Laissez les questions stupides commencer!: METRO

[jsmla]

If you read my bio you should be sufficiently forewarned. I am about to begin a series of questions that are only asked by the hopelessly clueless. So here goes!

I have absolutely no idea what sort of transportation tickets we should purchase. Our other visits have been short ones so we bought one of the carnets and shared. This time we'll be there from Tuesday-Tuesday and I have no idea what sort of ticket we should get. We're planning on traveling to/from the following places outside of central Paris:
CDG
Vaux le Vicomte
Vincennes and maybe
Versailles or Chantilly

That list is open to change as I learn more about places outside the city. We've been to Versailles but that was 7 years ago and in the middle of winter. Is it worth it for a late spring visit?

If it's of any use we'll be traveling fairly light and are quite used to hauling luggage on public transport including up and down stairs. We're both excellent walkers and I have to watch the budget. I hate taxis. I've visited tons of sites but I'm still confused about what would be the best option for us.

Thanks!

Jennifer

[GitteK]

Versailles:
Go to a big railway station (e.g. Gare d'Austerlitz), look for the ticketwindow named "Transilien" and ask for a FORFAIT LOISIRS CHATEAU VERSAILLES - and you will get a combined train and chateau ticket, free audioguide included.
www.transilien.com/web/site/accueil/citylien/forfaits-loisirs/Chateau-de-Versailles

Vincennes:
That's easy. Take metro line 1 eastward and stay put until the end station. Take exit marked Chateau de Vincennes. You can't miss it.
Should you end up going in the wrong direction with line 1 - no problemo. Stay put until the end station, La Défense, go up and enjoy the magnificent sight of La Grande Arche.

Tickets:
From Tuesday-Tuesday the Carte Orange is the best way to solve your transport fares inside Paris (NOT to/from airport, though). Bring a passport photo of both of you. The carte goes for both busses and metro within all of Paris's 20 arrondissements.

[jsmla]

Thank you Gitte, that was helpful. I have to admit that I'm just the slightest bit afraid of some of the TA people. They can get quite snarky about basic questions sometimes. Personally, I don't get it. If I know something and I can show off about it I'm thrilled to do so. The last time I asked about public transportation on TA I got 27 responses telling me to take a cab before someone finally and reluctantly gave me the info I was looking for.

So, I can buy a Carte Orange on a Tuesday that will be good that week? That's the part I'm confused about. I'm afraid I'll buy something that won't work until we're practically back in Baton Rouge.

Thanks,

Jennifer

[sandy]

I was in Paris last May. For transportation from CDG to the city we used the Roissybus. It is very convenient, fast, and trouble free. It will drop you at the Opera so you will have to figure out how to get to your apartment from there. You just buy the tickets from the driver as you get on the bus. It is 8.60 eur per person.
Another option is the Air France bus (everybody can use it). It is a little more expensive but it has several stops, which can be more convenient if it stops nearer your location.

For moving around the city we bought the Weekle carte orange, but it is only valid from Monday to Sunday, so I guess it will be better for you to buy the carnet.

I have to recommend you to visit Chantilly. I posted about it on this thread:

www.ourparisforum.com/index.cgi?board=destinations&action=display&thread=1182324106

You will love the place, and it´s very easy to get there. You take the train at Gare du Nord to Chantilly (just buy the tickets on the spot at the ticket office), and you arrive in only 20 min in Chantilly. You can take a taxi at the station to the Chateau that costs only 8 eur and you are there in 5 min. There is also a free bus that runs across the city to and from the Chateau, but it runs every hour or so.

Take the time to look at this thread and you will find all the links to help you plan your trip:

www.ourparisforum.com/index.cgi?board=common&action=display&thread=1179827222

[GitteK]

Your Carte Orange will be valid to Sunday evening (midnight) - then you buy a carnet with 10 tickets to cover your needs Monday and Tuesday.

I second the suggestion to take a taxi from and to CDG. I have taken the RER B train a few times also, and of course it is cheaper - BUT you have come all the way over the Atlantic, you are tired, you are jetlagged, you are on unfamiliar grounds, so......... how much trouble will 2 x 50 € make on your holiday budget anyway ??

As an alternative to the train from CDG, you could take the public ROISSYBUS which goes to the Opéra (Rue Scribe). From here you can then take a taxi to your apartment. I will do that next year - as I admit that it is just a wee bit too expensive to take a taxi from CDG when you are only one person.

