tuscanlifeedit

Hi

I've just spent the last hour searching and googling for a post or link that I neglected to bookmark.

On this forum, or perhaps another, someone reported that they bought their RER tickets to Paris at an information booth at CDG.

I am trying to verify this, as it would simplify getting into Paris. Of course we don't have a PIN and chip credit card, or enough euro coins to use a ticket machine at the station at CDG. I would rather not get to the station and find a long line at the ticket window if I can avoid it.

Has anyone bought tickets at an information booth at CDG, or does anyone remember reading this?

Thanks.

Seamus

Not an information booth per se, just a regular ticket counter like you would find in any station -it's at the RER terminal at CDG.

cynthia_booker

When we purchased tickets at the ticket booth there may have been one person ahead of us in line. It was late a.m. We had cash because we had already stopped at the ATM. It was not a problem, but that might have been just luck.

TPAYT

First off, when you exit into the airport there is an ATM right there to get some Euros. Walking along, we stopped at an information booth in CDG on our way to the RER to ask a simple question (Sept.'11) He asked "Are you taking the RER into Paris?" When we said "yes" he said "I can sell you a ticket."

We have stood in line many times at the bottom of that escalator. This was a real break. If you don't have a lot of luggage, this is the way to go.

annhig

Last time we went to Paris via CDG, there were long queues at the self-service ticket booths too! we have UK chip and pin cards so we were ok but we still had to wait about 10 ins, with each of us in a different queue.

I'll definitely look out for the information booths in the airport - thanks for the tip, TPAYT.

do these booths sell museum passes too? the one at St. Pancras Eurostar departure lounge sold everything except carnets, which of course that time was what we wanted!

BTW, at some UK airports eg Bristol and in the eurostar lounge, you can now get €s out of an ATM machine. I don't know what the exchange rate is like though.

qwovadis

eurocheapo.com/paris great info to print out

eaay quick always for me at RER station.

Rhea58

Just returned. No problem getting tix (I bought the return at same time) when I got to the station as there was only
1 person ahead of me.

Travelnut

I've been told there are now kiosks outside the ticket office that accept regular ole US-non chip credit cards. Haven't gone this way since that was implemented, but probably will next September.

Sarastro

The CDG ticket kiosks will indeed accept US magnetic strip credit cards for purchasing almost any type of RATP ticket (reduced price children´s tickets are the exception and must be purchased at the service window).

This is perhaps the only place in Paris where one can execute these types of transactions using a kiosk and a US credit card.

tuscanlifeedit

TPAYT, I love you.

Did you have that information in a trip report? It seems to me that you were the one that first told me about this.

I'm rather thrilled that I wasn't dreaming this up in a senior moment. Thanks so much.

Christina

A lot of the main stations allow you to use euro bills, not just coins, anyway to by RATP tickets. I don't think they used to do that, but all the ones I saw in train stations did, as I used them. So you don't need just euro coins. this whole big concern about chip cards just doesn't matter any more since you can use bills.

nyse

Here's where you read it:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...id-as-ever.cfm

And you're right, it was in TPAYTs trip posting~

tuscanlifeedit

Thanks nyse; I did click on TPAYT's name after I read her post above and found the original post.

Christina: I'm thick or tired or something, but please allow me to ask for clarification: are you saying that I can use euro bills in the machines in the station at CDG to buy RER tickets?

Ackislander

More and more Metro and RER stations accept US strip cards, e.g., those at CDG (RER) and those in the Metro near Palais Royale (one of the Louvre stops, perhaps?).

They are the latest generation of machines, of which I know three, and all have multi-language ability.

bardo1

tuscanlifeedit,

I have the same question for Christina.

Does "<i>A lot of the main stations allow you to use euro bills, not just coins,</i>" specifically now include CGD airport? It didn't a few years ago.

Keith

I think I may be missing something. It appears that the Paris Visite travel card includes the RER train into Paris from CDG.

Am I correct that the one day card is only a little more expensive than a one way ticket on the RER and includes the train and use of the subway in Paris?

Thanks!

Keith

PalenQ

Here was my experience last Christmas Day trying to buy an RER ticket at CDG - nobody was even using the machines, French either for some reason and there were literally hundreds of people in line at the only ticket counter selling them, I was told

After about an hour in line I got the ticket. Now maybe that was an anomaly but be prepared for a long wait - if lines are long I would consider taking the VAL people mover to the other CDG RER station (or airport shuttle bus if VAL does not go there) where lines may be fewer.

Ironically at the Grandes Lignes TGV ticket counter next to the Ile de France/RER ticket window there were no lines and several SNCF clerks twiddling their thumbs - I had to book a TGV ticket and did so quickly and asked that clerk if I could also buy an RER ticket - he said not here, pointing me over to the Transilien or Ile de France or whatever they call it place - and after waiting an hour or so the guy who told me he could not sell RER tickets had flipped his sign over from Grandes Lignes to Transilien tickets and he then sold me the RER ticket he previously said he could not sell.

Sarastro

The ticket machines at CDG (at T1 and T2) will accept magnetic strip credit cards for the purchase of RER/metro tickets and passes. The machines will not sell child fares so only those needing them must stand in the lines at the ticket windows.

The Paris Visite Pass is available in two version: zone 1-3 coverage (9.75€ for one day) or zone 1-5 coverage (20.50€ for one day). CDG is located in zone 5.

A one way RER ticket from CDG to Paris costs 9.25€. The Pass which <i>is only a little more expensive than a one way ticket</i> is only valid for zone 1-3 travel and will not take you from CDG into Paris.

Keith

Thank you for the concise answer. The numbers didn't seem to make sense.

Since I will be returning to CDG on the same day, it is still only a little more than two trips on the RER and will still work ofr me, but most people would not be going both ways in the same day.

Thanks again!

Keith

Sarastro

If you are travelling from CDG into Paris and back on the same day, the Paris Visite Pass valid for zone 1-5 will work well for you. The price is 20.50€ and will allow you the use of the entire metro system (including buses) once your reach Paris.