LBloom

Due to mobility issues, it is much easier for me to take the bus than climb the stairs up & down from the metro. I tried going to the RATP website to see which buses are near our rental apt (corner of Rue de Grenelle & Blvd Raspail). I must be doing something wrong because I can't figure out how to get this to display. Also, I was told there is an interactive app I can download for transportation - hoe do I do this so it shows the bus route?

We are arriving on a Friday - best to buy some carnets until Monday and then buy a Navigo pass for DD and me? Other suggestions?

We are arriving on Air France in the early morning. Best to take a taxi to the apt, the Roissy bus or the Air France shuttle? Thanks!

denisea

I think this is it....i can't check it on my iPad. http://www.ratp.fr/plan-interactif/cartebus.php

This link may also help.....http://goparis.about.com/od/transpor...nd_Buses_7.htm

Very helpful to print the individual bus routes and take them with you for your reference. We used the bus a lot when staying in the same area you describe. We just learned quickly to be sure you are at the stop going in the right direction. We don't live in an area where bus travel is a good way to go.

We always just work off carnets but I know many love the Navigo. Your plan for that sounds good...take a photo with you to make the process easier.

I always take a taxi into Paris. Make sure to get one out front in the queue and don't go with a driver that solicits you in the terminal. The AF bus will drop you near Opera Garnier and then you will still need to take a cab,taxi or the metro. For me, the jet lag and the desire to get out there makes a cab worth it.

StCirq

You don't need "some carnets" to tide you over until Monday unless you're planning to take dozens and dozens of buses. A carnet is a packet of 10 tickets, which should be ample for that short amount of time.

julia_t

And if you are going to take six or more buses a day then buy the Mobilis pass. It works out better value than using carnet tickets.

I love the buses in Paris, a great way to get around!

LBloom

So, I understand we need to have small photos for the Navigo card. Can we just copy our passport photo? Anyone have a cheap suggestion? Would like to bring with us. Thanks!

Christina

How cheap are you? YOu can get a passport-sized photo in tons of photo booths in shopping malls and places like that in the US for a few dollars.

I suppose you could probably photocopy your passport photo if it were in color and on photo stock paper, why not. Seems like a lot of trouble to me, but if you have the capability of doing that, should work. IN reality, you put together the pass yourself (a plastic outer case and a card you fit into it which you affix your photo to), at least I did but I knew what to do and didn't need instructions and speak French so they could tell I knew all about it. To be honest, what I really needed most when I got it and wanted to put it together to use immediately, was something to cut the photo to the right size as I think it is a bit smaller than a passport-sized photo. I usually carry a small pair of folding travel scissors in my purse but had dumbly left them in my room, but that kind of thing would be useful to have. Or just have some cheap pair of kids scissors on it.


I wouldn't try to use a photo that is just a black and white photocopy of a real photo, although it may be legal, don't know. You could probably get away with it as no one usually ever sees your pass if it works, but if you are stopped or there is a problem, it is possible that is a violation and you could get in trouble.

Didn't you get a bunch of copies of your passport photo when you got it? I did.

This is the website where you can print bus lines, at least individual routes. http://www.ratp.fr/informer/pdf/plans-bus/plans_bus.php

YOu just have to know the number you want and type it into that top box "afficher un plan de ligne de bus". YOu should have an idea of the numbers you want by looking at a bigger map of Paris with the lines on it, such as this one http://www.ratp.fr/informer/pdf/orie...s_paris&fm=gif

StuDudley

Just get a #2 map of the bus routes at a metro station when you get to Paris.

Stu Dudley

Celticharper

We were in Paris the first week in February. We arrived on Saturday so we bought a one way RER ticket from Charles de Gaulle airport to paris center. We spent Sat & Sunday going to places close enough to walk to from our apartment near St Michael's square.

On Monday morning we went to the station St Michael with a computer printout of some photos that we had and just cropped them to head shot only 3cm tall by 2.5cm wide. The clerk was very helpful, he spoke English and the transaction was easy. We purchased the Navigo Découverte pass for zones 1-5 for €34.40 + €5 fee because we were going to Versaille one day and then back to the airport, so this was the most economical one for us. If you are taxiing back to the airport you most likely can buy the Zone 1-2 for only €19.80+ €5 fee. We used the buses a lot because to me it was a free tour of the city, it took longer than the Metro but the stairs in the Metro can be a killer. You can get anywhere you need to on the buses and I found them very pleasant, there is a priority seating area for people with limited mobility and we found that people respected it, we saw riders making seats available when those who required the seating boarded the bus. We never had to wait more than 10 minutes for any bus on any of the lines we used. We found that having the Navigo pass was great because we never hesitated to jump on a bus for a short distance because it was all covered by the pass. We loved traveling on the buses.
Beware though, to buy the Navigo Découverte pass at an RER or Metro station, and not a "Paris Visite Pass" from the tourist bureau Which is a different pass and quite a bit more expensive.

Celticharper

I meant to add this link for you to the information about the
Navigo pass

http://parisbytrain.com/paris-train-...go-decouverte/

Miki_Alexis

Hi everyone.

Can any of you help me with the Navigo pass receipt? At the beginning of the month I renewed the Navigo pass, but meantime my wallet was stolen and I left without my receipt (and my Navigo pass) which should have been reimbursed by the company I'm working for. The easiest way to solve the problem I found it to be by asking one of you a favor. Is anyone willing to ask for a duplicate of your receipt to a SNCF office and 'sell' it to me, let's say for 10 bottles of Budweiser, the best brand of Czech beer?

I am waiting for your answers. Thanks.

Printemps

The free map of bus routes that you get at the metro station might be all you need. I wore mine out from perusing it in the rain so ended up buying (for 5.40 euros) an easy to read pocket book called Paris Bus. I figured out the routes before I left and kept it with me for easy reference. I love riding the buses, it is like a great sightseeing tour of the city and I found the drivers to be very helpful.

PalenQ

A carnet is a packet of 10 tickets, which should be ample for that short amount of time.>

I once figured out that six full fare metro tickets would equal the carnet of 10 tickets - well the word 'carnet' just means a book of tickets but in Paris there are 10 tickets in a carnet. So technically StCirq's reprimand for using carnets in correct!

giro

We are presently in Paris the interactive site only works if you have flash player so that rules out iPads.
If you have a laptop or want to study it at home the site I have is

www.ratp.fr/plan-interactif/cartebus.php?lang=uk

It also works with the metro, and RER

Enjoy your trip