How do I do public transportation in Paris?

We'll be arriving at Paris Beauvais airport at approx. 9:20 pm. I did some research... and we'll have to take the bus instead of taxi.. There's 5 of us. I think the bus will take us to Port Maillot Station. Our hotel is in the 10th district.

Do we always have to pay with a ticket whenever we get on the metro, bus? or can we also pay in cash upfront? Please help.. It's my first time in Paris! Also, when do the metro or buses stop running at night?

You can buy tickets at any metro station. You cannot pay in cash. You can climb on the bus through any door, but make sure that you validate your ticket on the bus.

http://www.atkielski.com/PDF/data/ParMetro.pdf

Thanks Michael!

I found this info on RATP website on International Travelers section.

Ticket "t"

Zones

1 ticket: 1,40 euros

Carnet of 10 tickets full fare: 10,70 euros

Carnet of 10 tickets reduced fare: 5,35 euros

Since we're getting in Paris at night. Should we buy the carnet of 10 tickets? How does that work? If we're arriving at night, are the tickets valid until the next evening?

Thanks Anthony! The pdf file is very useful

Tickets are good any time. If you are staying in paris for a few days, it pays to buy a carnet. It is also more convenient than buying individual tickets each time you take the métro and there are no ticket dispensing machine on surface transportation as far as I know.

You can buy a ticket for a city bus from the driver.

"t" tickets are good for one use only. They are not like a 'pass'. The magnetic strip does not expire.

you cannot buy a 'reduced' carnet as you must have French documentation for that (student, etc).

Here's some stuff about passes:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34630342