RER from Gare du Nord
 

We arrive at Gare du Nord from London on a Tuesday at 5:30 p.m, and will be arriving with our luggage (just one carry-on size each). Our hotel is near the opera, and their website states that there is an RER stop directly behind the hotel. Would this be difficult to negotiate at that time of day - is it better than the metro?

Oui RER is much better than the metro - train cars bigger, more room, though metro at off hours can be fine too. From Gare du Nord you'd probably take RER B to Chatelet-les-Halles and change to RER A to Auber-Opera stop - the transfer at Chatelet should be from one platform to the other - no stairs. But again if you go right at 5:30 this is still peak rush hour (Mon-Fri) and you may want to delay a bit.

ttt

If your up to a short walk, an alternative would be to take the RER E direct to Haussman-St Lazare and then walk to your hotel. Its one stop and would avoid a change.

If you want to see the city as you travel there is also bus number 42 which will take you to Opera.

http://www.ratp.info/orienter/f_plan...&nompdf=42

RER E would probably be much less crowded than RER B-A and you don't have to change like MorganB says. the RER E at Gare du Nord is actually called Magenta and though connected by corridor to Gare du Nord is a bit of a further poke than RER B - but after MorganB brought it up i may opt for this line, which times i've ridden it has not been very mobbed and large train cars.

Why does the person renting us our apartment say, "We don't recommend the RER" on the info he sent? Is there something we should know?

It might be interesting to ask the landlord/agent why the RER comment was made...

My guess is that they are hinting that the RER makes it easier for various yobboes to come into central Paris from the 'banlieues' where what you would call 'projects' are located, so there may be a greater risk of crime. But at that time on a Tuesday afternoon, it seems unlikely, especially if you keep your wits about you. But ask them, to make sure.

It would probably be less than 15€ taxi trip. Gare du Nord is a maze, crowded to find Metro/RER. Go door to door in less stress, although since you are light on luggage, it might not be so bad. Still, it will be rush hour. Good pickpocket opportunities getting on crowded cars, so watch your stufff.

Maybe they don't recommend it for the reasons mentioned above -- if it's near the Opera, it isn't right near line E (which is a walk from Gare du Nord, anyway). If it's near line A, that isn't direct from Gare du Nord and involves a change at Chatelet/Les Halles, which is not pleasant. Maybe they just think most tourists would prefer a cab that short distance with luggage, although one carryon isn't bad. If you dealth with many tourists over the years, you'd probably hear stories and perhaps realize for most people, the RER isn't the best idea.

I second the idea to just take a taxi. You're arriving smack in the middle of rush hour and the RER will be packed. If the owner of the apartment recommends not taking the RER, he probably knows what he's talking about. As the owner of a property in France, I often recommend against one thing or another, and it's for good reason - usually from experience.

Just to clarify, the person who was warned against taking the RER is a different person than the original poster - me. Thanks for all the assistance, though. We'll consider the cab - we're just trying to keep our costs down whenever possible because of the length of our trip. Saving a bit here and there over a period of 3 weeks can add up, but if something makes sense, then I don't mind spending a little bit more.

You'll be fine with the RER. It can be horribly packed at that time, but you can survive, it won't be more than 10 minutes. I suspect you have to switch trains at Chatelet though. In this case, you're probably better off taking a cab. it should cost no more than 10 euros.

If you take the line E you will only have to go one stop and will be going in the opposite direction of the rush of commuters out of the city. I dont think it will be bad and its only about a 3 minute ride.

Given the fact that you mentioned some sensitivity to cost, blowing 15€ on a cab just to avoid a few commuters doesn't make much sense.

But any RER route to Opéra/Auber will involve considerable walking, either on the ends of the trip (E) or changing at Châtelet (C to A). I'd take Bus #42 - since it originates at Gare du Nord (on the east side of the station), you won't have to fight to get a seat. Here's a route map:

<b>http://www.ratp.info/orienter/f_plan...=42&amp;fm=pdf
</b>

If you get a <i>Carte Orange</i> for your local transport, the trip will effectively cost nothing at all.

&quot;C to A&quot; should be &quot;B or D to A.&quot;