Just when I thought I had all the info I needed about the C.O., Mobilis, 10 carnet, someone mentioned the Navigo. Is this just the new electronically updated version of all those other tickets/passes? If not, how is it different, and if I'm planning on traveling in central Paris for the most part, with maybe one trip to Versailles, is it relevant?
Thanks, in advance, for any answers!

It is the new version of the Carte Orange, not the others, as it's a long-term pass. The Navigo for visitors is called the Decouverte, you should ask for that. I think it costs 5 euro, in addition to the fare you put on it (which is the same as the Carte Orange). If you live there, the pass is free but you have to apply and get it by mail -- so if you need it right away, you pay the five euro for the one you can use right away. Other than that, I think it's the same -- you still need a photo and the fare is the same.

It doesn't have anything to do with the Mobilis or carnets.

Christina,
So it's the Carte Orange for visitors? It also needs a photo and costs the same?
thanks,
Susan

Yes, you still need a photo and it costs the same as the Carte Orange rates, + 5€ the first time (for the card itself).

Thanks for your quick responses. We're going to decide which way to go about the passes when we get to Paris, but at least now I know that we should bring photos, whether we use them or not, just in case! Maybe we'll just walk everywhere, to burn off all the calories from pastries, etc. we'll be undoubtedly be eating...
thanks again,
Susan

I had my 2 days in Paris, I walked and walked. And walked some more.

There never seemed to be a "tourist" option for the metro so when I did ride it, I just bought a ticket every time in the station. I didn't even buy any in advance.

Which is the exact opposite of NYC. When people come here, you can get a day pass. They even call it a Fun Pass directed at tourists.

t

I have some left-over tickets from a carnet purchased in March 2007. They are light purple and have a magnetic strip.

But I also found some old blue-green metro tickets, also with magnetic strip.

Anyone have any idea if these are still valid or if I should just chuck 'em???

I'll be there in 4 weeks -- guess I could just take 'em along and see...

The Mobilis is a day pass in Paris.

there are photo booths in the metro stations, near the booths

Old metro tickets remain valid indefinitely.

The Navigo Découverte pass does not require a photo, but it costs a 5€ one time fee to issue it, on top of the travel value that you load into it.

Kerouac--Are you sure? I just checked several sites for Navigo Decouverte info, and all of them said a photo was required.

http://www.ratp.info/informer/passe_navigo_orange.php

"...Le passe Navigo Découverte:
passe accompagné d'une carte nominative avec photo"

So is the Navigo thing exactly the same as London's Oyster Card - a way of paying the cheapest fare?

All the pictures of it in the descriptions on the website (RATP, etc) show the Navigo pass with someone's photo on it, also. Maybe you don't need a photo for the Decouverte one? That seems suspicious, I wonder why RATP would allow that as then you could pass it around.

The information specifically on the Decouverte pass says you need a photo on the Transilien website, also.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/36h6zs


Those instructions are in English, also, for those who want to read about it and don't read French.

<i>So is the Navigo thing exactly the same as London's Oyster Card - a way of paying the cheapest fare?</i>

Not hardly. The Navigo has zero provision for PAYG fares (which, to me, is Oyster's best feature when daily caps are considered). It's similar to TfL's Travelcard loaded on Oyster, but it only comes in weekly and monthly flavors. And the weekly Navigo has to start on a Monday, unlike Travelcards, which begin on any day of the week.

2 questions, please:

I have a CO from past trips, last trip being October (07). Can I just buy another weekly ticket for it as usual?

My husband does not have a CO. Will he be able to buy one or will he have to buy the Decouverte, which will cost the same as the CO plus 5 Euro?

When I was in Paris in 2006 we bought Paris Visite cards and figured we would buy those again this year but now I'm not sure which is the better option. Paris Visite or the Navigo??

cathies,

The advantages of the Paris Visite are that you can begin using it on any day of the week and you can buy it for shorter or longer blocks of days. A Carte Orange loaded on a passe Navigo Decouverte can only be used Monday-Sunday. But a Carte Orange can still be a better deal than a Paris Visite, even for a partial week, because the cost per day is less. If you plan to walk a lot, buying ten-ticket carnets as needed and sharing them with your travel partners may be the best option. Based on what days of the week you'll be in Paris, you'll need to do the math to determine which is best for you.

We (me and hb)will have 10 days and arrive on a Sunday. We do walk a lot and we like to catch buses if logical so we can enjoy the passing city. The Carte Orange sounds like a good plan. thanks TimS