So So confused about transportation in Paris
 

First time in Paris, please bear with me!
I am confused about the metro, the RER system and what is the best choice in terms of transportation for us!
It has been recommended to me to buy a Carnet of 10 tickets. This is only good for the Metro, correct? Is 1 ticket used up per one way no matter what zone and how many stops? We are going to be staying close to the Sentier metro, and would visit the major sites such as Eiffel, ND, Louvre, Versaille for 4 days in Paris and a day trip to either Chartre/Loire and Versaille. Wouldnt an all access pass like paris viste for zone 1-3 viste be a good choice?
To get out of the city and to Versaille, for example, do we take the metro to the furthest station, then buy a ticket for RER to go to Versaille?

We also need transportation advice for getting from CDG to Métro : Réaumur Sébastopol – Arts et Métiers (where our apt office is) ....

I know I asked so many questions, but I have browsed so many sites and still so confused!

>Is 1 ticket used up per one way no matter what zone and how many stops?<

Yes, on the metro, and RER and bus within central Paris; you need a new ticket if you interchange between these modes.

For travelling to Versailles, I should think it makes more sense to get a ticket when you join the RER at the nearest point in central Paris (St Michel, from where you're staying).

To go to Chartres or the Loire Valley, you are taking the national railway system, and would need to buy their tickets at their terminus.

For getting from the airport, simplest is probably to take the RER to Gare du Nord and change to metro line 4, direction porte d'Orléans for Réaumur-Sébastopol. You might want to check the exact address at www.pagesjaunes.fr to see if Arts et Metiers is any nearer, but that would mean another change. Changing from the RER at Chatelet-les-Halles is probably not advisable - it's even bigger, more crowded and more confusing. Or you could get a taxi from the Gare du Nord, just this once.

www.ratp.fr (look for the "international passengers" button at the top).

..almost all your trips will be on the metro so just buy a carnet. Versaille is RER..Chartres and the Loire is SNCF..also you will find you will walk a lot. You will use one ticket for all the metro (excluding RER which is another system completely..on the RER there are zones with price varying per zone)...really a very easy system.

Tickets are good for the metro, buses and for the RER within the limits of Paris proper. For instance, if you use the RER from "Gare de Lyon" to "Chatelet" (both within Paris)you'll use a metro ticket. If you ride the RER to go to Versailles or CDG for instance, you'll need a specific ticket.

In the metro, the ticket is valid no matter how many stops and changes. You can ride the metro all day long with a ticket if you want to. As long as you don't exit the subway system, it stays valid. On buses, though, as soon as you change and take another bus, you need a new tickets.

As for "no matter the zone", not exactly but not relevant. Metro tickets are valid for zone 1 and 2, which means for Paris and for metro stations situated outside Paris. So it's exactly the same as saying that it's valid everywhere in the metro.


The Eiffel tower, ND, the Louvre, etc... are all situated within Paris proper, so tickets or a zone 1-2 pass would suffice. Versailles, if I'm not mistaken, but I doubt it would make sense to buy a 4 zones pass that you would use only once.

For chartres you'll need a train ticket. The RER/ metro doesn't go there.

You don't need to go to the furthest station before buying your ticket when you intend to ride the RER outside Paris. The ticket you'll buy will be good for the metro *and* the RER ride outside Paris. So, you can buy it when you enter the metro, or when you change from the metro to the RER.

Many people advise not to use the RER and metro when coming from CDG, because of the hassle, the luggages, the jetlag, etc... hence to rather take a taxi, shuttle or bus.

It is true that a single metro ticket is good on the metro no matter what zone. It is good wherever the metro goes (and there are actually some metro stops in zone 3, not just zone 1-2, and it is still good there).

It wouldn't be good for an RER stop in zone 3, however.

I just checked my map to make sure about that, and La Defense and St Denis metro stops are in zone 3, but those single tickets are still good for that metro stop. However, a zone 1-2 ticket wouldn't be good for the RER from those places.

See

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

This website helps as well,

http://www.discoverfrance.net/France...is_metro.shtml

Very important to keep your ticket with you after you first use it. In some stations, you need it to exit the turnstile. You also could be asked to produce your ticket or pay a fine.

We did see this last week on the RER to Chantilly. An agent asked to see everyone's ticket. The man in front of his could not produce his and he received a fine right there. Its asset protection I guess. My husband noticed several turnstile jumpers at some Metro stations when we were there.

I truly is easier to figure out when you get there I think. Very convenient system.

A standard metro ticket zones 1-2 is good for transportation on RER ,Metro and Bus.

Each bus trip requires a seperate ticket, no transfers.

Metro and RER allow UNLIMITED transfers as long as you do not exit the system. You may transfer between RER and metro on the SAME ticket.

If you are leaving Zone 2 on the RER then you would purchase a ticket that is good to your destination. that ticket INCLUDES metro rides as well.

For example going to Versailles. You may board the metro at Saint Germaine des Pres, transfer to the RER at St Michel and continue to Versailles ALL on the same ticket purchased for the correct number of zones.

