Traveling in Paris...
Jan 8th, 2005, 10:07 AM
#1
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Traveling in Paris...
In March I'm traviling to Paris for the very first time, and I'm so excited and nervous. Question: I'm trying to plan out exactly how I'm getting around, and information from different books have me so confused. I'm looking at purchasing the week long pass (not the paris visite) for six zones (to use for getting to the airport and to Versailles). Is this called the Carte Orange or the Carte Jeune? Also, can it be purchased at the tourist center or do I need to get it at the metro station? Also, how do I actually use it when I take the metro- I imagine I don't run it through like a ticket? And DO I need a passport picture to put on it? Different books have said different things so I just don't know. Thank you very much!
Rachel
Rachel
Jan 8th, 2005, 10:54 AM
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Recommend a Carte Orange for Zones 1& 2 and purchasing separate tickets for the airport and Versailles (much more economical than six zones).
You'll need a 1x1 photo. You can purchase the Carte Orange at nearly any metro station. Note that the week runs Monday through Sunday and you can not purchase them after Wednesday for the current week.
You'll need a 1x1 photo. You can purchase the Carte Orange at nearly any metro station. Note that the week runs Monday through Sunday and you can not purchase them after Wednesday for the current week.
Jan 8th, 2005, 11:08 AM
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We found we did much more walking than metroing, but our lodgings were convenient to the places we wanted to see. We bought a carnet, a package of 10 individual tickets sold at a discount. For airport travel, and Versailles, we just bought separate tickets. I think we bought two carnets, as we were there for two weeks, and I still have a few tickets left for the next visit. Walking in Paris gives you a feel for the city; the metro might as well be in Cleveland.
Jan 8th, 2005, 12:47 PM
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If you have all the time in the world, then walking (with a carnet per week of transport) is adequate. And, it's a lot of fun.
If, however, you want to cover some real estate in the limited time you have, bus and Métro are highly desirable, and a pass (Either Carte Orange or Mobilis) is the way to go. Each of these comes in a plastic sleeve with a slot for a ticket in it; you run the same ticket through the machine every time you go into the subway, or flash the whole thing to the bus driver.
You will find a guide to all convenyances at:
<b>http://www.atkielski.com/PDF/data/ParMetro.pdf</b>
All the bus, Métro, and RER maps are at:
<b>http://www.ratp.info/orienter/tous_plans_pdf.php</b>
If, however, you want to cover some real estate in the limited time you have, bus and Métro are highly desirable, and a pass (Either Carte Orange or Mobilis) is the way to go. Each of these comes in a plastic sleeve with a slot for a ticket in it; you run the same ticket through the machine every time you go into the subway, or flash the whole thing to the bus driver.
You will find a guide to all convenyances at:
<b>http://www.atkielski.com/PDF/data/ParMetro.pdf</b>
All the bus, Métro, and RER maps are at:
<b>http://www.ratp.info/orienter/tous_plans_pdf.php</b>
Jan 8th, 2005, 01:33 PM
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This summer we were in Paris for 3 days. We used the Métro and bus six times a day (eight when we went up and down the Funiculaire de Montmartre). Sure glad we had passes.
Moral: it depends on what you plan to see and do, and where you want to eat.
Moral: it depends on what you plan to see and do, and where you want to eat.
Jan 8th, 2005, 01:42 PM
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Or how much you enjoy walking in Paris. We stayed on St. Germaine. We ate in the Marais, Bercy, near Republique, Bastille, Ile St. Louis, among others,and generally walked to all of them. We took the metro to Montmarte (well, plus the funicular up) one day, but walked all the way back. Some days we'd set out -- one day we ended up going up Champs Elysee, then out along Avenue Victor Hugo and eventually returned via Trocadero and the Eiffel Tower. Another day we took the metro out to the Marmottan Museum, and eventually walked all the way back.
Some of us just prefer walking. But if you are limited on your time there and have to get places in a hurry without being able to see what's on the way, then yes, I suppose a pass might be a good idea.
Some of us just prefer walking. But if you are limited on your time there and have to get places in a hurry without being able to see what's on the way, then yes, I suppose a pass might be a good idea.
