I've read different information regarding the Carte Orange card in Paris... Is it available to tourists? or only locals? Will be in Paris for 10 days in late October and would appreciate any information recent travelers have regarding metro travel in Paris.

As a tourist, I bought a carte orange this past may. If it is only for locals,the seller didn't seem to mind selling me one. <BR>It can only be bgt mon-weds (I think) and is good from mon-sunday.<BR>Suggest you bring a small,passpost size photo from home, so you dont have to hassle with those damn photo machines that cost 3-5 euros for a lousy picture.

There have been several threads about this and the answer is a resounding nobody knows.<BR><BR>RATP does not discuss the availability of Carte Orange on its English language web site and on the French web site it says something like this: Carte Orange is intended for citizens of the Paris region and is a 1 week etc. It is intended for citizens of the Paris area. Does that mean it can only be sold to residents of the Paris area? Ask them and they won't come out and say yes or no. They fall back on that line that it is intended for residents of the Paris area as their taxes subsidize the system.<BR><BR>Most tourists report no problems in buying Carte Orange. Smmetimes you run into a clerk who tries to steer tourists to the asinine Paris Visite tickets which give you discounts to third rate museums along with transportation on the buses and Metro. But insist and in almost all cases, they sell you Carte Orange sometimes after muttering under their breath.<BR><BR>So the answer is go ahead and try to buy it. Chances are you'll get. If the clerk downright refuses, go to the next station or another window at the same station and you will almost certainly be able to get it.

All that has been said so far is correct. It is good from Monday to Sunday but can be purchased up until Wednesday. A real boon to it is its use for buses where you can transfer to another line without using a ticket.

ttt

"the asinine Paris Visite tickets "<BR><BR>What's asinine about it? The 5 day card looked like a good deal if you would be riding the metro 4 or 5 times a day?

it's not assinine, it's just a little more expensive that the type local residents use -- however, it does have several advantages:<BR><BR>1) nobody will give you a problem trying to buy it because it's meant for tourists;<BR>2) you don't have to have a photo;<BR>3) the days start any day you want;<BR>4) there are discounts to some attractions, which aren't that great, but there is a nice discount to all the museum shops.<BR><BR>If you don't care about the discounts, it's actually cheaper to buy daily Mobilis tickets which give unlimited travel for a day and don't require a photo, either, but some people don't like buying tickets every day from the ticket clerk, I have gathered.<BR>

Dear XXX:<BR><BR>You can get the Carte Orange card, no sweat. They ask few questions, but don't go asking questions if your French is rusty - THEN you be told that you can't get it (happened to a friend) or you will get the big sale on the Paris Visite card, which is not a good value, unless you plan to hit every museum in town on the same day.<BR><BR>The Metro in Paris is AWESOME! But be careful; there are brasen pickpockets all over - particularly around the Pigalle/Montmartre areas. The Louvre/Hotel de Ville area is notorious for pickpockets, too.

no problem buying the carte orange as a tourist - they don't care. They did refuse to sell it to me in the middle of the week - but only because they wanted to save me money - it's good for a week starting monday. You can also buy them from the automated ticket booths as well. You may need a passport sized photo now - bring one from home just in case. If for some reason you can't buy the carte orange - just buy a booklet of tickets - that's a pretty good deal too. I've been to paris lots - was there last month - you won't have any problem.

I just went out to the Paris metro site at www.ratp.fr.<BR><BR>Paris Visite 5 Day, Zones 1-3 = 26.65e<BR>Mobilus 1 day Zones 1-2 = 5e<BR>Mobilus 1 day Zones 1-3 = 6.70e<BR><BR>Paris Visite looks like a good deal for the 5 day pass since it saves you time from having to buy tickets everyday. As mentioned earlier, the museum and shops discounts are an added bonus.

Ah but MMM:<BR><BR>Compare prices with Carte Orange or just carnets......neither Mobilis or Paris Visite are very good dels unless you know you will be riding the Metro or taking buses 5 or 6 times a day....

it is true you might as well use carnets rather than the Mobilis if you only plan 3-4 trips in one day. The 3-zone Mobilis isn't really the best comparison to the Paris Visite, though, because few people need zone 3 (the only things in that zone I can think of which a tourist might go to are St-Denis or La Defense, but most don't).

If in doubt (or after Wednesday), get the Mobilius. It's simple to buy ($5 from a HUMAN vendor at the major Metro stops), gets you anywhere, no photo needed.