Paris: Metro + Meuseum pass
 

Is the meuseum pass in paris a good value if I'm going to D'orsay, Louvre, Versalles and Arc de Triomph?<BR>IS a regular metro ticket or a 10 tickets package good for all zones in Paris? Are they good on the RER as well?<BR>thanks for your help

Hi firas<BR>Conventional wisdom is that a metro/bus pass is "worth it" if you are taking about 6 rides per day, at least that was it the last time I calculated.<BR>I never take that many each day because I do so much walking. Maybe 2 or possibly three rides at most.<BR>So I buy Carnets (bunches of 10 tickets) which still is a discount.<BR>The Carte Visite which combines<BR>the metro pass with admission to SOME attractions is not worth it imo, especially since many of the included attractions are not the ones I want to see.<BR><BR>The RER is the suburban train system.<BR>Some large stations (Montparnasse, for example) allow for transferring between the metro and the RER lines, but you need to buy a separate ticket for the RER if your destination is outside of the normal metro zones. <BR>For info on the metro system, go to<BR>www.ratp.fr<BR>I don't know if this still applies, because information on passes gives me a headache, bt in December 2000, one Fodor’s poster suggested that if you are arriving in Paris on a Mon, Tues, or Wed and also if you are using the RER to and from CDG airport, it would be worth it to buy a Carte Orange Hebdomadaire (weekly). It will cover the fare to and from the airport, fare to Versailles if you will be going, and still be worth it for metro travel within Paris for 5 days. If you will not be using the RER from CDG airport, but still arriving on Mon, Tues, or Wed, then buy a Carte Orange for zones 1 and 2, which is worth it if you will be using the metro or bus for at least 3 journeys each day. If you are arriving on other days, buy only a carnet and separate airport tickets.<BR><BR>The Carte Musee (Museum Pass), a separate issue, can be purchased easily at many metro stations, at all participating museums and tourist sites, and at some hotel front desks. It is a good deal if you consider that with it you won't have to wait in the ticket-buyers' lines at the Orsay and Louvre.

Thanks alot Elaine...<BR>Things are much more clear to me now :-)

Just a few minor points that I'm not sure are in Elaine's info, they may be -- a regular metro ticket is good for zones 1-2; that is all of central Paris (ie, any "arrondisement" is in that area). They cover any public transportation within those 2 zones (metro, RER, bus).<BR><BR>You'll have to figure out for yourself as to whether the museum pass is a good value from the price. There are passes for diff. no. days, anyway. Most museums and monuments charge about 40F. Your plans are probably one of those museums per day and throw in the Arc to one of those days. A 3-day pass costs 170F, so is about break even for 4 events in 3 consecutive days, plus you get the BIG advantage of no waiting in line. So I would definitely get one for your plans if you can do those things in 3 consec. days (my prices are last year, but that's the idea). Those metro tickets won't be good to Versailles.

The Metro pass is also good for buses which are really fun to use. But the pass becomes more valuable for them because there is no free transfer from one bus to another but you can use the pass. The Museum Pass is also a good investment because you may pass a site where it is useable (the Carnavalet, Cluny, Notre Dame archaeology site, etc.) and you might like to pop in just to see what's up.

My husband and I just returned from Paris and we invested in both the museum pass and the metro pass before departing - it was one of the best decisions we made. Beyond the monatary value, the museum pass was valuable to us because we saved at least two hours at each location we visited (Louvre, Musee D'Orsay, and Palace of Versailles)by not having to wait in line. We went ahead of the waiting crowds and saw what we wanted to see. The metro ticket is a good value again becuase there's no waiting around in lines, it made it very easy for us to navigate Paris. Enjoy your trip!

Kim, where did you purchase the tickets before going to Paris? Did you have to pay extra for them?

Just returned from 8 days in Paris on Saturday, the 13th and had a wonderful time thanks in part to the many helpful tips from fellow fodorites. As of April 1st, the carte musees price is now 15, 30, or 45 Euros for 1, 3, or 5 days. Very well worth it to avoid long lines at popular museums. We bought ours on Monday morning at the Louvre and there were no lines entering via the metro under the pyramid. There is no real need to purchase ahead of time from the US.<BR>Carmen

Hi firas,<BR>I would do just that. It's better that you come forward now and admit you sins than to rot in the fiery pits of hell for all eternity (that's a long time).

I don't think the above posters have mentioned the best advantage of the Carte Musee--you never feel as though you must spend the whole day in a museum. The Louvre, for example, is best sampled in small doses. With the Carte Musee, you feel free to tell yourself, "I'm museumed out right now," knowing you can come back the next day. You also feel free to leave some museum you just don't like. <BR><BR>As far as the metro passes versus carnets, I've done a pass and I've done carnets (depends on arrival day and amount of time I expect to ride the rails). The key is not to fret about it--Paris mass transportation is one of the least expensive items of your trip. Tickets and passes are all good for all the zones you want to be in (1-2). If you want to go to Versailles, an aller/retour ticket can be easily and rather cheaply purchased in a machine, believe it or not. If one of the pass options makes you feel more relaxed about getting on and off buses, go for it. A pocketful of billets (carnet is 10 billets) works just as well for me.<BR><BR>Last, do not, I repeat, do not buy anything before you land in France. Totally unnecessary, beaucoup mark-up.<BR><BR>

Thanks to all of you for th great tips :-)