Suspaul

Hello. A friend and I will be in Paris 24.3 - 31.3.2009, this will be my 9th visit and the first time for my friend. We have rented an apartment thru Vacation In Paris, #201 located on rue St. Antoine, very near the St. Paul Metro, line 1. My friend has issues with walking and I would like to use the bus on this trip but have to admit to being a bit intimidated by the bus routes as I have rarely used them and when I did I seem to have a knack for going the wrong direction.

We plan to buy the Navigo Decouverte pass, that too will be new for me as I've used either the Carte Orange or carnets in the past, but think this will be the best option with using the bus and Metro. Anyone have input that may help with our purchasing this?

Guenmai, I recently saw the bus info you passed along to yellowrose 477 and was wondering, if you have time, would you mind helping me? I know we would see so much more of Paris if we could figure out the bus routes rather than being underground in the Metro all of the time. In my previous trips I've always walked loads and used the Metro for the most part but this may be a bit of a challenge for my friend. We of course plan to do the usual Paris sights, both usual and unusual, if someone has anything to pass along that we should not miss.

Thanks in advance for any and all help, your time is appreciated as are any and all suggestions.
Susan

yk

Have you checked the ratp.fr website? They have an interactive map, and you can choose BUS ROUTES on that interactive map. Very useful and very easy to navigate.

yk

Here's the interactive bus map:
http://www.ratp.info/orienter/cv/cartebus.php

If you click on the bus route, it'll show you where it goes and you can click on the icons to see the schedules etc.

If you click on a location (eg, Hotel de Ville), it'll show you all the bus routes that serve that place, and the icons include a local area map which shows you the exact location of where each route's stop is.

Suspaul

Thank you yk, I will definitely look at it, I really hope to overcome my 'bus fear', this trip.
S

gracejoan3

You will enjoy using the bus. Much better than Metro. Also, if you have the Navigo Decouverte it is that much better. You don't even need to take it out of your purse to use.

Enjoy,

Joan

jpie

I am so excited to hear someone brave enough to use the bus! I live in Paris part-time and only use the bus. Me and all the 80 year grand mothers . I love them because you get a much better orientation to the city than just diving into and coming out of holes!

I always use the ratp.fr site to plan my trip. They have a great feature on the site called "itinerary" where you can type in addresses and if you click the box marked tramway and buses, it will give you the appropriate route using those transports only. In your case the easy way is to plot your destination from the St. Paul metro. I just checked and it seems to work as well on their English site as on their French site. In the English site, the feature is the first one under the "finding your way tab". So if you have internet access at the apartment, this will make your planning really easy. Luckily, you are in the center of Paris so you will have lots of choices in buses. They can get crowded at peak hours, but that is also true of the metro too. In general, of course, you need to leave more time, but honestly I did my work commute for 3 years by bus and it really only took me about 10 minutes longer. And of course, since you will be based in one place you will get to know "your lines" very quickly. The buses also make it easy by announcing the next stop and since you seem to know the city pretty well you will be able to see as your go along on your trip get a much better idea of where you are than on the metro. Have fun and let us know how it goes.

Also, if you haven't already noticed on the link from YK, when you click on a bus number, it will show you its route, which is also handy.

yk

Hi S, I am also a recent convert to Paris buses. In the previous visits, I've always limited myself to using subways only. On our last trip, I finally used the buses and I really prefer them to metro - with much less walking and more sightseeing. Once I figured out the bus routes (using the interactive maps, and the area map), it was super easy. Since I only used the buses in central Paris, I was able to follow along on my map. Therefore, it's impossible to get lost!

JulieVikmanis

For 5.5 euros you can pick up a guide called LE BUS at most newsstands so that you can have something in your pocket as you march along and don't have easy access to a computer to figure out your route. It will supplement your planning nicely.

avalon

http://www.ratp.info/touristes/index...at=itineraires

I usually have my laptop with me so each day I use the itierary link above to get the correct routes to get to my first stop quickly. Then for onward journeys I print those out too. If I'm wandering I just check each map at the bus stop and head in a direction I know will eventually get me back to where I started. Been using the bus exclusively the last 10 or 12 trips, except where a nearby metro will drop me in front of where I want to be with no connections.

JeanneB

I used to to to a great map site (other than ratp). It was a street overlay type and had the actual bus STOPS on it. It came in handy when combining metro/bus routes. But I can't find it now.

Does anyone know of such a map that shows the bus stops?

