Paris: Help getting from airport to my hotel by train/metra
 

Im a single woman. First time in Paris, Im traveling alone. Im coming from Chicago, USA, and I need help getting information about whats the best transportation system to take from the airport Charles de G to my Hotel Boissiere
Address: 53, rue Jean Jaurès, Levallois Perret, Paris, 92300, France
iM looking for someting safe and cheap.
thanks

Is there a reason you are staying so far out?? I would not want to stay on the outside of the Periphique, especially as a woman alone. You can find budget hotels near the Seine that would be way better options...

Which area do you recommend better for me then?
I Need to find a place..meaning hotel or hostel not more than $80USS per nite. Im planning to stay in Paris starting July 6 until July 12th.
thats my budget.
please help me

If you are on a budget, pack light so the RER train from CDG can be used easily. I do think it is about 8 euros, and if you have euros (in coins) I think will be the fastest way to buy a ticket. I have heard the lines for ticket by credit card are long. There will be signs in the terminal to point you to the train. There are many posts on the site already with all the details of the best way to get from CDG, so don't reinvent the wheel with a new post...just check the previous posts

It looks from the previous info and your other post, that you aren't sure about the hotel yet. I would not stay outside the peripherique as it will take up so much time to get into the city to see the usual sites. I haven't stayed out that far, but most of Paris, especially in the central area is very safe. Common sense precautions, be aware of your surroundings and you will be fine alone. I wouldn't worry about that at all.

Hi latinspicy16,
Right now $80 US equals about 50 euros. You might want to check this website http://www.eurocheapo.com/paris/hote...l?sortby=price

It lists hotel as well as dorm rooms and hostels.

It might help you find something a little closer. I'd be afraid you would spend so much time traveling everyday that it would be tedious for you.

I'm sure some other (which I am not) Paris experts will chime in to help also.

Hope you have a great trip,
Michele

We havent stayed here yet (but are the first weekend in June) its at Republique http://www.cosmos-hotel-paris.com/ and is €52 a night for a single small room. Its in a MUCH better location than you currently have and an easy RER/metro ride from CDG.

Ok thanks guys for all the help!!

very appreciate it!
Im still loking =)

Should I pay during my trip in Europe everything in cash or credi cards? for own safety?

merci beaucoup!! u guys are awesome!!! very helpfull!!

If you are in central Paris you shouldnt have trouble with safety. I mean, dont have €2000 in cash on you, but we always pay for hotels and dinners with our credit card, but have use ATMs for cash for snacks, lunch, glasses of wine etc.

Smaller places might ask for cash but as jamikins says above, use your credit card as much as possible.

ATM's are easy and plentiful if you have a bank card. Use your normal caution with these. Daylight and watch your surroundings. DH and I always brought a couple hundred euros with us to start out with. Got through AAA or bank.

There are quite a few trip reports by women traveling solo. Paris is probably safer than Chicago but be smart about the same things!

Good luck and great trip!

1. You can now pay for your RER ticket at the airport with an American credit card at a machine -- or go to the ticket counter. It is now about twice what denisea says.

2. Whether to use your credit card or cash depends on your bank and your credit card. If you have a Capitol One or a very few other credit cards, they do not charge fees for use abroad. So use your credit card. Bank of America charges you an additional, pretty much outrageous fee of 3%, so if you have BoA, cash is better. Your bank probably has a no-fee deal with a French bank for use of their ATM's. Even BoA gives you free ATM withdrawals at BNP-Paribas branches, which are everywhere.

3. Hotel rooms in Paris are real small, but you won't be doing anything there except sleeping. Republique is a good area with lots of transportation possibilities.

4. In the city, you can get bus and metro tickets in packs of 10 called "carnets" for a good discount. You can buy them in Metro stations and will probably need cash. There are machines that take US credit cards, but they are new and there aren't a lot of them.

5. When you go into the Metro or get on the bus, you have to put your ticket into a machine that stamps the time on it. You can use it again on anothe bus within the hour -- in other words, it works like a transfer in the US. You just can't get back on a bus on the same route.

6. You can same money by eating your big meal at lunch and having a sandwich from a bakery or a meal from a deli (called "traiteurs") or food from a supermarket. Every restaurant and cafe outside the absolute biggest tourist traps has a menu of lunch specials written on a blackboard. Try to figure out what you want before you go in because a lot of the people will be on their lunch break from work, and you don't want to hold them up.

7. Remember to say "hello" (bonjour); "please" (s'il vous plait);"thank you" (merci); and "goodbye" (au revoir) to every single person you encounter including the woman at the ticket window, the bus driver, the waiter, and your room clerk. The French will push you out of the way on the street, but they are unfailingly polite in these matters, and you will win points if you follow them.

For getting around in Paris using public transportation, use www.ratp.fr. It will plot your trip in a number of different foreign languages.

thanks a lot guys!!!

where I can buy nice and cheap tickets for the main places and sightseeing in Paris? like museums, etc etc?

Depending what you want to see consider the museum pass:
http://www.parispass.com/how-it-work...seum-pass.html

How much is the RER from CDG? I too thought it was about 8.50 euros?

Do I dare suggest the Hotel Esmeralda? It is as centrally located as you can get - next to St Julien-le-Pauvre, on the left bank across from Notre Dame.

I have not stayed here, but I did look at the rooms. Very small and bohemian, but it might be in your price range. It gets mixed reviews on TripAdvisor, but it has it's devotees.

Can anyone comment who has actually stayed at the Esmeralda?

I have traveled as a single woman in Paris and *always* felt safe and welcome. Do be mindful, but relax, it's a good city for single girls!

Good Luck!
Julie
www.juliesparis.wordpress.com

thanks a lot again for the help!!!

In March, the RER B tickets from CDG to Paris cost 8.7E each and included transfers onto Metro to final destination. Haven't heard of a price increase since March.

thanks for the current cost for the RER -- I was puzzled by Ackislander comment "<i> You can now pay for your RER ticket at the airport with an American credit card at a machine -- or go to the ticket counter. It is now about twice what denisea says."