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Paris Visite/ Mobilis cards for Paris Metro - seeking zone info

Paris Visite/ Mobilis cards for Paris Metro - seeking zone info

Old Feb 6th, 2002, 08:26 AM
  #1  
Kavey
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Paris Visite/ Mobilis cards for Paris Metro - seeking zone info

Hi All

Having searched down through our older posts I think I understand what the Paris Visite and Mobilis cards are about.

But I have some related questions:

Can one buy them at the Gare du Nord station on the day?
(we'll be arriving into Paris on the Eurostar this Saturday around 1.40 pm local time).

Does anyone know a site which shows a clear and legible map of the Metro and RER systems which includes zones? The maps I have found do not display zones, and many are so poor in quality that I can't read station names.

I am trying to work out what zones we would need.

Does a 13 year old count as an adult, child or is there some other discounted fare which would apply?

Does anyone have information on the current price of carnets de 10 in Euros or Francs?

We will be in Paris for 5 consecutive days and will probably use the metro quite a bit so I am trying to work out our best travel options.

THANKS!
 
Old Feb 6th, 2002, 08:58 AM
  #2  
Christina
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yes, you can buy metro/RER tickets and passes at Gare du Nord as there is a stop there.

A good map of the zones is on the www.ratp.fr web site, here is the specific map section: http://www.citefutee.com/orienter/plans.php
Click on the right hand size list for maps for "zones" It is very detailed as to stops and zones, you just have to make it larger using Acrobat (it's a PDF). As far as I know, a 13 year old gets no ticket reductions, they are only for those less than 10 yrs old (or LT 4 years old is free).

All this info should be on the RATP web site.


Carnets are currently 9,30 euros.
 
Old Feb 6th, 2002, 08:58 AM
  #3  
beth
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http://www.ratp.fr/
Kavey, try this - click on Paris Visite and Adobe brings up a colored map with the zones. We bought ours at the main Paris tourist location on the Champs Elysee. We loved just being able to "flash" our cards.
 
Old Feb 6th, 2002, 08:59 AM
  #4  
beth
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oops, Acrobat, wrong program....
 
Old Feb 6th, 2002, 09:12 AM
  #5  
Sue
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Kavey, here is a good site with all the current prices of things:
www.citefutee.com/informer/tarif.php#mobilis

As you can tell, a carnet is E9.30 and a Mobilis for Zones 1&2 is 5.

This basically comes from the www.ratp.fr site, but their zone map has to be downloaded and then is illegible (as far as I can tell). Suffice it to say, zone 1 is Paris proper (within the blvd peripherique) and zone 2 is a small band around that. That should be all you need. Versailles & Orly are in zone 4, and CDG zone 5.

Yes, you can buy them at the Gare du Nord metro station that day.

I finally found something on children: 50% reduction from 4-10, so that leaves out your 13 year old.

There is something called a "Ticket Jeune" that's good for all day Sat., Sun or holiday for people under 26; you must have little pix for that, and darned if I could figure out how much it costs. Not sure it would be worth the hassle.

Hope this helps.
 
Old Feb 6th, 2002, 11:13 AM
  #6  
elvira
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Okay here's my take on the whole thing:

The Carte Orange is the best deal, if you are traveling Monday thru Sunday, or most of your travel is during that time. You have to have a picture. It costs 13.25 euros.

The Paris Visite 5-day pass is 26.65 euros for zones 1-3 (all you'll need); no photo. As soon as it's validated (Thursday, for example) the clock starts ticking.

Mobilis is a one-day pass, costs 5 euros for zones 1-2. More expensive than the Orange card, a couple euros cheaper than the Visite for five days.

Carnet: 10 tickets, good forever, can be shared (last day, need to use 4 trains, buy a carnet for two people). One ticket per bus - no transfers like in the metro so not so good if you're taking a lot of buses and "corresponding".

I always figure out about how many metro trips I'll take (okay okay I figure EXACTLY how many metro trips I'll take) then buy what's appropriate (the carnets usually win).
 
Old Feb 6th, 2002, 11:45 AM
  #7  
pam
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Can these only be purchased once in France at the train stations? Is there a way to purchase them in advance in the States ( I assume it is not cost efficient to do this).
Thanks
 
Old Feb 6th, 2002, 12:26 PM
  #8  
elvira
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Paris Visite can be bought in the U.S. through various agencies. You pay an extra $10 - ok if you're buying 10 passes, an extra buck isn't a big deal for the convenience, but fiscally unsound otherwise. Nothing else can be bought until you get to France.