Or to go to the Arch de Triomphe you may get on at St Germain des Pres and take the Metro Line 4 to Chatelet where you may transfer onto RER Line B and get off at Charles de Gaulle Etoile ALL on the same ticket.

ttt

There are other kinds of passes besides the Paris Visite. Which one, if any, would be the best deal for you depends upon how long you'll be in Paris and which day of the week you arrive and which day of the week you depart. If you give us that information, we'll give you some more options.

If you travel with a PDA or smartphone, check out this program:

http://nanika.net/metro

Thanks to all of your helpful posts, I think I have managed to figure out how to take the RER from CDG into Paris. Now the challenge will be to find the RER at the airport~~!!!
I will be in Paris Apr 1 - April 5( departing on the 6th morning) then returning to Paris again on 4/15 morning and stay one night and go back to the States at 5 pm out of CDG on April 16th.
I am figuring that for the 5 nights, I will be using at least 3 metro tickets per day, so wouldnt a pass be of better value?

The RER station at CDG is in Terminal 2. Signs everywhere lead the way.

Your situation does not warrant the purchase of a <i>Paris Visite</i>.

Unfortunately, the <i>Carte Orange</i> pass (15.70&euro;) always starts on a Monday, but you're arriving on Saturday, so your ticket would only be valid for three days.

If you are truly using the M&eacute;tro three times a day, then buying single tickets in a <i>carnet</i> of ten is your most economical choice. But I like to jump on a bus any time I feel like it, so in your situation I would probably buy <i>Mobilis</i> passes for each day except the Versailles day.

For the trip to Versailles, I would buy a <i>Forfait Loisir</i> which includes M&eacute;tro and RER fare to and from Versailles plus admission to all the sights and audioguides.

If you're <i>really</i> cheap (like me), instead of buying an RER ticket all the way to Paris, you can pay for a ride to La Plaine Stade de France (which is in Zone 2) and let your Saturday <i>Mobilis</i> take it from there. The difference is only a couple of &euro;uro, but hey...

It should be mentioned that if you're under 26, the cheaper <i>Ticket Jeunes</i> is available to you on Saturday and Sunday (and a 5-zone costs less than a single fare from CDG).

A weekly Carte Orange pass for zones 1-2 is good for unlimited travel Monday-Sunday and costs 15.70 E. While your travel dates are not ideal for this pass, you could use it Monday-Thursday morning and buy a carnet of ten tickets for 10.70 E to use on Saturday and Sunday. If you have any tickets left, you could use them when you return on the 15th. You need a small color photo (about 1&quot; x 1&quot;) for the Carte Orange. Just cut up any photo you have of yourself and bring it along.

Another option: A one-day Mobilis pass for zones 1-2 costs 5.40 E. If you know you'll be taking four or more rides on a particular day, you could buy a Mobilis for that day and use tickets from your carnet for the other days.

In short, I don't think the zone 1-3 Paris Visite is your best option for either three days (18.25 E) or five days (26.65 E).

Thanks so much everyone. I dont think I am confused anymore! I didnt even know a Mobilis pass existed. Would I be able to buy a Mobilis pass at CDG before getting the RER ?
How much is RER from CDG to La plain state de France?
Also, for my Versaille day, I am very interested in the Forfait Loisir , is this pass sold at every metro station? otherwise I might need to waste a metro ticket to go and buy it, can it be used only for that day of the trip, or can i buy it in advance on Saturday, and not visite til Sunday or later? can I use it as a mobilis pass for the rest of the day? Let's say I want to come back to Versaille, and go to another attraction, would I be able to stop anywhere? after the attraction, would I still be able to use it to go back to my apt?

thanks in advance!

You can buy a <i>Mobilis</i> at CDG. The fare to La Plaine is 6.40&euro; (not a whole lot of saving, but it adds up).

I believe <i>Forfaits Loisirs</i> are sold at RER stations only - but some of these stops are also on the M&eacute;tro. See this map for which is which:

http://www.ratp.info/orienter/f_plan...eur&amp;fm=pdf

I don't think there's any problem with buying one for a future date, so you could get it at CDG and use it two days later.

It's only good for one round trip from any M&eacute;tro station to Versailles and one day at the chateau, so if you want to travel more that day, you should get a 4-zone <i>Mobilis</i> instead.

A Mobilis for zones 1-4 costs 9.00 E.

THanks fot this very informative thread.

I hope it's okay if I ask a related question, because I&quot;m still confused about distinguishing between the metro and the RER.

If I want to take the metro to Versailles, can I hop on the C line &quot;metro&quot; at the Orsay stop and take it all the way to the end, Rive Guache? Do I buy a RER ticket at that metro stop?

Also, Versailles seems to have a new &quot;one day pass&quot; for 20 euro that offers unlimited entrance with audioguides and lets you enter without staying in line (without a museum pass).
How much is the Forfaits Loisirs pass?

thanks,
Dina

Robespierre

I am back to the confusion state...hahahah...so embarrasing.
If CDC- La Plaine is 6.4 + Mobilis is 5.4 = 11.8. How is that cheaper than taking the RER into the city (Metro Reaumur sebastopol) for 8 euros. Although I am thinking about taking perhaps a couple more rides in the Metro for the rest of the day, but that still doesnt quite add up.

