well suzie, you aren't the only one who's "dumb", so here goes. I have been to paris twice and would you belive i have never been on the metro yet? well, anyway, did I understand correctly...if you actually leave the metro system..say you were traveling to some place in the morning...and then re-enter the meto system that afternoon, you would have to use a new ticket? Isn't one ticket good for each day, like when you get a tube pass in London, you just use it all day...you put it in the turnstile and it pops out the other end, you pick it up and keep it, and then use it again later. sorry, I should know this by now with all the Metro posts I'be seen, but I really don't recall seeing anything that specific, and actually I never thought about it. If my understanding of what was posted is correct you could go through a carnet pretty fast I think. Thanks in advance for the clarification.

Crefloors, you are correct that one ticket is good only for one journey. That journey can involve a number of trains, but once you leave the system the ticket you've used for that journey is no longer valid.

If you intend to use the Metro very often, you may be better off with a Carte Orange, although I've been going to Paris for many years and have never gotten one. I find that a carnet of 10 tickets lasts two of us for several days since we walk a lot.

By the way, talk of a "carnet" may confuse people who haven't used the Metro; it's not a booklet of coupons or anything like that. It simply means you buy 10 tickets at the same time, thereby saving money. When you come to the ticket window, you just ask for "un carnet" and get 10 tickets rather than just one.

shelio....thanks very much. since i haven't used the metro at all in two visits, when i go back the carnet will probably be fine.

SuzieC,
I like the Carte Orange, but you can't use it until Monday, so if you arrive on a Saturday, a Mobilis ticket works the same as a Carte Orange, only it's a little more expensive, and you don't need a photo. We generally arrive on a Saturday, so we buy 4 Mobilis tickets and 2 Carte Oranges.

Best,
Sandy

This is my little grain of sand, I bought a Card Orange saved and used for years, buying a ticket each time I go to Paris. Lately I bought another because now tthe Cart Orange is smaller and again I saved it and will use it this year buying only the ticket. Ok?

Hi Graziella,
We love the Carte Orange... even to ride just a few blocks when our feet get tired or when it starts raining. It is so convenient to just show the bus driver your card and not worry about anything else. I think the maps are great too.

Best,
Sandy

The Paris equivalent of a London Day Travelcard is called "Mobilis" and the RATP doesn't advertise it on their English site. It costs €5.30 for unlimited travel in Zones 1-2. It works on all the services: Métro, Bus, RER, Tram, and Montmartre Funicular.

To get to Versailles, you can ride as far as Issy on RER C with a Zone 1-2 Mobilis, then get off and buy a round trip to Rive Gauche for a couple of Euro. Be sure you get the correct train; there are two terminals in Versailles, and RG is the shortest walk to the palace.

I think a great (unstructured) introduction to Paris is to just get a Mobilis, grab the next random bus, and ride until you see something interesting. If you get flummoxed by the bus routes, just find the nearest Métro stop and navigate back to your base.

"insert the ticket again to enter the RER, insert the ticket to leave the RER"

This is for a regular RER ticket, but what about a Mobilis or Carte Orange Zone 1-4? Does that hold true for them also? Do you take the paper ticket out of the Mobilis or Carte Orange cover and insert it on the way in and out? I'm assuming that is what you do... is that correct?

Best,
Sandy

I've gone and returned to Paris since this original Post. To see it re-surface is a bit embarrassing, somehow.
Particularly since I am the confessed wuss and walked everywhere...and I adored it.

Next time, I have promised myself, I will actually USE the Metro...

sandypaws3

"Do you take the paper ticket out of the Mobilis or Carte Orange cover and insert it on the way in and out?"

Yes. Many Métro stations require you to punch out, as well.

hi - ok so now I am getting confused with ITaly and France (information overload!). In ITaly - I know you have to first validate the train tickets before getting on the train.

Do you have to do the same for Paris Metro/RER/Bus system? Or do you just stick the ticket in the turnstile thing and go though.

You can't enter the Paris metro system without inserting your ticket into the 'turnstile'. It pops out another slot for you to remove and hold in case you are checked by a controller (or to use to exit the RER station). There is no separate machine or process for 'validating' a metro ticket. (A regular train ticket, however, is validated (composted) in an orange machine near the tracks).

I think you are confusing trains and metro.

Putting the ticket in the turnstile IS validating it. That's what you are doing. The turnstile marks the ticket as being used.

I don't remember any metro station requiring you to use a ticket to exit, only RER stations. However, this isn't something you have to worry about remembering -- if you can't get out of the door/turnstile upon exit from the metro/RER just by pushing or walking through, you can presume you have to stick your ticket in there to open it and there will be probably a zillion other people around you that you can watch to see what they are doing.

I didn't think any metro required that because there is only one price for a metro ticket anywhere on the metro system. RER stations require it because I think they need to make sure your ticket is for the right amount. At least, that's what I think is the reason.

Message: "insert the ticket again to enter the RER, insert the ticket to leave the RER"
This is for a regular RER ticket, but what about a Mobilis or Carte Orange Zone 1-4?

I don't even know how a mobilis looks like, but it's true for the carte orange "coupon". The machine will give it back to you. Anyway, you don't have much choice, since the turnstiles will block your way.



Do you take the paper ticket out of the Mobilis or Carte Orange cover and insert it on the way in and out? I'm assuming that is what you do... is that correct?

Yes.

Yes, Mobilis and Carte Orange are issued in a plastic sleeve that has a pocket in front for the ticket. You keep the ticket in the pocket when you're not running it through the machines.

Pictures of M. and C.O. can be seen at
<b>http://www.citefutee.com/informer/tarif_tourisme.php</b>