Since all the train stations in Paris have/are metro stops, you can buy the carnets, Mobilis, etc. there; the Paris Visite is available in other places, like newsstands and tourist offices.



 
Old Feb 6th, 2002, 12:29 PM
  #9  
Ursula
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Pam: You can get all these tickets, carnets, special cards like Paris Visite, etc. at any metro stop in Paris. All train station are connected with direct metro access as well where you can get want you need.
Really, no need at all to purchase in advance.
 
Old Feb 6th, 2002, 04:09 PM
  #10  
pam
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Thank you both for the information
 
Old Feb 7th, 2002, 12:22 AM
  #11  
kavey
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Thank you all so much, a checking those sites now.

Kavey
 
Old Feb 7th, 2002, 04:42 AM
  #12  
kavey
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Hi all...

With the information here, and on the RAPT site, I have these prices:

Carnet de 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E 9.30

Weekly Carte Orange . . . . . . . . . .E 13.25

1 day Mobilis pass . . . . . . . . . . . .E 5.00

Paris Visite 1 day . . . . . . . . . . . . .E 8.35
Paris Visite 2 day . . . . . . . . . . . . .E 13.70
Paris Visite 3 day . . . . . . . . . . . . .E 18.25
Paris Visite 5 day . . . . . . . . . . . . .E 26.65



I don't think we will need the Paris Visite.

But if the price for the Carte Orange is correct it only works out as 2.65 Euros a day. That's the equivalent of 3.5 tickets out of the carnet per day. So if we are going to average more than 14 trips each during the week, it would be worth it.

Do I really have the price for a weekly Carte Orange correct???
 
Old Feb 7th, 2002, 05:32 AM
  #13  
Ruth
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Hi Kavey

My understanding is that the Carte Orange is best if you can buy it near the start of the week as it runs out on Sunday (regardless when you start to use it). But I may be wrong here - the experts can advise!
 
Old Feb 7th, 2002, 05:43 AM
  #14  
Ruth
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Also, you can pick up quite a good free metro and bus map while you are waiting to board the Eurostar at Waterloo. They also sell the Paris Visite card there, but like you we came to the conclusion that that was not best value for us.
 
Old Feb 7th, 2002, 06:27 AM
  #15  
Ursula
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Kavey:
The Carte Orange runs from Monday-Sunday.
It can be purchased until Wednesday of the current week.
As from Fridy, the CO for the following week (valid as from the following Monday only) can be purchased.
On Thursday, no CO is being sold.
 
Old Feb 7th, 2002, 06:27 AM
  #16  
beth
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In case you plan to do any buying, the Paris Visite does give you 10% off museum shop purchases (except books); the site lists the bonuses. For me, what I saved on the books (5%)at the Louvre made up for any difference in it and the carnet. There are also several two-for-one offers - the canal ride, the Montparnasse Tower, free desserts--so if you plan to do any of those, you might want to factor that into the cost.
 
Old Feb 7th, 2002, 06:40 AM
  #17  
GGinSF
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When I was there in December I went mid-week to mid-week, so the Carte Orange was out (if you're going Mon-Sun then it's definitely the best deal). I started getting one day Mobilis tickets which are convienient, but I found that I planned my trips to areas well enough that I made less than 5 trips a day so I switched to buying the carnet. I averaged 3 trips a day and I saw a lot of sights (I did do a lot of walking, however). Either way, the cost isn't much different so don't fret too much over which to get.
 
Old Feb 7th, 2002, 06:45 AM
  #18  
kavey
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POO!

I am arriving in Paris this Saturday and am leaving on Wednesday evening...

So it's totally not going to be worth it for us...

I think in this case that we can stick to carnets for most days, and if there is a day where we know we will do more than 5 trips each, we can buy a Mobilis pass for that day only.

I don't think Paris Visite is worth it, as we aren't likely to do much shopping in museum shops or visit the sites it gives discounts for...

THANKS again for all the advice...

Kavey
 
Old Feb 7th, 2002, 10:32 AM
  #19  
toptop
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Topping for Lynne
 
Old Feb 7th, 2002, 10:32 AM
  #20  
Kavey
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Topping for Lynne...
 

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