It's me Patti S. and more questions for our trip to Paris (me, husband and 8 friends). I bet you'll all be glad to have me GO on this trip already (but sorry to say its not until end of June!!-but with a group there is so much to be prepared for) Anyway, what is the difference (if any) between RER and the metro? Thanks for any help! You have all be wonderful to me-and patient! <BR>Patti

Patti: <BR> <BR>The RER is a *suburban* rail system: It reaches far outside the city of Paris proper (e.g. runs to the airports, Versailles etc.). Its trains are longer, and faster; the stops are much farther apart and the network is less dense. <BR> <BR>The Métro is an *urban* rail system serving mainly the city of Paris (and St. Denis as well as the Défense): It has shorter, slower trains, a very dense network an stops are much nearer to each other as on the RER. <BR> <BR>Both systems can be used with the same ticket, just make sure they cover all zones needed when travelling outside the city. <BR> <BR>The website for Paris' public transport authority is at: http://www.ratp.fr/index.html, and there is an English section. <BR> <BR>Enjoy your trip. <BR> <BR>Phil.

Patti, The only thing I'd add to Phil's reply, is hang on to your ticket. At some RER stations, you must put your ticket in the turnstyle to exit. (Not so on the metro)

Hi, <BR>I'll add a little more <BR>The bus, Metro and RER network is divided into 5 zones for the whole of the Paris region. Zones 1 and 2 correspond to the city of Paris itself and a little of the suburbs. Make sure you buy a ticket with the right number of zones when you travel outside Paris. For example, 4-zone ticket will include Versailles and St. Germain-en-Laye. A 6-zone ticket will include Fontainebleau. <BR> <BR>Within Paris the same ticket is used for the Metro, buses and RER. Hold on to your ticket for the entire journey as it may be checked at any moment by inspectors. There are <BR>ticket offices at every RATP and RER station; tickets can also be bought at the "tabacs" (tobacco stores, which also sell stamps and phone cards, among other things.) <BR>Try that website Phil mentioned, it's excellent <BR>Again, your regular single metro ticket will allow you to use the RER system as well, WITHIN Paris. If you're going via RER outside the city, such as to Versailles, you'll have to buy the necessary separate RER ticket <BR>

I just wanted to warn you about theft problems on the RER. My husband and I took the RER from CDG to Luxembourg stop and had a backpack stolen from the rack directly above our heads. Since the train was getting crowded, we had decided to place our luggage on the racks. Fortunately no sensitive materials were in the backpack, but we were nevertheless quite disturbed by the theft which occurred within the first hour of our arrival for our honeymoon. So please keep an eye on all your bags on the RER and the Metro.

The RER has steel wheels running on standard type rails. <BR> <BR>The Metro uses inflatible rubber tires.

I will add,(outside of the excellent wheel/rail theory) you can tell the RER cars for they are usually double-decker and red, white and blue. The Metro cars are usually a light green color. You can still travel within Paris on RER but be careful. You can do what I did last week and took a RER to cover a few stops and I ended up on an express or something and the first stop was an industial/apartment building platform about 4 miles outside of the city limits. It was kind of nice for I saw a part of Paris I would not normally see. That probably happens more on weekends.

Patti, check out this site it has some really useful information about paris and the trasportation section is pretty good. http://www.parisguidebook.com/docs/p...portation7.cfm <BR> <BR>

Beware of pickpockets on the Metro and RER. One person in our group almost had his money clip taken from his front pocket, after the pickpocketers had checked and found nothing in his back pocket. His wife saw the pickpocket go for his front pocket and whopped the him with her umbrella. This was on Metro Line 1, which is supposedly has the most pickpockets. Just beware. Only carry as much cash as you think you'll need for the day. Leave the rest in your hotel safe, or in your money belt under your clothes. The pickpocketers will not harm you physically...they just want the money...not even the credit cards. All of this aside, Paris is a magical city. Have a great, great trip!

To add to Karen's comment about pickpockets: the current scheme is for a pickpocket on a crowded metro train to push up against you acting like he (or just as often she) is trying to read the route map. Since it seems they are just trying to read the small print, most people don't seem to mind the fact that they are getting pushed against and unaware that a hand has removed the wallet or whatever.