For my Versaille trip, why is buying a Mobilis 1-4 for 9 euros a better deal? Whould this cover my Versaille trip totally? Since Forfaits Loisir includes the entrance to Versaille, Unless I have a museaum pass, then perhaps that would be a better deal?

dina4, the RER (suburban train) lines are lettered and M&eacute;tro are numbered, and the two networks connect at various points, such as Invalides (see map, above).

Yes, you can board the C line at the Orsay and ride to Versailles RG. A <i>Forfait Loisir</i> to Versailles is 21.15&euro;. RER tickets to suburban destinations always include M&eacute;tro transport to an RER line.

llcc - If you're going to take no more than &quot;a couple more&quot; rides on your arrival day, then your outlay will be 8.40&euro; for the RER and 2.14&euro; for two single tickets, so that would be less expensive than the other combination.

For the Versailles trip: just do the math. Your outlay will depend upon how much transport you will need besides the round-trip. The options are:

<i>Forfait Loisir</i>
<i>Forfait Loisir</i> + <i>carnet</i> tickets
<i>Forfait Loisir</i> + 2-zone <i>Mobilis</i>

By the way, the chateau is closed on Mondays.

Dina

I can only dare to help you with the price of the Forfaits Loisirs pass, since we seem to be equally confused :)
The pass is 20 euros.

It says 21.15&euro; here:

http://www.transilien.com/FR/TouVers.htm

The 20.00 E pass is NOT the Forfait Loisirs. It is only good for Versailles itself. (See www.chateauversailles.fr.) A Forfait Loisirs costs 21.15 E and includes the metro/RER roundtrip from central Paris.

If you don't need all the extras the above passes provide, just pay the entrance fee (8 E for the palace and 5 E for the Grand Trianon and the Petit Trianon). The gardens are free. Or get in free with a museum pass and buy individual metro/RER tickets to Versailles and back.

I forgot one thing. If you download and print the metro/RER map refered to by Robespierre, you'll see the difference between the two systems. Metro lines are numbered. RER lines are alphabetized.

Does the roundtrip mean:
I leave Sentier metro station, I go to Versaille, and HAVE to exit from Sentier? Or can I go from Versaille and exit any metro station within Paris

Any RER ticket to a suburban destination is valid from anywhere in the central zone to the destination, or vice versa. So you can go <u>to</u> Versailles from any station and <u>from</u> Versailles to any station for the one fare.

The same is true, for example, when coming in from CDG or ORY: the ticket takes you from the airport to the M&eacute;tro station nearest your hotel.

My French is limited, but from what I read it appears that the Forfait Loisirs ticket allows you to leave from any metro or RER station in zones 1-2 and return to any other within those zones.

Thanks for the clarification. I'mfeeling much better about this. Still a few questions...

1. The Forfait Loisir seems like a better deal since you get admission and audioguides, but does it allow you to skip the long lines like the One-day Pass and the Museum Pass???
Robespierre, that ratp website was all in french, so it didn't help with the forfait loisir details.

2. Also, on days when the fountains are running, do you still have to pay to see the gardens if you have a one-day pass or a Forfait Loisir?

Thanks!

It always surprises me that travellers seem to spend 90% of their time worrying about 5% of the cost of the trip. Transportation is going to be only a tiny fraction of any trip to Paris; the cost of the hotel and airfare will completely obliterate any savings you might make on transportation. Even your choice of food each day in the city will erase any significance in transportation costs. So why not concentrate on finding a cheaper hotel or a better airfare, or eating more cheaply during the day?

Yes, you can skip the lines with a Forfait Loisirs. The gardens are free.

re your trip CDG/RER to your hotel it was pointed out the changes and transfers you have to make. Don't know how much baggage you have but do realize you will have a fair amount of stair climbing and walking to negotiate this method of getting in.The savings in cost might not be worth it.

Anthony - since you can't know how much time and effort travelers invest in shopping for airfare, lodging, and dining, numbers like &quot;5%&quot; and &quot;90%&quot; may be off by orders of magnitude.

Spending five minutes shopping for transport and sightseeing might save 10&euro;. That's 120&euro; per hour - not a bad hourly.

Choosing the wrong thing on the menu at a single meal in Paris might easily negate any savings obtained by pouring over mass transportation options for an hour.

I think that people worry about transportation because they have more control over it. It comforts them to spend a lot of time saving nickels and dimes. The real expenses of the trip are airfare, lodging, and food, but those are much harder to plan and control in advance.

Food is something that one can control on the spot, but not in advance; and I find that most visitors aren't that concerned once they are in the city, apart from choosing a general category of restaurant that seems to have a price range they can tolerate.

I wouldn't pour anything over public transit options. It makes them soggy and hard to light.