TimS

Suspaul,

Technically speaking, you will load a Carte Orange Hebdomadaire on a passe Navigo Decouverte. For more information, go here: http://tinyurl.com/8f9thz.

Suspaul

Again, thanks so much to all who have responded to my plea for help, so many great tips. I have gone to the ratp website and played around with the interactive map, how wonderful is that? I will/have been bringing my laptop as it comes in handy to help plan the days activities and figure out the bus routes, etc. Will let you know how I came out when I return.
Merci
Susan

Guenmai

Suspaul- This is what I'd do in your case. When you get to Paris, go to either a department store or a stationery store and buy the bus guide called, "Le Bus-Repertoire des 80 lignes by
L'Indispensable. It's a thin, blue book....very easy to tote around. I never leave home without it and I only paid 6 Euros for it. Plus, the bus routes are highlighted making it very easy to read. There's a map that goes with each bus route...page by page.

Then, when you get to your apartment, find the bus routes closest to you and jot the numbers down and while back at the apartment you can do some research as to where the buses go in your area. Also when you get out into the city , with the bus guide, and wonder where certain buses go, just use the guide. The guide also has a map of Paris in it and a map of the metro that is very clear and easy (large print) to read.

The other thing you can do, as I did back in the 70s, when I started figuring out the bus routes, is just jump on a bus and see where it takes you. I would ride buses and then jot down interesting sites etc...that I saw along the way on a particular route. And back then, I didn't have a bus map book. I did it by memory and jotted down notes.

If you have a metro pass, it's also good for the bus. So, you could just ride around a lot and figure out your bearings.

I can't really map out routes for you as I don't know where you want to go. Plus, I was able to basically map out Yellowsrose's route, off of the top of my head, as she will be staying in the neighborhood that I've stayed in for over 25 years. ..although I've been all over Paris on the bus. Hope this info has helped. Have a great trip! Happy Travels!

nukesafe

I use a book by L'Indispensable, as well. It is called "Le petit Parisien, 3 Plans par Arrondissement". It may be a bit larger than the one Guenmai mentions, but it has three plans for each arrondissiment, a street map, a map of the Metro, and a map of the bus routes. It makes it easy to see the location you are going to, and to decide which form of transport makes the most sense. We almost always end up using the bus.

Each bus stop has it's own map showing the routes, the buses that stop there, and a schedule. Makes it easy to see when the next bus is coming, and if you have time to pop in for another glass of wine before it comes.

JenG

I am currently staying very near the St. Paul metro stop as well and we have been using the bus system extensively. Honestly, you will have no issues whatsoever. It is very easy to navigate and the buses come at a very regular pace (most we have waited is maybe 10 minutes tops). A few buses right outside your door...The Bus #69 goes directly to the Louvre then on to the 7th Arrondisement near Rue Cler, Eiffel Tower etc. The line #96 goes to the Latin Quarter. The 29 goes to Les Halles. Enjoy!!

cathies

Hi Jpie, we love the buses too, and the 80 year old grandmothers. One became very agitated once on our last trip when I didn't scan my pass when I got on the bus. I had every intention of doing so but couldn't reach past the other passengers to get to the machine. She was very cute, making it very clear what she wanted me to do, but all in lightning fast French which I had no hope of following. She did give me a huge smile when I managed to get to the machine.

Suspaul - Don't forget that as well as their numbers the buses have the stops printed on the sides of them. Plus the bus stops all have the route stops printed on the wall. Don't worry if you go the wrong way, just get off, cross the street and catch one going the other way.

I love being able to see more of Paris, rather than being stuck underground. The Navigo Decouverte passes are great, you won't be sorry that you have them.

avalon

Also check the signs at the bus stops to make sure your bus is running that day. Some lines do not run on Sundays and holidays.

kerouac

The new buses with the electronic luminous indicators no longer have the route printed on the side. However, you will always find the exact detail of the route inside the bus.

JeanneB

From Saint Paul you are very close to the Hotel de Ville bus hub. Walk or ride to HDV and you can pick up buses in all directions. Granted, HDV can be a madhouse. But you'll get used to it.

On the map, simply click on the HDV hub. The map will highlight the spiderweb of routes that start there. Use that identify a line that will get you to the <I>area</i> you want. Then select a stop along that line where you can pick up a connecting line for your exact destination. Using HDV, I suspect you will be able to do most of your travel with only one bus change.

Robespierre

Here's a handy-dandy guide to Paris Bus Lore:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...nte-b-cest.cfm