Paris Transportation Options..HELP!!!
 

I'm trying to decide the most cost effective way of getting around Paris. I had originally planned on the Paris Visite card, but I'm not sure. We will be in Paris four days, with a side trip to Versailles and, hopefully, Chartres. Another consideration would be the ease in using the Visite card versus the ease of using individual tickets. <BR> <BR>Any advice would be much appreciated!!

We spent four days in Paris in Oct. We found walking used a lot of time. We used the metro subway system. It is 8 Francs each way. It is convient, very clean and musicians are around playing all kinds of music. There is plenty of security too, cameras and police. Side trips we paid separately. Good luck and have fun. If you want to have a very interesting dinner go to Jules Verne restaurant 400 feet high in the Eiffel tower. It is very expensive but worth it and reservations are a must.

pay for the side trips to Versailles and Chartres separately. I would buy the 10 carnets to use on the metro. We find that we walk quite extensively in paris and use the metro only when really exhausted. Walking is the best way to discover new things, which in Paris seems to be around every corner. Have a great trip.

I agree that the subway is the way to go in Paris. As Lori mentioned, buy a carnet (10 metro tickets) instead of an unlimited (tourist) pass to get around Paris proper. In order to make the unlimited pass worthwhile, you would have to ride the Metro alot! When I was in Paris last month, the carnet was 45 FF (about $8.20). As you can see, this works out to $0.82 per ride, so don't board the subway for just short jaunts. <BR> <BR>You can buy carnets in any subway station, either from the window or the ticket machine. You will get 10 (normally loose) blue-green tickets with a magnetic strip on one side. Each ticket is good for a one-way journey (within an hour). You can change trains as often as necessary (even from the Metro to the RER - Rural Express Railway)using the same ticket, just be sure to hold on to the ticket until you leave the Metro station. I have seen people get HEAVILY fined for not being able to produce a "valid" ticket for the journey. <BR> <BR>Hope this helps! <BR>-Mike

Mike. You must know something I don't because I had to pay 55 francs for a 10 ticket carnet. How do did you get them for 45?? I used the "slot machine" at the Montparnasse station. Higher price for automation?? <BR> <BR>I suggest that zepcat also take a good look at the Paris bus system. I preferred it to the Metro for many reasons. For one, I could see where I was going and could follow along on my map. Perhaps the Metro is a little quicker once you get on it, but I found it to be hot, claustrophobic, crowded always, and buried in a maze of steps, tunnels, and turnstiles. The bus was at least above ground and the sights and sounds of Paris were there to enjoy as we rode along. From our hotel, it was also more convenient to get to. <BR>

Zepcat, to throw something else in the pot .... we used the Orange Carte(?) which gave unlimited access to the Metro and buses. Please check the spelling and do a search here for great information and comparisons for all ways for city travel. This card was valid Monday through Sunday - which coincided with the days we were in Paris exactly. A great value - and we used it several times a day going one place to another - using buses often too; in fact, I think it was valid outside Paris to Giverney - or very close to it. Without usage restrictions (valid for unlimited travel)it was a godsend often just to sit instead of walk to the next area. Pricewise, I can't remember exactly, but we thought it was a good deal - along with the must-get Museum pass. We didn't know about the Carte Orange(?) until reading this forum - the very best forum I might add. If you go this route, you will need two photos (2") which we cut from photos at home and took with us, for that pass. Enjoy Paris!