Paris metro/getting around
 

Is there a pass I can buy here in U.S for frequent use of metro in paris for the 3 day's i'll be there in May?

Is it easy to get around on the metro? Like the tube. I went on it once and got lost and haven't tried it again since.

If you get lost, go look at the subway map - there's one in every station. If you went the wrong direction, then get off, cross over to other track and go back the opposite way.

Don't buy a pass outside of Paris, as the seller will be making extra $$ off of you. They're very easy to buy at any metro station.

See www.ratp.fr

It's a very simple process to buy Paris metro tickets once you're there. Don't waste your money buying them in advance.

I agree with Travelnut. I was in Paris a month ago, and all you have to do is go to any metro booth and ask to buy a pass for 3 days. Don't buy over the Internet as there is a hefty markup. Also, the metro is fairly easy. Find where you are, where you want to go, identify the line by color, then look to the last station on the line in the direction you are going. Then just follow the signs!
Pas de problem!

I got snakebit when I made changes. I didn't realize you had to know the last stop. Plus some of those stations are like the catacombs. I'm from NYC where the subway system makes no sense and I think that has ruined my ability to reason thru organized systems.

Should I also buy train tickets to Lyon, Senlis in france as it would be cheaper?

I think that I would purchase the tickets in France. It seems that any purchase over the Internet often involves a huge mark-up. I personally would buy once in France.
Have a great trip!

I think all subway systems identify destinations as the last point, how else would they do it for one general sign? They also have the line number on the signs, and there are signs all over the walls with maps and all destinations on them. I was just in NYC and I thought they also identify things by the destination point (that's what I recall). Anyway, that's the way it's been in any subway system I've been on in US or abroad. There are maps on every subway car, also, and any city map of Paris you have should also have a subway map on it.

There isn't any point to getting a pass in the US ahead of time, I agree with others on that. Not only are you going to pay a markup to any agent who will sell one to you, but you can only buy tourist passes outside of Paris (Paris Visite) and those cost more than just buying regular tickets of some kind in Paris.

If you're taking the train to Lyon I'd probably at least check the SNCF site to see if you can get a cheap PREM ticket (very common on the Paris-Lyon line) - that would be less than buying your train ticket once in Paris. If you do find a PREM ticket, you can buy it online, print it out, and therefore not have to go to the ticket window in Paris or punch your ticket in the composteur machine.