Flame me first...then help me choose Paris Metro option
 

Yes, I've read the posts. No, I still don't understand.

I will arrive at CDG on a Wed. morning and will depart from same the following Thurs. I do not plan on visiting tons of museums. I may/may not use public transport for a day trip.

With this information, can you suggest which metro/RER pass I should consider for my stay if: a) I choose public transport to/from the airport; or b) I choose not to take public transport to/from the airport?

Thanks.

Where are you staying. You may want to take the RER from the airport. If you plan to do a lot of walking(which is my 1st choice) then just buy a carnet of 10 tickets and use them when you wish.

Carnet is probably your best option.

Sorry...meant to hit preview!

Are you in Paris for a day or for a week? I'm not sure what visiting museums have to do with your choice?

I think you are just asking about choice to and from CDG, right?

8.20€ for tickets to and from CDG. Get a carnet of 10 tickets for traveling on the metro or bus in the city.

Buy an RER ticket to get into Central Paris, cost is 8,20E and the same ticket can be used for a transfer to an intersecting Metro line on your way to final destination.

After that you could buy a carnet. A carnet is simply 10 individual Metro tickets...cost is 11,10 euro. Also can use on buses, Sacre Coeur funicular.

To get back, buy another RER ticket.

You also have the Roissybus and Air France Car (bus) to get to/from the airport. They leave/stop at pre-determined locations, so you would need to get to/from those locations in Central Paris. Roissybus is 8,60 euro one way. Air France bus is 14,00 euro one way

kerouac, can I connect to the #2 line at Gare du Nord?

Thanks.

I don't see what museums has to do with it, either.

I don't think anyone can really tell you exactly which will save you money (I assume that's the reaosn you are asking) without knowing how much you intend to use it, especially trips outside Paris.

So, I'd say just use carnets and pay separately for your trips to/from CDG. Given your timeframe and coming/going middle of week, I don't think there's any obvious other choice if your goal is to save money.

Yes, I'm looking at cost/benefit analysis. I mention museums only to indicate I do not need the discounts I believe are offered with some options.

Based on the information you all have provided, I guess I'll buy RER tix and a carnet or two.

Can someone confirm I can transfer to the #2 line at Gare du Nord?

Thanks.

Iregeo,

The closest station to Gare du Nord on Line 2 is La Chapelle. It is connected by tunnel to Gare du Nord so you can transfer without exiting the system. For a zoomable map of the Metro & RER system for central Paris, go here: http://tinyurl.com/3cd9gm.

Thank you kindly, Tim S. Now I understand!

You're welcome, Irego. Since you're arriving and leaving midweek, I agree with the others about buying single tickets for CDG-Paris and return and buying carnets as needed for your days in Paris. And I agree that it is good to walk more and ride less. However, if on any given day you know that you will take six or more rides, you could buy a zone 1-2 Mobilis pass for that day (5.60€) and save your carnet tickets for days you'll be riding less.

Again, thanks kindly. Great information.

To connect to line 2 at Gare du Nord, just follow the signs, but it is good to know that it is at the end of the train coming from CDG. The front of the RER train is nudging against Gare du Nord.

Thanks. Duly noted.

All metro/RER fares will go up on July 1st, just like they do every year.

In past years, I've had difficulty using my credit card in the RER ticket machines at CDG, requirinig me to stand in a long line to purchase a ticket because I did not have exact change for the machine. Fluke? Or have others had a similar experience?

That's not a fluke. Those machine only take cards with embedded chips. North American cards won't work.

Thanks, Tim. You're 3/3!

... or the machines take euro coins...which I just bought a batch on eBay (30.27€ for $36.25US) so I'd have enough coins to get 2 RER tickets and avoid the line. (that's if the coins are legit when I get them!)

You may find that machines will not take N.A credit cards, but they can be used when a person scans them
(e.g. at a restaurant).

I usually arrive with a few euros in my pocket for just that situation. Go to booth, get ticket (or two) and then get rest of money from ATM in central Paris.

Iregeo,

The machines did not take our cards (even the ones with the chip!), but we were easily able to buy our RER tickets from CDG to Paris at the booth from the delightful young man who indulged our attempt to negotiate in French before letting us know he was fluent in English. The line was negligible. We too were in Paris on a trip that spanned the weekend making the Navigo a bad choice. Instead we bought 5 day, 3 zone Visite passes and I'm glad we did. It rained a lot and the Metro was an easy quick break for our aching feet. I couldn't count how many trips we made on the Metro, the RER, the Funicular and the busses. Whenever we found ourselves too far away, running late or needing a break, we headed for the nearest Metro. We bought individual RER tickets for our excursions outside central Paris. Well worth it. Easy to use. Easy to buy. We still did a LOT of walking! Since it sounds like you're not planning to move around as much as we did, the carnet is ideal!