We are going to Paris for 12 days in October. What is the best deal/best way to purchase the Metro pass? Someone told me to purchase the Navigo Decouverte Pass that goes from Monday through Sunday. Someone else said to just purchase the book of 10 tickets. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. We will be seeing a lot of the sites and we are staying in the Marais. Thank you.

If you are there for twelve days, the Navigo pass would work for the one week period, sure. For the rest, who knows, depends on the days. For example, if you had the extra five days split between two before the pass started and 3 after, I couldn't purchase another week on one end of that of the pass. I have used it for four days out of seven, though.

FOr extra days, I buy a carnet or on the days I really am going to be in Paris and moving around a lot, I buy the unlimited one day pass, the Mobilis. It's around 5-6 euro for two zones.

I don't know what you mean about the best way to purchase it. You have to purchase it from SNCF, go to a clerk in a metro/RER station. YOu can buy tickets from the machines with euro coins if you have enough, but you can't get the Navigo that way the first time as you need a plastic holder and some things. And you MUST have an ID photo to put in it and put it together. I hope you can read French, it helps, with the instructions.

Some tourists don't really need that pass, though, if they just walk around the center a bit and don't take the metro much. YOu could do that in the Marais, probably. Depends what you intend to do, ultimately.

sorry, I meant you had to purchase it from RATP, the metro agent. Go to a larger metro station during the day when they will have a clerk on duty.

Christina, thanks for taking the time to respond. I was wondering which was the best for what we had to seee. I did know that you buy them at RATP. We have 4 days before the 7 day Navigo would start. We will have to figure out how many times we would use it based on our itinerary each day. It may work out the same as the carnets you mention.

Actually there are several SNCF ticket locations which will sell Métro tickets. Not a huge surprise if one considers that the RER C and D lines (and part of the B line) are operated by the SNCF.

The zone 1-2 Navigo Découverte costs only 18.35€ (plus the one time card charge of 5€) and covers almost all of the métro. If you make only 1½ trips a day within zone 1-2 the pass is well worth the cost. Weather can be sometimes wet in October and taking even short distances in the Métro can keep you dryer.

If you will be in Paris over the whole (or at least most of) the 7 day validity period, I am a fan of the Navigo. It is easier than keeping track of paper tickets, and also allows unlimited bus rides. Looking at the map of the many bus lines, it can at first appear more difficult to navigate than the Metro, but a little bit of prep can make it much easier. In addition, riding the bus you get to see much more than on the Metro, avoid the hassle of having to make connections that often involve schlepping up and down multiple stairs, and can jump off when you see something interesting then get back on to continue your journey. There is an English language trip planner available on www.ratp.fr that works well.
For extra days before/after the Navigo validity, carnets or even individual tickets are fine.

We are back from our trip and I just wanted to share the fact that we found the metro wonderful. It took us a day to get our barrings but after that it was very easy to get around. There certainly is a lot of walking in some of them and alot of stairs. We never experienced any concern about pick pockets. We kept our witts about us like travellers should.

May I ask where in the Marais you stayed and how did you like it? We are also planning a trip soon and though to stay in that area.

Thanks in advance.

Flame, we rented an apartment on rue de marche des Blanche Manteaux. It was extremely quiet. We are from Canada so booked it off yourvacationhome.ca. We liked this because there were a lot of great shops near by to bring home fresh treats for breakfast and other meals. It was in close proximity to a Metro as well (10 min walk). You will love the Marais.

don't forget these passes are good for the buses also. We LOVE the buses.

Thanks Byron1. We do not rent apartments, unfortunately. Was hoping you had a great hotel recommendation. Thanks anyway.