then add the Paris fare as well.

Do I understand you that we won't have to buy from the ticket booth because the machines in Roissypol take regular credit cards that do not have a pin-chip?

SS

Sarastro

<i>Since we're arriving on a Tue, we'll put the Carte Orange (or is it called "passe semaine" now) on our Navagos and then add the Paris fare as well.</i>

Your plans confuse me. You arrive on Tuesday, have ND cards, want to take the RER B into Paris but after that your intentions are not clear. A one week, zone 1-5 fare is 34.40€. A one week, zone 1-2 fare is 20.40€.

How long are you staying in Paris and do you have any plans to travel outside of central Paris?

kerouac

Yes, just take the CDGVal to the Roissypôle station which serves CDG1 and CDG3. The name of the RER station is CDG1.

ssander

Sarasto...

We've done this before -- not total newbies--but we're always grateful for help/ideas. Here's my thinking:

The carte orange will be zones 1-2 and will serve through Sunday. An extra fare will be added for the trip to the city. We're staying till Wed. the following week, so we'd need two COs for each of us with zone 1-5: 129.60€ for two people.

We figured a single carnet (plus our two leftover t+ tix from our last trip) will get us through Mo-Tu the second week, plus a couple of single tickets back to CDG.

That's only 91€:

20.40 carte orange
8.50 trip from CDG surcharged on the CO
9.75 trip to CDG w/o CO)
------
38.85
x 2 people
------
77.30
13.70 carnet
------
91.00

We're probably not going outside of zone 2 this trip...

<strong>BUT, Sarasto...thanks for bringing that up</strong>, in case we change our plans before we leave home and decide to include a day trip that requires going to an outer zone.

We did, at some point, consider a day-trip to <strong>Senlis</strong>. If we settled on that, will buying the 1-5 zone CO help?

It looks like an SNCF train would be better than RER and the station (where we would get a bus to Senlis) seems to be beyond zone 5. Will the zone 1-5 CO be of any use in that case?

Thanks.

SS

Sarastro

The <i>Complément de parcours</i> or the Navigo surcharge has only been an available option for less that a year. I only wanted to be sure that you knew about it as you have stated you have not been to Paris since 09. The CDG to Paris complément de parcours will lower the fare from 9.75€ to 8.50€ (using your 8.50 number because I cannot remember it specifically).

As you have not purchased a complément de parcours previously, the process will be for you to charge your Navigo card with the zone 1-2 fare first, then add the complément de parcours fare. You will have 3 hours to complete the trip after loading the fare to Paris onto your Navigo card.

Senlis is outside of zone 5 and you would need to take RER D to Chantilly from Gare de l´Est and then take a bus. My opinion is that beyond the limits of zone 5, a Navigo offers little to no advantage. You might clarify at the Roissypol information booth prior to purchasing the Navigo zone 1-2 fare.

ssander

Sarastro...

Many thanks for your info. (Actually I mis-spoke...we were in Paris for 4 days in 2011, but came via Eurostar from London rather than CDG and only used carnets.)

The <i>complément de parcours</i> is, indeed, new to me, and I will be sure to use that reduction. (Every little bit helps. )

...and I'll use my very sub-standard French to get the rules about the Chantilly stop at the booth if no Fodorite can enlighten me.

Once again, thanks so much.

SS