Regarding RER needing separate thicket, I thought it has to do with SNCF (national railroad) vs RATP (Paris metropolitan transit system?). I changed from METRO to RER at Invalides, and even though it is in the middle of the city, I still had to exit Metro thru a turnstyle and enter RER section within the station using a different ticket. Some RER are jointly operated by SNCF and RATP, while others like the one that goes to Versailles is operated by SNCF.

The pickpocket aspect of the Metro is true. And the technique described is the one I had pulled on me. <BR>I did not lose anything, probably because my hip pocket wallet had nothing in it except $7.00 and a voter registration card. It was also in a zippered pocket. But I do not know if that was a factor in being targeted and rejected. (Normally I don't deal well with rejection, but in this case I was quite happy with being rejected.) <BR> <BR>The would be thief in my case had his timing and recognition down perfectly. <BR>He pretended to be reading the route map over the door. As I boarded, he bumped into me, fingered my pocked (so I was told later by another passenger), and squeezed out of the closing doors. <BR>Had he taken anything, I would have been powerless to catch him. <BR>My wife saw him, but did not react either. Her response at the time was "What's with that guy?" Well, he was trying to rob me!! That is what was with that guy!!

Patti, why don't you buy a guidebook and read up on your destinations? Every question you've asked here is explained in most major guidebooks. Do your own research first, then, if you have specific questions, ask here. Your questions remind me of the kids who used to post here wanting everyone to do their homework assignments for them instead of researching it themselves.

xxx there you go again

Do be aware of pickpockets, but don't let it stop you from having a great time. <BR> <BR>When I was in Paris last May, waiting at a platform to catch the next train, I noticed a group of kids coming down the stairs. They caught my attention because the were a quite rough with each other, pushing and shoving, but were not making much noise. I made sure that my daypack was closed and my money secure. As the train approached, I noticed then that the kids dispersed amongst the crowd. They covered their hands with coats and made their way to people with open purses, bags and back pockets. I got in the way of a couple of them and stopped them from stealing. The train signaled that the doors were closing and I barely made onto the train. As the train pulled away, the group of kids flipped me off. <BR> <BR>Always be aware of your surroundings!

When my friend & I went to Paris in November 1997, we used the RER train to get from Charles de Gaulle airport to Chatelet Les Halles (downtown). We arrived separately, me flying on United and my friend non-revving on Delta. Only when our vacation was over and we were on the RER train back to the airport, did we realize that there are TWO stops for Charles de Gaulle airport, and neither one of us knew which one went to our terminal! My friend guessed right and I guessed wrong. There is a shuttle bus connecting the two terminals, but it took 30 minutes and was standing room only. <BR> <BR>So my advise is, if going from de Gaulle to RER, try to remember which RER stop you got on at. <BR> <BR>And, no, no such warning was to be found in the several major guide books I read before my trip. I acutally find that "getting from the airport to downtown" is one of the weakest parts of any guidebook. Usually they tell you, you can take a taxi.

The RER stops at both terminals at CDG; Terminal 2 is for Air France only, and Terminal 1 is for all other airlines.

CDG Terminal 2 also serves American Airlines. Two weeks ago we went to terminal 1 and ended up taking the shuttle to 2 to fly home.The shuttle buses are easy to use.

Thank you all so much for all this great information. I don't know why xxx was so mean because after reading all your answers you can see that you just can't get all this information in the guide books. (I have bought prob. 5 books on Paris so far). Also, nothing in my opinion can compare to advice from someone who has actually been there! So, again, thank you all very much! I promise to do a trip report on the entire trip to Ireland, London and Paris when we get back! <BR>In the mean time-lets just try to help anyone who needs advice as so many of you have done for me. <BR>Thanks! <BR>Patti

Patti: Don't worry. Someone by the name "xxx" only offers gruff, tempered answers. I am sure it is the same person every time. I wish Fodors could lock him/her out. I have always said, this board is for people who have traveled a lot and those who haven't and are taking the vacation of a lifetime. And you are right, the guidebooks are good, but do not tell you everything. As I have written before, "nothing like good information from a complete stranger." Have fun post again.