Christina

You've never been able to buy a Carte Orange coupon of any kind past Wednesday for the current week in all the years I've been going to Paris. The web site still says that. The coupons themselves have dates on them for a specific week.

It does have that warning about using them prematurely on ratp.fr, but I think it could mean that if you try to use them before their validation date, it sort of deactivates them or makes them invalid. I don't know, it's an odd warning. I've never asked them as I've never wanted to buy one on Friday for just three days as buying three Mobilis would be cheaper, but I only buy two zone passes. It is true you can't use Mobilis for CDG airport.

Robespierre

"...if you buy a weekly Carte Orange on Friday and use it that day, it will only be valid for three days, from Friday through Sunday."

From <u>How to Use Public Transportation in Paris</u> by Anthony Atkielski, Page 15. Available on line at

<b>http://www.atkielski.com/PDF/data/ParMetro.pdf</b>

Robespierre

Yes, the over-25'ers would buy two COs. (Be careful not to mix them up - they'll be identical!)

uscTrojans

Thanks Robespierre and others. This board has been most helpful in my trip planning since this is the first time I am traveling overseas.

Robespierre, have you personnal tried this?

Robespierre

I've never tried it, but I'd do it without hesitation, because Anthony is thoroughly knowledgeable about all things Parisian. If he says it's so, you can take it to the (right) bank. He has a nice web site, too:

<b>http://www.atkielski.com</b>

If you like, you can ask him to confirm what he says in his book. You'll find a feedback form on the site. Tell him you're about to lay down your hard-earned Euro, and is he <i>sure, sure, sure</i> it will work?

sandypaws3

We usually arrive in Paris on Saturday, and we buy a Carte Orange, Zone 1-2, for each of us. However, we don't use the Carte Orange until Monday. For Saturday and Sunday, we purchase 4 Mobilis cards, 2 each. This works very well for us.

Sandy

sandypaws3

&gt;&gt;A 3-day Paris Visite pass for zones 1-5 costs 37.35&euro; and will cover CDG - this is your best choice.&gt;&gt;

What do you do for the other 4 days? It seems that the main reason for using a Paris Visite pass is that it covers CDG, but you can purchase an RER ticket for that and combine it with the Carte Orange, Zones 1-2, good for a week of unlimited travel. Just a thought...

Sandy

Travelnut

I was only covering the Fri/Sat/Sun period - the OP already assumed to use a C.O. starting on Monday...

g33kgrl

&lt;cringe&gt; I hesitate to ask on this thread, fearing I may confuse the issue, but what about those of us also arriving at the end of the week but staying *within* the city--not going to out to Euro Disney daily? I will be arriving Thursday morning and probably not going outside zone 2 or 3 until I go back the airport Tuesday morning.

As I said, I apologize if this confuses things, and I will happy to start a separate thread if you all think it would be better.

g33kgrl

BTW--I was thinking of the Paris Visit 5-zone pass since it would also cover the trips to/from the airport.

AnthonyGA

For stays of more than a few days, the Carte Orange is the most economical ticket, and it is the one used by the vast majority of the city's residents.

The Paris Visite is a tourist trap. It's almost impossible to save money on a Paris Visite ticket.

Most of the other passes either have special restrictions on purchase or special restrictions on use. The most economical for very long term residency is the yearly Carte Int&eacute;grale.

opaldog

I know that many people do not like the Paris Visite. I have used the Carte Orange when I arrive on the best days to purchase and use it. However, I also have purchased the Paris Visite when I arrive at the end of the week after Wednesday and I like the ease of use and I do use it alot. Last time I purchased it I even used some of the coupon deals that went along with it. I have to say that this is always the smallest expense of any of my trips to Paris.

Travelnut

g33kgrl - you weigh the cost of:

1. a 5-day, 5-zone Paris Visite + 1 RER ticket back to CDG
vs.
2. a 5-day, 3-zone Paris Visite + 2 RER tickets for CDG + (?)nbr trips to Disney
vs.
3. 2 RER tickets for CDG + (?)nbr trips to Disney + 1or2 carnets

TimS

If I were you, I'd do what Robespierre suggests and ask Anthony Atkielski to confirm that the Carte Orange can be bought on Friday and used immediately. The Transport for Paris Web site (www.ratp.com) says otherwise. Here is a loose translation of the French on the appropriate page: &quot;It can be bought until Wednesday for the week in progress, and from Friday for the following week (no sales on Thursday).&quot;

xyz123

There are some people who should know better who are passing bad info.

Carte Orange is most assuredly a 7 day pass good from Monday to Sunday of a particular week and must be bought by Wednesday of that week.....You cannot buy Carte Orange on a Friday and have immediate validity...it will not be good until Monday of the following week. That is as clear as day on the RATP web sites...

One day passes are called mobilis and can be a good value if you are like me and like to hop on the buses which allow you to see quite a bit of Paris...

As an alternative carnets, that is books of 10 tickets for use in metropolitan Paris run 10,70&euro; which can tie you over for the weekend until you can start the validity of Carte Orange.

Paris Visite? To me a rip off when compared with the price of carnets and mobilis tickets.

jody

If you really want some of the discounts offered with the over-priced Paris Viste pass, buy a Paris Passport for 5 Euro. It gives discounts at smaller museums, shops and various other place. Combined with a Carte Orange you still come out ahead.

http://en.parisinfo.com/rub6758.html...ction=citypass

It's not necessary to buy online...click on &quot;Points of sale&quot; on the left side for places to purchase . They will only send to France addresses if bought online.

Travelnut

xyz - the Paris Visite was suggested *in this case* b/c the OP is staying in Zone 5 *and* is coming in from CDG during this 3-day period. Mobilis doesn't cover CDG, and the 5-zone carnets are more expensive than the P.V.

I stand by my analysis for *this* case only.

AnthonyGA

You normally would not buy a Carte Orange for the week in progress on a Friday. However, if you buy one for the following week, but you use it before Monday, the system will treat it as a current Carte Orange, and it will only be valid for three days.

I haven't personally tried this, but this is what I was told by someone who worked on their IT systems, long ago.

Of course, it doesn't make much sense to buy a weekly Carte Orange for just three days, even if you can find a way to do so. The difference in price between a weekly CO and a three-day Mobilis is trivial (although it favors the CO).

As has been pointed out, the cost of M&eacute;tro transportation is so small compared to the cost of the trip that it doesn't make much sense to fret over it. All you have to do is pay slightly more than absolutely necessary for a single meal, and you've already lost anything you might have saved by spending a week trying to work out which type of transit pass is cheapest.

All public transportation in Paris is cheap, so don't worry about it.

uscTrojans

Thanks for everyone's help. I tried to email anthony atkielski and confirm that if I get a CO on friday, I can use it for the weekend, but he did not email me back. However, I read his PDF and that's what he says.

If the CO does not work, I beleive is it easier just to get the Paris Visit for 3 days (which includes CDG) than to get three mobilis and a RER from CDG. Does anyone know how much the RER from CDG will be?

Oh...at the Metro or stations where we can buy the CO, Paris Visit, and Museum passes, do they take VISA?

And lastly, does anyone know how to say in french: &quot;I need a 3 day Paris Visit pass, a weekly CO for the upcoming week, and a 3 day Museum pass.&quot;

Thanks to everyone here for helping me plan my first trip so much easier.

xyz123

RATP stations take mastercard and visa. SNCF stations also take Amex as do the machines.