RedDaffodil

So I'll be spending 3 days in Paris. During these 3 days we'll be going from CDG to Gare de Lyon via RER, going to and from Disneyland, and going to and from Versailles. I wanted to get the Carte Orange but I arrive into CDG on Sunday and it looks like it's not valid for Sundays and it might not be able to be purchased at CDG. Would I be better off getting a Paris Visite for zones 1-5 for these 3 days, which I assume I can get at CDG? Or perhaps just buying each individually? If we do get ours individually I might consider taking the shuttle from CDG to Gare de Lyon for 12E as opposed to the RER for 8E, but we really don't have much luggage so I'm not sure which is best here either.

RedDaffodil

If it makes a difference, we'll be traveling from CDG around noon on a Sunday, and also I have a student ID.

TimS

First, while you can buy a Carte Orange at CDG on Sunday, it wouldn't be valid until Monday. While a Paris Visite usually isn't the best choice, for your dates and itinerary I think it is.

Single tickets from CDG to Paris on the RER are €8.20. Single tickets from Paris to Disneyland are €6.30 each way. Single tickets from Paris to Versailles are €2.80 each way. Add up your goings and comings and the total is €34.60. A three-day zone 1-6 Paris Visite costs €38.10 and will cover everything, including any rides you take within Paris. (The current price for a single ticket within Paris is now €1.50.)

RedDaffodil

Thanks so much for the breakdown Tim, it makes things a lot easier. Actually I'm not going back to CDG (traveling around France before coming back to Paris more than a week later), so that's 8.20 off of what you calculated. I guess that makes the Paris Visite not worth while, since I doubt we'll also be doing 11 Euros in trips each on top of that itinerary. Maybe I'll consider a day Mobilis for the day that I go to Disneyland though. Thanks!

TimS

Yes, the zone 1-5 Mobilis would be a good choice for the day you go to Disneyland. At €12.50 it's 10 eurocents less than single tickets to Disneyland and back.

gardngrl

TimS
Since you are so knowledgeable, could you help me decide on the best pass.We will be in Paris for 10 days, will need transportation from and to CDG but will have luggage and may take shuttle or cab. Will go to Versailles, Giverney, and perhaps Chartres, as well as travel within Paris, but do plan to walk a lot and will do the hop on and off bus tour.
Thanks.

TimS

gardngrl,

I'll be happy to help. What day of the week will you arrive and what day of the week will you depart? What is the name and/or address of your hotel?

farrermog

In deciding between the RER or the Roissybus you might also consider Polly Platt's 1 August post 'You have to pick a pocket or two', at -

<http://pollyvousfrancais.blogspot.com/>

farrermog

Whoops ... sorry, take out the 'Platt' from my previous post. That's the trouble with poly Pollys and it's early here. (I can nevertheless highly recommend Polly Platt's French or Foe)

Roger_Lisa

I pre-ordered (Paid) the Paris visite passes 1-3 zones for our vacation in Paris for 5 days. I hope we get our money's worth. it works out to about 5.50 euro PP Per day.

Travelnut

For those coming after, it costs more to prepay for Paris Visite passes - just buy them at the tourist office or the metro stations.

Chartres and Giverny may be out of range of the pass zones, check the full map at ratp.fr or transport-idf.com

Roger_Lisa

We pick up our pre-paid Paris visite passes at the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau, 25, rue des
Pyramides. It didn't cost more then being there in person. It was 54.40 Euros for 2.. 5 day 1-3 zone passes.

Travelnut

That's true - that's the only channel where the price is the same. Was there any advantage to paying in advance since you had to go there to get them?

Roger_Lisa

I wanted to have as much pre-paid items as possible for our vacation.

gardngrl

TimS: We arrive in Paris on Sept. 14(Thursday) and leave on the 24th (Wednesday). We'll be staying near metro stop Odeon.

Msbelle51

Hi Tim, can I impose on you for info on the best pass also (you've been most helpful to everyone). I'll be arriving on Sept 26 (from London) and leaving in the afternoon on Sept 30. Thanks in advance.

TimS

gardngrl,

Go to www.ratp.fr to download and print a Metro/RER map for central Paris and a RER map that shows service to outlying zones, including CDG. The site is viewable in English.

If you don't take a shuttle or taxi from CDG, buy a single ticket for €8.20 and take the RER B to St-Michel Notre-Dame. It may be faster to walk to your hotel from there. However, you could walk through the connecting tunnels from the St-Michel Notre-Dame RER station to the St-Michel Metro station and then take Metro Line 4 (direction Porte d'Orleans) one stop to Odeon. Use your same ticket.

You may walk more and take fewer rides than you think you will. Buy carnets of ten tickets (€11.10), as needed, for Thursday-Sunday and share the tickets. The new t+ tickets allow bus transfers for up to 90 minutes of travel time. (Previously, each change of buses required a new ticket.) Each ticket allows unlimited transfers wherever the Metro goes and/or on the RER in zone 1 so long as you don't exit the system.

Buy a zone 1-2 Carte Orange (€16.30) for Monday-Sunday. You can buy it Friday-Sunday, but it won't be valid until Monday. It requires a small headshot photo.

Buy more carnets as needed for the following Monday-Wednesday and a €8.20 ticket to get you to CDG. Be aware that the RER B line divides northeast of Paris so be sure you get on a train that is going there.

If you buy a Paris Museum Pass, that will give you entry to Versailles. In that case, just buy Metro/RER tickets to get to Versailles and back (€2.80 each way). Or buy a Forfait Loisirs at a RER station that includes transport to Versailles and back plus admission to the chateau (€21.45 on weekdays and €25.75 on weekends).

You will need to take regional trains to either Giverny or Chartres. Buy those tickets at a mainline train station.

TimS

Msbelle51,

For you a zone 1-2 Carte Orange will work very well, even though you won't be able to use it for a full seven days. They're sold through Wednesday for the current week so be sure to buy it as soon as you arrive. (No sales on Thursdays.) It will pay for itself after eleven rides.

TimS

Msbelle51,

Adding to my previous post. When I suggestdbuying a zone 1-2 Carte Orange, I was assuming that you were arriving and departing from Paris on the Eurostar. If you're flying into and out of CDG, then buy a zone 1-5 Carte Orange (€32.10) at the airport. It will get you into Paris, to Versailles and back, and back to CDG.

TimS

gardngrl,

Just in case you didn't know this, be aware that you cannot take a train directly to Giverny. You can go as far as Vernon from where you can walk, rent a bike, take a bus, or take a taxi to Giverny.