"Late May 2008", huh ?? I understand why you feel that you are in a rush ........ ROFLMAO !!! ;D ;D

[suzanne]

Our apartment is right by the Odean Metro stop. I was thinking AF bus to Montparnasse. I'm not sure what the best way from there would be. I see the metro but I have no idea about how many stairs that would involve. I also see a bus line #10. Your opinions would be greatly appreciated. We arrive at CDG around noon so we should be at Mont parnasse by 1 so it should not be too crazy. Last year we were in Les Halles at rush hour. it was really bad.

[jsmla]

Thanks so much for the help! I'm taking lots of notes.

Sandy, it was your report that sparked my interest in Chantilly. Scott loves horses so a visit there would be nice for him. Your pictures are beautiful.

I probably should clarify a few things. We won't be arriving at CDG after a non-stop flight from the States. We'll be flying out from Reykjavik after a night's rest. We've twice taken either the Roissybus or the RER into Paris after a non-stop flight and, to be honest, we've never found it to be the ordeal that others do. In fact we'll be taking the metro on to our hotel. We don't have a viable public transportation system here and, for us anyway, taking the trains and metro are a part of the adventure!

Travel is a huge extravagance for us so I do have to be very careful with my budget. There's not a lot of wiggle room. This means choosing where to splurge and where to economize. Since we'll be in Paris for a week we decided to splurge on a larger apartment. We're also spending extra on a stopover in Iceland. We'll economize by using the public transportation and eating most of our meals "in". 100 euros may not seem like a lot but it's actually over 1/4 of the difference between the cost of our apartment and one half the size and with fewer amenities even with the cost of the RER trips factored in. I've gotten used to budgeting our travel expenses and it's become sort of a game for me to see how much I can accomplish with what we have to spend. I actually enjoy the challenge in a weird sort of way!

I do like to plan ahead :-). You should see the lists I make! My whole family loves to laugh but it's fun for me and that way I can get exactly what we want at a price we can afford. Many of my first choices in apartments were booked for late May by the time I began my search. Right now I'm planning three trips: Orlando in January, a ski trip to Quebec in February and our Paris trip in May. I've been working on the Quebec trip since last Mardi Gras so, yes, six months does seem like a rush! We're going to try to branch out and visit new places this year and I'm having fun learning about the areas outside central Paris.

Anyway, I've been looking at the RATP web site and it seems like the best thing for us will be to buy the Carte Orange for zones 1 and 2 and pay separately for our other tickets. I'm having a hard time finding the cost of tickets to places outside zones 1 and 2 so I'd love a bit of help with that. Is there a site where you can plug in your itinerary and find out the ticket prices? We'll definitely be going to Vaux le Vicomte (Zone 6) and probably Chantilly. I've been to Versailles twice but Scott does have a limit when it comes to that sort of thing. I guess I'll warn you in advance, but I'm probably going to be working our vacation expenses out down to the last euro!

Thanks again,

Jennifer

[jsmla]

Sorry, I found the link for pricing out tickets. Thanks for the link sandy and many thanks to Penny for posting the site. It's exactly what I was looking for.

Jennifer

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

Jennifer - I agree it's none too soon to be planning things (even if you plan with the idea that your plans may change . . . )

I think you will find (as you seem to have learned on earlier trips) that it's not that difficult to economize, especially when it comes to food expenses. I'm always amazed at how (relatively) inexpensive it is to buy food in the markets and cook at "home" in the apartment, or make lunch out of a savory tarte plus a soda, or some cheese and fruit and bread. In fact, I'm perfectly happy to have "dinner" consist of cheeses, fruit, bread and a bottle of wine!

For the trip to Chantilly - it should be beautiful weather by that time (just pick which day you actually go there), and the walk from the station to the chateau is lovely and only about 15 or 20 minutes so no need for a taxi or a bus unless you feel like it. The grounds are extensive and beautiful, and would make a perfect picnic spot so you might want to plan to make a day of it.

Have fun with the planning!

[Jody]

I hate the Montparnasse metro station! Yes there are stairs and escalators, but it's still daunting, at least to me. But from there to near Odeon should be under 10€ for a taxi.

[suzanne]

Thanks Damaris.

