Hello- Yesterday I got a call from a friend who is headed to Paris next month, and he wanted to know if I had any tips for him. I told him that the biggest frustration Mr JC and I had was getting out of the airport via metro. Machine #1 wouldn't accept our (chip) credit card. Machine #2 didn't take Euro bills, only coins. Waited in the third long line to exchange bills for coins. Success in the fourth long line using coins.

So my question... is this still the way the machines are set up - coins only? What is the current cost for a ticket from CDG to the city? The last time we were in Paris was 3 years ago. Mr. JC and I are headed to Spain tomorrow and can bring back coins for our friend if needed. I'd like to save him the headache of more than one long line if possible.

Thanks for the help!

The SNCF suburban machines take coins and cards for local routes and cards in the machines for long distance routes. RATP machines take banknotes, coins and cards, but they don't have any machines at the airport as far as I know, since it is mostly SNCF territory. The issue is really with antiquated banks that do not wish to issue the appropriate international debit card to their customers.

There are multiple places to buy RER tickets at CDG.
1. "Machine #1 wouldn't accept our (chip) credit card. " If you are coming from the U.S., most so called U.S. "chip" cards are useless at ticket machines. I have successfully used RER ticket machines at CDG several times last year, but I have one of a few U.S. credit card with PIN based purchase capability. Most tourists line up in a few machines facing the escalator or in a long queue at the manned booth. There are many more machines with short queues scattered on the floor behind the obvious ones in the center if you have coins or PIN purchase capable cards.
2. If your friend walks by a Paris Tourist Info counter, they sell RER tickets, RATP carnets, and museum passes. The TI takes all kinds of payment methods including U.S. cards WITHOUT PIN based purchase capability -- the majority of the U.S. cards. I don't remember if they charged a commission. It was either nothing or something trivial.

There are two RER departure points at CDG, Terminal 2 and Roissypôle serving terminals 1&3. Either location sells tickets. The price into Paris is 10.30€ including any required métro transfers. Keep your ticket until departing the transportation network at your final destination.

There are ticket kiosks, with English language menus, at either location. The kiosks accepted chipped cards and coins. There are euro bill changers near the kiosks. The kiosks are grouped so if you find one group has a line, proceed to a second group. If all of the kiosks at terminal 2 have long lines, take the free rail shuttle, CDGVAL, to Roissypôle which is also the second RER B train stop. Purchase tickets and board the train for Paris at Roissypôle.

I don't know what tips one could give someone except to do what you did. Try card, if doesn't work, go get coins.

I never have had that problem as I always save money from a prior trip and have coins (and frankly, I don't think I've ever taken the RER from the airport into Paris, although I have on return) . And I have used my American chip credit card in some SNCF machines, actually, and it worked. Go figure. no, I don't have a chip and PIN card, either. I have used it in Lyon and in some other smaller town, I think Saumur.

Thanks to all who replied. It sounds like not much has changed since we were there 3 years ago. Since that trip we have always made sure we have €20+ in coins to start our next trip.

Mr JC and I are headed to the airport in a few minutes and are hoping for no delays...the weather in Iowa is not good