Thanks Robespierre. Guess what, this turns out to be something else that works in French but not English! (I thought it might be Firefox vs. Explorer, or my cookie settings, but no.) RATP wants me to take the metro via Chatelet. I was thinking of avoiding Chatelet altogether (I seem to remember a lot of long corridors) and taking the metro via Bastille?

It's part of the RATP's &quot;Lack of Information for foreigners&quot; campaign. They want to steer everyone from abroad into the <i>Paris Visite</i> card, which costs 50-150% more than other passes. Not very English of them, what?

I agree that Ch&acirc;telet is one of the best places to avoid - but I take that one step further and avoid the trains if at all possible. As soon as I get into town from my suburban hotel, I immediately start using buses to get everywhere.

With a good routing program (I use nanika.net/metro), I can get anywhere without using the dreaded M&eacute;tro at all. Finding the exact stop will be simplified now that GPS co-ordinates are included in the M&eacute;tro database.

I don't speak/read French, but I find the French version of ratp.fr easy enough to comprehend.

Taking the bus with luggage can be a hassle, as buses can be very crowded and there's no luggage space. We have taken many bus trips in Paris on our recent trip. We enjoyed it but if you're thinking of taking it during rush hour w/luggage, it can be a problem. (I had a 19&quot; carryon plus a day bag, DH had a 22&quot; carryon plus a day bag, so we weren't trying to bring on lots of luggage.)

Some of the suggestions sound more like a neurosis.

Just came back from Paris yesterday, and we bought a CO @ Opera station (as you have been told, not all stations sell them - and you cannot get them from the automated machines). We bought a weekly 1-3 for I think 21.60 per person. You get a card, which you need to put your details plus a photo and a small ticket (just like a carnet) that you use to get in, and sometimes out of all stations. The clerk at Opera was really helpful, and asked several questions to make sure that was the best deal for us. We were told for an additional 5 euros per person we could buy the Navigo card and use that instead. We opted not to, and I must say watching all the locals or those in the know just scan their purses or wallets over the reader vs. my husband &amp; I trying to remember what pocket we had put our tickets in - we wish we had.

So, what is the size of the &quot;small&quot; photo required?

Never mind, 1 x 1 was in the post. Unless that isn't correct.

2.5cm x 3cm

Just measured mine; anywhere from 1 inch to 1 1/4 inch will fit the space on the Navigo. Mine happens to be 1 1/8 inches, so it fits perfectly.

:-)

&quot;Very small&quot; is the correct size. Not at all passport size.

Do they have machines in the Metro where you can get that photo taken?

My advice is to take the photo with you, have read of malfunctioning machines... You can cut out a 'head shot' from any photo you already have, or take one with your digital camera then print it on your own printer...

I have found this thread quite helpful, but I am still confused...

I will be arriving in Paris this Sun. and will be staying through Fri morning.

I will buy a carnet for single tickets for Sunday. And purchase a Dec. Navigo and load a weekly carte orange on it. My question is if I am planning on seeing several museums - is it best to get a zone 1-2 or zone 1-3 pass?

Also is it more economical to take advantage of the SNCF &quot;Transilien leisure package&quot; to Versailles or should I just use that as a part of the 2 day museum pass and buy the RER roundtrip ticket to Versailles on my own?

And I am staying at a hotel on Suffren that is close to the Champs De Mars/Tour Eiffel RER stop - anyone know if this station sells carte orange?

Also I am sitting her measuring my a copy of my passport photo and it appears to be too big - is it ok to trim it down? Are they really particular that it is a tiny tiny pic??

Thanks!

1-2, which encompasses all twenty <i>arrondissements</i>. If you need to venture into Zone 3 for any reason, buy a ticket - or walk.

You can probably use up a 2-day PMP inside Paris. A 4-day might be overkill, so a <i>Forfait Loisirs</i> to Versailles would probably be best. If you can go on Sunday, that would be ideal - but only if you arrive in Paris early enough to spend at least a half-day at the ch&acirc;teau.

Thanks Author: Robespierre.

By the time we get settled in Paris I think it will between noon and 1pm or so..so I will have save Versailles for another day.

I think like you suggested..I will do the 2 day musuem pass and use that on Mon/Tues then buy that pkg for a trip to Versailles on Weds.

I am guessing I can go to any metro station to buy the a navigo dec. and put a one week carte orange on it.

In '03, we actually headed straight from the Eurostar at Gare du Nord to Versailles. There's a luggage drop there, so it worked out perfectly.

Our hotel room wouldn't have been ready when we arrived anyway, so we decided to just leg it with our free RER ride (courtesy of Eurailpass). We got back into town and the hotel about 19h30.

Obviously, if you're jetlagged and/or sleep deprived, this plan might not work.

Just wanted to let everyone know that the Navigo/CO experience was super easy and really great. There is a photo machine right outside the ticket office, it took us just a few minutes to get the pictures taken and get the navigo+CO. It was so nice to just wave that pass and not have to bother with anything on the metro. GREAT idea, so glad I go the info from all of you. Thanks a million!

Anyway, the old style Carte Orange will definitely be disappearing forever on schedule (Feb 2009) because now the announcements in the stations give the names of several stations at a time that are stopping the sale. This month (no sale of December coupons) includes some big stations like Gare de l'Est and Gare du Nord.

I am in Paris now and when I went to but the Navigo D&eacute;couvertem, I found it quite confusing. To my luch, the station clerk came out of her booth and helped me through it step by step. That was really sweet and unexpected.

Ok

I know I am dumb at times but let me see if I get this straight as my family goes to Paris next week and I could use the discounts.

I can buy a musuem pass at CDG and also the Navigo. I go down to the Metro and go to certain areas and just walk up and ask for it? I need to bring my photos with me also. Do they take euros only for both or cc. Is there certain windows I need to go to?

I know silly questions but I have all the kids withme and want to make sure I get it right.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge with a lame mom.