[annettecinca]

jsmla said:

We've twice taken either the Roissybus or the RER into Paris after a non-stop flight and, to be honest, we've never found it to be the ordeal that others do. In fact we'll be taking the metro on to our hotel. We don't have a viable public transportation system here and, for us anyway, taking the trains and metro are a part of the adventure!

I understand completely! We feel the same way, and for us, taking the RER into the city is our "Ah...I'm in Paris" moment! We've never had a problem or felt that carrying our carry-on up a flight of stairs is that big a deal. And I love the planning portion of trips, too. Anticipation and planning is half the fun for me.

I agree that a Carte Orange is the way to go if you will be using the metro a lot, and it will most likely work out in your favor even if you miss the first 2 days the pass is valid for. Then buy a carnet to wrap up the week.

We'll be in Paris shortly, and are planning a trip to Chantilly as well. I'm not sure what the cost is, but we'll just buy the ticket at the train station when we go (if the trains are running!). Vincennes is accessible via the metro. And Gitte's suggestion of the combo ticket for Versailles is a good one.

Have fun planning!

[Laidback]

Could and would someone explain the difference in the new Navigo (decouverte?)Pass which it seems has replaced the old Carte Orange Mensuel or hebdomadaire. In particular how would a non-resident who will be in Paris for a couple of months go about charging and recharging the pass? Phread, Truffaut, anyone???

[GitteK]

www.ratp.info/informer/passe_navigo_orange.php
tinyurl.com/3dfn7a
tinyurl.com/36h6zs
www.davidlebovitz.com/archives/2008/01/au_revoir_carte_1.html
www.ourparisforum.com/index.cgi?board=common&action=display&thread=1187876920

These links should explain what it's all about. It will cost you 5 euro for issuing the main card, also you must remember to bring a passport photo of your dashing self.

Instead of inserting your regular Carte Orange ticket in the turnstile machine, you just choose the entrances with the Navigo logo and "beep" ........ you're in !

I will get mine in April, as I had forgotten to bring a photo last September.

(in case anyone wonders: hanging out in front of a Finnish hotel lobby computer does NOT count in my "cutting-down-on-computer-time" score...... )

[Shoesy]

Gitte - You needn't justify your presence on the forum, you silly-billy. ;D Besides, any time you want to cheat and spend a little more time than you planned is all right too. In fact, it's more than all right.

[Laidback]

An exalted thanks , Gitte. It seems that the Passe Navigo Découverte is very similar to the old carte orange in terms of purchase, which was my main question. I am still a little shaky on recharging it, as probably my Ammurican credit card will not pass muster at the automatic machines, so I will just have to find a metro station with a real, live person at the guichet, or come up with the exact change each month for a machine. It is a bit unclear whether this can be done at the tabacs where carnets are sold.

Does this sound about right?

[Truffaut]

Laidback,
There are special machines in the Métro stations where the Navigo cards are recharged. It is an entirely electronic procedure, and can't be done at a tabac. Neither can the few remaining window attendants do it. You'll either need a credit card with a puce or you'll need cash. The machines are in French, English and Spanish (I think). You place your Navigo card on the little shelf, then select the length of pass you desire (I don't recall seeing the annual subscription available, so the choices are weekly or monthly) and the number of zones you want. It tells you how much you owe and asks you to insert a credit card or cash. It then tells you to wait while your card is being recharged. Once you know what you're doing, it takes about 90 seconds for the whole process.

[Laidback]

Exactly the info I was searching for, so cash it must be at a machine each month after having purchased the Navigo Découverte. Hopefully in the near future American credit cards will get flea-bitten.

[Truffaut]

There are only a few differences between the Navigo (residents/workers in Ile-de-France) and the Navigo Découverte.

N is free; ND is 5 euros
N will be replaced if lost or stolen; ND will not
N can be charged for up to a year; ND has a 1-month max (I believe)

None of these differences should really matter to most people. If you really insist on having a regular Navigo, however, you can find someone in the Ile-de-France who is willing to accept a letter on your behalf. You just fill out the form and RATP will send your free pass to that address. Strictly speaking, this wouldn't be legal, but I doubt the government will be prosecuting Navigo bandits anytime soon!

[Truffaut]

Oh, and one more thing. The Métro police are now carrying hand-held readers that can tell if your Navigo has been charged. If you're found in the Métro with an expired card, you'll face a big penalty.