1. Anybody know where I can get my hands on a Paris bus map before I get there? <BR> <BR>2. To get from the 6th Arr, close to the Montparnasse train station, to Gare de Lyon for a 7 AM train out, what is the best way? <BR>Taxi, metro?? We will have luggage to tote. <BR>How much time should we allow? An hour?

Bob, at that time in the morning there will be no traffic. Best to ask the hotel what is the best way to go and how much time to allow. I can't be certain, but would think a taxi would be your best bet with luggage.

Bob, at that time in the morning there will be no traffic. Best to ask the hotel what is the best way to go and how much time to allow. I can't be certain, but would think a taxi would be your best bet with luggage.

bob, <BR>I did a similar trip last year. Definately go with a cab and, yes, leave about an hour. Also, ask your concierge to call a cab about 20-30 minutes before you leave. <BR>

Check out this site for bus maps <BR> <BR>http://www.paris.org/Metro/ <BR>

<BR>Here's another site that helps you plan transportation routes within Paris: <BR> <BR>Http://metro.ratp.fr:10001/bin/select/ <BR>english/france/paris

Hello Bob, <BR> <BR>I found a great web site a month ago where you type in your "from" metro stop to your "to" metro stop. It then gives you all of the names of the stops you'll go by, which metro to transfer to and how long the ride will take. You can also print out a map which shows all the stops. <BR>Here's the web site: <BR> <BR>http://metro.ratp.fr:10001/bin/selec...h/france/paris <BR> <BR>Oops! I just looked down and saw Elaine's posting with the same info! <BR> <BR>Have a great time in Paris!

You could take the metro from Montparnasse, then change at Chatelet/Les Halless to the RER and continue on to Gare de Lyon (the metro does not go to Gare de Lyon). But, I wouldn't recommend it with luggage. If you take a taxi, it's best to arrange it the night before when setting out that early in the morning. My favorite map of Paris is the Rand McNally Cityflash Paris.

You could take the metro from Montparnasse, then change at Chatelet/Les Halless to the RER and continue on to Gare de Lyon (the metro does not go to Gare de Lyon). But, I wouldn't recommend it with luggage. If you take a taxi, it's best to arrange it the night before when setting out that early in the morning. My favorite map of Paris is the Rand McNally Cityflash Paris.

Thanks to all of you for supplying helpful info. I have a follow-on question or two. <BR>1. Does line 14 on the metro NOT go to Gare de Lyon?? <BR>2. I found the Internet bus maps,but when I print them the quality defeats <BR>me. Is it that my laser printer lacks the resolution to make a clear print? <BR>(It is a slightly dated HP.) <BR>Does that Cityflash map have bus routes? <BR> <BR> <BR>

If you are living in a big metropolis (New York, Chicago...) you might find the bus map in a local B&N, or, better, a French bookstore (at Rockefeller Center in NY, Europa Books in Chicago, La Cité des Livres in LA... ). Otherwise, you can try your luck on an on-line French bookstore : bol.fr, fnac.fr. Or you can at least browse the Paris transportation company's site at ratp.fr : they should have a bus map that you might be able to print out. <BR>As for the Montparnasse-Gare de Lyon ride at 7 AM, you have 2 solutions : have the concierge call a taxi, it'll cost you about 60-80 F (in France, remember, the meter starts when the cab is called, wherever it is, and there are supplements by piece of luggage). Or you can take the 91 bus, which is very spacious, and frequent, and that'll take the same time as the taxi. But you have to check before if the bus stop is not too far away from your hotel.

For Vincent. <BR>Thanks Vincent for your info. The hotel is at 151 bis rue de Rennes, which is close to the St Sulpice metro station. <BR> <BR>I live in a college town in Georgia, with north Atlanta suburbs (and shopping centers) about an hour to an hour and a half away. I have tried printing maps <BR>off of Internet, but the image is not good enough to read clearly. I wanted one to take with me. The image on the screen is not that clear either. <BR>I tried tracing the 91 bus route and was not that sure where it went. <BR> <BR>Metro would not work?

Bob, if you insist on dragging your luggage to save $5 per person, the best thing you can do is either walk or take the metro to Saint-Germain des Prés, and from then on take the 63 bus, very frequent, and quick at that time (10-15 mn to get to gare de Lyon, which is its final stop).

Thanks to all of you who gave me helpful information about getting to Gare de Lyon. The taxi makes the most sense in terms of avoiding the hassle of moving luggage in an unfamiliar situation -- not that 3 pieces, 2 of which are light, would be a major problem for two able adults. (My wife is a physical fitness type who can bench press more than I can, do head stands and walk 3 miles in less than 45 minutes.) <BR>And for the slightly strictured remarks from Vincent: I think the mode of transportation is my decision. I'm over 21, have an income, and don't live with my parents.

You see, Bob, the problem when you are asking other people's opinion, is that they actually give it to you. As far as I am concerned, if I had known that you didn't want any personal opinion, I wouldn't have bothered to answer you twice - although, finally, the advice doesn't seem too bad, since you are obviously going to follow it. If you already know the answers to the questions, there is no point in asking them. At least, this adventure taught me a new word of the English language : "strictured", that I was happy to look up in the dictionary !

Hey Vincent, <BR> <BR>It's funny how people take opinions so seriously. I have welcomed your advice and valued some of my own judgements more as well. I guess don't be disconcerted by someone rooted in their stubborn ways. I have found your advice most insightful and well-educated! <BR> <BR>By the way, how is it that you wrtie French AND English so damn well? Are you native to France or the States? And you knew so much about bookstores here??? <BR> <BR>Daniel