Jan 8th, 2005, 01:48 PM
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And you CAN see what's on the way if you use your pass <u>above</u> ground (which we do most of the time). Even if you only want to go a few blocks, a bus is always faster than walking. Saving five minutes here and ten minutes there really adds up, and riding the bus also has the advantage that you can relax for a few minutes throughout the day.
For the mother of all Paris bus maps, go to this page:
<b>http://www.ratp.info/orienter/tous_plans_pdf.php</b>
And click on "Bus Paris (avec rues)."
The "Bus touristique" is very useful, too.
For the mother of all Paris bus maps, go to this page:
<b>http://www.ratp.info/orienter/tous_plans_pdf.php</b>
And click on "Bus Paris (avec rues)."
The "Bus touristique" is very useful, too.
Jan 8th, 2005, 02:09 PM
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Thanks for agreeing with me. Yes, as I said if you are limited on time they are a good bet. I totally understand if you have only three days in Paris that time is precious and getting there faster to do more is important.
I'm only referring to the idea that I've been to Paris many times and had the good fortune to have 12 full days this last time. I was thrilled that getting somewhere fast was never once a goal of mine for this trip.
And a very good point about busses. The Metro is easy to navigate and I think often tourists ignore the busses because they are more complicated. It's often difficult or impossible to figure out which bus will go where you want to go. But they are nice once you figure them out, or if you can get good advice (like from your hotel) as to which bus to take.
I'm only referring to the idea that I've been to Paris many times and had the good fortune to have 12 full days this last time. I was thrilled that getting somewhere fast was never once a goal of mine for this trip.
And a very good point about busses. The Metro is easy to navigate and I think often tourists ignore the busses because they are more complicated. It's often difficult or impossible to figure out which bus will go where you want to go. But they are nice once you figure them out, or if you can get good advice (like from your hotel) as to which bus to take.
Jan 14th, 2005, 04:46 PM
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Thank you everyone for replying. I'm going to be seven months pregnant when we travel, so I don't think I'm going to want to do very much walking 
. But thank you for suggesting that I just do zone 1 and 2- maybe that will be more economical!
. But thank you for suggesting that I just do zone 1 and 2- maybe that will be more economical!
Jan 14th, 2005, 06:41 PM
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Jeune means young, so it is by age (less than age 26, I think). I've never heard of anything called a Carte Jeune, but I think they have a ticket jeune which is an all-day pass for those of that age at a price somewhat less than the regular adult all-day metro passes called Mobilis. It's only for weekend days, as I understand it.
You don't need 6 zones. Versailles is in zone 4, as is Orly airport, although CDG sirport is in zone 5.
Any metro/RER pass is available at a metro station. They aren't tourist passes (except Paris Visite), so would not only be available at the tourist office (if you can find one -- they've closed some and moved). I don't know what metro tickets you can buy at the tourist center, perhaps only the tourist pass (Paris Visite) as that is the only one that one can stockpile because they aren't date-dependent.
You don't need 6 zones. Versailles is in zone 4, as is Orly airport, although CDG sirport is in zone 5.
Any metro/RER pass is available at a metro station. They aren't tourist passes (except Paris Visite), so would not only be available at the tourist office (if you can find one -- they've closed some and moved). I don't know what metro tickets you can buy at the tourist center, perhaps only the tourist pass (Paris Visite) as that is the only one that one can stockpile because they aren't date-dependent.
Jan 14th, 2005, 09:16 PM
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we went in May for a week last year and when we arrived at gare du nord we got in line for carte orange tickets .It was very cold and still we did tons of walking and sighteseeing (tower,museums Versaille etc)...we took small pictures and the guy pasted them on the card It is a identification card that fits in a plastic carrying sleeve with a slot for the ticket which you take out to slide in the turnstyle. we used the metro tons of times especially when rainy and cold It was so much fun seeing all the people and the musicans and learning how to use it..We made a few mistake at the beginnig and glad we did not get a carne.(rex knows where he is going). we had a metro map which is essential and you need to make connection plans before you desend.if they tell you it is only for residents try another atation...we used the bus too and it was #69.even in May it was so cold and windy we could barely stand it...
